diff --git a/messages/en.json b/messages/en.json
index 380b2e5..6fb0e81 100644
--- a/messages/en.json
+++ b/messages/en.json
@@ -289,6 +289,11 @@
 				"us": "Washington, USA",
 				"custom": "Custom"
 			},
+			"custom_headers": {
+				"label": "Custom headers",
+				"description": "Add custom headers to be sent with each request to the vertd instance, which could be used for authentication or other purposes (one per line).",
+				"placeholder": "Header-Name: Header Value"
+			},
 			"conversion_speed": {
 				"label": "Conversion speed",
 				"description": "This describes the tradeoff between speed and quality. Faster speeds will result in lower quality, but will get the job done quicker.",
diff --git a/src/lib/components/functional/FancyInput.svelte b/src/lib/components/functional/FancyInput.svelte
index b5b0313..8f1b7ce 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/functional/FancyInput.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/functional/FancyInput.svelte
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 <script lang="ts">
 	import type { HTMLInputAttributes } from "svelte/elements";
 
-	interface Props extends HTMLInputAttributes {
+	interface Props extends Omit<
+		HTMLInputAttributes,
+		keyof HTMLInputAttributes
+	> {
 		extension?: string;
 		prefix?: string;
+		// eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
+		[key: string]: any;
 	}
 
 	let {
@@ -14,6 +19,7 @@
 		disabled = false,
 		extension,
 		prefix,
+		multiline = false,
 		...rest
 	}: Props = $props();
 </script>
@@ -22,32 +28,52 @@
 	{#if type === "checkbox"}
 		<div class="relative w-full h-full">
 			<input
-			{...rest}
-			type="checkbox"
-			bind:checked
-			{disabled}
-			class="w-full p-3 rounded-lg bg-panel border-2 border-button
+				{...rest}
+				type="checkbox"
+				bind:checked
+				{disabled}
+				class="w-full p-3 rounded-lg bg-panel border-2 border-button
 				{prefix ? 'pl-[2rem]' : 'pl-3'} 
 				{extension ? 'pr-[4rem]' : 'pr-3'}
 				{disabled && 'opacity-50 cursor-not-allowed'} appearance-none"
 			/>
 			{#if checked}
-				<div class="absolute w-7 h-7 inset-0 flex items-center justify-center pointer-events-none">
-					<svg class="w-6 h-6" fill="var(--bg-panel)" viewBox="0 0 20 20">
-						<path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M16.707 5.293a1 1 0 010 1.414l-8 8a1 1 0 01-1.414 0l-4-4a1 1 0 011.414-1.414L8 12.586l7.293-7.293a1 1 0 011.414 0z" clip-rule="evenodd" />
+				<div
+					class="absolute w-7 h-7 inset-0 flex items-center justify-center pointer-events-none"
+				>
+					<svg
+						class="w-6 h-6"
+						fill="var(--bg-panel)"
+						viewBox="0 0 20 20"
+					>
+						<path
+							fill-rule="evenodd"
+							d="M16.707 5.293a1 1 0 010 1.414l-8 8a1 1 0 01-1.414 0l-4-4a1 1 0 011.414-1.414L8 12.586l7.293-7.293a1 1 0 011.414 0z"
+							clip-rule="evenodd"
+						/>
 					</svg>
 				</div>
 			{/if}
 		</div>
+	{:else if multiline}
+		<textarea
+			{...rest}
+			bind:value
+			{disabled}
+			class="w-full p-3 rounded-lg bg-panel border-2 border-button
+					{prefix ? 'pl-[2rem]' : 'pl-3'} 
+					{extension ? 'pr-[4rem]' : 'pr-3'}
+					{disabled && 'opacity-50 cursor-not-allowed'}"
+		></textarea>
 	{:else}
 		<input
 			{...rest}
 			bind:value
 			{disabled}
 			class="w-full p-3 rounded-lg bg-panel border-2 border-button
-				{prefix ? 'pl-[2rem]' : 'pl-3'} 
-				{extension ? 'pr-[4rem]' : 'pr-3'}
-				{disabled && 'opacity-50 cursor-not-allowed'}"
+					{prefix ? 'pl-[2rem]' : 'pl-3'} 
+					{extension ? 'pr-[4rem]' : 'pr-3'}
+					{disabled && 'opacity-50 cursor-not-allowed'}"
 		/>
 	{/if}
 
