REFLO Settings guide — every item, fully explained

REFLO is built so you can install it, add a protected folder, and start using it. You can work without ever opening Settings. When you do open Settings, this is the first hint you see — “Settings are split into tabs. Defaults are enough for most people.”

Even so, Settings has quite a few items that make you wonder “what is this?” This guide walks through every tab and every item, what each one does, when it’s worth changing, and which buttons you should never press casually.

> If this is your first read, the short version: leaving the defaults is fine. Treat this guide as a dictionary to open when you want to change something.

How to open Settings, and how the screen is organized

• From anywhere in the app, shortcut ⌘, opens Settings.
• Settings is split into five tabs: General · Live protection · Storage · Account · Support.
• On the right of the tab row there is a Show advanced settings toggle. It’s off by default; turn it on and technical options such as storage pools, experimental features, and server addresses appear. As the app says, “Turn it on only when you need size limits, paths, or technical options.”
• At the very top, on every tab, you’ll see an account summary card. You can check sign-in status, plan (Free/PRO), and remaining Pro trial days at a glance.

We’ll go through the tabs in order.

General tab — display and how the app runs

This is the tab you’ll use most. As the description says, “Tune display and how the app runs, quickly.”

Theme

Sets the app’s brightness. Choose among System / Light / Dark.

• System — follows your Mac’s Dark Mode setting. When the Mac switches to Dark Mode at night, REFLO switches with it. (Default)
• Light / Dark — always light, or always dark, regardless of the system.

Language

Choose 한국어 / English. You can change the language you picked on first launch here at any time.

Private Mode

The name can sound like a privacy feature. It isn’t. It’s an option that simplifies the History screen for people working alone. The app description, carried over:

> “It only changes on the Safety (History) screen. Phrases and layout for versions, lists, Back, and so on become simpler around ‘points,’ and team/sharing-flow chrome is reduced.”

If you work alone without team collaboration, try turning it on. The screen gets a bit quieter. When it’s on, a Custom features section (open Activity, shortcut list) also appears on the Support tab.

Open at Login

“REFLO launches automatically when you turn on or sign in to your Mac.”

We recommend leaving this on. REFLO only detects saves and records them while it’s running, so if you forget to launch the app, work in that gap isn’t recorded. Open at Login avoids that blank.

Live protection tab — Adobe AutoRecover

“Configure automatic snapshots during Photoshop work and Adobe AutoRecover.”

Adobe AutoRecover

Photoshop already has its own auto-save. Every few minutes it quietly stores the file you’re working on in a folder called AutoRecover, then brings it back if the app force-quits. Turn on the Adobe AutoRecover toggle and REFLO watches that folder too.

> “Import PSD and PSB from the Photoshop AutoRecover folder as REFLO history versions.”

In other words, work from moments when you didn’t press ⌘S still joins the REFLO timeline, as far as Photoshop has auto-saved. If you use Photoshop often, we recommend leaving this on.

If you turn it on and see “No AutoRecover folders detected yet,” REFLO couldn’t find Photoshop’s auto-save folder automatically. Use Choose folder… to point at it yourself — “Once set, versions from that path are imported into history too.” When it’s linked normally, it shows “N location(s) linked.”

Storage tab — the most important tab

This tab decides where, how much, and how often records accumulate. There are many items, so we’ll go from the top.

Version history storage location

“This is the folder where previous versions accumulate. Change it only when you want to move to an external disk or NAS (WebDAV).”

Records (snapshots) REFLO leaves do not go in the working folder; they accumulate in a separate archive folder. Current storage path shows where that is now, and you can change it among the three options below. Pick an item, then click Set to apply.

| Option | Description | Who it’s for | |---|---|---| | Default storage | “Saves automatically in the default space. You can use it comfortably without extra setup.” | Most people (default) | | Local storage | “Saved on this computer. Fast and stable.” You pick the folder yourself. | When the internal disk is tight and you want history on an external SSD | | WebDAV storage | “Saved on external storage. Speed can vary with the network.” Connect a WebDAV address such as a NAS. | People who use a NAS (Pro) |

What you must know when you change location — after you pick a new location, a window asks about existing history. With the hint “If you change storage, existing history won’t be visible,” you get two choices.

• Copy and move — “Copy existing history records to the new folder. You can keep previous records as they are.” Unless you have a special reason, always pick this.
• Delete and move — “Delete existing history records and start in the new folder. Previous records cannot be recovered.” This throws away all history so far. Use it only when you really want to start over.

