Guides

Straight answers to the questions people ask before they reach for a file tool: what is safe, what a file reveals, which format to use, and how to check for yourself.

Photos and images

How to remove location data from photosEvery phone photo stores where it was taken. Here is how to remove it on each platform, and how to check.
What is EXIF data, and what does a photo reveal?The information stored inside a photo file, what it can give away, and how to see and remove it.
How to open HEIC files on WindowsWhy iPhone photos will not open, the three fixes, and the fastest free way to convert a whole batch to JPG.
How to reduce an image's file sizeTwo settings do almost all the work. Here are the numbers to use for email, forms, listings and websites.
JPG, PNG, WebP or HEIC: which image format to useA practical rule for each job, and the conversion to get there.
How to view photo metadata on iPhone, Android, Windows and MacEvery phone and computer can show some of a photo's EXIF data. Here is where to look, what each one leaves out, and how to see all of it.
Stripping EXIF without re-encoding the JPEGNeed an EXIF remover? Stayput's EXIF remover strips location and camera data from JPG, PNG and WebP photos in your browser without re-saving the picture. This page explains how it works, in about 600 lines of TypeScript and no library.
How to remove the background from a photoiPhone, Android, Windows and Mac can all do this without an app. Here is how on each, and where they fall short.
How to copy text from an imageiPhone, Android, Windows and Mac can all turn a photo of text into text you can select and paste. Here is how on each.
How to blur a face in a photoNo phone has a built-in face-blur button. Here is what the workarounds do instead, and a tool built for exactly this.
How to resize a photo for social mediaUpload the wrong shape and the platform crops it for you, sometimes badly. Here are the sizes that matter and how to hit them.
How to take a passport photo at homeMostly about background, lighting and framing, not equipment. Here is how to get it right with just a phone.
How to add a watermark to a photoPhone camera rolls have no built-in watermark feature. Here is what actually adds text to a photo before you share it.
How to make a faviconA modern site needs more than one favicon.ico; here is how to generate the whole set of icons from a single logo.
How to get a color code from an imageMatching a color you see in a photo needs an eyedropper, which most photo viewers do not have built in. Here is what actually gets the exact code.
How to remove an object from a photoPainting out an unwanted object usually beats cropping around it. Here is how to do it on your phone, and a free browser tool with no upload.
How to resize an image to exact pixelsGetting a photo to an exact width and height, not just smaller, needs a different setting than a normal resize. Here is how, with no software to install.
How to upscale an imageMaking a small picture bigger the old way just blurs it further. Here is what an AI upscaler does differently, and a free one that runs in the browser.
How to make a QR codeA QR code from some free generators stops working the moment their account expires, because it points at a short link, not your content. Here is how to make one that never does.
How to make a photo collageA free collage app often means a watermark on the download, or a small cap on how many photos fit. Here is a browser-based option with neither limit.
How to convert a photo to black and whiteJust desaturating a colour photo often looks flat in black and white, because colours that looked different can turn into the same shade of grey. Here is why, and a free tool that fixes it.
How to remove metadata from a photo on WindowsFile Explorer can strip some metadata from a photo. Here is how, what it does not promise, and how to clean a whole folder without re-saving the pictures.
How to remove metadata from photos on a MacPhotos can hide a location, Preview can show or remove one, and neither touches the rest of the metadata. Here is what each does and how to strip a photo for sure.
How to remove metadata from iPhone photosApple's built-in options handle location. For the date, device and everything else, here is how to strip a photo before you post it.
How to remove metadata from Android photosSamsung can drop the location when you share. Google Photos cannot remove one your camera recorded. Here is what works, and how to strip everything.
How to stop your phone putting your location in photosOne setting in the camera decides whether every photo carries GPS coordinates. Here is where it is on iPhone, Pixel and Samsung.
Do Discord, Reddit and Instagram remove EXIF data from photos?Nobody documents it well, and the answer can differ by file type and how you send the photo. Here is what we could verify, how to test it, and the safe way.
How to add text to a photoEvery phone and computer can do it, but the controls differ and the text is often hard to read on a busy picture. Here is each built-in way, and a private browser option.
How to compress a PNGPNG does not have a quality slider, which is why shrinking one confuses people. Here is what actually works, and what it costs.
How to reduce GIF sizeAn animated GIF is a stack of pictures, and the file grows with every frame. Here is what makes it smaller and what that costs you.
How to rotate a pictureA photo that shows sideways is quick to fix. Here are the built-in steps on each device, and a browser option for a whole batch.
How to convert an image to SVGA PNG or JPG is a grid of pixels; an SVG is a set of shapes. Turning one into the other is called tracing. Here is what to expect, and the steps.
How to brighten a photoA dark photo can usually be saved in a few taps. Here are the steps on each device, and a way to fix a batch of them at once.