diff --git a/src/lib/components/functional/popups/SettingsModal.svelte b/src/lib/components/functional/popups/SettingsModal.svelte
index 35524df..4d2eb34 100644
--- a/src/lib/components/functional/popups/SettingsModal.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/components/functional/popups/SettingsModal.svelte
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@
 													placeholder={setting.placeholder}
 													disabled={disabled ||
 														setting.disabled}
-													oninput={(e) =>
+													oninput={(e: any) =>
 														handleSettingChange(
 															setting.customInputKey!,
 															e.currentTarget
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@
 													] ??
 													setting.default}
 												placeholder={setting.placeholder}
-												onchange={(e) =>
+												onchange={(e: any) =>
 													handleSettingChange(
 														setting.key,
 														e.currentTarget.checked,
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@
 													] ??
 													setting.default}
 												placeholder={setting.placeholder}
-												oninput={(e) =>
+												oninput={(e: any) =>
 													handleSettingChange(
 														setting.key,
 														e.currentTarget.value,
diff --git a/src/lib/converters/vertd.svelte.ts b/src/lib/converters/vertd.svelte.ts
index 15bc8af..f693cd8 100644
--- a/src/lib/converters/vertd.svelte.ts
+++ b/src/lib/converters/vertd.svelte.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,10 @@ import VertdErrorComponent from "$lib/components/functional/popups/VertdError.sv
 import { error, log } from "$lib/util/logger";
 import { m } from "$lib/paraglide/messages";
 import { Settings } from "$lib/sections/settings/index.svelte";
-import { VertdInstance } from "$lib/sections/settings/vertdSettings.svelte";
+import {
+	VertdInstance,
+	getVertdCustomHeaders,
+} from "$lib/sections/settings/vertdSettings.svelte";
 import { VertFile } from "$lib/types";
 import { Converter, FormatInfo } from "./converter.svelte";
 import { PUB_DISABLE_FAILURE_BLOCKS } from "$env/static/public";
@@ -60,16 +63,18 @@ export const vertdFetch: {
 	// eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
 } = async (url: any, options: RequestInit, body?: any) => {
 	const domain = await VertdInstance.instance.url();
+	const headers = new Headers(options.headers);
+	for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(getVertdCustomHeaders()))
+		headers.set(key, value);
 
 	// if there is a body, insert a Content-Type: application/json header
 	if (body) {
-		options.headers = {
-			"Content-Type": "application/json",
-			...(options.headers || {}),
-		};
+		headers.set("Content-Type", "application/json");
 		options.body = JSON.stringify(body);
 	}
 
+	options.headers = headers;
+
 	const res = await fetch(domain + url, options);
 
 	const text = await res.text();
@@ -250,6 +255,7 @@ const createUploadTask = async (file: VertFile): Promise<UploadTask> => {
 	formData.append("file", file.file, file.name);
 	const xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
 	xhr.open("POST", `${apiUrl}/api/upload`, true);
+	const customHeaders = getVertdCustomHeaders();
 
 	const promise = new Promise<UploadResponse>((resolve, reject) => {
 		xhr.upload.addEventListener("progress", (e) => {
@@ -285,6 +291,9 @@ const createUploadTask = async (file: VertFile): Promise<UploadTask> => {
 			reject(new Error("Conversion cancelled"));
 		};
 
+		for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(customHeaders))
+			xhr.setRequestHeader(key, value);
+
 		xhr.send(formData);
 		console.log("sent!");
 	});
@@ -299,6 +308,7 @@ const downloadFile = async (url: string, file: VertFile): Promise<Blob> => {
 	const xhr = new XMLHttpRequest();
 	xhr.open("GET", url, true);
 	xhr.responseType = "blob";
+	const customHeaders = getVertdCustomHeaders();
 
 	return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
 		xhr.addEventListener("progress", (e) => {
@@ -322,6 +332,9 @@ const downloadFile = async (url: string, file: VertFile): Promise<Blob> => {
 			reject(xhr.statusText);
 		};
 
