This guide highlights what changes (and what doesn’t) as you move from LucidLink Classic to the new LucidLink using the Upgrade Tool. It’s written for workspace admins so you can prep your team, avoid surprises, and get value fast.

TL;DR (for admins)

• Same LucidLink experience: your filespaces, permissions model, and “mount like a drive” behavior remain familiar.

• New account model: accounts are tied to an email address; user onboarding is simpler (invite by email) and SSO/SCIM is first-class.

• Zero-knowledge remains: we can’t recover user passwords; generate a Backup (Recovery) Code or use SSO to avoid lockouts.

• Settings migration: global/workspace settings are carried over; each user’s local client settings (e.g., cache) are not. Custom snapshot schedules are not carried over either.

• New clients & surfaces: no-reboot macOS install, a modern Web App (browse/share/download, uploads coming), and mobile apps (iOS/Android).

Before you upgrade

1. Decide your authentication

   • If using SSO, ensure your IdP and SCIM provisioning are ready (see: SSO/SCIM setup guide)

   • If not using SSO, instruct admins and users to generate a Backup Code immediately after upgrade.

2. Communicate what changes

Local client preferences (mount point per user, cache size/location) won’t migrate. They may need a quick re-set. 

3. Share client guidance

   • MacOS users can install without reboots or security prompts.

   • Web App and Mobile Apps are available for quick access on the go.

What carries over automatically

• Workspace & filespaces: structure and access continue as expected.

• Permissions model: folder-level view/edit permissions remain. More info here.

• Global defaults: admin-set global defaults (e.g., mount point pattern, file-locking extensions) are preserved; CLI remains for advanced settings.

What’s new / what changes

Identity & access

• Account sign-in is now email-based; password is user-generated and unknown to LucidLink (zero-knowledge).

• Backup (Recovery) Code: Strongly recommended for non-SSO users to prevent lockout. With SSO, Backup Code isn’t required.

• SSO + SCIM: If enabled, users/groups are provisioned automatically from your IdP (see: SSO & SCIM admin guide)

User & group management

• Invite by email: onboarding is a simple admin invite; users are created at the workspace level.

• Roles: promote/demote users to Admin or Standard directly in the admin console. Classic Administrators are migrated as Standard users, so you might need to promote them post upgrade.

• Groups: create/manage workspace-level groups and assign folder permissions the same way you did in Classic.

Settings & clients

• Local client settings don’t migrate (per-user cache size/location, personal mount path, etc.). Users may re-apply preferences post-upgrade.

• Custom snapshot schedule need to be recreated: with an admin account, go to the snapshot schedule section and reconfigure your custom schedule.

• macOS client: streamlined install (no reboot / no security setting changes).

• Web App: browse filespaces, share links, and download via browser; uploads coming soon.

• Mobile apps: iOS & Android to view filespace data; Android supports uploads (iOS uploads coming later).

Post-upgrade admin checklist

1. Make sure you have generated a backup code for your account.

2. Confirm users appear and group mappings look correct.

3. Promote your administrators (administrators in Classic have been imported as standard users)

4. Review folder permissions for key teams (Editors, VFX, Audio, Finishing) to ensure expected access.

5. Configure SSO if needed. If SSO is enabled, you do not need to distribute the invite to your users. They can simply login as long as they are in the IdP.

6. Adjust your snapshot schedule if you have a custom schedule.

7. Distribute the invite to your non-SSO users and ask them to:

   • sign in,

   • set a strong password, and

   • generate a Backup Code (store it safely).

8. Share client guidance with your users

   • macOS install steps,

   • welcome to the New LucidLink video,

   • how to set cache folder/size, and

   • where to find the Web and Mobile apps.

9. Consider deleting your "Lucid service - upgrade" snapshot. More information can be found here.

FAQs

• No. With zero-knowledge encryption, we can’t recover or reset a user’s password. Use SSO or a Backup Code to avoid loss of access.
• No. Your folder-level permissions model carries over. Validate critical folders after upgrade.
• Yes for macOS—no reboot and no additional security changes required. Windows/Linux continue to install normally.
• Local (per-user) client preferences such as cache size/location and personal mount paths. Users can re-apply these in seconds.
• Yes. The Web App adds quick access (browse/share/download; uploads coming), and Mobile Apps support on-the-go viewing and uploads for both Android and iOS.