Using TagSpaces with other users or on many devices

Using TagSpaces with other users or on many devices

Guide to using TagSpaces collaboratively across multiple users or devices by syncing tagged files via shared network folders or cloud storage services.

One of the most common questions we receive about TagSpaces is whether it supports file synchronization between devices. Users often ask:

“I’ve just tagged hundreds of files on my laptop — how do I see the same tags on my tablet or desktop?”

Our philosophy is that TagSpaces doesn’t need its own sync feature. Why? Because all metadata — including tags, colors, and descriptions — are stored directly in the file names or in accompanying sidecar files (located in the .ts folders). That means your tagging information travels with your files.

If you synchronize or share your files using existing tools, the tags go with them automatically. This design avoids vendor lock-in and ensures your tags remain portable, transparent, and under your control — even outside TagSpaces.

Most other tagging apps use an internal database for storing tags, which makes migration difficult and locks your metadata behind a proprietary format. In contrast, TagSpaces lets you retain ownership of your tagging data — forever.

Using shared network folders

The simplest way to collaborate or use TagSpaces across multiple devices is to work from a shared network folder — for example, a file share on your LAN or NAS. You just have to connect the shared network folder or drive as location in TagSpaces.

flowchart
    subgraph LAN[A local network - LAN]
        direction TB
        subgraph PC1[Windows PC]
            direction RL
            TSLoc1["TagSpaces Location: Photos"]
            TSLoc2["TagSpaces Location: Projects"]
        end
        subgraph NAS[NAS e.g. Synology, QNAP]
            direction BT
            SF1["Shared Folder: Photos"]
            SF2["Shared Folder: Projects"]
        end
        subgraph MAC1[Mac Laptop]
            direction RL
            TSLoc3["TagSpaces Location: Photos"]
        end
        TSLoc1 <-->|connected| SF1
        TSLoc2 <-->|connected| SF2
        TSLoc3 <-->|connected| SF1
    end
    style LAN fill:#e8e8e87d

<figcaption>Using TagSpaces with shared network folders</figcaption>

On Windows, you can mount a shared network folder as a drive with a specific letter using a command like this:

mount \\ServerIP\ShareName Y:

:::tip This is the recommended method for connecting a network location in TagSpaces, as it provides a stable and consistent path. Alternatively, you can also use the direct UNC path (\ServerIP\ShareName), which should work as well. :::

✅ Advantages

Easy to set up within a home or office network
Multiple users can view and edit tagged files simultaneously
All metadata (file names and sidecar files) remain consistent

⚠️ Drawbacks

Usually not exposed to the internet without a VPN
Not accessible from TagSpaces Web or mobile apps, since they work with object storage only

This setup works great for small local teams or households sharing a single network drive.

Using cloud sync services

For most users, the easiest cross-device setup is to use a standard cloud sync service such as:

These tools automatically synchronize files — and thus your TagSpaces tags — across all your devices (Windows, macOS, Linux). You can even access the same files through TagSpaces Web if the service exposes S3-compatible access or if you use local sync clients.

flowchart
    subgraph Internet[Internet]
        direction TB
        subgraph PC1[Windows PC]
            direction RL
            TSLoc1["TagSpaces Location: Photos"]
            TSSync1["Synced Local Folder: Photos"]
            SyncSW1("Sync Software e.g. Dropbox Client")
            TSLoc1 <-->|connected| TSSync1
            TSSync1 <-->|connected| SyncSW1
        end
        subgraph CloudService[☁️ Cloud Storage Service e.g. Dropbox]
            direction BT
            SF1["Cloud Folder: Photos"]
        end
        subgraph MAC1[Mac Laptop]
            direction RL
            TSLoc3["TagSpaces Location: Photos"]
            TSSync3["Synced Local Folder: Photos"]
            SyncSW3("Sync Software e.g. Dropbox Client")
            TSLoc3 <-->|connected| TSSync3
            TSSync3 <-->|connected| SyncSW3
        end
        SyncSW3 <-->|sync| SF1
        SyncSW1 <-->|sync| SF1

    end
    style Internet fill:#e8e8e87d

<figcaption>Using TagSpaces with shared network folders</figcaption>

✅ Advantages

Simple setup with desktop apps
Real-time synchronization
Reliable and well-supported

⚠️ Drawbacks

Your data is stored on third-party cloud servers
Limited control over privacy depending on provider

If you value convenience and cross-device consistency, this is the most seamless option.

