Windows
Recommended mirrorDownload the Windows installer, run it, and keep Freestock running while you use browser automation.
Download Freestock for Windows
Recommended setup
Install Freestock for Microstock.Plus extension
Freestock is the recommended installer and automatic updater for the Microstock.Plus Chrome extension. It keeps the local extension folder current, provides the local bridge on 127.0.0.1:7332, and also works as a local file client for Microstock.Plus and Qwertystock.
What Freestock does
- Automatically downloads and updates the Microstock.Plus extension from the M+ release API.
- Provides local file-management tools for Microstock.Plus and Qwertystock workflows.
- Runs the local updater bridge at 127.0.0.1:7332.
macOS
Recommended mirrorDownload the macOS installer script, run it, and keep Freestock running while you use browser automation.
Download macOS installerStandard Pond5 submit workflow
The browser extension works through an authorized Chrome profile. Microstock.Plus owns the queue, while the extension performs the browser upload, metadata entry, release attachment, and final submit in Pond5 without the classic FTP worker pipeline.
Microstock.Plus is signed in
Pond5 is signed in in the same Chrome profile
- In Microstock.Plus, choose a file that is ready for Pond5 upload.
- Click Upload/Submit for Pond5.
- Microstock.Plus places the file into the Pond5 browser extension queue.
- The extension detects the queued file and claims it for processing.
- The extension prepares the file and uploads it to Pond5 from the browser.
- The extension fills metadata, stock flags, and releases when they are provided.
- The extension submits the file in Pond5.
- After Pond5 responds, the extension writes the final Microstock.Plus status: submitted or a clear error.
Version compatibility
Pond5 queue processing works on supported Microstock.Plus extension versions even when a newer release is available.
Latest version
1.0.119
Minimum supported version
1.0.108
Only extensions older than the minimum supported version are blocked from receiving the Pond5 queue. Compatible older versions keep working, but Freestock should still update them automatically.
After Freestock is downloaded
Complete these steps once. After that Freestock updates the Microstock.Plus extension automatically.
- Install and start Freestock.
- Check that the local Freestock service is available at http://127.0.0.1:7332.
- Open chrome://extensions in Chrome and enable Developer mode.
- Click Load unpacked and choose the Freestock-managed extension folder shown below.
- Keep Microstock.Plus and Pond5 signed in in the same Chrome profile.
Windows extension folder
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Freestock\microstock_plus_extension
Copy this path and paste it into the folder picker after clicking Load unpacked in Chrome.
macOS extension folder
~/Library/Application Support/Freestock/microstock_plus_extension
Copy this path and paste it into the folder picker after clicking Load unpacked in Chrome.
Automatic updates
- Freestock checks the Microstock.Plus release API and updates the local extension folder when a new version is available.
- The extension reloads itself only when it is safe and no active submit is being interrupted.
- If Chrome is closed, the update is applied the next time Freestock and Chrome are running.
- Use the extension popup to verify the loaded version after an update.
Check connection
- Open Microstock.Plus in the same Chrome profile where the extension is installed.
- The extension popup should show Microstock.Plus connected, Pond5 ready, and the cached Pond5 balance.
- If a queued item fails, the extension sends sanitized server diagnostics with user, file id, stage, version, and error details.
