B64 settings on a Mac, explained
A short tour of B64's settings, and which two are worth changing on the day you install it.
Open with B64 ▸ Settings… or ⌘,. There are three panes and not many settings, which is deliberate — but two of them remove a decision you would otherwise make every single time.
General
| Setting | What it does | Worth changing? |
|---|---|---|
| Default output format | Which of the five formats a new conversion starts in | Yes. Set it to the one you actually use |
| Default line wrapping | Off, 64 or 76 columns for plain output | If you always want the same width |
| Copy after encoding | Puts the result on the clipboard as soon as a file is encoded | Yes, if you mostly paste the result somewhere |
| Include a checksum manifest in batch exports | Writes a checksums.txt beside every batch export | Yes, if you hand batches to other people |
Default output format and copy after encoding. Together they turn the common case into a single gesture: drop the file in, go and paste the result.
Privacy
A summary of what the app does and does not do — which is a short list, because the answer is nothing. No account, no network, no analytics, no telemetry, nothing uploaded.
This pane also has Erase all app data. It clears your settings and your local usage history. It does not touch your files, and it does not affect your purchase — that lives with your Apple Account, not in the app.
About
- Version. What you are running.
- Lifetime usage. A local tally of conversions, kept on your Mac and reported to nobody.
- Rate B64. A link to the Mac App Store.
- Unlock Pro. A shortcut to the one-time purchase, and to Restore Purchases. See unlocking encoding and batch.
Things that are not settings
Three things that are not settings:
- Light and dark mode follows the system. There is no separate switch because there does not need to be one.
- Image quality does not exist, because nothing is ever re-encoded. Base64 carries the exact bytes you gave it.
- The welcome tour can be reopened at any time from Help ▸ Welcome Tour.
Troubleshooting
My default format is not being applied
It applies to new conversions. A workspace already holding a file keeps whatever is currently selected — clear it (⌘⌫) and load the file again.
Copy after encoding did not copy anything
It fires when a file is encoded. Changing the output format on a file that is already loaded rewrites the result, but you copy that yourself with ⇧⌘C.
My batch export has no checksums.txt
The manifest setting was off when the run was saved. Switch it on and export again.
I erased app data — did I lose my purchase?
No. The unlock is tied to your Apple Account. Use Restore Purchases if the app does not pick it up immediately.
Frequently asked questions
Which settings are worth changing first?
Default output format and copy after encoding. Together they reduce the common case to dropping a file in and pasting the result.
Does Erase all app data delete my files or my purchase?
Neither. It clears settings and the local usage tally. Your files are untouched and your purchase lives with your Apple Account.
Is there an image quality setting?
No, because nothing is ever re-encoded. Base64 carries the exact bytes of the file you gave it.
How do I get the welcome tour back?
Help ▸ Welcome Tour, at any time.