Which PDF tasks can I finish without a document upload?
Use the standalone Merge PDF, Split PDF, Compress PDF, PDF to JPG, PDF to PNG, Image to PDF, or PDF to Text tool when that task is all you need. These tools read and process document contents in your browser and let you download the result directly. The website still loads scripts, fonts and viewer assets over the network. Local document processing does not mean the website is an offline application. Choosing to open the result in the main editor starts a different workflow with a private cloud upload.
| Workflow | Where the document goes | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Standalone merge, split and compression | Document contents are processed in the current browser tab. | Download locally. Moving the result into the editor uploads it for cloud saving. |
| Editor, page organization, forms and signing | The PDF and workspace changes are uploaded to private cloud storage. | Guest workspaces expire after 24 hours. Signed-in files stay in your account until deleted. |
| Standalone original-text editing | The PDF is sent to Folio for text processing. | Downloads are free. The standalone tool keeps unsaved work in the current tab; the main editor saves to private cloud storage. |
| Password protection | The PDF and opening password are sent to Folio for processing in server memory. | Downloads are free. The tool does not persist the file or password in document storage. Hosting may buffer requests. |
Does using the editor as a guest keep the PDF on my device?
No. Guest access removes the need to sign in before starting; it does not disable uploads. The editor saves the source PDF and workspace changes privately so the same browser can recover work after a refresh. Guest storage is 100 MB, with a 50 MB limit per PDF and a 24-hour workspace expiry. A session cookie provides access. Clearing cookies can remove that access without deleting the cloud copy. Expired files are removed by scheduled cleanup, with a grace period and retries; expiry is not a promise of immediate physical deletion. Signing in attaches the open workspace to your account and removes its guest expiry.
What changes when I use original-text editing or conversion?
Adding a new text annotation and replacing an existing word are different operations. Original-text processing sends the PDF to Folio, and downloading those changes is free. Password protection also uses Folio’s server and sends the opening password. Free previews or guest access do not imply that document processing is local. The main editor’s cloud saving also applies when you use original-text features inside that workspace.
Practice: choose a workflow before selecting a file
Make the same two-page attachment with the standalone merger, then decide whether you actually need a cloud editor. This is a workflow comparison, not a security certification. This standalone workflow processes document contents in the browser. Opening its result in the editor starts a separate private cloud workspace.
- Use Merge PDF, put the portrait report first and landscape appendix second, then merge and download directly.
- Open the result in your usual PDF reader. If two ordered pages finish your task, the editor is unnecessary.
- If you also need an annotation or signature, opening the result in Folio’s editor starts an upload and a private workspace. Decide that separately.
| Check | Expected outcome |
|---|---|
| Finished output | Two pages, with the original A4 portrait and Letter landscape sizes. A local processing operation and cloud recovery are separate decisions. |
| If your result differs | If the editor appears, check whether you chose Open in editor after processing. A guest session does not mean no upload. |
What should I check before using a sensitive document?
Check whether the selected workflow uploads the source, where recovery copies are saved, and how deletion works. Use a non-sensitive sample to confirm that the exported file meets your needs. If your requirements prohibit uploads, use an appropriate local workflow and avoid opening the file in a cloud-saved editor. Cropping, covering text, flattening fields and deleting a text block do not sanitize a PDF for secure redaction. Folio does not currently provide secure redaction. This guide describes Folio’s current behavior; the privacy page has the fuller retention and infrastructure details.