> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://copy-cat.in/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create and share an encrypted client photo vault in Copycat

> Set up an encrypted cloud vault in Copycat, share a link and passphrase with your client, and track creation progress from indexing to link generation.

Creating a vault packages JPEG previews of your photos into an encrypted cloud session your client can open in any browser — no app required. Copycat uploads the previews to Google Drive, encrypts the photo index, and generates a short link and passphrase you can send directly to your client.

## Before you start

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Active license" icon="shield-check">
    Vault mode requires an active Copycat license or trial. Open the License panel if you haven't activated yet.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Google Drive connected" icon="google-drive">
    Copycat uploads preview images to Google Drive. Sign in with your Google account from the Vault tab before creating your first vault.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Create a vault

<Steps>
  <Step title="Switch to Vault mode">
    Open Copycat and click the **Vault** tab at the top of the window.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start a new vault">
    Click **Create Vault** (or **+ New Vault** if you already have sessions in the dashboard). This opens the vault creation form.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter a project name">
    Type a name that identifies this shoot, for example `Smith Wedding 2025`. The name appears in your vault dashboard and in the client's browser tab.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select your source folder">
    Click the folder picker and choose the folder that contains the images you want to share. Copycat scans this folder for supported image files.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Create and watch the progress">
    Copycat runs through four phases automatically:

    | Phase                  | What's happening                                                                                                                           |
    | ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
    | **Indexing**           | Copycat scans the source folder and counts all image files.                                                                                |
    | **Preview generation** | Each image is compressed into a JPEG preview. Only these previews are uploaded — your original RAW files stay on your drive.               |
    | **Uploading**          | The JPEG previews are uploaded to a Google Drive folder created for this vault. Progress shows files uploaded vs. total.                   |
    | **Creating link**      | Copycat encrypts the photo index with a unique passphrase and registers the vault with the Copycat cloud service to generate a short link. |
  </Step>

  <Step title="Copy the link and passphrase">
    When creation completes, Copycat shows the vault link and passphrase. Copy both and send them to your client — they need the link to open the vault and the passphrase to unlock it.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Only JPEG previews are uploaded during vault creation. Your original RAW files never leave your machine at this stage — you copy them locally after the client submits selections.
</Note>

<Tip>
  Vaults expire after 15 days. Share the link and passphrase with your client as soon as you create the vault so they have enough time to review.
</Tip>

## Find the link and passphrase later

If you need to resend the credentials, open the **Vault Dashboard**, find the session, and click the key icon next to it. Copycat displays both the vault link and the stored passphrase so you can copy them again.

## If creation fails or is interrupted

Copycat saves progress checkpoints after each phase. If vault creation fails partway through — for example due to a network drop during upload — the session appears in the dashboard with a **Resume** button. Click it to continue from where it left off without re-uploading files that already completed.

<Warning>
  If you see a "RAW directory not found" error later during file copying, it means the source folder path has changed (for example, an external drive was remounted). Copycat will prompt you to locate the folder at that point.
</Warning>