PDFs

How to compress a PDF without losing qualityWhere the size comes from, which reductions are free, and where the quality trade-off actually starts.
How to sign a PDF without Adobe AcrobatSign a contract in your browser in a minute, with nothing uploaded, and the built-in options on every platform.
How to merge PDFs on an iPhoneThe Files app can do this, though the steps are not obvious. Here they are, plus a faster option when you need to reorder pages.
How to remove a password from a PDFIf you can already open it, removing the password is usually a save or print trick built into your computer. Here is how.
How to convert a PDF to WordWord and Google Docs can both open a PDF directly. Here is how, and what to use when the result comes out messy.
How to convert a photo to PDFEvery device can do this, in different ways and different places in the menus. Here is how on each, plus combining several photos into one file.
How to password protect a PDFUnlike removing a password, adding real encryption usually needs a dedicated tool rather than a built-in export option. Here is what works.
How to split a PDF into separate pagesMost built-in PDF viewers can reorder or delete pages, but not split a document into separate files. Here is what does the job.
How to add page numbers to a PDFEasy if you still have the original Word file; much harder if all you have is the finished PDF. Here is what actually works.
How to rotate a PDFRotating a PDF to read it and rotating it permanently are two different things. Here is how to make the fix stick.
How to add a watermark to a PDFStamping "confidential" or "draft" across every page needs either the original document or a tool built for it. Here is how.
How to reorder pages in a PDFRearranging pages is built into Preview on a Mac, but missing on Windows, iPhone and Android. Here is what works on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android.
How to make a scanned PDF searchableA scan is a photograph of paper, not text, which is why you cannot search it. Here is how OCR adds a text layer, and a free browser tool for it.
How to scan a document with your phoneBoth iPhone and Android can scan paper into a clean PDF without a dedicated app, if you know where to look. Here is where, plus a browser option for when you would rather not.
How to convert EPUB to PDFA few tools do this conversion, each with a catch: an email delivery, a size cap, or an app to install. Here is a browser one with none of those: nothing is emailed, and the limit is your device’s memory (phones hold less).
How to redact a PDFPainting a black rectangle over a name in a PDF usually just covers it, since the text is still selectable underneath. Here is how to actually delete it, for free, without uploading the document.
How to crop a PDFTrimming a PDF down to what matters, whether that is shrinking wide margins or cutting every page to one area, works differently from resizing. Here is how, in the browser.
How to fill out a PDF formFilling in a form that carries your income, your ID number or your address means thinking about where that file goes. Here is how to fill it out on your own device instead.
How to extract images from a PDFA screenshot of a picture inside a PDF is a blurry copy of a copy. Here is how to get the original image file out instead, at its real resolution.
How to flatten a PDFA form you just filled in, or a document you just signed, stays editable until it is flattened. Here is what that means, and how to do it for free.
How to remove metadata from a PDFA PDF often says who made it, with what, and when, without showing any of it on the page. Here is how to see it and remove it before you share the file.
How to open a RAR or 7z fileRAR and 7z are archive formats like ZIP, but not every device opens them. Here is what works on Windows, Mac and phones, and a way that needs no install.
How to resize a PDFTwo different jobs share this name: changing the paper size, and making the file smaller. Here is which is which, and how to do each.
How to make a PDF black and whiteChoosing black and white when you print only changes the paper. If a portal or a printer wants the file itself in black and white, you need a converted copy.

