FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about ControlC pastes, images, GIFs and albums. Still stuck? Reach us at controlcdotcom@protonmail.com.
What is ControlC?
ControlC is a free pastebin and self-destructing media host. Paste text or drop images and GIFs on the homepage — or use the dedicated New paste and New upload pages — and you get a short link you can share anywhere. No account is needed for text pastes, images, or GIFs up to 15 seconds long.
Do I need an account?
No. Guests and members can upload GIFs up to 15 seconds long. A free account adds a larger daily upload allowance (2 GB instead of 500 MB), the ability to edit your pastes, and dashboards to view or delete everything you have posted.
Pastes
How big can a paste be?
Up to 100 KB of text. BBCode formatting is supported.
How long do pastes last?
Timed pastes last from 5 minutes to 48 hours. New pastes default to Never for signed-in members and 48 hours for guests. Guests have a 48-hour maximum. Existing pastes keep their current expiration. Expired pastes are removed automatically.
Can I password-protect a paste?
Yes. Add an optional password (up to 50 characters) when creating the paste; anyone with the link will need it to view the content.
Can I edit or delete a paste?
Members can edit their own pastes and delete them from the dashboard. Guest pastes cannot be edited — to have one removed, contact us via the DMCA / removals page.
How many pastes can I create?
Guests can create 60 pastes per hour; members can create 300 per hour.
Images & animated GIFs
What file types can I upload?
Images: JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF. Animations: GIF.
GIFs have a 15-second maximum for everyone. The browser scans one frame per second before upload and removes GIF comments and metadata while preserving animation. Choose an expiry from 5 minutes to 48 hours.
What are the size and resolution limits?
- Images: up to 50 MB each, from 8×8 up to 12,000×12,000 pixels. Very large images may be re-encoded to keep pages fast.
- GIFs: up to 200 MB; up to 15 seconds for both guests and members. GIFs are optimized for smooth, silent playback.
How many files can I upload?
Up to 50 uploads per hour, and an album (multiple files uploaded together) counts as a single upload. One album can hold up to 50 files. After uploading, drop or paste more media on the result page to create or extend an album. This option lasts until you leave or refresh. Daily volume is capped at 500 MB for guests and 2 GB for members.
On the upload page you can collect files one by one — drag them in, pick them, or paste images straight from the clipboard — and send everything with a single Upload press. Uploading multiple files together creates an album.
How long does uploaded media last?
Choose a duration from 5 minutes to 48 hours for images, GIFs and albums. The default is 48 hours. All files in an album use the selected duration. Existing uploads keep their expiration settings.
Is my personal information removed from uploads?
Image metadata — EXIF, GPS location and camera details — is stripped in the browser before upload. GIF comments and metadata are removed while preserving the animation.
Can I hotlink or embed files on other sites?
No. Media only renders on its ControlC page; direct file links do not work when embedded elsewhere. Share the page link instead.
Can I delete something I uploaded?
Members can delete any of their uploads from the media dashboard — individually or several at once using the checkboxes. Right after uploading an album, members can also dissolve the album grouping without deleting the files themselves. Guests can delete files or the album inline during the original upload visit. These controls disappear after leaving or refreshing the page.
Content policy
Is NSFW content allowed?
No. Uploads are scanned locally in your browser. Content that fails the scan is blocked before upload. See the Terms of Service for the full policy.
How do I report content?
Every media page has a Report link in the footer. For copyright takedowns or anything else, use the DMCA / removals page or email controlcdotcom@protonmail.com.