+		for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(customHeaders))
+			xhr.setRequestHeader(key, value);
+
 		xhr.send();
 	});
 };
@@ -712,7 +725,7 @@ export class VertdConverter extends Converter {
 		// trim/crop/rotate - also have another ui for this prob
 
 		const animatedImages = [".gif", ".webp", ".apng"];
-		if (animatedImages.includes(input.from)) {
+		if (animatedImages.includes(input.to)) {
 			return [fps, resolution, metadata];
 		} else {
 			return [
diff --git a/src/lib/sections/settings/Vertd.svelte b/src/lib/sections/settings/Vertd.svelte
index 508a6d6..0cd892a 100644
--- a/src/lib/sections/settings/Vertd.svelte
+++ b/src/lib/sections/settings/Vertd.svelte
@@ -8,7 +8,11 @@
 	import { vertdLoaded } from "$lib/store/index.svelte";
 	import { m } from "$lib/paraglide/messages";
 	import { link, sanitize } from "$lib/store/index.svelte";
-	import { VertdInstance, type VertdInner } from "./vertdSettings.svelte";
+	import {
+		VertdInstance,
+		getVertdCustomHeaders,
+		type VertdInner,
+	} from "./vertdSettings.svelte";
 	import FancyInput from "$lib/components/functional/FancyInput.svelte";
 