Video and audio

How to make a GIF from a videoA GIF loops and plays anywhere without a tap. Here is how to make one on each platform, and a browser tool for when there is no built-in way.
How to compress a video without losing qualityMost phone video is recorded at a far higher bitrate than the screen needs. Here is what to change, and what actually loses quality.
How to trim a video without installing an appiPhone, Android, Windows and Mac can all trim a video with what is already installed. Here is how on each.
How to rotate a sideways videoAlmost always a fixable rotation flag, not broken footage. Here is how to fix it on each platform.
How to remove audio from a videoThe mute button on your phone only silences playback. Removing the audio for good needs an actual edit. Here is how, on each platform.
How to convert MOV to MP4MOV plays fine on Apple devices but not everywhere else. Here is how to convert it on a Mac and on Windows.
How to convert a video to MP3This is different from muting a video: you want the sound saved as its own file. Most devices have no built-in way to do that.
How to trim an MP3 fileCutting audio precisely needs to see the waveform, which most built-in apps do not show. Here is what actually works.
How to combine or merge videos into one on any deviceMost camera rolls can play clips one after another, not merge them into a single file. Here is what actually joins them.
How to convert WAV to MP3WAV files are large; MP3 is the smaller, more compatible format most people actually need. Here is how to convert between them.
How to slow down or speed up a videoThis changes the saved file itself, not just how a player plays it back. Here is what actually works, including keeping the audio in tune.
How to convert a GIF to MP4A GIF of the same clip is usually much bigger than an MP4, and some platforms will not accept a GIF at all. Here is how to convert it.
How to add music to a videoAdding a soundtrack to an existing video is not something most camera rolls support directly. Here is what does the job.
How to transcribe audio to textEvery platform has a way to turn speech into text now, at very different prices. Here is what each one offers, and a free option that never uploads the recording.
How to add subtitles to a videoCaptions written from the speech and burned into the picture, without a watermark or a length cap. Here is how, and a tool that does both steps on your own device.
How to remove vocals from a songAI vocal removers pull the voice out of almost any song now, not just tracks with a lucky stereo mix. Here is how they work, and a free browser-based one.
How to blur a video backgroundPortrait-mode blur for video calls exists, but a clip you already filmed keeps the room in full detail. Here is how to blur it afterward, for free, on your own device.
How to record your screenA quick screen recording for a bug report, a tutorial or a demo does not need a downloaded app. Here is how to record it straight from your browser, free.
How to resize a videoGetting a video down from 4K to 1080p, or to an exact width and height a platform expects, is a different setting than just compressing it. Here is how, in the browser.
How to increase audio volumeSimply turning up a quiet recording clips the loud parts before the quiet parts get loud enough. Here is a better way, and a free tool that does it without uploading the file.
How to crop a videoCropping cuts away the edges of the picture, which is different from trimming the length. Here is where each device does it, and a private browser option.
How to reverse a videoRewind effects are popular, but most phones have no reverse button. Here is where it exists, and a way to do it without installing an app.
How to merge audio filesJoining voice notes, podcast segments or songs end to end is simple once you know the right tool. Here is the desktop way and a private browser way.
How to blur a face in a videoBlurring a face in one photo is easy. In a video the face moves, so the cover has to follow it. Here are the options, and a way that never uploads the clip.
How to reduce MP3 sizeAn MP3 gets smaller when you lower its bitrate, make it mono, shorten it, or switch format. Here is what each saves, with measured results.
How to turn audio into a videoTo put a song, a podcast episode or a voice note on YouTube, you need a video. Here is how to make one from the sound and a single picture.
How to tune a guitarStandard tuning is E A D G B E, from the thickest string to the thinnest. Here is how to get each string there with a tuner, by ear, and what to do when it drifts.

