Frequently asked questions
FileXvert converts your files right inside your browser. Here is what that changes in practice, and what the service does — or does not — do.
Privacy
- Are my files sent to a server?
- No. Conversion runs entirely in your browser, using FFmpeg compiled to WebAssembly. The file is read from your disk, transformed in memory, then saved back to your machine: at no point does it travel over the network, and we keep no copy of it.
- What happens to my file after conversion?
- Nothing is kept. The converted file is produced in memory inside the tab, then you download it. Closing the tab erases everything. We record only anonymous conversion metadata — input and output formats, size, duration — never the content.
- How is this different from a usual online converter?
- A usual online converter uploads your file to its servers, converts it there, then sends the result back: your data leaves your machine and depends on that service's retention policy. Here the work happens on your own device. The difference is structural, not contractual: there is nothing to leak because there is nothing to send.
Using it
- Do I need an account to convert a file?
- No. Conversion is available straight away, with no sign-up. An account only serves to keep a history of your conversions and to manage a Premium subscription.
- Does it work on mobile?
- Yes, on recent mobile browsers. Since conversion uses the device's memory and processor, a large file will be markedly slower on a phone than on a computer, and may fail for lack of memory.
- Do I need to install software?
- No. Everything happens in the browser, with no extension and no installation. The conversion engine is downloaded the first time, then cached.
Formats and limits
- Which formats are supported?
- The main video (MP4, WebM, MOV, AVI, MKV), audio (MP3, WAV, FLAC, AAC, OGG, M4A), image (PNG, JPEG, WebP, AVIF, GIF) and document (PDF) formats. The full list, with the conversions possible between each format, is published on the Formats page.
- What is the maximum file size?
- 100 MB per file on the free account, and 2 GB with Premium. This limit comes from the memory available in the browser tab: since conversion happens on your device, your device sets the real ceiling.
- Can I shrink a file that is too heavy?
- Yes, and without an account. When you convert, three levels are offered: original quality, balanced reduction — markedly lighter, with little visible difference — and smallest size. The reduction is applied during conversion, on your device, and your original file is never modified. Lossless formats such as WAV, FLAC or PNG do not offer this setting: it would defeat their purpose.
Pricing
- Is the service free?
- Yes, conversion is free and needs no sign-up, up to 100 MB per file. The Premium plan, at €5 per month or €45 per year, raises that limit to 2 GB, removes the download countdown and the promotional slots, and unlocks the PDF editor.
- Can I cancel Premium at any time?
- Yes, with no commitment and no fee, from your account page. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the period you already paid for: you keep the whole of Premium until that date — the page tells you which one — then the account returns to free with nothing deleted. You can change your mind until that date, in one click and with no new payment.
- Why pay if conversion runs on my own device?
- Because Premium does not sell computing power but wider limits and extra features: 2 GB per file instead of 100 MB, instant download with no countdown, no ads, and the PDF editor. The subscription also funds the development and hosting of the site.
PDF editor
- Can a PDF be edited without sending it online?
- Yes, with the PDF editor reserved for Premium subscribers. It can merge several documents, reorder, rotate, extract or delete pages, add text, hide an area, apply a watermark and edit the metadata — all in the browser, without the document leaving your device.
- What can be done with a damaged PDF that will not open?
- The editor offers to repair it. It first rewrites the document structure while keeping the text, which is enough in most cases. If the file is too damaged, it rebuilds the pages from how they render: the document becomes readable again, but its text turns into an image — no more selecting or searching. A password-protected file is not damaged but encrypted: repair does not unlock it.
- Can a PDF be signed?
- Yes. The editor lets you draw your signature with a mouse, finger or stylus, or import an image of it, then place it anywhere on the document. The drawing never leaves your device. One important point: this is a handwritten signature placed on the page, not an electronic signature within the meaning of the eIDAS regulation — it rests on no certificate and proves neither the signer's identity nor the document's integrity after signing. For an enforceable contract, use a qualified signature provider.
- Does redacting a PDF really remove the hidden text?
- Yes, provided the flattening option stays on. Pages carrying a hidden area are then rendered as images, redaction blocks included, and the covered text disappears from the file. Without that option, a black rectangle is only a drawing laid on top: the text is still there and comes out with a copy-paste — the classic failed-redaction mistake.
Another question?
The list of formats and the conversions possible between them is on the Formats page, and the plans are detailed on the Pricing page. Otherwise, write to us.