Uploads and downloads
The web app uploads and downloads through two panels, Uploads and Downloads. They sit in the bottom corner of the window, stay on screen while you keep browsing, and can be minimised.
For backing up a phone, use the iPhone and Android apps. For moving a whole library from another service, see Migrate.
Upload
Section titled “Upload”- Select Upload in the top bar.
- Choose files or a folder, and optionally an album to put them in.
You can also drag files onto a library page, or choose Upload from computer inside an album.
Each file gets a row with its size and state:
| State | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Waiting | In the queue |
| Uploading | On its way, with a percentage |
| Uploaded | In your library |
| Already in your library | An identical file is already there. It’s recognised by its content and not stored twice |
| Error | The upload failed, with the reason |
From the panel you can:
- Retry failed to upload the failed files again, to the same album or to Locked if that’s where they were going.
- Cancel remaining to stop the files still waiting or on their way. Files already uploaded stay.
- Clear finished to remove the uploaded and duplicate rows while the rest carry on.
Uploads keep going while you move between pages of the app.
Upload straight into Locked
Section titled “Upload straight into Locked”You can upload into Locked, so new photos are hidden from the moment they arrive. See Locked and private content.
Sidecar files
Section titled “Sidecar files”If you upload with the command-line tool, an .xmp sidecar next to a photo is uploaded with it and its details are read. See XMP sidecars.
If you reload or close the tab
Section titled “If you reload or close the tab”An upload in the web app can’t be resumed. Reloading or closing the tab stops the files still waiting or on their way, and the panel starts empty afterwards. Nothing carries on in the background.
Files that finished uploading are in your library. To finish the rest, upload the same files again: the ones already uploaded are recognised and skipped.
Download
Section titled “Download”- Download a single item to get its current version, which is the edited version if you’ve edited it.
- Download original gets the untouched file of an edited item. In the viewer, open More actions to find it.
- Several items, an album or a whole view download as zip archives. An archive bigger than your size limit is split into several parts, each with its own row.
- Live Photos include their motion clip. The video embedded in some Android motion photos is included only when you turn on Include embedded motion-photo video.
Each row shows what’s being prepared, then Save. A failed row offers Retry, and Cancel stops a download that’s still being prepared.
A prepared download belongs to the tab you started it in until you save it. It doesn’t survive a reload.
Download settings
Section titled “Download settings”Go to Settings, then Your preferences, then Downloads & local behavior.
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum download archive size (GiB) | Larger downloads are split into archives of this size | 4 |
| Include embedded motion-photo video | Adds the video part of Android motion photos to downloads. Live Photo pairing and your originals don’t change | Off |
What you can download
Section titled “What you can download”Only what you’re allowed to download is ever listed:
- A Locked item is never downloaded or named unless you’ve unlocked your session.
- A shared link only offers downloads if its owner turned on Allow download.
- Locking your session or signing out clears both panels.
Send a copy
Section titled “Send a copy”To hand a photo straight to another app on your phone or computer, open it in the viewer and choose Send a copy…. It uses your device’s share sheet, up to 50 items and 500 MB at a time.