If you pick an external disk or NAS, you’ll also see “A wired connection is recommended when possible.” Right after you change location, a Restart to apply banner may appear; click it to relaunch the app once.

When you connect WebDAV, you enter name, server address, username, and password. “The password is stored only in the Mac password keychain. The server address must start with https.”

Usage

Shows how much disk REFLO is using. “Disk usage is an estimate.”

• Local usage — size of records on this Mac, number of save records, number of files under protection, and free disk space. If space is low, a “Local volume is low on space” warning appears.
• Cloud usage — if Cloud History is connected, shows “used · limit · upload cap.” A warning appears when usage goes over 80%.

If the numbers don’t match what you expect, click Refresh to recalculate.

Backup management

A section with one button: Full backup (delete oldest).

> “Backs up all recent files, and deletes the oldest full backup to manage space.”

It backs up the recent files currently under protection in one go, and deletes the oldest full backup so capacity doesn’t grow without bound. Think of it as a “manual safety catch” you tap once after finishing a large stretch of work.

Version count and retention

“Decide how long and how often to keep records. If the disk fills quickly or records are too dense, you can ease it here.”

Save records to keep per file — the maximum number of previous versions for one file.

• Free: choose 50 / 100 / 200 (“Free plan save-record limit”)
• Pro: up to 500 / 1,000 / 5,000 / Unlimited (“On Pro there is no save-record count limit.”)

If you lower the count, a confirmation appears: “This reduces the maximum versions per file. Continue?” Older versions past the limit start to be cleaned up.

Age threshold for pruning old versions (time) — “Prune ordinary versions older than this.” The default is 72 hours (3 days). The “ordinary versions” part matters — versions left as a milestone or manual backup are not targets of this automatic cleanup. For a moment you must keep, make a milestone. On Pro there is no retention-period limit, so this field is disabled.

How often to record on save

“Instead of always leaving a version on every save, we can skip based on interval and how much changed.”

If you mash ⌘S out of habit, dozens of nearly identical versions a few seconds apart can be wasteful. This section filters that intelligently.

• Smart recording interval — when it’s on (the default), REFLO looks at interval and change amount and skips meaningless duplicate records. “Turn it off to try recording on every save, like before.”
• How often to keep — three steps: More often / Balanced / Less often. “Less often prioritizes disk and version count; More often makes it harder to miss a moment.” The default Balanced is enough; if the disk is tight, use “Less often”; if you don’t want to miss a single moment, use “More often.”
• Thin versions by recent vs older spans (Pro) — “Keep recent records dense, and automatically thin older spans.” Recent work stays detailed; work from weeks ago is kept more sparsely to save disk.

(Advanced) Storage pools · store only what changed

Turn on Show advanced settings and two more sections appear. Everyday use rarely needs them, so this is a short introduction.

• Storage pools — “You can spread protection data across multiple volumes.” When the default disk fills past a set ratio (default 90%), new records continue on a secondary disk you’ve designated. An option for people who want several external disks bound together as storage.
• Experiment: store only what changed (delta) — an experimental feature that, for large PSD and video files, stores only what changed instead of the whole file, saving disk and transfer. You can set a minimum size to apply (default 10MiB) and file types (for example psd, psb, mov). The idea is covered in the Delta introduction. As the app says, “It’s fine to leave this off for ordinary work.”

Account tab — sign-in and cloud

Account summary

If you aren’t signed in, you’ll see “Sign in with a REFLO account to apply PRO/Team plans and licenses to this app,” with Log in / Sign up. After you sign in, plan badges (PRO active, Account linked, and so on) appear along with Manage on the web · View plans · Log out. If you’re on a Pro trial, you can also see “N days left · end date” here.

If the plan looks wrong, Recheck status resyncs with the server.

Cloud History (REFLO server)

This is for continuing the timeline across Macs. The app hint, carried over:

> “To continue the timeline across Macs later, a separate cloud plan used together with the REFLO server is planned.”

Follow the on-screen steps to connect: sign in on Account Hub → subscribe or redeem a code → enter the connection code in the app. Open my account opens the web account page right away.

Details such as server address and API token only appear when Show advanced settings is on — “Server address and token are shown after you turn on advanced settings.” When that’s on, you get options like these.

• Use Cloud History — “When you create a manual backup, upload the same version to the REFLO server as well.”
• Store in the cloud only (save local disk) — keep the actual data of uploaded versions in the cloud only, to save this Mac’s disk.
• Test connection — check that the info you entered actually connects to the server. The token is stored safely in “this Mac’s system keychain.”

