Passwords, expiry and downloads

Each link has its own settings: a password, how long it works, who can comment and whether people can download the file. You change them in your Library, at any time, and the link itself stays the same.

Link settings are part of the Web app plan. See Plans and billing.

Find a link's settings#

1. Open your Library at catu.app/library, or choose “Go to Web Library…” from the catu menu on your Mac.
2. Click the clip.
3. Click “Share” at the top right. The panel shows the link with a copy button, then the “Sharing” switch, the password, the expiry, who can comment and downloads.

Each change is saved as soon as you make it. A short message confirms it, for example “Comments are off.”

Turn sharing off and on#

The “Sharing” switch in the Share panel stops the link from opening for anyone, without deleting anything. The tag next to the clip's title shows the state too: “Live” while the link works, “Link off” when it doesn't. Click the tag to switch it.

While sharing is off:

• Anyone who opens the link sees “This clip is no longer available”.
• The clip stays in your Library with its comments and views. You can still read and write comments on it.
• Turn the switch on again and the same link opens again, for as long as your plan allows.

Set or remove a password#

The field is labelled “Password · off” or “Password · on”.

To set or change a password:

1. Type it in the “Add a password” field (or “New password” if the link already has one).
2. Click “Set” (or “Change”).

The column says “Password set. The link is unchanged.” You don't need to send a new link, only the password.

To remove it, click “Remove the password” under the field. The column says “Password removed.”

You can also add a password on the Mac as you share, by holding Option (⌥) as you click the link button. See Share a capture as a link.

What people see#

Someone who opens a link with a password sees “This clip has a password” and “Ask the person who shared it.” They type it in “Password” and click “Open”.

• A wrong password shows “That password isn't right.”
• After too many wrong tries, they see “Too many tries. Wait a minute and try again.”
• In chat apps and email, the link preview shows no picture and no title, only that a clip was shared.

Someone who already has the clip open in their browser keeps it until they close or reload the page.

Choose when a link expires#

Under “Link expires”, choose:

• “Never”
• “In 7 days”
• “In 30 days”
• “In 90 days”

The days count from the moment you choose, not from when you shared the clip. The column says, for example, “The link now expires in 30 days.” or “The link never expires.”

In your Library, each clip shows “Expires in 12 days”, “Expires tomorrow” or “Never expires”. A clip with three days or fewer left is marked “Expires soon”.

The expiry a new link starts with comes from the Mac app's settings: 30 days for screenshots and never for recordings, unless you changed them. See How long new links work.

When a link expires#

From that moment, the link no longer opens: anyone who opens it sees “This clip is no longer available”, and none of the clip is shown or sent, not even its preview in chat apps. The clip stays in your Library with its comments and views, and catu never deletes it for you. Turn sharing back on to open the link again, or delete the clip when you no longer need it.

The copy on your Mac is not touched. To share it again, make a new link from the Mac.

Choose who can comment#

Under “Who can comment”, choose:

• “Anyone” (the default): anyone with the link can comment. People without a catu account type a name and comment as a guest.
• “Signed in”: only people signed in to a catu account can comment. Others can still read the comments.
• “Off”: nobody can comment, and people who open the link don't see the comments at all. You still see them in your Library, with “Comments are off for this clip. Only you can see this.”

Turning comments off doesn't delete them. Switch back to “Anyone” or “Signed in” and they reappear. See Comments.

Allow or stop downloads#

Under “Downloads”, choose:

• “Off” (the default): people watch and comment on the clip page, with no “Download” button. The browser's own download option in the video player and the right-click menu on the picture are switched off too.
• “Allowed”: the clip page shows a “Download” button that saves the original file: the PNG of a screenshot or the video of a recording.

You can always download your own clips from your Library, whatever this setting says.

“Off” makes downloading harder, not impossible. Anyone who can see a clip can still take a screenshot or record their own screen.

If something doesn't work#

• “Free links last 30 days at most. Links on the Web app plan can last 90 days or never expire.” Your Web app plan has ended. You can still choose 7 or 30 days. See Plans and billing.
• “This clip was shared before link passwords could change.” The clip was shared with an early version of catu. Share it again from your Mac to get a link whose password you can change.
• The settings column only shows “Details” and “Delete”. The clip hasn't opened yet, or it was shared with an early version of catu. Wait for it to open, or reload the page. See Your Library on the web.
• Someone says the password doesn't work. Passwords are case-sensitive. Set a new one with “Change” and send it again.
• A link you still need has stopped working. It expired or sharing is off. Open the clip in your Library and turn sharing on, then set “Link expires” to “Never”. To change the starting expiry for new links, use “Settings…” › “Sharing” on the Mac.