Privacy Policy

Last updated: 19 July 2026

The short version: your files never leave your device. All PDF processing happens locally in your browser. We cannot see, store, or access any file you use with our tools.

1. Who we are

The Local PDF ("we", "us") operates the website thelocalpdf.com, which provides free, browser-based PDF utilities. You can contact us at hello@thelocalpdf.com.

2. Your files

Our tools run entirely in your web browser using JavaScript. When you select or drop a file:

The file is read into your browser's memory on your own device.
All processing (merging, compressing, shrinking) happens on your device.
The file is never uploaded, transmitted, or sent to our servers or anyone else's.
When you close or reload the page, the file data is discarded from memory.

We have no technical means of accessing your files, and we keep no copies, logs, or metadata about them.

3. Advertising and cookies

This website is free to use and is funded by advertising. We use Google AdSense to display ads. Google and its partners may use cookies and similar technologies to serve ads, measure their performance, and — where you have consented — personalize them based on your visits to this and other websites.

Google's use of advertising cookies is described in Google's advertising policies.
You can manage ad personalization at Google Ads Settings.
You can opt out of some third-party ad cookies at aboutads.info or youronlinechoices.com (EU).

4. Consent (EEA, UK, and Switzerland)

If you visit from the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, you will be shown a consent banner before any personalized advertising cookies are set. You can choose to consent, refuse, or manage your options, and you can change your choice at any time through the banner's settings link. If you refuse, ads may still be shown but will be non-personalized.

5. Analytics and technical data

Like most websites, our hosting provider may automatically record basic technical information when the page is served, such as IP address, browser type, and the time of the request, for security and operational purposes. This data is not linked to your files, which are never transmitted in the first place.

6. Your rights

Under the GDPR and similar laws, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or restrict processing of personal data concerning you, and to withdraw consent at any time. Since we do not collect or store your files or maintain user accounts, the personal data involved in this website is limited to the advertising and technical data described above. To exercise your rights or ask questions, contact us at hello@thelocalpdf.com. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

7. Children

This website is a general-audience utility and is not directed at children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

8. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The date at the top of this page shows when it was last revised. Continued use of the website after changes means you accept the updated policy.