> ## 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.

# Copycat FAQ: vaults, selections, copy, and licensing

> Answers to the most common questions about Copycat vaults, client photo selection, Reference and Paste copy workflows, and license activation.

Here are answers to the most common questions photographers ask about Copycat. If you don't find what you're looking for, visit the [Troubleshooting](/docs/help/troubleshooting) page or contact support.

## General

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Do my clients need to install anything?">
    No. The client viewer is a web app that works in any modern browser — Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge. Your client just needs the vault link and passphrase you send them. No download, no account, no app required.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Are my original RAW files ever uploaded?">
    No. Copycat only uploads compressed JPEG previews to your Google Drive. Your original RAW files stay on your local drive at all times and are never transmitted anywhere.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How long does a vault stay active?">
    Vaults expire after 15 days. Share the link with your client promptly after creation, and remind them to submit their selections before the link expires. If a vault expires before your client finishes, you can use **Rotate Passphrase** to generate a fresh link without re-uploading the photos.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What happens if vault creation is interrupted?">
    Copycat saves progress automatically at each stage of vault creation. If it's interrupted — by a network drop, a crash, or manually cancelling — open the Vault Dashboard, find the vault under **Pending Vaults**, and click **Resume**. Copycat picks up from the last completed stage without re-uploading already-processed files.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Vaults & sharing

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="What does the passphrase do?">
    The passphrase is the decryption key for the vault. When your client enters it in their browser, it unlocks the encrypted preview photos so they can view them. Without the passphrase, the vault contents can't be viewed by anyone — including you. Keep it safe and share it only with your intended client.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I change the passphrase after sharing?">
    Yes. In the Vault Dashboard, find the vault and click **Rotate Passphrase**. Copycat generates a new passphrase and a new shareable link without re-uploading the photos. You'll need to send the new link and passphrase to your client — the old ones will stop working.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can the same vault be shared with multiple people?">
    Yes — anyone with the link and passphrase can view and submit selections. Keep in mind that if multiple people submit, each submission overwrites the previous one. For separate clients reviewing the same shoot, create separate vaults.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What happens after my client submits?">
    Their selections sync to the cloud vault. In Copycat's Vault Dashboard, click **Sync Selections** to pull the selections to your desktop. You'll see the count of selected, rejected, and skipped photos. Once synced, click **Copy Selected RAW** to copy the chosen files.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Copy workflows

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="What is the difference between Reference mode and Paste mode?">
    **Reference mode** matches files by comparing two folders — your RAW source archive and a reference folder (for example, a folder of edited JPEGs). Copycat finds RAW files whose names match files in the reference folder.

    **Paste mode** works from a list of filenames you provide manually — by pasting text or importing a CSV. It's useful when a client emails you a list of file numbers or when you have a text-based selection list.

    Both modes copy matched files from your source folder to a destination you choose.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What does Missing mean in copy results?">
    **Missing** means the filename was in your selection list (or reference folder) but wasn't found in the source folder. Common causes: the RAW drive isn't connected, the source folder is wrong, or extension filters are excluding that file type. See [File Filters](/docs/configuration/file-filters) and [Troubleshooting](/docs/help/troubleshooting) for details.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I copy only specific file types?">
    Yes. In the Options panel, set extension filters to limit which file types are indexed — for example, entering `CR3, ARW, NEF` means only those formats appear in results and get copied. See [File Filters](/docs/configuration/file-filters) for a full guide.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What happens when multiple RAW files have the same name?">
    By default, Copycat uses the **Newest Only** match policy — it copies the file with the most recent modification date. You can switch to **All** in the match policy setting to copy every matching file. This is useful if you keep multiple versions (e.g., original and edited) with the same base name.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Licensing

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Does Vault mode require a license?">
    Yes. An active, non-expired license is required to create and manage vaults. Reference mode and Paste mode are available during the trial period. Purchase a license at [copy-cat.in](https://copy-cat.in).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I use Copycat on multiple computers?">
    Your license supports a limited number of simultaneous device activations. To move your license to a new machine, open Copycat on the old device, go to **License**, and click **Deactivate**. Then install Copycat on the new machine and activate with the same key.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I start a trial?">
    When you first launch Copycat, enter a trial key (beginning with `CCTRIAL`) in the **License** panel and click **Activate**. A 7-day trial starts immediately. Each email address can only start one trial — if yours has already been used, you'll need to purchase a license.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Where do I buy a license?">
    Visit [copy-cat.in](https://copy-cat.in) to purchase a Copycat license. After purchase, you'll receive a license key to enter in the app's **License** panel.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>