Frequently Asked Questions

Pixly is a free, browser-based image editing platform with 30+ tools for everyday photo tasks. You can compress, resize, crop, rotate, convert formats, remove backgrounds, upscale with AI, add watermarks, make collages, create memes, generate passport photos, and more — all without installing software or creating an account. Explore the full collection on our tools page.

Yes. Every tool is completely free with no daily caps, no credits, no watermarks, and no premium tiers. Because all processing happens in your browser using WebAssembly and client-side AI, we don’t need expensive GPU servers or cloud infrastructure — your device does the work, so our costs stay near zero. We’re supported by ads and optional donations, not paywalls.

No. Pixly works instantly without any account, email, or personal information. Just visit a tool page and start editing. No login, no password, no tracking of your identity.

Most online image tools upload your photos to a server, process them remotely, and store them for hours or even days. Pixly runs entirely in your browser — your images never leave your device. This means true privacy, no file size limits, no upload wait times, and no risk of your photos being used to train AI models. You can verify this yourself: open your browser’s Network tab (F12) and process an image — you’ll see zero upload requests.

Yes. Pixly is fully responsive and works in any modern mobile browser on iOS and Android. The interface is optimized for touch interactions, and all tools — including AI features — run on-device using your phone’s neural processing when available. No app installation required.

Pixly works on all modern browsers that support WebAssembly: Chrome 57+, Firefox 52+, Safari 11+, and Edge 16+. This covers 95%+ of browsers in use today. For the best experience — especially with AI tools — we recommend the latest version of Chrome, Edge, or Firefox.

No. Pixly runs entirely in your browser. There’s nothing to download, install, or update. Just open a tool page and start editing. The AI models load automatically in your browser when needed.

Yes, Pixly is 100% private. All image processing happens entirely in your browser using WebAssembly and client-side AI models. Your images never leave your device — they are never uploaded to any server, not even temporarily. This means zero privacy risk, no server-side data retention, and no possibility of your photos being used to train AI models. You can verify this by opening your browser’s DevTools Network tab while processing an image.

When you select an image, Pixly uses the browser’s File API to read it directly into your device’s memory (RAM). The image is then processed using the HTML5 Canvas API and WebAssembly — the same technologies used by desktop applications, compiled to run securely inside your browser. The result is written back to your device as a downloadable file. At no point does a network request fire. Your browser is the execution engine, not a window to a remote server.

Yes. Two simple tests: (1) Open your browser’s DevTools (F12), go to the Network tab, then process an image. You’ll see zero POST or PUT requests containing image data. (2) Load a tool page, then disconnect from the internet (turn on Airplane Mode) and process an image. If the tool still works, nothing is being sent to a server — because there’s no network path to send it over.

Pixly collects minimal analytics data (page views, anonymous usage statistics) to understand which tools are popular and improve the service. We do not collect, store, or transmit your images, personal information, or editing history. There are no accounts, so there’s no email, password, or profile data to protect. Read our full privacy policy for details.

Yes — because your images are never on our servers in the first place. There’s no server-side storage to breach, no cloud cache to leak, and no retention period to worry about. The architectural guarantee of client-side processing means your photos exist only in your browser’s memory during processing and are discarded when you close the tab.

No. Since your images are processed entirely in your browser and never uploaded, it is physically impossible for us to access, store, or use your photos for AI training or any other purpose. Unlike cloud-based tools that may retain uploaded images, Pixly’s architecture prevents this by design — not just by policy.

Yes. Because images never leave your device, Pixly is safe for sensitive documents like ID cards, medical images, legal documents, and confidential business photos. This makes it suitable for healthcare workers under HIPAA, journalists handling sensitive sources, and professionals working under NDA. However, for truly critical material, always exercise caution and consider offline tools.

Our AI Background Remover uses a deep learning segmentation model (BiRefNet-based) that runs directly in your browser via WebAssembly. It identifies the subject in your photo and separates it from the background with pixel-level precision — handling complex edges like hair, fur, and semi-transparent objects. Unlike most background removers, there’s no resolution cap, no watermark, and your photo is never uploaded. For standard-quality removal, try our free Background Remover.

Our AI Image Upscaler uses Real-ESRGAN-based deep learning models that produce results comparable to Topaz Labs for most use cases. It supports 2x and 4x upscaling, sharpening real detail without inventing artifacts. The main differences: Pixly is completely free, runs in your browser, and your images stay private. For best results, start with a clean, in-focus source image and avoid pushing beyond 4x.

AI upscaling and AI deblurring are different tasks. Upscaling enlarges an image and adds plausible detail, but it can’t fix motion blur or severe defocus. For blurry photos, use our AI Deblur tool, which is specifically trained to remove motion blur and refocus soft images. For best results, combine: deblur first, then upscale.

2x upscaling doubles the resolution (e.g., 1000×1000 becomes 2000×2000) and produces the cleanest results with minimal artifact risk. 4x quadruples it (1000×1000 becomes 4000×4000) and works well for images with good source quality. For most use cases, 2x is the safest choice. Going beyond 4x increases the risk of artifacts — especially on faces, text, and fine textures. Always inspect the result at 100% zoom.

