How Private File Tools Work: Everything Runs in Your Browser
What it means that a tool runs in your browser, why it is safer for PDFs, IDs and photos, and what the limits are.
Most online PDF and image tools ask you to upload your file to a server. That is fine for a holiday photo and not great for a passport scan or a contract. The tools on shobfree.com work differently: the code runs inside your browser, so the file is read from your device and the result is saved to your device.
What "runs in your browser" means
Your browser downloads a small program, then uses your own computer or phone to merge, compress, convert or edit the file. No copy is sent over the internet. You can check this by opening your browser's network panel while you use a tool.
Why it matters
- Privacy. IDs, certificates, bank statements and contracts never reach another server.
- Speed. There is no upload or download wait for large files.
- Control. Closing the tab clears the file from memory.
The honest limits
- Your device does the work. Very large files can be slow on an old phone.
- Some conversions are approximate. Word, Excel and PowerPoint files are re-drawn rather than opened in Microsoft Office, so complex layouts can differ slightly.
- OCR needs a download. The language data is fetched once and then reused.
What we do keep
Pages like the CV and invoice makers save your typed details in your browser's local storage so they are there next time. That data stays on your device and you can clear it at any time. Anonymous usage statistics such as page views are collected by Google Analytics, but never your files or their names.
Frequently asked questions
Does it work offline? After a tool has loaded, the work itself needs no connection.
How do I know nothing is sent? Watch the network panel. No file is posted.
Is there a file size limit? Only your device's memory.
