FAQ

General Questions

What is Wuala?

Wuala is a new way of storing, sharing, and publishing files on the internet. It's a free desktop application for Windows, Mac, and Linux that brings you a convenient and secure online storage. You can use it to access your files from anywhere, to share files with friends and groups, or to publish files for the whole world to see. Free, simple, and secure.

How do I get Wuala?

You can download here. If you are on the go, you can start Wuala directly from the web.

How much does it cost?

You can use the basic functions for free. An overview about our pricing can be found here.

How much storage do I get?

You start with 1 GB provided by us. If you need more, you can:

1. Buy additional storage
2. Trade local storage for online storage
3. Invite friends to Wuala and get additional storage

If you trade or buy additional storage, you will automatically become a Pro user. Pro users benefit from speicial features such as backup and file versioning. Cf. Pro user.

Is Wuala private and secure?

Yes, Wuala is completely private and secure. When you store a file in Wuala, the file and its metadata (e.g. name, description, tags, etc.) gets encrypted before it leaves your computer. Every file is encrypted with a different key. The list of these keys is encrypted with your password and stored on our server. Your own password is very important here: it never leaves your computer, so we do not know it. Hence, not even we can access your data.

Does Wuala contain any malware or spyware?

No, Wuala does not contain any malware or spyware.

How is Wuala different compared to other online storage services?

There are three core principles of Wuala:

1. Security and privacy
2. Bridging web and desktop
3. Economic technology

More can be found here.

Can I access Wuala from the Web?

Yes, you can also start Wuala directly from the Web: www.wuala.com/launch.

Can I edit files directly in Wuala?

Yes, you can.

Does Wuala offer automatic backup?

Yes. Cf. Backup.

What kind of files can I upload to Wuala?

All kind of files (any format). File size is currently limited to 14 GB.

Can I get Wuala in my language?

Wuala is currently available in English, German, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Dutch, Italian, Spanish, French and Swedish, Polish, Chinese (simplified), and Russian (more languages will follow). A big thanks to our valuable community! In order to change to your native language, go to Tools > Options (Win/Linux) or select a different default language for your operation system (Mac).

How is Wuala pronounced and what does it mean?

"Wuala" is pronounced like the French "Voilà" (vwä-'lä), which means "see there".

Who is behind Wuala?

Wuala is developed and run by LaCie AG in Zurich. Wuala joined LaCie, a French provider of external storage devices, in 2009 to work on the future of cloud storage.

Do I have to trade local storage for online storage?

No, you don't have to. You start with 1 GB provided by us. If you need more, you can simply trade some space on your hard disk for additional online storage. However, this is optional. The idea with trading is not to give you more storage in total, but to change the quality of your storage: the ability to transform local storage into online storage that can be accessed from anywhere and at any time, even when your computer is offline. You can also buy additional storage if you want.

How do I sign out?

Go to User > Sign Out in order to sign out of Wuala. Another option would be to quit Wuala.

Can I share folders with friends who do not use Wuala?

Yes, of course. Simply create a secret link and send it to your friends.

Is it possible for several people to access and edit a file?

Yes. Please create a group. Now all your group members can access the files in the group and may (depending on the settings) edit the files. (C.f. 'My Groups')

What is the difference between backup and synchronization?

A backup saves local folders on your computer regularly on Wuala. The period itself can be adjusted (in the "Backup" view - "Show Settings" - "Interval"). The files can not be changed in Wuala. For more information about the backup take a look here.

A Sync can synchronize multiple local files / folders across multiple computers. So if a file has been modified on the computer then it is automatically updated as soon as possible to the other computers. Thus, you can work normally and don't have to worry about updating the files. The synchronization, in contrast to the backup, can change files locally on your computer. For more information about the synchronization take a look here.