Our AI Photo Colorizer works on most black and white photos, including old family photos, historical images, and vintage prints. The AI predicts natural colors based on patterns learned from millions of color images. Results are most convincing on portraits, landscapes, and everyday scenes. Very unusual or abstract images may produce less accurate colors.

Yes. Our AI Face Retoucher applies subtle, natural enhancements — smooth skin, blemish removal, and face detail recovery — without the waxy, over-processed look common in cheaper tools. The AI preserves natural skin texture and facial features while improving overall quality. It’s ideal for portraits, headshots, and profile pictures.

Yes. Our AI Object Remover uses inpainting to seamlessly erase unwanted objects, people, watermarks, and blemishes. The AI analyzes surrounding pixels and fills the removed area with plausible content. It works best on small-to-medium objects against relatively uniform backgrounds. Large removals may require multiple passes.

Our AI Photo Restoration tool repairs scratches, tears, fading, and discoloration on old photographs. The AI was trained on thousands of damaged-and-restored image pairs, learning to recognize and repair common types of degradation. It can fix scratches, reduce noise, restore contrast, and even colorize — bringing damaged memories back to life.

Yes. Our AI Image Extender uses outpainting to seamlessly expand image borders. It analyzes the existing content and generates plausible extensions of the background — useful for creating wider banners, adjusting aspect ratios for social media, or uncropping photos. The AI blends the new content with the original for a natural look.

Yes. Our AI Denoise tool is specifically designed for high-ISO and low-light photos. It removes grain and noise while preserving fine detail like hair, fabric texture, and edges. The AI distinguishes between actual image detail and random noise, producing clean results that look natural rather than over-smoothed.

Pixly supports PNG, JPG/JPEG, WebP, HEIC/HEIF, AVIF, GIF, and BMP for input. For output, most tools can export to PNG, JPG, and WebP. Our WebP transparency handling is a key differentiator — unlike many tools that fill transparent areas with black, Pixly preserves alpha channels perfectly. Use our Photo Editor or Batch Processor for format conversion.

Use JPG for photographs and images with millions of colors — it offers the best compatibility and small file sizes. Use PNG for logos, screenshots, graphics with text, or anything needing transparency — it’s lossless but produces larger files. Use WebP for website images — it’s 25–35% smaller than JPG at similar quality and supports transparency. AVIF offers even better compression but has less tooling support. For social media and email, JPG is the safest universal choice.

iPhones save photos as HEIC by default since iOS 11 — files are about 50% smaller than JPG but many Windows PCs and websites can’t open them. Use Pixly’s Photo Editor or Batch Processor to convert HEIC to JPG instantly in your browser. Your photos are never uploaded. Alternatively, you can change your iPhone settings to shoot in JPG: Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible.

PNG uses lossless compression — every pixel is preserved exactly, which is essential for logos, screenshots, and graphics with sharp edges or transparency. But for photographs, this means file sizes 5–10x larger than JPG with no visible quality benefit. If you’re working with photos, convert to JPG or WebP using our Image Compressor to dramatically reduce file size without visible quality loss.

Converting to a lossy format (JPG, WebP) involves a small amount of compression, but at quality 85+ the difference is invisible to the human eye. Converting between lossless formats (PNG to WebP lossless) preserves every pixel. Avoid re-saving the same JPG repeatedly — each save applies lossy compression again, causing gradual quality degradation known as "generation loss." Convert once from the original and keep the source file.

WebP is a modern image format developed by Google that supports both lossy and lossless compression, plus transparency. It produces files 25–35% smaller than JPG and 26% smaller than PNG at equivalent quality. All modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari 14+, Edge) support WebP, covering 97%+ of users. For websites, WebP is now the recommended default for faster page loads. Use our Batch Processor to convert entire folders to WebP.

Yes, Pixly supports AVIF as an input format. AVIF offers even better compression than WebP — roughly 20% smaller at similar quality. However, AVIF encoding is slower and some older image editors don’t support it yet. For most users, WebP remains the practical choice for web images.

Use our Image Compressor to reduce file size up to 80% with zero visible quality loss. The key is choosing the right quality setting: 80–85 for JPG is the industry-standard sweet spot — you get 65–75% file size reduction with virtually no visible artifacts. For WebP, use 75–80. For PNG (which is lossless), reduce dimensions or color count instead of adjusting quality. Always resize first if the image is larger than its display size — this saves more bytes than compression alone.

For JPEG: use quality 80–85 for general web images, 85–90 for product photos where customers zoom in, and 70–75 for thumbnails. For WebP: use 75–80 for general use. For AVIF: use 60–70. Start at quality 80, compare the result with the original at 100% zoom, and adjust. If they look identical, try 5 points lower. When you notice a difference, go 5 points back up. Target under 200 KB per image for most web content.

