Character Card Manager (for Silly Tavern) v1.3.0: sync works again after re-auth
If you use Silly Tavern or a phone client like MiniTavern and sync PNG character cards to a local folder, Character Card Manager (for Silly Tavern) is probably part of your routine.
Come back after a long break and you may hit a frustrating loop: the browser says folder access may have “expired”; you pick the sync folder again and the UI looks paired—yet Sync now is still grey, or clicking it does nothing. The in-app list is empty while the folder still holds plenty of PNGs.
That is not user error. Versions before v1.3.0 hid a logic deadlock; the previous release tried to fix it but the chain was not fully broken. This update removes it at the root.
Who will notice it most
- You treat the sync folder as the main directory for your character cards.
- You do not open the add-on every day—sometimes weeks or months pass.
- You have seen “I re-picked the folder but sync still does not work.”
If you ran into this serious bug before v1.3.0, update to the latest version as soon as you can.
Why does sync “freeze” after long idle?
Chrome extensions need file-system permission to reach a local folder. After a long idle period, or if the system or browser cleared permissions, saved access may lapse. The add-on then asks you to choose the sync folder again—that step is normal.
The bug appeared after re-authorization, when old logic turned several paths into a dead end:
- After permission returns, if the local IndexedDB (the browser’s on-device database that stores your in-app card list and data) is empty but the folder already has PNGs, the add-on assumes “this card already exists on disk” and does not insert a copy locally. The UI shows zero cards; the folder does not.
- Old logic then inferred: no local cards → no sync needed → disable Sync now. The sync handler also exited immediately when the local count was zero, so it never scanned the folder.
- Older builds would fall into a dead loop.
This is what some users saw in past releases: the add-on still “does not work” after re-auth—not because permission failed, but because the sync entry was logically shut off after permission succeeded.
What v1.3.0 changes
This release breaks the deadlock on three links:
- If the folder has importable PNGs, Sync now is enabled even when the local library is empty. After re-auth you can batch-import cards from the folder right away.
- Sync can import without exporting: when there are no local cards, sync no longer bails out early—it scans the folder and imports as usual.
- Re-selecting the folder resets sync state so an old “already synced” flag does not block a full run after re-auth.
The typical path becomes:
Permission lapses → re-select folder → Sync now → cards return to the add-on → keep using it normally
How to update to v1.3.0
- Open the add-on’s full-page manager.
- In the bottom-left of the sidebar, find the version label (e.g.
v1.3.0) and the Check for update link beside it. - That opens the Chrome Web Store listing.
- If a newer build is offered, install it from the store page.
Already on v1.3.0 and hit auth loss before? Re-select the sync folder, then Sync now, to pull cards back from disk.
New here? Install from the Chrome Web Store. More links: mini-tavern.com/manager.html.
Why a dedicated post for this release
When you install or update, the browser may prompt for permission to edit local files—click Allow. Any workflow that edits character cards through the add-on needs that access; v1.3.0 makes the prompt clearer.
About the author
FAQ
The store does not show v1.3.0 yet. What should I do?
Use Check for update on the manager page or Check for updates in your browser’s extension list; trust the version shown inside the add-on.
Sync now is still grey after re-picking the folder.
Confirm you are on v1.3.0 or newer. Older builds could disable sync when the local library was empty; after updating, re-select the folder and tap Sync now.
The folder has PNGs but the add-on list stays empty.
That matches the pre–v1.3.0 deadlock: permission came back, the local library was empty, and sync was disabled. Update, re-select the sync folder, and run Sync now to import from disk.
Published: May 28, 2026
Updated: May 28, 2026