If your Pass gallery stopped opening, the most likely reason is the shutdown. Pass says galleries stopped being accessible to clients on October 31, 2026, and that remaining data will be permanently deleted on December 31, 2026. Your best move is to contact your photographer now. They may have moved your gallery to Pic-Time, or they may still be able to get your files.
Here's the short version:
- Find your photographer's latest email. A moved gallery may have a new link.
- Ask for the new link or a fresh copy of your files. There's a message you can copy below.
- Do it well before December 31. Pass says nothing can be recovered after that date.
The dates that matter
| Date | What Pass says happens | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| October 31, 2026 | Galleries stop being accessible to clients | An old link may no longer show your photos |
| October 31, 2026 | The migration to Pic-Time stays open until this date | A photographer who moved in time may have sent you a new link |
| December 31, 2026 | Remaining Pass data is permanently deleted | After this, Pass says nothing can be recovered |
Pass's notice is written for photographers, and it doesn't describe a process for clients. SLR Lounge reported that one photographer understood the closing date to apply "at least in the US" and that another, in Italy, hadn't received a notice. If you're outside the US, your photographer can tell you what applies to your gallery.
Find your situation
| What you see or know | What it may mean | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Old Pass link no longer shows your gallery | The October 31 cutoff has passed | Ask your photographer whether the gallery moved, and for a copy of your files if it didn't |
| You got an email with a new gallery link | Your photographer may have moved the gallery to Pic-Time | Check that it came from your photographer, then open it and download what you're entitled to |
| New gallery asks you to create a password | Pic-Time's migration FAQ says this is what happens in most cases the first time a client opens a moved gallery | Follow the prompt, or ask your photographer if you're stuck |
| Your old access code doesn't work | Pic-Time's migration FAQ says access codes usually don't stay the same | Use the new gallery's sign-in, or ask your photographer |
| Your favorites are missing | Pic-Time's migration FAQ says favorites lists can't be moved with galleries | Ask your photographer whether your selections can be found |
| Your old link led to a "Pass Classic" page | The gallery was never moved to Pass+ in 2024 | See the Pass Classic section below |
| Your photographer has stopped responding | They may have closed their business, or they may not have seen your message | See our guide to what to do when your photographer has disappeared |
Why your photographer is the first call
Photographers control what happens to a Pass gallery. Pass gave them two options: move galleries to Pic-Time, or download their galleries and close their accounts. So your photographer is the person most likely to know where your gallery went.
Many photographers also keep their own copies of the sessions they deliver. SLR Lounge suggests they back up their masters, but that's advice rather than a guarantee, so don't assume yours kept everything. The sooner you ask, the better your chances, especially for an older session.
A specific message makes this easier. Include the details your photographer needs to find the session.
Hi [photographer's name], this is [your name]. You photographed our [session or event] in [month and year]. My Pass gallery link no longer works, and I understand Pass has closed galleries to clients. Did my gallery move to a new link? If not, could you send me the files I'm entitled to, or let me know how I can get them? Pass says its remaining data will be deleted on December 31, 2026, so I wanted to reach out early. The gallery name was [name, if you remember it]. Thanks!
Can't find their contact details? Search your inbox and spam folder for the studio's name or for "Pass" and "gallery." Your contract or invoice may help too.
If your gallery moved to Pic-Time
A photographer quoted by SLR Lounge said Pass ran on essentially the same software as Pic-Time, so a moved gallery may feel familiar. Pic-Time's public FAQ describes its paid migration service, and Pass's own migration may differ, so treat these as likely changes rather than firm rules:
- The link. Pic-Time bases gallery URLs on the gallery name and says it can't guarantee they'll stay the same. Don't rely on an old bookmark.
- The password. Pic-Time says clients are prompted to create a new password in most cases.
- Your email. The FAQ says client emails move with the gallery, so try the address that received your original invitation.
- Video. The FAQ says video migration isn't supported. If your gallery had a video, ask your photographer about it directly.
Once you're in, download the files you're entitled to and save a copy somewhere you control. Our guide to Pic-Time web size and high resolution explains which size to choose, and how photo proof galleries work covers the basics of online galleries.
If your gallery was on Pass Classic
Pass Classic is an older product, and this path is separate from the 2026 shutdown. Pass says it moved more than 5 million galleries to Pass+ in April 2024, though not every gallery made the move.
For a gallery that wasn't moved, Pass says it may be able to provide a temporary download link. Its conditions are specific:
- The gallery must list your email address as the Main Client.
- The gallery must allow hi-res downloads.
To ask, email help@passgallery.com from the address linked to the gallery. Include the gallery title, your photographer's email address, and the email address the gallery was originally sent to. If you no longer have access to that address, mention it in your message. Pass says you'll get the link within 48 business hours after retrieval, and that it stays available for 7 days.
Pass published this process before the shutdown notice and doesn't say how the December 31 deletion affects it. Ask soon, and don't count on it being available later.
Hi Pass Support, I'm trying to retrieve a Pass Classic gallery. Gallery title: [title]. Photographer's email: [address]. Email the gallery was sent to: [address]. Could you tell me whether a download link is still available? Thank you.
If you can't reach anyone
Pass doesn't offer a client recovery path for current Pass galleries in its shutdown notice. You can still ask help@passgallery.com, but there's no promise it can release a photographer's gallery to you. Don't assume it can.
It may help to gather what you do have: confirmation emails, order receipts, your contract, and any photos you saved or printed. These can help you show what you bought if you find your photographer or another studio contact later.
Check your own devices too. You may have downloaded some files years ago to a computer, phone, or cloud account.
If all you have is a watermarked copy
Sometimes the only copy left is a watermarked proof. If it's a photo you own or have permission to edit, our Pic-Time watermark remover or photo proof watermark remover can clean it up. Results vary, and a proof may be smaller than the original file, so ask for the original first if there's any chance of getting it. Our tools don't connect to Pass or Pic-Time, and they can't open or recover a closed gallery.
Not sure what you're allowed to do with the photo? Read does buying a photo include editing rights. Generally, your photographer holds the copyright unless your agreement says otherwise.
FAQ
Is Pass shutting down?
Pass's help center says galleries stop being accessible to clients on October 31, 2026, and that remaining data is permanently deleted on December 31, 2026. It offers photographers a migration to Pic-Time. SLR Lounge has also covered the closure.
Can I still download my photos from Pass?
Probably not through your old link, since Pass says client access ended on October 31, 2026. Ask your photographer, who may have moved your gallery to Pic-Time or saved a copy of your files.
Why does my new gallery ask me to create a password?
Pic-Time's migration FAQ says that in most cases, clients are prompted to create a new password the first time they open a moved gallery. Your old access code usually won't stay the same.
What happens after December 31, 2026?
Pass says remaining data is permanently deleted on that date and that nothing can be recovered afterward. That's about data held by Pass, so a gallery already moved to Pic-Time or a copy your photographer saved separately is a different matter.
Can EraseBunny recover my Pass gallery?
No. Our tools work only on files you upload, and they don't connect to Pass. Use them only with photos you own or have permission to edit.
Sources
- Pass Service Hub, How to Download Your Data and Close Your Account, checked November 7, 2026
- Pass Service Hub, What Happened to my Pass Classic Gallery?, checked November 7, 2026
- Pic-Time Help Center, Gallery Migration Service FAQ, checked November 7, 2026
- SLR Lounge, Pass+ Is Shutting Down: What Photographers Need to Do Now, checked November 7, 2026