Support tab — management, plugins, troubleshooting

This tab has useful tools and also dangerous reset buttons. We’ll go from the top.

Temporary storage (cache)

“Temporary data for preview and fast open.” Temporary files used to show timeline thumbnails quickly. Clear cache does not delete records (versions) at all. It’s a button you can press without worry when the disk is tight. Cleared cache is rebuilt naturally as you use the app.

App updates

You can check the installed version and click Check for updates. If a new version is available, you’ll see “An update is available” with Download and install.

Photoshop plugin · Illustrator plugin

This section installs the REFLO panel inside Adobe apps.

• Photoshop plugin (UXP) — “Photoshop 24.2+ and Creative Cloud Desktop are required.” If Install status shows “The REFLO panel is registered in Photoshop,” you’re set. If it isn’t registered, install with Install Photoshop plugin.
• Illustrator plugin (CEP) — Illustrator 2020 (24) or later is required. In the same way, click Install Illustrator plugin.

If install fails, you’ll see a hint such as “Open the .ccx file or check Full Disk Access,” and a Full Disk Access guide button leads to the fix.

Support & diagnostics

“If a problem keeps happening, create a diagnostics file or copy the last error info.”

• Create diagnostics file — makes a diagnostics file to send to support. Including this file when you report a problem helps find the cause much faster.
• Replay onboarding — returns to the first-launch screen. Records are not deleted; you only see the intro screens again.
• Refresh error state / Last render error — where you check and copy that info when the app UI hit an error. Copy error info and paste it into a support message.

⚠️ Two buttons to treat with care

They’re in the same section, but these two buttons are a completely different kind of thing, so they get their own emphasis.

• Reset Finder connection — “Disconnects all linked network storage and deletes the cache.” A recovery tool only for when REFLO-related “expired” errors keep appearing in the Finder sidebar. The confirmation says “This cannot be undone.”
• Reset all — “Deletes File Provider, drive settings, activity, and history all and…” Returns REFLO to a just-installed state. The confirmation warning is literal: “All data will be deleted and cannot be undone.” Please don’t press this without support guidance.

Legal

Links that open the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy (in English).

Settings that differ by plan (summary)

Confirm details on the pricing page and in the app.

| Settings item | Free | Pro | |---|---|---| | Save records per file | 50 / 100 / 200 | 500 / 1,000 / 5,000 / Unlimited | | Age threshold for pruning old versions | Adjustable (default 72 hours) | No limit | | Thin versions by span | — | Supported | | WebDAV storage | — | Supported | | Delta (store only what changed) remote upload | — | Supported |

FAQ

I don’t know what I should change

You don’t have to change anything. Check just two things — whether Open at Login is on (to avoid recording gaps), and if you use Photoshop, whether Adobe AutoRecover is on.

The disk keeps filling up

Try in this order. ① On the Support tab, Clear cache ② On the Storage tab, set How often to keep to “Less often” ③ Lower Save records to keep per file by one step ④ Move Version history storage location to an external disk (choose Copy and move).

If I move storage location, what happens to existing records?

In the window that appears when you move, pick Copy and move and existing records are copied to the new location and kept. Delete and move throws existing records away, so be careful.

Does clearing the cache delete version history too?

No. Cache is only temporary preview data, separate from version history. Clear it with confidence.

Does a “72-hour prune threshold” mean everything disappears after 3 days?

It’s only the threshold at which ordinary (auto) versions become eligible to prune — not that every record vanishes immediately. And versions left as a milestone or manual backup are not targets of this cleanup. Make a milestone for a moment you want to keep longer.

Is it bad to leave advanced settings on?

Leaving it on isn’t a problem. It does expose items that are easy to confuse if you touch them wrong — storage pools, delta, server address — so we recommend turning it on only when you need it.

I think I changed Settings by mistake

Most items can be put back to their original values. For storage location, pick Default storage again and you’ll be walked through “restore defaults.” If you don’t remember what you changed, use the default callouts in this guide and put items back one by one.

Read next

• Protected folders guide — where every record starts
• Timeline guide — view and browse records
• Restore guide — go back to a moment you want
• Milestone guide — make a moment you want to keep through automatic cleanup
• Delta introduction — how “store only what changed” works

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This guide follows the wording in the app. Item layout may shift slightly between versions — use the tooltips and on-screen hints together with this guide. If a setting still isn’t clear, send beta feedback. We’ll keep expanding the guide.