Forge Images

FAQ

The basics

What is Forge Images?

A free image host run by Bitsocial Forge Inc. It is the upload provider behind 5chan's upload button, and anyone can upload here directly.

Is it really free?

Yes. There are no paid tiers, subscriptions, or per-upload fees, and there never will be.

Do I need an account?

No. Uploads are anonymous. Cloudflare runs a quick browser check before each upload to keep bots out; most of the time you will not see it.

How do I use it from 5chan?

On 5chan.app, use the upload button in the post form. The file goes to Forge Images and the link is added to your post automatically.

Files

What can I upload?

Uploads are also limited per hour and per day for each connection.

How long are files kept?

Files do not expire. We do not delete files for age or inactivity. Files are removed only if they break the rules or the law. Like any free service, we cannot promise the service will exist forever.

Is adult content allowed?

Yes, legal adult content is allowed. Child sexual abuse material and other illegal content is not. See the Acceptable Use Policy for the full list.

Why does my link show an error right after uploading?

New images and videos stay private until automated checks finish, which usually takes a few seconds for an image and up to a minute for a video. If a check flags a file, a person reviews it before it goes live. New SWF files are always reviewed by a person, so their links return 404 until approved.

Why is my filename in the link?

Links include your filename so posts look like …/funny-cat.png. To leave it out, tick "Leave my filename out of the link" before uploading. Every named link also works without the name: …/<code>/funny-cat.png is the same file as …/<code>.png.

Do you remove EXIF and location data?

Yes. We remove EXIF (including GPS location), XMP, IPTC, and comments from JPEG, PNG, and WebP files before storing them, without re-compressing the image. Only the rotation setting is kept, so photos display the right way up. For MP4 and WebM videos we remove the container metadata, including location and titles, without re-encoding. GIF and SWF files are stored exactly as uploaded. If an image cannot be processed safely, it is stored as uploaded, so remove anything sensitive yourself first.

Can I delete a file I uploaded?

There are no accounts, so we cannot tell who uploaded a file and there is no delete button. If you uploaded something by mistake, such as personal information, email abuse@bitsocialforge.com with the link.

Why do two uploads of the same file get the same link?

Files are stored by their content. Identical files are stored once and share the same address, which is the long code in the link.

Privacy and safety

Do you log my IP address?

Yes. We store the IP address that uploaded each file for about 90 days to fight abuse, then delete it. If a file is reported or removed, the related records are kept for up to one year from upload. We do not track who views files. Details are in the Privacy Policy.

Who checks the uploads?

New images, and frames sampled from new videos, are checked automatically with OpenAI's moderation service. Cloudflare also scans served files for known child sexual abuse material. Flagged files and all new SWF files are reviewed by a person. Reported files are re-checked automatically; email abuse@bitsocialforge.com when a person needs to look.

How do I report a file?

Use the report form or email abuse@bitsocialforge.com. For copyright, see Copyright and DMCA.

Can I hotlink files on my site?

Yes, for personal and non-commercial use. Using Forge Images as a CDN or file host for a business needs our written permission first. Email abuse@bitsocialforge.com.

Who runs this?

Bitsocial Forge Inc., a US company that builds infrastructure for the Bitsocial peer-to-peer network. Forge Images moderates only what it hosts. Bitsocial apps can use other upload providers too.