FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Everything about setting up Aktar, uploading files and keeping your data private. Can't find your question? Ask on GitHub.
General
Is Aktar free?
Yes. Aktar is free and open source under the MIT license. There is no subscription, no account and no upload limit on Aktar's side.
Is Aktar a good alternative to hosted screenshot and file sharing services?
If you want to own your files and links, yes. Hosted services keep your files on their servers and your links on their domain. With Aktar, files live in your own bucket and links use your own domain.
What are the system requirements?
A Mac running macOS 14 Sonoma or later, and an account with any S3-compatible storage provider.
Is there a Windows, iOS or Android version?
Not yet. Clients for Windows, iOS and Android are in progress.
How can I report a bug or contribute?
Open an issue or a pull request on GitHub. For security issues, please follow the security policy instead of opening a public issue.
Setup & storage
Which storage providers does Aktar work with?
Any storage that speaks the Amazon S3 API. Amazon S3, Cloudflare R2, Backblaze B2, DigitalOcean Spaces and MinIO have built-in presets, and everything else works through the "Other S3-Compatible" option.
How do I set up Aktar with Cloudflare R2?
Create an R2 bucket and an API token with Object Read & Write permission, then choose Cloudflare R2 in Aktar and enter your Account ID, keys and bucket name. Aktar fills in the endpoint for you.
Does Aktar work with Wasabi, Hetzner or Scaleway?
Yes, through the "Other S3-Compatible" option. Enter the provider's S3 endpoint and region, your access keys, the bucket name and the public URL your files are served from.
What is the Public Base URL?
It's the address your files are served from, such as a custom domain or CDN in front of your bucket (for example files.example.com). Aktar joins it with the object path to build the link it copies.
Can I use my own domain for the links?
Yes. Point a domain at your bucket with your provider, then set it as the destination's Public Base URL. Every link Aktar copies will use it.
Can I use more than one bucket?
Yes. Add as many destinations as you like, each with its own provider, bucket, keys, public URL and path template, and switch between them from the menu bar panel.
Can Aktar start automatically when I log in?
Yes. Turn on "Launch at login" in Settings → General and Aktar starts quietly in the menu bar whenever you sign in.
Using Aktar
How do I turn a screenshot into a link instantly?
Press ⌃⇧⌘4 to capture an area to your clipboard, then press ⌃⇧⌘U. Aktar uploads the screenshot and copies its link, ready to paste.
Can I upload without opening the app?
Yes. Press ⌃⇧⌘U in any app and Aktar uploads what's on your clipboard: a file you copied in Finder or an image such as a screenshot. The link is copied as soon as the upload finishes.
Does the global shortcut need Accessibility or Input Monitoring permission?
No. It's registered as a standard macOS hotkey, so Aktar never watches your keystrokes and only reacts when you press that exact combination.
What gets copied to the clipboard after an upload?
Whatever you choose in Settings → Output: the plain URL, Markdown, HTML, or your own template. Images are copied as embeds, other files as regular links.
Can I control file names and folders in my bucket?
Yes. Every destination has an object path template. The default is {year}/{month}/{uuid}.{ext}, which gives unguessable names grouped by month.
Can I upload several files at once?
Yes. Drop several files on the panel or the library window, or select multiple files in the file picker. Each upload shows its own progress, and failed ones can be retried with one click.
Which file types can I upload? Are images compressed?
Any file type. Aktar uploads the original file unchanged, without compression or resizing, and sets the correct Content-Type so browsers show images, PDFs and videos inline.
If I remove an upload from the history, is the file deleted?
You decide. "Remove from History" only forgets the record on your Mac. "Delete Remote File" also deletes the object from your bucket.
Privacy & security
Can the Aktar team see my files or keys?
No. Aktar has no servers. Files go straight from your Mac to the storage endpoint you configure, and your access keys are stored in the macOS Keychain.
Where is my upload history stored?
On your Mac only. Aktar keeps a local record of file names, links, sizes and dates, plus small thumbnails. Nothing is synced to a server.
Troubleshooting
Why does my link show Access Denied or a 403 error?
The upload worked, but the file isn't publicly readable at your Public Base URL. Let the bucket (or the domain or CDN in front of it) allow public reads, and check that the Public Base URL points at the right bucket.
How do I check that my storage is set up correctly?
Click Test Connection when adding or editing a destination. Aktar checks that the bucket exists, that it can write to it, and whether files are reachable through your Public Base URL.