File Retention Policy
This policy applies only to the limited set of tools that use temporary cloud processing. Browser-processed tools never send your file to us at all.
Last updated: August 31, 2026
1. Default: no server involvement
The large majority of tools on ToolsForge process your file entirely in your browser. There is no upload, no server-side copy, and therefore nothing to retain or delete — your file simply never reaches our infrastructure.
2. When a tool uses temporary cloud processing
For the specific tools that are clearly labeled as using cloud processing (for example, certain OCR and AI-assisted features), we apply the following rules without exception:
- Immediate deletion when possible. Uploaded files are deleted as soon as processing completes and the result has been returned to you.
- Maximum retention window. Where immediate deletion isn't technically feasible (for example, to allow you to re-download a result within the same session), files are retained for no longer than 60 minutes before automatic, permanent deletion.
- No manual cleanup required. Deletion is enforced automatically by our infrastructure (Cloudflare Workers with time-to-live storage rules) — not by a person remembering to run a cleanup job.
- No backups of processed files. We do not keep backup copies of files submitted to cloud-processed tools.
- Refreshing or closing the page does not extend retention — the same automatic expiry window still applies.
3. What we retain instead of your file
For basic service operation and abuse prevention, we may keep minimal, non-content metadata about a processing request (such as timestamp, file size, and tool used) for a limited period, kept separately from the file content itself and never re-associated with your file after it's deleted.
4. Security while a file is in transit or processing
Files sent to cloud-processed tools are transmitted over encrypted connections (HTTPS/TLS) and processed on Cloudflare's infrastructure for the minimum time necessary to complete the task.
5. Your responsibility
Because retained copies (where they briefly exist at all) are deleted automatically and cannot be recovered afterward, please download or save your results promptly after a cloud-processed tool finishes.
6. Related policy
For the broader explanation of which tools run locally versus in the cloud, and why, see our Data Processing Policy.
7. Contact us
Questions about file retention for a specific tool? Email support@hostspica.com.