Do I need internet for Pictor to work?

E

Eve Martin

Last updated on Sep 27, 2026

Yes, for almost everything. Pictor does its image processing in the cloud, which keeps the work off your device — but it means a connection is not optional.

What stops working without a connection

Feature Why
AI images, AI video, AI effects Generated in the cloud
Cloud background removal Processed in the cloud
Email and text delivery Sent by Pictor, or through your own SendGrid and Twilio if you connect them
Public gallery Guests load it over the web
Slideshow Pulls photos from the cloud
Sharing Station Pulls sessions from the cloud
Virtual booth Guests reach it over the web

What still works

On-device background removal runs on the booth itself and needs no connection.

Planning for a venue with poor wifi

Tip - Test on the venue's actual network before the day, not on your phone's hotspot standing in the car park. Venue wifi is often fine for a laptop and not fine for continuous uploads.

Tip - A mobile hotspot as a backup is worth the cost on any paid event.

Tip - If the venue's connection is genuinely unreliable, plan an event that leans on printing and on-device processing rather than AI and instant delivery.

Important - Check your connection at the booth's actual position, not at the entrance. A wall between you and the access point changes everything.