Set Up PicGo + Picora in 5 Minutes
A step-by-step guide to configuring PicGo with Picora as your image upload backend. Copy one API key, fill in four fields, done.
PicGo is the most popular image upload tool for Markdown writers. It sits in your system tray and handles uploads automatically when you paste or drag images. Combined with Picora, it turns any paste or drag into a permanent CDN URL.
This guide walks you through the complete setup in about 5 minutes.
Step 1: Get Your Picora API Key
- Sign in to app.picora.com (create a free account if you haven’t)
- In the left sidebar, click Integration
- Click ”+ Create Key” and name it “PicGo”
- Copy the key immediately — it’s only shown once
Your key will look like: sk_live_Abc123XYZ456... (40 characters total)
Step 2: Download and Install PicGo
Download PicGo from the official site: picgo.github.io/PicGo-Doc
Versions available for macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Step 3: Configure the Custom Web Uploader
- Open PicGo
- Click “Image Host Settings” in the left sidebar (the cloud icon)
- Scroll down and select “Custom Web Uploader”
- Fill in these exact values:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| API URL | https://api.picora.com/v1/images |
| Request Method | POST |
| Request Header | {"Authorization": "Bearer sk_live_YOUR_KEY"} |
| Upload Field Name | file |
| Response URL Path | data.url |
Important: Replace sk_live_YOUR_KEY with your actual key from Step 1. Keep the curly braces and quotes in the Request Header exactly as shown.
- Click “Confirm” to save
Step 4: Set as Default and Test
- Click “Set as Default Image Host” — this makes Picora the default for all uploads
- Drag any image file onto the PicGo window, or use the upload button
- If successful, you’ll see a green notification and the URL will be copied to your clipboard
The URL will look like: https://img.picora.com/xK9mR2pQ7vB.webp
Paste it anywhere in your Markdown — it’s permanent.
Using PicGo Day-to-Day
Once configured, PicGo runs in the background and integrates with your workflow:
From anywhere: Copy an image to clipboard, then use PicGo’s global hotkey (default: Cmd+Shift+P on macOS / Ctrl+Shift+P on Windows) to upload and get the URL.
In Typora: PicGo integrates directly with Typora. In Typora preferences, set the upload service to PicGo and pasted images will upload automatically.
Drag & drop: Drag any image file onto the PicGo window in the system tray.
Troubleshooting
”Request failed” error: Verify the Request Header field has this exact format (copy-paste this):
{"Authorization": "Bearer sk_live_YOUR_KEY"}URL not copied after upload: Check that “Response URL Path” is data.url (lowercase, with the dot).
401 error: Your API key is wrong. Go back to the Picora dashboard, create a new key, and re-enter it.
403 Quota Exceeded: You’ve used your storage quota. Free plan includes 100 MB. Check your usage on the dashboard or upgrade to Pro.
Summary
Setup takes 5 minutes and you’re done for life. PicGo runs quietly in the background, Picora stores your images permanently on Cloudflare’s global CDN, and your Markdown images never break again.