FAQ

FotoBay is a personal photo library that runs on your own computer. It automatically backs up, organizes, and lets you browse your photos and videos without storing your library in the cloud.

A Bay is simply the computer running FotoBay. It stores your photo library and securely syncs it with your devices over your local network.

Your photos and videos remain on storage that you own or control. FotoBay is designed so your library stays on your own computer rather than on FotoBay-operated cloud servers.

No. FotoBay's online services are used for downloads, licensing, software updates, purchases, and support—not for storing your photo library.

An Internet connection is required for downloading FotoBay, activating a license, checking for updates, and contacting support. Your day-to-day photo library continues to live on your own computer.

See the Download FotoBay and Install FotoBay guides in Help, or start from Downloads.

Each Bay is a separate FotoBay installation. You can install FotoBay on multiple computers, but each Bay requires its own license unless stated otherwise.

Yes. Follow I replaced my computer in Help to transfer your license and library.

After reinstalling your operating system, reinstall FotoBay and reactivate your license. If needed, you can transfer your license from your previous installation.

FotoBay can notify you when a newer version is available. You can also download the latest installer from Downloads or check the release notes.

Use your operating system's normal uninstall process. Removing FotoBay does not automatically delete your photo library unless you choose to remove it separately.

No. Your photos remain where they are stored unless you explicitly choose to delete them.

See the Connect Your Phone guide in Help.

Follow the Phone can't find Bay troubleshooting steps in Help.

Yes, for the initial connection and normal local syncing. Future remote-access features may be added in later releases.

Sync pauses automatically and resumes when the connection is available again. See My photos aren't syncing in Help if it does not resume.

No. FotoBay keeps track of what has already been synchronized and continues from where it left off whenever possible.

Start with My photos aren't syncing and Sync stopped unexpectedly in Help. If the issue continues, report a bug from within FotoBay.

Your photo library is stored on hardware you own or control. FotoBay does not operate a cloud service for your personal photo library.

FotoBay collects only the information needed for licensing, purchases, software updates, customer support, and user-submitted bug reports. See the Privacy Policy for complete details.

Bug reports include only technical diagnostic information that helps investigate software issues. They do not intentionally include your photos, videos, thumbnails, album names, tags, notes, filenames, or other library metadata. See Something isn't working in Help.

No. FotoBay does not continuously collect usage analytics or telemetry during normal operation.

FotoBay includes a 14-day full-feature free trial. Your trial begins only after your first photo or video is successfully backed up to your FotoBay library. No payment information is required to start. After the trial, a one-time purchase unlocks FotoBay permanently on that Bay. There is no permanent free photo limit. See Pricing.

Your trial begins only after your first photo or video is successfully backed up to your FotoBay library — from your phone or from a folder on your computer. Installing FotoBay, downloading FotoBay, launching your Bay, or connecting a device alone does not start the trial. Linking a folder that already contains photos or videos starts the trial when those items are backed up to the library.

No. FotoBay is a one-time purchase. There is no subscription, automatic renewal, or charge when the trial ends — the trial simply expires.

License transfer between computers is planned for a later release. For now, each license supports one active Bay. See I replaced my computer in Help if you need assistance.

Available payment methods are shown during checkout and may vary by country or payment provider.

FotoBay includes a 14-day free trial starting with your first successful backup, so you can evaluate the app before purchase. After purchase, payments are generally non-refundable. We may provide refunds for billing errors or other exceptional circumstances, and where required by law. After a refund, the paid license is deactivated, but your photos and library stay on your computer. See the Refund Policy for details.

See Something isn't working in Help, or use Report Bug from within FotoBay.

Use the Contact page for questions about licensing, billing, refunds, partnerships, privacy, or general inquiries.

We'd love to hear your ideas. Choose Feature Request on the Contact page and tell us what you'd like to see.

We respond as quickly as possible, but response times may vary depending on the type of request and support volume.

Open the Help page for Getting Started, Using FotoBay, and Troubleshooting guides.