Using p2p sync services

If you prefer to stay cloud-free but still want automatic synchronization, try peer-to-peer sync tools such as:

Syncthing – Open-source, private, and cross-platform. A great step-by-step guide for setting up TagSpaces with Syncthing can be found in this Medium article.
Resilio Sync (formerly BitTorrent Sync) – A proprietary but efficient peer-to-peer alternative.

flowchart
    subgraph Internet[Internet / LAN]
        direction TB
        subgraph PC1[Windows PC]
            direction RL
            TSLoc1[TagSpaces Location: Photos]
            TSSync1[Synced Local Folder: Photos]
            P2PC1(Peer to peer sync software)
            TSLoc1 <-->|connected| TSSync1
            TSSync1 <-->|sync| P2PC1
        end
        subgraph MAC1[Mac Laptop]
            direction RL
            P2PC3(Peer to peer sync software)
            TSLoc3[TagSpaces Location: Photos]
            TSSync3[Synced Local Folder: Photos]
            TSLoc3 <-->|connected| TSSync3
            TSSync3 <-->|sync| P2PC3
        end
        P2PC1 <-->|p2p sync| P2PC3
    end
    style Internet fill:#e8e8e87d

<figcaption>Using TagSpaces with peer to peer synced folders</figcaption>

✅ Advantages

Your files never leave your trusted devices
End-to-end encrypted and decentralized
Works great for local networks and private sharing setups

⚠️ Drawbacks

Slightly more complex setup than cloud sync
Not always ideal for users without always-on devices

This approach combines privacy with convenient sync, ideal for power users and privacy advocates.

Using object storage on the internet

If you prefer a modern cloud architecture or want to use TagSpaces Web on mobile devices, consider using S3-compatible object storage. TagSpaces Pro supports connecting such storage as locations. Common services include: Amazon S3, Contabo Object Storage or Cloudflare R2.

Each of these can be connected directly to TagSpaces through its “Object Storage” location type. See our dedicated tutorials for setup details:

flowchart
    subgraph Internet[Internet]
        direction TB
        subgraph PC1[Windows PC]
            direction RL
            TSLoc1["Photos - S3 location in TagSpaces"]
            TSLoc2["Projects - S3 location in TagSpaces"]
        end
        subgraph MD1["Browser on iOS / Android / Mac"]
            direction RL
            TSLoc4["Projects - S3 location in TagSpaces **Web**"]
        end
        subgraph S3Service1[AWS S3]
            direction BT
            SF1["Object Storage Bucket: Photos"]
        end
        subgraph S3Service2[Contabo]
            direction BT
            SF4["Object Storage Bucket: Projects"]
        end
        subgraph MAC1[Mac Laptop]
            direction RL
            TSLoc3["Photos - S3 location in TagSpaces"]
        end
        TSLoc1 <-->|connected| SF1
        TSLoc2 <-->|connected| SF4
        TSLoc4 <-->|connected| SF4
        TSLoc3 <-->|connected| SF1
    end
    style Internet fill:#e8e8e87d

<figcaption>Using TagSpaces with S3 services</figcaption>

✅ Advantages

Accessible globally and ideal for remote collaboration
Compatible with TagSpaces Web and mobile
Scalable and backed by reliable infrastructure

⚠️ Drawbacks

Typically involves some setup and credential management
May incur cloud storage costs

Using object storage on your NAS

If you prefer self-hosting or need a private cloud, you can run your own S3-compatible storage locally on a NAS or server.

