Account
Your Ente account is the foundation for securely storing and accessing your photos across all your devices. This page provides an overview of account management, security features, and subscription options.
Using Ente accounts across products
Your Ente account works across both Ente Photos and Ente Auth. You can use the same account for both products, or create separate accounts for each.
Note: If you use the same account for both Photos and Auth and enable 2FA for your Ente account (stored in Ente Auth), this creates a circular dependency. We recommend either:
- Using separate accounts for Auth and Photos for security
- Ensuring your recovery key is stored securely (written down on paper) as it can bypass 2FA if you're locked out
- Using Passkeys or Legacy as additional recovery options
Learn more about this scenario in the Enteception guide.
Account Creation
Creating an Ente account involves four steps:
- Enter and verify your email address - Used for login and sharing with others
- Create a strong password - The foundation of your end-to-end encryption
- Save your recovery key - The only way to recover your account if you forget your password
- Choose a plan - Start with 10 GB free or select a paid plan
Learn more in the Creating an account guide.
Security
Password and encryption
Your password is used to encrypt all your photos before they're uploaded to Ente's servers. Only you know your password, which means only you can decrypt and view your files.
Important security practices:
- Use a strong, unique password
- Never share your password with anyone
- Store your password in a password manager
You can change your password at any time in Settings without re-encrypting your entire library.
Recovery key
Your recovery key is a 24-word phrase that is the only way to recover your account if you:
- Forget your password AND
- Are logged out of all devices
How to save it:
- Write it down on paper and store it securely
- Save it in a password manager
- Store it in any secure location you trust
Without your recovery key, losing your password means permanently losing access to your photos.
Learn more in the Account Creation FAQ.
Two-factor authentication (2FA)
Ente supports multiple 2FA methods for additional security:
- TOTP (Time-based One-Time Passwords)
- WebAuthn/FIDO2 for hardware security keys
- Passkeys as an alternative 2FA mechanism
Enable 2FA in Settings > Security on mobile or desktop apps.
Learn more about Passkeys.
End-to-end encryption
Ente uses end-to-end encryption, which means:
- Files are encrypted on your device before upload
- Ente's servers store only encrypted data
- Only you have the keys to decrypt your files
- Even Ente cannot access your photos
Encryption algorithms:
- Encryption: XChaCha20 and XSalsa20
- Authentication: Poly1305 MAC
- Key derivation: Argon2id with high parameters
Learn more in the Security and Privacy FAQ.
Subscription Plans
Free plan
Ente offers 10 GB of storage for free, forever. The free plan includes:
- ✅ Unlimited devices
- ✅ End-to-end encryption
- ✅ Machine learning features
- ✅ Map view and location tags
- ✅ Background sync
- ✅ Receiving shared albums
Free plan limitations:
- ❌ Cannot create shared albums or public links
- ❌ Cannot create family plans
Paid plans
Paid plans unlock additional features and storage:
- Multiple storage tiers from 50 GB to multiple TBs
- Monthly and annual billing (annual plans offer better value)
- Ability to share albums and create public links
- Family plan capability to share storage with 5 family members
- Priority support
See the pricing page for current plans and pricing.
Student discounts
Students receive 30% off subscription plans. Email students@ente.io from your school email address or provide proof of enrollment.
Discounts are valid for one year and can be renewed.
Learn more in the Storage and Plans FAQ.
Family Plans
Share your storage with up to 5 family members without paying extra. Each member gets:
- Their own private, encrypted space
- Access to the shared storage pool
- Independent photo libraries (photos aren't shared automatically)
Key features:
- Invite up to 5 family members (6 total including you)
- Set individual storage limits per member
- Each member maintains complete privacy
- Share storage, not photos (use sharing features for that)
Learn more in the Family Plans guide.
Payment Methods
Ente accepts multiple payment methods:
Credit/debit cards (via Stripe):
- All major card providers
- Available on web, desktop, and Android
- Most secure and recommended method
PayPal:
- Annual plans only
- Email paypal@ente.io to request an invoice
Cryptocurrency:
- Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Dogecoin (DOGE)
- Email crypto@ente.io to request an invoice
- Cannot be combined with discount codes
App Store payments:
- iOS App Store and Google Play Store
- Managed through respective app stores
Ente does not store your payment information. All payments are processed securely through Stripe or the respective payment provider.
Learn more in the Storage and Plans FAQ.
Managing Your Account
Multi-device access
Use the same account across all your devices:
- Install Ente on multiple phones, tablets, and computers
- Use the web app at web.ente.io
- All devices stay in sync automatically
- Configure backup separately on each device
Learn more in the Account Creation FAQ.
Changing your email
You can change the email address associated with your account at any time in Settings. Your photos and data remain unchanged.
Subscription management
Upgrading:
- Takes effect immediately
- You pay the difference (minus credit for unused time on old plan)
- New renewal date starts from upgrade date
Downgrading:
- Takes effect immediately
- Difference is credited to your account
- Credit applied to future renewals
Canceling:
- 30-day grace period to export your data
- Data permanently deleted after grace period
- Can renew anytime during grace period
Learn more in the Storage and Plans FAQ.
Storage Management
How storage is calculated
Ente calculates storage using GibiBytes (GiB):
- Divides total bytes by
1024 x 1024 x 1024(not1000 x 1000 x 1000) - This means files appear to use less storage compared to providers using GB
- We display it as "GB" without the "i" for simplicity
Automatic deduplication
Ente automatically detects and handles duplicates:
- Skips identical files uploaded to the same album
- Creates symlinks for files in multiple albums (storage counted only once)
- Works across all your albums automatically
- No manual action required
Learn more in the Duplicate detection guide.
Storage optimization
Free up space with built-in tools:
- Free up device space - Remove backed-up photos from your phone
- Remove exact duplicates - Find and delete duplicate files
- Remove similar images - Use ML to find visually similar photos
Learn more in the Storage optimization guide.
Referral Program
Earn free storage by inviting friends:
- Share your referral code from
Settings > General > Referrals - When friends upgrade to a paid plan, both of you get 10 GB free
- Maximum earned storage equals your plan size (double your storage)
- Earned storage lasts as long as your subscription is active
Learn more in the Referral program guide.
Account Recovery and Legacy
Recovery options
If you lose access to your account:
- Use a logged-in device to reset your password
- Use your recovery key if logged out of all devices
- Contact support if you lose access to your email
Legacy (Trusted Contacts)
Ente offers a legacy feature that allows you to designate trusted contacts who can access your account if something happens to you.
Learn more in the Legacy guide.
Related topics
- Passkeys - Use passkeys for two-factor authentication
- Family Plans - Share storage with family members
- Referral Program - Earn free storage by inviting friends
- Legacy - Designate trusted contacts for account recovery
Related FAQs
Getting Started:
- How do I create a new Ente account?
- How do I log in on multiple devices?
- What is the recovery key and why is it important?
Security:
Plans and Storage: