To download Pixieset photos without a watermark, choose a high-resolution size when you download. According to Pixieset, the watermark is always removed from high-resolution and original downloads. Here's the short version:
- The watermark you see in the gallery is on the display image. It doesn't mean your download will have one.
- Web-size downloads usually come out clean too, unless your photographer chose to keep the watermark on them.
- Your photographer controls the options. If you don't see the size you need, or you're asked for a PIN, they're the one to ask.
Below: what each download size gives you, a table for every message or problem you might run into, and a message you can copy and send to your photographer.
What each Pixieset download size gives you
| Download size | Watermark | Pixel size | Largest print at 300 pixels per inch* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web size, 640px | Removed by default; photographer can keep it | 640 wide | About 2 in wide |
| Web size, 1024px | Removed by default; photographer can keep it | 1,024 wide | About 3.4 in wide |
| Web size, 2048px | Removed by default; photographer can keep it | 2,048 wide | About 6.8 in wide |
| High resolution, 3600px | Always removed | 3,600 on the long edge | About 12 in on the long edge |
| Original | Always removed | Exactly as uploaded | Depends on the file |
*The print column is our own math, using 300 pixels per inch as a sharp-print target. You can often print larger if you'll view the photo from farther away. Pixieset says 3600px files can typically print up to poster-size canvases, depending on the original file. Our free photo print size calculator can check a specific file.
Pixieset doesn't enlarge small photos, so a file uploaded at 600 × 1200 stays 600 × 1200 even if you pick 3600px. Original downloads also depend on your photographer's Pixieset plan, so you may not see that choice.
How to download from a Pixieset gallery
On a computer
- The whole gallery: Click the Download icon in the top right. Enter your email and the download PIN, if asked. Confirm the sets, size, and destination, then click Start Download. You'll get a ZIP file, and you can leave the page and wait for an email when it's ready.
- One photo: Hover over the photo and click the Download icon. Enter your email and PIN, if asked, click Sign in, then confirm the size and start the download. You won't need to re-enter your details for more photos in the same browser session.
On a phone
- The whole gallery: Tap ⋮ in the top right, then Download. Enter your email and PIN, if asked, then confirm the sets, size, and destination. On a phone, it arrives as a ZIP file, which iPhone and Android can both open. You can also save to Google Photos or Dropbox.
- One photo: Tap the photo, tap the Download icon, and enter your details. Pick the size and destination, then tap Download Photo. On iPhone, a new window opens and you long-press the photo to save it. On Android, it downloads right away.
If you bought digital downloads
Pixieset emails an order confirmation first, then a second email with your download link once the files are ready. If your photographer turned on Order Delay, that second email can take longer because they may be reviewing or editing the files first.
What you're seeing and what to do about it
| What you see | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Watermark on photos in the gallery | That's the display image | Download a size your photographer offers and check the file |
| Watermark on your downloaded file | You picked a web size and your photographer kept the watermark on it, or you saved the display image from the page | Use the Download icon and pick high resolution if it's offered; otherwise ask your photographer |
| No Download icon | Downloads may be turned off for this gallery | Ask your photographer; if the photo has a Buy option, check the Digital section |
| Asked for a download PIN | Galleries get a 4-digit PIN by default | Check the email invite for the gallery; if it isn't there, ask your photographer |
| Notice that your PIN has expired | The photographer limited how many times the PIN can start a gallery download | Ask for a new PIN |
| Error after entering your email | Downloads may be limited to specific email addresses | Try the address the invite went to, or ask to be added |
| A count of remaining photos, and no full-gallery download | The photographer set a download limit, which turns off full-gallery downloads | Choose your favorites first, or ask whether the limit can change |
| Tooltip saying a photo can't be downloaded | That photo's set isn't available for download, often proofs or alternates | Ask whether it can be added to your final selections |
| Only web sizes listed | That's how the gallery is set up | Check the store for high-resolution downloads, or ask your photographer |
| Download link from your order stopped working | Order links expire after 7 days | Ask your photographer to resend the files |
| Gallery link stopped working | The gallery may have reached its expiry date, which hides it | Ask your photographer; they can publish it again |
| File size looks very small | Web and 3600px files are resized and optimized | Check the pixel size, not the MB (see below) |
Is your file too small, or just compressed?
A small file size doesn't always mean a low-quality photo. Pixieset's own example: a 5 MB original becomes less than 1 MB at web size, and about 800 KB to 2 MB at 3600px. It also says that side by side, you likely wouldn't see a vast difference between 3600px and the original.
So check the pixels instead:
- Mac: Select the file in Finder and choose File > Get Info.
- Windows: Right-click the file, choose Properties, then open the Details tab.
- iPhone: Open the photo in Photos and swipe up.
- Android: Open the photo in Google Photos and swipe up.
If the width is exactly 640, 1,024, or 2,048 pixels, you most likely have a web-size copy. That's a good clue to ask for high resolution if you plan to print it.
What to send your photographer
Your photographer can usually fix this quickly. In Pixieset, they can change the download sizes, share or reset the PIN, add your email, and republish a hidden gallery. They can also set selected photos to No watermark, though Pixieset says that can take from under a minute to several hours, and those photos are unavailable while it runs.
Here's a message you can copy:
Hi [photographer's name], I'm [your name] from the [session or event] gallery. I'd like to download my photos without the watermark, but [what you're seeing, such as "I only see web-size options" or "I don't have the PIN"]. Could you let me know how to get the high-resolution files, or what my package includes? Thanks!
If you already have the rights to a watermarked copy
A clean file from your photographer is always the best option. It's the true original, with nothing rebuilt. Sometimes that isn't possible, though. Your photographer may have closed their business, or the gallery may be gone, leaving you with only a watermarked copy.
If you own the photo or have your photographer's permission to edit it, our Pixieset watermark remover can clean it up. You can also try our photo proof watermark remover for galleries on other platforms. If you're not sure what your purchase covers, see does buying a photo include editing rights. And if you can't reach your photographer at all, here's what to do when your photographer has disappeared.
For more background, see how photo proof galleries work.
FAQ
Do Pixieset downloads have a watermark?
It depends on the size. According to Pixieset, high-resolution (3600px) and original downloads never have one. Web-size downloads don't by default, but your photographer can choose to keep the watermark on them. Print orders never have one either.
Where do I find my Pixieset download PIN?
Start with the email invite for your gallery, because photographers can include the PIN there. If it's not there, ask your photographer. They can look it up in the gallery's settings.
Why is there no download button on my Pixieset gallery?
Your photographer controls whether downloads are on. They can turn off downloads for the whole gallery, for full-gallery or single-photo downloads, or for certain sets. Ask them what's included, or check the store if the photo has a Buy option.
How long do Pixieset galleries stay online?
Pixieset says galleries don't expire on their own while the photographer has an active subscription, unless the photographer sets an expiry date. An expired gallery is hidden, not deleted, so your photographer can publish it again. If the photographer cancels their subscription, Pixieset says galleries are kept for a period of time before being deleted, so it's smart to save your files early.
Why did my photos download as a ZIP file?
Full-gallery downloads come as a ZIP file so they transfer faster and more reliably, and Pixieset says this doesn't affect image quality. Very large galleries may be split into several ZIP files. Unzip the file on your computer or phone to get to the photos.
Sources
- Pixieset Help Center, Editing or removing watermarks, checked November 4, 2026
- Pixieset Help Center, Your client's download experience, checked November 4, 2026
- Pixieset Help Center, Downloading photos to mobile devices, checked November 4, 2026
- Pixieset Help Center, Collection download settings, checked November 4, 2026
- Pixieset Help Center, Limiting free downloads and other restrictions, checked November 4, 2026
- Pixieset Help Center, Download Sizes - Available Resolutions, checked November 4, 2026
- Pixieset Help Center, Why is the File Size Small on Download?, checked November 4, 2026
- Pixieset Help Center, How do I set an Expiry Date to the Gallery?, checked November 4, 2026
- Pixieset Help Center, Do my Collections expire?, checked November 4, 2026
- Print sizes at 300 pixels per inch are our own calculations.