 	let vertdCommit = $state<string | null>(null);
@@ -24,7 +28,12 @@
 		vertdCommit = "loading";
 		VertdInstance.instance
 			.url()
-			.then((u) => fetch(`${u}/api/version`, { signal }))
+			.then((u) =>
+				fetch(`${u}/api/version`, {
+					signal,
+					headers: getVertdCustomHeaders(),
+				}),
+			)
 			.then((res) => {
 				if (!res.ok) throw new Error("bad response");
 				vertdLoaded.set(false);
@@ -57,32 +66,41 @@
 			/>
 			{m["settings.vertd.title"]()}
 		</h2>
-		<p
-			class={clsx("text-sm font-normal", {
-				"text-failure": vertdCommit === null,
-				"text-green-700 dynadark:text-green-300": vertdCommit !== null,
-				"!text-muted": vertdCommit === "loading",
-			})}
-		>
-			{m["settings.vertd.status"]()}
-			{vertdCommit
-				? vertdCommit === "loading"
-					? m["settings.vertd.loading"]()
-					: m["settings.vertd.available"]({ commitId: vertdCommit })
-				: m["settings.vertd.unavailable"]()}
-		</p>
-		<div class="flex flex-col gap-8">
-			<div class="flex flex-col gap-4">
-				<p class="text-sm text-muted font-normal">
-					{@html sanitize(m["settings.vertd.description.main"]())}
-				</p>
-				<p class="text-sm text-muted font-normal">
-					{@html sanitize(link(
+		<div class="flex flex-col gap-4">
+			<p
+				class={clsx("text-sm font-normal", {
+					"text-failure": vertdCommit === null,
+					"text-green-700 dynadark:text-green-300":
+						vertdCommit !== null,
+					"!text-muted": vertdCommit === "loading",
+				})}
+			>
+				{m["settings.vertd.status"]()}
+				{vertdCommit
+					? vertdCommit === "loading"
+						? m["settings.vertd.loading"]()
+						: m["settings.vertd.available"]({
+								commitId: vertdCommit,
+							})
+					: m["settings.vertd.unavailable"]()}
+			</p>
+
+			<p class="text-sm text-muted font-normal">
+				{@html sanitize(m["settings.vertd.description.main"]())}
+			</p>
+			<p class="text-sm text-muted font-normal">
+				{@html sanitize(
+					link(
 						"vertd_link",
 						m["settings.vertd.description.info"](),
 						GITHUB_URL_VERTD,
-					))}
-				</p>
+					),
+				)}
+			</p>
+		</div>
+
+		<div class="flex flex-col gap-8">
+			<div class="flex flex-col gap-4">
 				<div class="flex flex-col gap-2">
 					<p class="text-base font-bold">
 						{m["settings.vertd.instance.label"]()}
@@ -135,75 +153,117 @@
 					{#if VertdInstance.instance.innerData().type === "custom"}
 						<FancyInput
 							type="text"
-							placeholder={m["settings.vertd.instance.url_placeholder"]()}
+							placeholder={m[
+								"settings.vertd.instance.url_placeholder"
+							]()}
 							bind:value={settings.vertdURL}
 						/>
 					{/if}
 				</div>
-				<div class="flex flex-col gap-4">
-					<div class="flex flex-col gap-2">
-						<p class="text-base font-bold">
-							{m["settings.vertd.conversion_speed.label"]()}
-						</p>
-						<p class="text-sm text-muted font-normal">
-							{m["settings.vertd.conversion_speed.description"]()}
-						</p>
-					</div>
-					<Dropdown
-						options={[
-							m["settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.very_slow"](),
-							m["settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.slower"](),
-							m["settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.slow"](),
-							m["settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.medium"](),
-							m["settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.fast"](),
-							m["settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.ultra_fast"](),
-						]}
-						settingsStyle
-						selected={(() => {
-							switch (settings.vertdSpeed) {
-								case "verySlow":
-									return m[
-										"settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.very_slow"
-									]();
-								case "slower":
-									return m["settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.slower"]();
-								case "slow":
-									return m["settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.slow"]();
-								case "medium":
-									return m["settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.medium"]();
-								case "fast":
-									return m["settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.fast"]();
-								case "ultraFast":
-									return m[
-										"settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.ultra_fast"
-									]();
-							}
-						})()}
-						onselect={(selected) => {
-							switch (selected) {
-								case m["settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.very_slow"]():
-									settings.vertdSpeed = "verySlow";
-									break;
-								case m["settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.slower"]():
-									settings.vertdSpeed = "slower";
-									break;
-								case m["settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.slow"]():
-									settings.vertdSpeed = "slow";
-									break;
-								case m["settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.medium"]():
-									settings.vertdSpeed = "medium";
-									break;
-								case m["settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.fast"]():
-									settings.vertdSpeed = "fast";
-									break;
-								case m["settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.ultra_fast"]():
-									settings.vertdSpeed = "ultraFast";
-									break;
-							}
-						}}
+			</div>
+			<div class="flex flex-col gap-4">
+				<div class="flex flex-col gap-2">
+					<p class="text-base font-bold">
+						{m["settings.vertd.conversion_speed.label"]()}
+					</p>
+					<p class="text-sm text-muted font-normal">
+						{m["settings.vertd.conversion_speed.description"]()}
+					</p>
+				</div>
+				<Dropdown
+					options={[
+						m["settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.very_slow"](),
+						m["settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.slower"](),
+						m["settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.slow"](),
+						m["settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.medium"](),
+						m["settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.fast"](),
+						m[
+							"settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.ultra_fast"
+						](),
+					]}
+					settingsStyle
+					selected={(() => {
+						switch (settings.vertdSpeed) {
+							case "verySlow":
+								return m[
+									"settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.very_slow"
+								]();
+							case "slower":
+								return m[
+									"settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.slower"
+								]();
+							case "slow":
+								return m[
+									"settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.slow"
+								]();
+							case "medium":
+								return m[
+									"settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.medium"
+								]();
+							case "fast":
+								return m[
+									"settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.fast"
+								]();
+							case "ultraFast":
+								return m[
+									"settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.ultra_fast"
+								]();
+						}
+					})()}
+					onselect={(selected) => {
+						switch (selected) {
+							case m[
+								"settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.very_slow"
+							]():
+								settings.vertdSpeed = "verySlow";
+								break;
+							case m[
+								"settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.slower"
+							]():
+								settings.vertdSpeed = "slower";
+								break;
+							case m[
+								"settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.slow"
+							]():
+								settings.vertdSpeed = "slow";
+								break;
+							case m[
+								"settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.medium"
+							]():
+								settings.vertdSpeed = "medium";
+								break;
+							case m[
+								"settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.fast"
+							]():
+								settings.vertdSpeed = "fast";
+								break;
+							case m[
+								"settings.vertd.conversion_speed.speeds.ultra_fast"
+							]():
+								settings.vertdSpeed = "ultraFast";
+								break;
+						}
+					}}
+				/>
+			</div>
+			<div class="flex flex-col gap-4">
+				<div class="flex flex-col gap-2">
+					<p class="text-base font-bold">
+						{m["settings.vertd.custom_headers.label"]()}
+					</p>
+					<p class="text-sm text-muted font-normal">
+						{m["settings.vertd.custom_headers.description"]()}
+					</p>
+					<FancyInput
+						type="text"
+						bind:value={settings.vertdCustomHeaders}
+						placeholder={m[
+							"settings.vertd.custom_headers.placeholder"
+						]()}
+						multiline
 					/>
 				</div>
 			</div>
 		</div>
-	</div>
-</Panel>
+	</div></Panel
+>
diff --git a/src/lib/sections/settings/index.svelte.ts b/src/lib/sections/settings/index.svelte.ts
index 4b3409b..ccfa0fd 100644
--- a/src/lib/sections/settings/index.svelte.ts
+++ b/src/lib/sections/settings/index.svelte.ts
@@ -25,11 +25,12 @@ export interface ISettings {
 	plausible: boolean;
 	vertdURL: string;
 	vertdSpeed: ConversionSpeed; // videos
+	vertdBlockedHashes: Map<string, Date[]>; // hashes of files blocked from vertd conversion
+	vertdCustomHeaders: string; // custom headers to send to the vertd server
 	magickQuality: number; // images
 	ffmpegQuality: ConversionBitrate; // audio (or audio <-> video)
 	ffmpegSampleRate: string; // audio (or audio <-> video)
 	ffmpegCustomSampleRate: number; // audio (or audio <-> video) - only used when ffmpegSampleRate is "custom"
-	vertdBlockedHashes: Map<string, Date[]>; // hashes of files blocked from vertd conversion
 }
 
