> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.pixwel.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Mounted Drive (WebDAV)

> Mount Pixwel as a read-only network drive and browse every studio, project, asset, and file as folders — ideal for syncing and automation.

<Note>
  **Beta.** The mounted drive is an early-access feature and isn't on production yet. Behavior may change before general release. The connection address is shared with beta participants — [contact Pixwel](mailto:platform@pixwel.com) to take part.
</Note>

The **mounted drive** lets you connect Pixwel to your computer as a read-only network drive over **WebDAV**. Point Finder, Cyberduck, Mountain Duck, Windows Explorer, or `rclone` at it and your whole library shows up as folders:

```
studio / project / asset / file
```

Open a folder to drill in; open a file to download it. Everything you'd browse in the web app is there — scoped to exactly what your account can see — without opening a browser.

<Frame caption="Pixwel mounted in Mountain Duck — a studio's projects appear as folders you can browse and pull files from.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/pixwel/LCc2un8fWfvdWtLT/img/webdav-mounted.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=LCc2un8fWfvdWtLT&q=85&s=5639fed9c38bdf7cce10825553eda632" alt="A Pixwel studio mounted over WebDAV, showing project folders in a file browser" width="1682" height="1058" data-path="img/webdav-mounted.png" />
</Frame>

## Why it's useful

* **Automation.** Script against your files with `rclone` (or anything that speaks WebDAV) — list, copy, and sync without clicking through the UI.
* **Overnight syncing.** Deliverables often land while your team is asleep. A scheduled `rclone` job can pull new files the moment they're available, so they're waiting on your local storage or NAS by morning.
* **Familiar tools.** Drag files out of Finder or Explorer like any other drive — no separate download manager.

## Before you start

You'll need an **[API token](/features/preferences/api-tokens)** (a personal access token, prefixed `pat_`) — create one in Preferences. The drive uses HTTP Basic auth: put anything in the **username** field and paste your **token as the password**.

<Warning>
  An API token carries your full account access. Don't share it, and only connect over `https://`.
</Warning>

## Connect

Pixwel provides the WebDAV **connection address** when you join the beta. Use it wherever the steps below show `<webdav-address>`.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="macOS Finder">
    In Finder, press **⌘K**, enter `https://<webdav-address>`, and paste your API token as the password.

    Finder probes every folder eagerly, so the first visit to a large directory can pause. Cyberduck or Mountain Duck feel snappier.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Cyberduck / Mountain Duck">
    New connection → **WebDAV (HTTPS)** → server `<webdav-address>` → API token as the password. Mountain Duck mounts it as a true drive.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Windows Explorer">
    **This PC → Map network drive** → `https://<webdav-address>` → API token as the password. The built-in client works but is slow on large directories.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="rclone">
    ```ini theme={null}
    [pixwel]
    type = webdav
    url = https://<webdav-address>
    vendor = other
    user = anything
    pass = (run: rclone obscure pat_your_token)
    ```

    Then browse and copy like any remote:

    ```bash theme={null}
    rclone ls   pixwel:studio/project/
    rclone copy pixwel:studio/project/asset/file.mov ./downloads/
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## What to expect

* **Read-only.** You can browse and download; you can't upload, rename, move, or delete through the drive.
* **Your permissions apply.** You see exactly the studios, projects, and assets your account has access to — the same as the web app.
* **Archived projects are hidden.**
* **Fast browsing.** Each folder loads the first time you open it and stays quick for a few minutes after. Opening an asset's files can take a few seconds the first time while sizes are read.
* **Direct downloads.** When you open a file it streams straight from storage at full speed — Pixwel just hands your client the download link.

## Automate overnight pulls

A scheduled `rclone` sync is the payoff. For example, mirror a project's new deliverables to local storage every morning:

```bash theme={null}
# cron: 6am daily — pull anything new since the last run
rclone copy pixwel:focus-features/anemone/ /mnt/deliveries/anemone/ \
  --ignore-existing --transfers 8
```

Because downloads go straight to storage, large pulls run at native throughput.

## Limitations

* Read-only — no upload, rename, or delete.
* Mac Finder's eager folder-probing is the slowest experience; **Cyberduck is recommended**.
* A file's modified date reflects when it was created in Pixwel, not its storage timestamp.
* As a beta, the endpoint and behavior may change.