When you create a Fission Account, whether signing up on the web or using the command line as a developer, it creates a username and email address in our service database, and also a private / public key pair representing that account.
We also create a Fission Web Native File System (WNFS) attached to your account, and given you access to Fission Drive, which lets you browse all your files, access them from any browser, and see which apps are attached to your file system.
We verify your email address, and can use that to help manage aspects of your service with us. You hold access to the keys connected to your account, and sign in happens automatically.
We encourage you to "link" your account to multiple devices -- your desktop and your phone, your home and your work computers, and so on. These devices can then be used to login, or link more accounts. You can read more about Account Linking ยป
Each device gets their own private key using the WebCrypto API built into modern browsers. Private keys shouldn't be copied around, so instead, we link keys indicating they have access to the same account.
There is no "sign out" for a Fission-powered app. You use your key to do a passwordless login, stored in your local desktop browser, mobile web browser, or your local desktop file system with the command line developer tool.
While your device is linked with a key, Fission apps will check that you have a key with the proper permission, and will just let you right in, without having to remember a password or even a username.
This is like your smartphone: only a single user is "logged in" to their personal phone, and they aren't shared.
A Fission app is more like an app that you download on your phone. When you don't want the app anymore, you delete it.
If you want it again in the future, you download it again, by giving permission to the app store to install it. You then might give permission to access other parts of your phone, like the camera or GPS.
We don't delete the data that the app stored for you, since it's stored in your own Fission File System -- just like data is stored on your phone.
As part of signing into an app, an app will ask for certain permissions. Right now, these are mostly related to access to your file system.
By default, every app needs access to an App Folder. You'll need to at least grant access to an App Folder for the app to function correctly.
Instead of signing out, you may want to revoke -- or delete -- an app's access to your account.
You can even revoke access to the default Drive app, but we'll ask you to make an extra confirmation. You'll need to use another tool or developer API access to manage your Fission File System attached to your account.
Browsers and desktop computers aren't smartphones, and they do get shared. You can unlink a device -- remove your key -- by visiting the Fission Auth page.
You may create multiple Fission accounts, but you'll need a unique email address and username for each one. You'll also need to use Browser Profiles to be able to access them at the same time on the same machine, as the keys that grant access are stored in the browser.
Migrate your file system to get the latest features
Fission will occasionally change how your file system is stored to enable new features, improve performance, and improve security. Some of these changes require a file system migration.
Because Fission has no control over your file system, we cannot migrate your file system for you. To help you with migrations, we've developed a command-line tool that upgrades your file system to the latest version.
If your file system is outdated, you will see a message like this in the Auth Lobby ():
After removing a device, you will be able to create a new account. New accounts are always created at the latest file system version.
Multiple devices. If you have signed in on multiple devices, remove each device and link them again after you have created a new account.
At the moment, running a migration requires familiarity working with the command line on your machine.
The Webnative File System (WNFS) migration tool will use your linked credentials when migrating your file system.
wnfs-migrationYou can now install the migration CLI tool with npm:
npm install --global wnfs-migration
wnfs-migrationMake sure the output of npm bin is on your PATH. If it is not, you can prepend your command with the path returned from npm bin, for example: $ /home/me/node_modules/bin/wnfs-migration
At this point, wnfs-migration has migrated a local copy of your WNFS. It will then ask you to confirm that you want to overwrite the synced version of your file system on the Fission servers.
Enter Y to confirm or n to decline and abort the migration process. If you confirm, wnfs-migration will sync your migrated file system:
If you decide that your username and data are not worth keeping, go to and click the text "remove this device" on the bottom of the page. Keep in mind that you will not be able to access data associated with the account afterward.
To get setup on different devices or browsers, follow the account linking process
To have access to your account across multiple devices, you need to link them.
When you visit an app on a new device and Sign in with Fission, or if you go directly to the Fission Auth page, you'll be prompted to either create a new account or link an existing one:
If you have an account already, click the sign in button:
The only thing you need to know is your username. Enter it, and hit the link account button:
As you can see, you are now being asked to open the Fission Auth page on your other device. This might be your other computer or perhaps your phone. There is also a short message telling us that this is for the boris0902 username.
Once you open the Fission Auth page on your other device, it will detect the linking request and display a page like this.
The new device you are linking should show the same numbers:
Since we can see the numbers are the same, we can go ahead and hit the "Approve" button, and you'll see this success message.
Switching to the new device you were linking, you'll see this message:
Now you can use either device with full authorization
And yes, this works on mobile too:
The Linking an existing user guide has details on linking accounts used at the command line.
Make a recovery kit and never lose access to your account
Fission users can recover a lost account with a Recovery Kit. You can create a Recovery Kit in the Fission Dashboard to ensure you will always have access to your account.
Account recovery is only needed when you do not have any linked devices. If you have lost access on one device, but are still signed in on another device, you can use account linking instead.
Sign in to the Fission Dashboard and select Recovery Kit.
To create a Recovery Kit, you need to grant the Fission Dashboard access to your private files. This step is necessary for the Dashboard to recover your private files.
Allow creating a recovery kit and grant permission in the Fission Auth Lobby.
After granting permission, you can create a Recovery Kit.
The recovery kit should be stored somewhere safe. Anyone with access to your Recovery Kit can access your private files. If you lose your Recovery Kit, you will not be able to recover your account.
Download your Recovery Kit and save it somewhere safe.
We recommend you store it on a device or storage medium that you will not easily lose.
If you have lost access to your account, you can recover it with a Recovery Kit from the Fission Dashboard.
Select the Recover your account option below the sign in button.
You will need your Recovery Kit and access to the email you used to create the account.
Drag your recovery kit onto the upload box or click the box to select it from your file system. Fission Dashboard will import your recovery kit.
After Fission Dashboard imports your Recovery Kit, select send email.
Fission will send you verification email. Click on the link in the email and the recovery page will give you an option to recover your account.
Select recover account and re-link your account by signing into the Fission Auth Lobby.
Make sure to keep the recovery page open while you re-link your account.
The Fission Auth Lobby and account recovery page will show you confirmation codes.
When you are satisfied that the codes match, confirm in the account recovery page.
After confirming, Fission will recover your account, and you can access your files again.
Your Recovery Kit will work again if you need to recover your account in the future.