Online services and safety

Is it safe to merge PDFs online?It depends on one thing: whether the file leaves your computer. Here is how to tell, and how to merge without it leaving.
Does this website upload my files? How to checkA five-minute check with tools already in your browser. No trust required.
How to convert and edit files without uploading themBrowsers can do most file jobs themselves. What runs locally, why it is enough, and which tools to use.
Is CloudConvert safe?For most files, yes: it is an established, certified service. The real question is whether a given file should leave your computer at all.
Is FreeConvert safe?FreeConvert is a legitimate service with a clear deletion policy. Whether it is safe for a particular file depends on whether that file should be uploaded anywhere.
Is iLovePDF safe?iLovePDF is an established European service with good published practices. For confidential PDFs, the safer question is whether they need to be uploaded at all.
Is Smallpdf safe?Smallpdf is a reputable Swiss company with published retention rules. What changes the answer for you is which of its storage rules applies to your file.
Is ezgif safe?Ezgif is a legitimate, popular GIF tool with a short deletion window. The file you are about to drop in decides whether uploading it is fine.
Is PDF24 safe?PDF24 is a long-standing German project, and it tells you itself that its offline app is the more private option. Here is how to choose between the two, and a third way.
Is Convertio safe?Convertio is a well-known converter with a published deletion policy. For private files, the safer choice is a converter that never receives them.
Is Zamzar safe?Zamzar is one of the oldest online converters. Its storage window is longer than most, which is the detail worth knowing.
Is remove.bg safe?remove.bg is a legitimate Canva-owned service. Its policy gives no exact deletion time, and its website is closing, so it is worth knowing the options.
A free Smallpdf alternative with no daily limitSmallpdf's free plan has daily limits. Here is what that means, and a way around it where your files are never uploaded.
A free iLovePDF alternative with no task limits or adsiLovePDF's free plan works, but with limits on documents, batches and file size. Here is what changes with a tool that never uploads the file at all.
A free CloudConvert alternative for everyday filesCloudConvert measures its free tier in credits tied to conversion time, not files, which makes it hard to predict when you will hit the limit. Here is an alternative with nothing to meter.
remove.bg is closing: a free alternative that does not upload your photosremove.bg's own site says its standalone website closes on 1 December 2026 (checked 12 October 2026). Stayput's background remover is free, needs no account, and your photos are not uploaded.
A free Convertio alternative with no file size capConvertio's free plan caps both file size and how many conversions you get per day. Here is an alternative with no such ceiling.
A free Zamzar alternative with no daily limitZamzar's free service limits how many files you can convert and how big each can be. Here is an alternative with no such cap.
A free FreeConvert alternative with no processing time capFreeConvert's free plan limits the processing time for each file and for the day. Here is an alternative with nothing to time out.
A PDF24 alternative that works in your browser without uploadingPDF24 itself points to its desktop app for keeping files on your PC, but that app is Windows only. Here is an alternative that skips the upload, in any modern browser.
A free ezgif alternative with no file size capEzgif caps how big a file you can upload. Here is an alternative where your video is never uploaded.
A free Clideo alternative with no watermark and no uploadClideo works, but the free plan caps the file at 500 MB and the video goes to its servers. Here is what changes when the video never leaves your device.
A free TinyWow alternative that never uploads your filesTinyWow puts a lot of tools in one place, but your files go to it first. Here is what changes when they never leave your device.
A free iLoveIMG alternative that doesn't upload your imagesiLoveIMG's free plan works, with caps on batch size and file size per task. Here is what changes when the image never leaves your device.
A free Sejda alternative with no hourly task limit and no uploadSejda's free web tools stop you after 3 tasks an hour, and the PDF goes to its servers. Here is what changes when the file never leaves your device.
A free TinyPNG alternative with no 5 MB cap and no uploadTinyPNG compresses well, but every image goes to its servers first, with a 5 MB cap on the free plan. Here is what changes when the image never leaves your device.
A free PDF Candy alternative that doesn't upload your filesPDF Candy's free plan works, with page, hourly and batch limits, and your file goes to its servers first. Here is what changes when it never leaves your device.
A free Otter.ai alternative with no monthly minute capOtter.ai's free tier meters your minutes each month and caps how long a single recording can run. Here is what that looks like, and an alternative with nothing to meter.
A free CamScanner alternative with no watermarkCamScanner's free account has storage and feature limits, with a Premium plan above it. Here is a scanning alternative with no watermark and no tier to pay for.