Popular self-hosted object storage options include:

MinIO – Lightweight and easy to deploy
S3Proxy – Converts local filesystems into an S3 API
Garage – Distributed, open-source storage

These can all be connected as S3 locations in TagSpaces, just like cloud providers — but under your full control. See our dedicated tutorials for setup details:

flowchart
    subgraph Intranet[Your local network]
        direction TB
        subgraph PC1[Windows PC]
            direction RL
            TSLoc1["Photos - S3 location in TagSpaces"]
        end
        subgraph MD1["Browser on iOS / Android"]
            direction RL
            TSLoc3["Projects - S3 location in TagSpaces **Web**"]
        end
        subgraph NAS1[NAS]
            direction BT
            subgraph S3Service1["S3 service: s3Proxy, Garage"]
                SF1["Object Storage Bucket: Photos"]
            end
        end
        TSLoc1 <-->|connected| SF1
        TSLoc3 <-->|connected| SF1
    end
    style Intranet fill:#e8e8e87d
    style NAS1 fill:#b4b4b47d

<figcaption>Using TagSpaces with local S3 services running on NAS/Docker</figcaption>

✅ Advantages

100% self-hosted and private
Ideal for home servers or offices with NAS devices
Full control over performance, backups, and security

⚠️ Drawbacks

Requires some technical setup
Remote access might need VPN or port forwarding

Using locally synced object storage

If you want both cloud storage and local file access, tools like Mountain Duck can sync S3-compatible storage as a local folder.

This means TagSpaces interacts with files locally, while Mountain Duck keeps them in sync with your cloud storage in the background.

flowchart
    subgraph Internet[Internet]
        direction TB
        subgraph PC1[Windows PC]
            direction RL
            TSLoc1["TagSpaces Location: Photos"]
            TSSync1["Synced Local Folder: Photos"]
            MND1(Mountain Duck Sync Software)
            TSLoc1 <-->|connected| TSSync1
            TSSync1 <-->|connected| MND1

        end
        subgraph CloudService[S3 Object Storage: AWS S3, Wasabi]
            direction BT
            SF1["Object Storage Bucket: Photos"]
        end
        subgraph MAC1[Mac Laptop]
            direction RL
            TSLoc3["TagSpaces Location: Photos"]
            TSSync3["Synced Local Folder: Photos"]
            MND3(Mountain Duck Sync Software)
            TSLoc3 <-->|connected| TSSync3
            TSSync3 <-->|connected| MND3
        end
        MND3 <-->|sync| SF1
        MND1 <-->|sync| SF1

    end
    style Internet fill:#e8e8e87d

✅ Advantages

Full offline access and quick local performance
Seamless integration with cloud backups
Works with any S3-compatible service

⚠️ Drawbacks

Requires a paid license for Mountain Duck (or similar tools)
Slightly higher resource usage when syncing large datasets

This setup is perfect for users who want reliable backups, cloud redundancy, and fast local editing.

Using encryption with Cryptomator

For end-to-end encryption, you can layer Cryptomator on top of your chosen sync or storage setup. Cryptomator creates an encrypted vault that can be opened locally, synced via cloud or peer-to-peer, and used directly with TagSpaces.

Check our detailed setup guide: 👉 End-to-End Encryption with TagSpaces and Cryptomator

✅ Advantages

Protects your data and tags with strong encryption
Compatible with most cloud and object storage services

⚠️ Drawbacks

Slightly slower file access due to encryption overhead

Backing up your data

Whether you use local or cloud storage, regular backups are essential. Open-source tools like Plakar or Restic can automate backups to a variety of destinations:

Cloud services (Dropbox, S3, R2, etc.)
Network folders
Local drives

:::tip Always back up both your files and the sidecar files (located in the .ts folders) — they contain TagSpaces-specific metadata. :::

Conclusion

TagSpaces gives you the freedom to organize and tag files your way, across all your devices and platforms. Because your tags are stored with your files — not locked inside a database — you can freely choose your preferred sync, sharing, and storage strategy.

Whether you use Dropbox, Syncthing, your NAS, or a self-hosted S3 service, TagSpaces adapts to your workflow — empowering you to collaborate privately, flexibly, and without losing control of your data.

TagSpaces: organize everywhere, own your data.