ChatPic guide: upload an image and share its link
ChatPic.co.uk turns a supported image on your device into a shareable hosted link. You do not need an account. Hosting is provided by ImgBB, and anyone with a resulting direct URL can view or save the image.
Which ChatPic does this guide describe?
This guide describes the uploader on ChatPic.co.uk. It is an independent website, separate from the former ChatPic.org and from similarly named websites or apps. The tool does not restore another service’s images, accounts, galleries or chat channels. Read About ChatPic for the operator and the website’s purpose.
If you are trying to find an older ChatPic service, use the access guide and the domain comparison. For a new screenshot or photograph you want to share today, open the ChatPic uploader.
How to upload and share an image
- Prepare the file. Use a JPG, PNG, GIF or WebP you own or are permitted to share. Crop or cover names, account details and other information the recipient does not need.
- Select the image. Choose a file, drag it into the upload area or paste a screenshot. The interface accepts up to three images in a batch. Check every preview before continuing.
- Choose the settings. Pick the link expiry. The default is 24 hours. If appropriate, turn on the optional hidden-metadata removal setting before upload.
- Confirm permission and upload. Read the hosting and direct-link notice, confirm you can share the image and start the upload. Wait for a successful result for each file.
- Copy and save the result. Use the direct URL for an ordinary message, or a supported formatting option for your destination. Save the image links before closing or resetting the page.
- Keep management links private. If a provider deletion link is returned, save it separately. The recipient needs the image URL, not the deletion link.
The upload walkthrough explains the selection, settings and result screens in order.
For a harmless check, open the image URL in a separate browser window. This shows whether the hosted file is accessible; it does not add password protection or restrict other people who receive the URL.
Supported files and upload limits
| Setting | Current behaviour |
|---|---|
| File formats | JPG, PNG, GIF and WebP. SVG, video, PDFs and camera RAW files are not accepted. |
| Batch size | Up to three images. A larger group can be shared in separate batches, subject to service limits. |
| File size | The application ceiling is 10 MB per image. A lower server limit can apply; check the limit displayed by the uploader. |
| Pixel dimensions | The application ceiling is 24 megapixels, with no side above 16,000 pixels. A heavily compressed file can still exceed a dimension limit. |
| Accounts | No ChatPic account is required for an upload. Hosting-provider eligibility and content rules still apply. |
If a phone photo is HEIC or an editor exports a TIFF, convert a copy to a supported format. Renaming an extension does not convert a file. For oversized files, reduce pixel dimensions or export a smaller supported copy and keep the original. See upload troubleshooting for specific errors.
Expiry: time limits rather than view limits
You can request 1 hour, 24 hours, 7 days or 30 days of hosting, or choose no scheduled expiry. The selected setting is sent to ImgBB with the upload. Choose the setting before uploading; it is not an editable timer on a ChatPic account dashboard.
An expiry setting does not limit who can open a direct link or how many times they can open it. A recipient can save or screenshot the file while it is available. No scheduled expiry means a timed deletion was not requested; it is not a promise of permanent storage.
For a temporary support screenshot, pick a duration long enough for the recipient to see it. For durable documentation, keep a controlled original and use a hosting arrangement that meets your retention needs. Read the expiry guide for the difference between expiry, deletion and saved copies.
What the metadata option changes
When selected, hidden-metadata removal creates a new supported image copy in your browser before transmission. Your original file remains on your device. JPG and WebP are re-encoded, so quality or size may change; PNG is rebuilt. Animated PNG/WebP becomes a still image. GIF is sent unchanged.
This option is useful when you want to avoid forwarding original camera metadata. It is not an EXIF viewer, and it does not redact faces, addresses, screen contents or other visible identifiers. Inspect the picture itself and read the photo metadata guide before upload.
Which result should you copy?
| Result | Use it for | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| Direct URL | Chat, email, support replies and ordinary hyperlinks | Anyone with this URL can open the image while it is available. |
| Markdown | An editor that supports the generated image syntax | Markdown support differs across platforms; an ordinary link may be more reliable. |
| BBCode | A forum that supports an image tag | The forum must permit this syntax and externally hosted images. |
| QR code | Letting another device open the image URL | The QR code contains the same shareable URL. It does not add an access restriction. |
Previews and embeds are controlled by the app or forum where you paste a URL. Reddit and Discord do not necessarily interpret generic image Markdown the same way. See the direct-link guide.
When a direct link is unsuitable
The current uploader does not provide passwords, view-count limits, one-time access, private rooms, end-to-end encrypted delivery or an image-view analytics dashboard. Sending the URL only to one person does not make that person the only possible viewer.
For confidential client material, identity records or restricted business documents, use a service that authenticates the intended recipient and meets the relevant storage and access requirements. Read how to choose private photo sharing.
Files pass through ChatPic’s upload service to ImgBB. The upload response may be retained by ChatPic for up to 24 hours for retry handling, and server/analytics processing is separate. The Privacy Policy and Terms describe the service and acceptable use.
Common questions
Can I edit the expiry after upload?
Choose the expiry before upload. The current ChatPic interface does not offer an account dashboard for changing an existing image’s timer. Where available, the provider deletion link gives a separate removal route.
Does closing the browser delete the uploaded image?
No. Closing the page removes your access to that page’s displayed results, but does not itself request deletion from ImgBB. Save the image and private management links before leaving.
Is no sign-up the same as anonymous sharing?
No. Providers and servers receive technical requests, and the picture or its metadata can identify you. Use “no account required” to describe the feature accurately.
How do I get help?
Use the troubleshooting guide for an upload error or Contact and Image Reports for a support, privacy or image concern.