 export class Settings {
@@ -48,11 +49,12 @@ export class Settings {
 		plausible: true,
 		vertdURL: PUB_VERTD_URL,
 		vertdSpeed: "slow",
+		vertdBlockedHashes: new Map<string, Date[]>(),
+		vertdCustomHeaders: "",
 		magickQuality: 100,
 		ffmpegQuality: "auto",
 		ffmpegSampleRate: "auto",
 		ffmpegCustomSampleRate: 44100, //TODO: make string to match for vertd
-		vertdBlockedHashes: new Map<string, Date[]>(),
 	});
 
 	public save() {
diff --git a/src/lib/sections/settings/vertdSettings.svelte.ts b/src/lib/sections/settings/vertdSettings.svelte.ts
index 8209678..1f660d7 100644
--- a/src/lib/sections/settings/vertdSettings.svelte.ts
+++ b/src/lib/sections/settings/vertdSettings.svelte.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,29 @@ export type VertdInner =
 	| { type: "us" }
 	| { type: "custom" };
 
+export const getVertdCustomHeaders = (): Record<string, string> => {
+	const raw = Settings.instance.settings.vertdCustomHeaders.trim();
+	if (!raw) return {};
+
+	const headers: Record<string, string> = {};
+
+	for (const line of raw.split(/\r?\n/)) {
+		const trimmed = line.trim();
+		if (!trimmed) continue;
+
+		const separatorIndex = trimmed.indexOf(":");
+		if (separatorIndex <= 0) continue;
+
+		const key = trimmed.slice(0, separatorIndex).trim();
+		const value = trimmed.slice(separatorIndex + 1).trim();
+		if (!key || !value) continue;
+
+		headers[key] = value;
+	}
+
+	return headers;
+};
+
 export class VertdInstance {
 	public static instance = new VertdInstance();
 
@@ -61,7 +84,8 @@ export class VertdInstance {
 				await fetch(url, {
 					method: "GET",
 					cache: "no-store",
-					mode: "no-cors",
+					mode: "cors",
+					headers: getVertdCustomHeaders(),
 				});
 				return performance.now() - start;
 			} catch {