Documentation

Learn how to make the most of ScreenVault's features

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Quick Start

  1. Open the App: Click "Launch App" from the homepage or navigate to /app/recent
  2. Upload Screenshots: Go to the Upload page and drag-and-drop your screenshots, or paste from clipboard
  3. Organize: Create collections and apply tags to keep screenshots organized
  4. Search & Share: Find screenshots instantly with search, and generate shareable URLs

Uploading Screenshots

ScreenVault provides multiple ways to upload screenshots:

  • Drag and Drop: Drag screenshot files from your computer into the upload area
  • Click to Browse: Click the upload area to open your file browser
  • Paste from Clipboard: Press Ctrl+V (or Cmd+V on Mac) on the upload page
  • Batch Upload: Select multiple files at once for batch processing

Tip: All screenshots are processed client-side and stored in your browser's IndexedDB. No uploads to servers!

Collections

Collections help you organize screenshots by project, feature, or any category you choose.

  • Create collections with custom names, icons, and colors
  • Assign screenshots to collections during upload or afterward
  • Filter screenshots by collection
  • Move screenshots between collections

Tags

Tags provide flexible categorization across collections.

  • Apply multiple tags to each screenshot
  • Use autocomplete for existing tags
  • Filter screenshots by one or more tags
  • Organize by priority, status, or custom categories

Example tags: bug, high-priority, design-review, v2.0

Search & Filters

Find any screenshot instantly with powerful search and filtering:

  • Text Search: Search by title, description, or tags
  • Date Filters: Filter by upload date or date range
  • Collection Filters: View screenshots from specific collections
  • Tag Filters: Filter by one or multiple tags
  • Favorites: Quickly access starred screenshots

Sharing Screenshots

Share screenshots with encoded metadata via URL:

  • Click "Share" on any screenshot detail page
  • The URL encodes the screenshot thumbnail and metadata
  • Recipients see the screenshot preview and details without needing access to your library
  • Share links work even if the recipient doesn't have the app installed

Privacy Note: Share links contain only the data you choose to encode. Your full library stays private.

Export & Import

Back up your screenshots or move them to another browser:

  • Export All: Download all screenshots and metadata as a JSON file
  • Export Single: Export individual screenshots with their metadata
  • Import: Restore screenshots from a JSON export file
  • Data Portability: Your data is never locked in - export anytime

Activity History

Track all your actions in the Activity History page:

  • View uploads, edits, and deletions
  • See timestamps for all actions
  • Timeline view of your activity
  • Clear history if needed

Keyboard Shortcuts

Navigate quickly with keyboard shortcuts (press ? in the app to show all shortcuts):

Recent Screenshots
Shift+R
Favorites
Shift+F
Collections
Shift+C
Upload
Shift+U
History
Shift+H
Settings
Shift+S

Tip: Keyboard shortcuts work when you're not typing in an input field. Look for the keyboard icon in the bottom-right corner of the app to see all shortcuts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are my screenshots stored?

All screenshots are stored locally in your browser's IndexedDB. They never leave your device.

What happens if I clear my browser data?

If you clear your browser's storage, you'll lose your screenshots. We recommend exporting your library regularly as a backup.

Can I use ScreenVault offline?

Yes! Once loaded, ScreenVault works completely offline. All processing happens in your browser.

Is there a storage limit?

Storage limits depend on your browser's IndexedDB quota, typically several hundred MB to GBs. The app will compress images to optimize storage.

Do I need an account?

No! ScreenVault requires no accounts, sign-ups, or authentication. Everything runs locally in your browser.

Troubleshooting

What if my screenshots don't appear after uploading?

Try these steps:

  • Check that your files are valid image formats (PNG, JPG, GIF)
  • Refresh the page and check the Recent page again
  • Check browser console for error messages (F12 → Console)
  • Ensure you haven't exceeded your browser's storage quota

What if I get a "Storage quota exceeded" error?

Your browser's IndexedDB storage is full. Try these solutions:

  • Delete old or unnecessary screenshots from your library
  • Export your library and import it into a different browser
  • Move archived screenshots to external storage and delete them
  • Check browser settings to increase storage quota (advanced)

What if search isn't finding my screenshots?

Search looks in titles, descriptions, and tags. Make sure:

  • You've added titles or descriptions to your screenshots
  • Your search term matches text in title/description/tags
  • You don't have filters active that hide the screenshot
  • The screenshot isn't archived (check Archive page)

What if clipboard paste isn't working?

Clipboard paste requires browser permissions:

  • Make sure you're on the Upload page (clipboard only works there)
  • Grant clipboard permissions when the browser prompts you
  • Copy an image (not a file path) to your clipboard first
  • Try using drag-and-drop or file browser instead

What if thumbnails aren't loading?

Thumbnail generation happens client-side. If they're not loading:

  • Wait a few seconds - large images take time to process
  • Refresh the page to trigger thumbnail regeneration
  • Check that the original image isn't corrupted
  • Try uploading the screenshot again

What if import isn't working?

When importing a backup file:

  • Ensure the file is a valid JSON export from ScreenVault
  • Check that the file isn't corrupted or modified
  • Make sure you have enough storage space available
  • Try importing smaller batches if the file is very large

What if keyboard shortcuts aren't working?

Keyboard shortcuts are disabled when typing in input fields:

  • Click outside any input field or text area
  • Make sure you're pressing Shift + the shortcut key
  • Check you're not in a modal dialog or edit mode
  • Press ? to see all available shortcuts

What if shared links aren't working?

Shared links encode screenshot data in the URL:

  • Ensure the entire URL is copied (URLs can be very long)
  • Check that the URL wasn't truncated by messaging apps
  • Try sharing via "Copy Link" button instead of manual copy
  • Note: Shared links show preview data, not your full library

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Need More Help?

Check out our Privacy Policy for information about data handling, or visit the Features page to learn more about what ScreenVault can do.

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