How Format Convertly Handles Your Files
Format Convertly — https://formatconvertly.com
Last updated: 24 September 2026
Knowing what happens to a file after you select it is an important part of choosing a file conversion service.
Format Convertly is designed so supported local conversions can be completed inside the browser without sending the selected conversion file to Format Convertly's conversion servers. The basic workflow is intentionally straightforward.
The local file lifecycle
You select a file
The browser receives permission to read the file that you explicitly select. A website cannot normally browse arbitrary files on your computer simply because you opened a page.
The browser reads the file
The browser makes the file data available to the processing code required for the selected tool. For supported local workflows, this stage takes place on your device.
The conversion engine processes it
Images may need decoding and re-encoding. PDF operations may parse document objects. Audio or video may use a media engine. Subtitles may only need structured text transformation.
The output is generated
The conversion engine creates the target file in browser memory or another browser-managed local context. A remote Format Convertly conversion server does not need to generate the output.
You download the result
Once the output is ready, your browser can create a downloadable result. You choose where the downloaded file is saved according to your browser and device settings.
Four workflows that should not be confused
Local file conversion
A file already stored on your device is selected and processed locally where the converter supports browser execution.
Remote URL import
You supply a public web address. The file or resource must be retrieved from that external location before it can be processed. The remote host sees the request.
OCR model or language download
An OCR feature may download recognition data required to read text. That resource is processing software/data, not your selected image.
Speech model download
Browser speech-to-text may download a machine-learning model. That download is separate from handling your selected audio file.
Do we keep a copy of your converted file?
For supported local conversion workflows, there is no need for Format Convertly to maintain a server-side conversion copy simply to process and return the file. The source and generated output can exist temporarily in browser memory while the task is being completed.
If another feature intentionally stores local metadata such as preferences or Workspace history, it is browser storage rather than server conversion storage.
What can remain in your browser?
Where My Workspace is enabled, Format Convertly stores the following in this browser's localStorage (not IndexedDB):
- Profile preferences — display name, preferred language, theme, default quality and related tool preferences.
- Favorites — converter or tool titles and hrefs you mark for faster access.
- Presets — named combinations of conversion options such as quality or dimensions (whitelisted scalars only).
- History — lightweight records with source/target formats, byte sizes, completion time and converter href. Original filenames and file contents are not stored.
- Workflows — locally saved image/PDF step configurations where supported.
Source conversion files, OCR text and speech transcripts are not written into Workspace storage. Details live on Workspace privacy.
How to clear local Format Convertly data
Open My Workspace to export a JSON backup, import one, clear history, reset presets or clear the entire Workspace. You can also clear site data through your browser settings.
Clearing browser data can remove locally stored preferences, presets, favorites or history.
Why transparency matters
File-processing websites often use simple statements such as "secure" or "private" without explaining how the system works. Format Convertly takes a different approach: explain where the file is processed, what processing resources are downloaded, what browser storage is used, when a remote URL is involved and when a feature behaves differently.