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Guide · Open source

How to use PicGo: install, upload images and copy links

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

PicGo is an open-source desktop app that uploads images to online image hosts and copies the resulting link to your clipboard. This guide is for bloggers, note-takers and developers who paste screenshots into Markdown editors such as Obsidian, Typora or VS Code. By the end you will know how to install PicGo, connect it to an image host and upload your first image.

PicGoMolunerfinn/PicGo · ★ 27.5k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Install PicGo. Download the installer from GitHub Releases or use Scoop, Chocolatey or Homebrew, depending on your platform.
  2. 2Create an image host account. Sign up with a supported host such as GitHub, Imgur or a cloud storage service. PicGo needs an existing account to upload.
  3. 3Enter host settings. Add your host's credentials in PicGo and set it as the default upload target.
  4. 4Choose an output format. Pick Markdown, HTML, URL or a custom template for the copied link.
  5. 5Upload an image. Drag an image into PicGo, paste it, or press Command+Shift+U or Ctrl+Shift+U.
  6. 6Paste the link. After the upload finishes, the link is already on your clipboard. Paste it into your editor.

What PicGo does and who it is for

PicGo uploads images to existing online image hosts, then copies the link to your clipboard so you can paste it into your writing. The README says it supports mainstream hosts such as GitHub, Imgur, SM.MS, Qiniu, Tencent Cloud COS, UPYUN and Alibaba Cloud OSS, with AWS S3, Cloudflare R2 and MinIO available through plugins.

PicGo is a good fit if you already use one of these hosts and want to reuse the same setup across several editors. It is not a hosting service of its own, and uploads require an account with a supported host.

  • Bloggers and note-takers who paste screenshots into Markdown editors
  • Developers writing docs who need hosted image links
  • Users who already have GitHub, Imgur, Qiniu, Tencent COS or similar accounts

Install PicGo on Windows, macOS or Linux

The README lists GitHub Releases as the main download source, with installers for desktop platforms. Package managers are also listed. The README notes that downloads from GitHub may be slow in mainland China and links to a Shandong University mirror as an alternative.

On Windows you can use Scoop or Chocolatey. On macOS you can use Homebrew. On Arch Linux the README lists an AUR package.

  • Windows with Scoop: add the extras bucket, then install the package
  • Windows with Chocolatey: install the picgo package
  • macOS with Homebrew: install the picgo cask
  • Any platform: download the installer from GitHub Releases
scoop bucket add extras scoop install picgo choco install picgo brew install picgo --cask

Connect PicGo to an image host

Before you can upload, you need an account with a supported image host and the credentials that host requires. PicGo does not provide storage itself. Configure the host inside the app, then choose it as your upload target.

The README says PicGo will no longer add new third-party hosts by default. If your host is missing, look for a plugin in the Awesome-PicGo list or build one with PicGo-Core.

  • Create or sign in to an account with a supported host such as GitHub or Imgur
  • Enter that host's settings in PicGo
  • Select the host as the default upload target

Upload an image and copy the link

Upload works through drag and drop, pasting from the clipboard, hotkeys, or the right-click menu on macOS and Windows. After an upload finishes, PicGo copies the link to your clipboard automatically.

The default global hotkey is Command+Shift+U on macOS and Ctrl+Shift+U on Windows and Linux. The README says the hotkey can be customised. Output formats include Markdown, HTML and plain URL, and custom templates are supported.

  • Drag and drop an image onto the PicGo window, or paste it from the clipboard
  • Press the global hotkey to open the upload window from any app
  • Paste the copied link into your editor
Command+Shift+U (macOS) Ctrl+Shift+U (Windows/Linux)

Use PicGo inside Obsidian, Typora or VS Code

The README says PicGo works with editors such as Obsidian, VS Code, Typora, Neovim, MarkText and SiYuan, through native support or community plugins. The goal is to paste a screenshot and have the hosted link appear without switching windows.

Setup steps differ by editor, so check the editor's own settings and the PicGo User Guide for the exact configuration.

  • Obsidian, Typora, VS Code, Neovim, MarkText and SiYuan are named in the README
  • Native support or community plugins are required, depending on the editor

Extend PicGo with plugins and the HTTP API

Plugins add hosts and features such as image compression, watermarking and renaming, according to the README. Plugin development is documented in PicGo-Core. The README also describes an HTTP API, available from v2.2.0, for uploading from other tools.

The README also covers AI integrations: PicGo Skills for Agent Skills-compatible tools, and a DeepSeek Harness plugin. Both reuse the hosts you already configured.

  • Browse plugins at the Awesome-PicGo repository
  • Build your own host plugin with PicGo-Core
  • Use the HTTP API to upload from scripts or other apps
npx skills@latest add PicGo/skills dsh plugin --profile web add @picgo/dsh-plugin

What people use it for

  • Pasting screenshots into an Obsidian note and having them uploaded automatically
  • Adding hosted images to a Typora blog draft before publishing
  • Writing developer docs that need stable image links from GitHub or S3-style storage
  • Reusing one image host configuration across several editors

Frequently asked questions

Is PicGo free and open source?

The README lists PicGo under the MIT licence and describes it as fully open source. The source is written in TypeScript and is available on GitHub. Your image host may charge for storage, which is separate from PicGo.

How do I install PicGo?

The README lists GitHub Releases for direct downloads. On Windows you can use Scoop or Chocolatey, and on macOS you can use Homebrew with brew install picgo --cask.

Do I need an account to use PicGo?

Yes. PicGo uploads to existing image hosts, and the README says uploads need an account with a supported host. It does not host images itself.

Which image hosts does PicGo support?

The README names Qiniu, Tencent Cloud COS, UPYUN, Alibaba Cloud OSS, GitHub, SM.MS and Imgur as built in. AWS S3, Cloudflare R2 and MinIO are available through plugins. The README says new third-party hosts are no longer added by default.

What are alternatives to PicGo?

The comparable projects listed for this page are uPic, ShareX, Picsee and PigGo. Choose based on your platform and which hosts you use, since this guide does not compare their features.

Why does my upload fail or the link not copy?

The README does not list troubleshooting steps. Check that your host account and credentials are correct, then review the project's FAQ and closed issues on GitHub, which the README links to.

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Our verdict

PicGo suits bloggers, note-takers and developers who already have an account with a supported image host and want to paste screenshots into Markdown editors. If you need a hosting service of your own, or do not have an image host account, pick a different tool.

Install options & downloads