How openWorkstand keeps your files on your device
Most online tools upload your file to a server, process it there and send the result back. openWorkstand works the other way round: our server only sends the tool’s code, and your browser does the work on your own device.
When you use a tool
- The page downloads the tool’s code (once; after that it is cached and also works offline).
- You choose a file. The browser reads it from your disk into memory on your device.
- The tool processes it with JavaScript and WebAssembly; heavy image work runs in a background worker so the page stays responsive.
- The result is created in memory and downloaded, or saved into your workspace folder with “Save to Workstand”.
When you use the workspace
- Documents
- Spreadsheets
- Notes
- Projects
- Tasks
- Calendar
- Files
- A folder you choose. In Chrome, Edge and other Chromium browsers on a computer, the workspace is a normal folder on your disk, opened with your permission (File System Access API). You can open the same files in Word, Excel or any other app.
- Browser storage when folders are not available. Firefox, Safari and most phones cannot open folders yet. There the workspace is kept in the browser’s private storage on that device; you can move it to a folder later.
- Standard formats. Documents are .docx, spreadsheets .xlsx, notes Markdown (.md), the calendar .ics, whiteboards .excalidraw, and tasks, projects and links small JSON files. Nothing is locked into openWorkstand.
- No account, no cloud copy. There is no sign-in and no server-side storage of your work. Back it up by copying the folder, syncing it with a service you trust, or downloading a .zip backup in Settings.
Exactly what does use the internet
A few features need the network. Here is the complete list, and what is sent:
- Citation Generator: Typing a citation by hand is fully local. If you use DOI or ISBN lookup, only that number is sent to Crossref (api.crossref.org) or Open Library (openlibrary.org) to fetch the title, authors and year.
- Speech to Text: Voice typing uses your browser’s built-in speech recognition. In Chrome and Edge the audio is processed by the browser maker’s online speech service (Google or Microsoft), under their privacy terms. openWorkstand never receives it.
- Whiteboard library: browsing the public shape library in the whiteboard loads it from libraries.excalidraw.com. Your boards are not sent.
- Delivering pages: like every website, our host receives your IP address and browser details when it sends a page, and keeps short-lived security logs.
- Public pages only: cookie-free page-view and speed measurement (Vercel Web Analytics and Speed Insights). Only the page address is recorded, without search terms or anything after “#”. The workspace has no analytics and no ads, so file names, document contents, project names and workspace searches are never measured.
Check it yourself
Open your browser’s developer tools (F12) and the Network tab, then use any tool: you will see code files load, but no request carrying your file. Or load a tool page, switch off Wi-Fi and use it. It keeps working, because nothing needs our server.
Questions
How can I check that my files are not uploaded?
Open your browser’s developer tools (F12), go to the Network tab and use a tool: you will see the page’s own code files load, but no request carrying your file. You can also load a tool page, switch off Wi-Fi and use it: it keeps working, because the work happens on your device.
Where exactly are my workspace files?
In the folder you chose when you opened the workspace (for example Documents/My Workstand), as normal .docx, .xlsx, .md, .ics, .excalidraw and JSON files. In browsers that cannot open folders, they are kept in the browser’s private storage on this device; you can move them to a folder later.
Do you have an account system or a database of my work?
No. openWorkstand has no sign-in and no server-side storage for your documents, tasks or files. There is nothing to sync, so there is nothing for us to lose or leak.
What if I clear my browser data?
Files in a folder on your computer are not affected; you just choose the folder again. Files kept in browser storage are deleted with the site data, so move them to a folder or download a backup (.zip) from Settings first.