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Set up and run FolderBloom

Getting started

  1. Create an account and add a site with its domain (for example example.com).
  2. Connect Dropbox or OneDrive. FolderBloom asks for read-only access.
  3. Create a library by choosing a folder. Only that folder and its subfolders are published.
  4. Create an embed, pick a layout and theme, and check the live preview.
  5. Buy the site license ($60/year), verify the domain, and paste the snippet into your page.

Install the embed

Paste this where the library should appear. It loads asynchronously, has no dependencies and mounts an isolated frame, so your theme's CSS won't interfere:

<script src="https://folderbloom.com/embed.js" data-embed-id="fb_your_embed_id" async></script>

Prefer a placeholder? Add <div data-folderbloom="fb_your_embed_id"></div> anywhere and include the script once. Optional attributes: data-title (accessible frame title), data-height (initial height in px) and data-loading="eager" for above-the-fold embeds.

WordPress

Download the FolderBloom Embed plugin (v1.0.1, .zip). In WordPress go to Plugins → Add New Plugin → Upload Plugin, choose the file, then install and activate it. Add the shortcode [folderbloom id="fb_your_embed_id"] to any page, post or widget (use a Shortcode block in the block editor). Or paste the snippet into a Custom HTML block — both use the same hosted library.

Webflow, Squarespace, Wix and others

Add an Embed / Code / Custom HTML element and paste the snippet. Some builders only run scripts on the published site, so check the live page rather than the editor preview.

Verify your domain

Choose whichever you can edit:

  • DNS: add a TXT record on _folderbloom.example.com (or the root) with the value shown in the dashboard.
  • Verification file: download the ready-made folderbloom-verification.txt from the dashboard and upload it (FTP or your host's file manager) so it opens at https://example.com/.well-known/folderbloom-verification.txt.

www.example.com and example.com are one site. You can also allow one staging origin; localhost always works for previews. Changing a verified domain requires verifying the new one and is limited to once every 30 days (support can help sooner).

Every file has a link like https://folderbloom.com/f/abc123…. Copy it from Libraries. It keeps working when you save a new version over the file, rename it, or move it within the published folder. Deleting a file retires the link — it shows “no longer available” and never points at another file. If a delete-and-re-upload looks like the same document, the file appears under Needs review so you can reconnect the link or keep them separate.

Protected folders

In Access, set a password on any folder in a library. Visitors see it as locked; nothing inside is listed, searchable or downloadable until they enter the password. Subfolders inherit protection unless you mark one public. Rotating the password signs everyone out. Unlocks last two hours per browser session.

Galleries

Add a gallery tier to the site, create a library of kind “Gallery”, and choose a gallery layout. FolderBloom builds AVIF/WebP images at 480, 960 and 1600 px wide (never larger than the original) plus a JPEG fallback, stripping EXIF location data. Captions and alt text can be edited per image in the dashboard.

Captions from a spreadsheet

Save a file named captions.csv in the folder with three columns — file, caption, alt — one row per photo. Excel and Google Sheets files work as-is (comma or semicolon separated). It applies to the photos in its own folder (each subfolder can have its own), is never shown in the gallery, and updates on the next sync. Download a pre-filled template from Galleries → Captions template. If a caption is edited in both places, the most recent edit wins. Rows are matched by file name, so update the row if you rename a photo. It works for file libraries too, as file descriptions.

Badges, QR codes, scheduling and more

File size and type limits

Individual files can be up to 100 MB. To keep FolderBloom from being used to distribute movies, games or software, some file types (such as .torrent, .iso, .exe, .dmg and .apk, and long-form video containers like .mkv) aren't published. Files over the limit or of a blocked type stay in your storage but don't appear on your site; your library shows them with a “Not published” tag.

“New” and “Updated” badges

Files added to a library, or replaced with a new version, are tagged for 14 days by default. Turn badges off or change the window (3–60 days) in the embed designer. Files present when a library is first created are never marked new.

QR codes

In a library, use the QR button on any file to download a PNG or print-ready SVG QR code for its permanent link. Printed codes keep working when you replace the file.

Single-file button

Create an embed with the Single-file button layout, choose the file and the button text. It always serves the latest version — ideal for menus, price lists and forms.

Scheduled publishing

Use the calendar button on a file to set “Publish from” and/or “Remove after” (your local time). Outside that window the file is hidden from embeds, search and ZIP downloads, and its link shows “not available”.

Slideshow

A gallery layout showing one large photo at a time with arrows, dots, swipe and optional autoplay (3–15 seconds per photo). Autoplay pauses while visitors hover or use the controls, and is off for visitors who prefer reduced motion.

Download all (ZIP)

When available, turn on “Download all” in the embed designer. Visitors can download every file in the current folder as one ZIP. Folders over the size limit (500 MB by default) are split into numbered parts; single files over the per-file limit are left out and listed so visitors can download them individually. Protected folders are only included after they're unlocked.

Summary emails

Owners receive a weekly summary of downloads, top files and traffic for every site. Change it to monthly or off, or send yourself a preview, under Account → Summary emails.

Analytics

A download is counted when FolderBloom starts sending the file (a “download start”), since completion can't be measured reliably. Data is kept for about 13 months. Export any range as CSV.

Billing & licensing

Each site has its own annual subscription. A failed renewal starts a 14-day grace period during which embeds keep working. A cancelled subscription works until the paid year ends. After that, embeds show a small unavailable message. Manage payment methods and invoices through the billing portal.

Troubleshooting

  • “Not enabled for this website” — the page's domain doesn't match the site's verified domain or staging origin.
  • “Temporarily unavailable” — the site's license isn't active. Check Billing.
  • Files not updating — open Connections; if it says “Reconnect”, sign in to the provider again. Use “Sync now” on the library.
  • Content Security Policy on your site — allow https://folderbloom.com in script-src and frame-src.