If you have used PicGo for a while to manage your image hosting, you know the feeling: you get a new computer, install PicGo, and then realize you have to manually copy-paste all your image hosting tokens, custom settings, and plugin configurations. It’s a hassle and disrupts your workflow.
Today, we are thrilled to introduce Configuration Sync to PicGo. Now, you can backup and synchronize your settings across all your devices with a single command.
But we know what you are thinking: “Wait, my config file contains sensitive API tokens and keys. Is it safe to upload them?”
The answer is YES. Security was our number one priority when designing this feature. We didn’t just build a sync feature; we built a secure vault for your data. To give you full control, we designed three modes: Auto, SSE, and E2EE.
Here is everything you need to know about securing your image hosting workflow.
Free, Visual, and Versioned
Before we dive into the encryption details, here is the best part: This service is completely free.
We understand that accidents happen—maybe you accidentally deleted a configuration or overwrote it with the wrong one. That’s why PicGo Cloud keeps a history of your last 3 versions.
- Separate Tracks: We maintain separate history lists for the CLI version and the GUI version of PicGo, so your command-line workflows won’t mess up your desktop app settings.
- Full Control: You can view, manage, and audit these versions anytime by logging into cloud.picgo.app.
How to Use It
Getting started is easy, whether you are a command-line pro or a GUI user.
For PicGo Core (CLI) Users
-
First, update PicGo-Core to the latest version(>= v2.0.0):
npm install -g picgo@latest -
Second, log in to your PicGo Cloud account:
picgo login -
Then, run the sync command to push or pull your config:
picgo config sync
For PicGo App (GUI) Users
- Update to the latest PicGo App (>= v2.5.0).
- Open the PicGo main window.
- Find PicGo Cloud in the sidebar.
- Click to Login. Once logged in, you can start syncing your configuration immediately.
Choose Your Security Level
1. SSE: The Convenient Standard
SSE (Server-Side Encryption) is our standard secure mode. Think of this like a safety deposit box at a high-security bank. You hand your configuration data to us, and the moment it reaches our server, we encrypt it using industry-standard encryption keys before writing it to our disk.
- Best for: Users who want a “set it and forget it” experience for their image hosting settings.
2. E2EE: The Fort Knox Option
For those who demand the absolute highest level of privacy, we built E2EE (End-to-End Encryption). Think of this like putting your data in a locked titanium briefcase before handing it to the bank. You hold the key (a PIN code), and you are the only person on earth who has it.
- Best for: Security-conscious developers and users who want zero-knowledge privacy.
3. Auto: The Smart “Follower”
Not sure which one to pick? Auto is the default for a reason. It simply means: “Follow the Cloud.”
It automatically detects the encryption mode currently used on your PicGo Cloud account and adapts your local client to match it.
- Scenario: You set up E2EE on your main laptop. When you go to your second computer and use Auto, it sees the E2EE data on the cloud, automatically switches to E2EE mode, and asks for your PIN.
- Default: If you are a new user or your cloud data uses SSE, Auto defaults to SSE for maximum convenience.
Important: Switching Modes & A Fresh Start
You are free to switch between SSE and E2EE at any time, but please note that switching encryption modes will clear your historical versions.
Why do we do this? It is for your security and data consistency:
- From SSE to E2EE: When you upgrade to E2EE, you are asking for total privacy. To honor that promise, we clear the old SSE history to ensure your account transitions completely to a Zero-Knowledge environment. This guarantees that from this point forward, every single version stored is encrypted exclusively by your personal PIN.
- From E2EE to SSE: Old E2EE versions require your specific PIN to unlock. When you switch to SSE (which is password-less), those old locked versions become incompatible and unreadable. We clear them to prevent a confusing mix of accessible and inaccessible data.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is PicGo Config Sync free?
A: Yes, it is completely free for all users.
Q: Can I sync between Windows and macOS?
A: Yes, PicGo sync works across all supported operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux).
Q: What happens if I lose my E2EE PIN?
A: Because we use Zero-Knowledge encryption, we cannot recover your PIN. You would need to reset your cloud data and start over.
Which one should I choose?
No matter which path you choose, your data is encrypted.
- Choose SSE for convenience.
- Choose E2EE for total privacy.
- Choose Auto (default) to let your devices stay in sync with whatever you chose first.
We are excited to bring this feature to you. Go ahead and try picgo config sync to experience the magic of seamless, secure synchronization.
Happy uploading!