Many government forms, job applications, and upload portals require images under a specific file size. Use our Image Compressor to target an exact KB limit. The tool automatically adjusts quality and, if needed, resizes the image to hit your target. Aim just under the maximum (e.g., 48 KB on a 50 KB cap) so any re-processing by the portal doesn’t push you over.

The most common reason is that the image dimensions are too large. A 4000×3000 phone photo has 12 million pixels — even at high compression, the file will be large. Resize first to the dimensions you actually need (e.g., 1200px wide for web content), then compress. This typically reduces file size 6x before compression even starts. Also check your format: PNG photos are 5–10x larger than equivalent JPGs.

Yes — this is called "generation loss." Each time you re-save a JPG, the lossy compression is reapplied, gradually degrading quality. To avoid this, always compress from the original source file, not from a previously compressed version. If you need to edit and re-export, start from a lossless format (PNG or RAW) and convert to JPG as the final step.

Three steps: (1) Resize images to the largest dimensions they’ll actually be displayed at — a 4000px photo displayed at 800px wastes bandwidth. (2) Convert to WebP format for 25–35% smaller files than JPG. (3) Compress at quality 80–85. Use our Batch Processor to do all three in one pass across an entire folder. Target under 200 KB per image for general web content.

Instagram recommends: Square posts 1080×1080px (1:1), Portrait posts 1080×1350px (4:5), Landscape posts 1080×566px (1.91:1), Stories and Reels 1080×1920px (9:16), Profile photo 320×320px. Vertical (4:5) posts now perform best in the feed because they take up more screen space on mobile. Use our Social Media Photo Resizer to automatically crop and resize to any platform’s specs.

YouTube video thumbnails should be 1280×720px (16:9 aspect ratio), with a maximum file size of 2MB. Your YouTube channel banner should be 2560×1440px (minimum 2048×1152px), and your profile photo should be 800×800px. Use our Social Media Photo Resizer with the YouTube preset for instant resizing.

TikTok content is primarily vertical: use 1080×1920px (9:16 aspect ratio) for videos, carousels, and Stories. Profile photos should be at least 200×200px. TikTok also supports square (1:1) and landscape (16:9) formats for photo mode, but vertical performs strongest on mobile. Use our Social Media Photo Resizer with the TikTok preset.

Facebook: square posts 1080×1080px, vertical 1080×1350px, cover photo 851×315px. X (Twitter): square 1080×1080px, landscape 1600×900px, header 1500×500px. LinkedIn: feed images 1200×627px, square 1200×1200px, cover photo 1128×191px (company pages). Use our Social Media Photo Resizer for platform-specific presets that crop and resize in one step.

Use our Image Splitter for Instagram to divide one image into a 3×3 (or custom) grid that creates a seamless mosaic on your profile. Upload your image, choose the grid layout, and download each tile. Post them in the correct order (bottom-right first, top-left last) to create the seamless effect.

Platforms will auto-crop, stretch, or compress your image, often with poor results — blurry visuals, cut-off text, or awkward framing. This kills click-through rates before anyone reads your caption. Always resize to the platform’s recommended dimensions before uploading. Use our Social Media Photo Resizer for instant, platform-specific resizing.

Use our Meme Maker to add classic top and bottom text to any image with the iconic Impact font. Upload your image, type your caption, and download. For more custom text overlays with different fonts, colors, and positions, use our Image Text Adder.

Yes. Use our Batch Image Processor to process 100+ images simultaneously. Apply the same operation — compression, format conversion, resizing, or watermarking — to an entire folder in seconds. All processing happens in your browser, so there’s no upload wait and no file count cap. Download all results as a single ZIP file.

There’s no hard limit on the number of images. However, for optimal performance, we recommend processing 50–100 images per batch. Processing speed depends on your device’s CPU and available RAM. Very large batches (500+ images) may cause memory pressure on older devices — split them into smaller runs if needed.

The Batch Processor supports: resize to specific dimensions, compress with quality control, target a specific file size (e.g., under 200 KB), convert between JPG/PNG/WebP, strip EXIF/GPS metadata, add text or image watermarks, and batch rename with patterns. You can combine multiple operations in a single run — e.g., resize, compress, convert to WebP, and strip metadata all at once.

Yes. When images are re-encoded during batch processing (compression, format conversion), EXIF and GPS metadata is automatically stripped. This is a privacy benefit — your location data, camera settings, and timestamps are removed. If you need to explicitly strip metadata without other changes, use our EXIF / Metadata Remover.

Yes. Use our Image Watermark Adder or the watermark feature in the Batch Processor to add text or image watermarks to an entire folder. Position the watermark, adjust opacity, and apply to all images in one pass — perfect for protecting product photos or adding brand logos.

Yes. Use our Passport Photo Maker to create compliant passport, visa, and ID photos from any portrait or selfie. The AI automatically removes the background, crops to the correct dimensions, and validates compliance — all in your browser. No studio visit, no fee, no upload. Print at home or at any pharmacy for under $1.

Pixly supports passport, visa, and ID photo formats for 100+ countries, including US (2×2in / 51×51mm), EU/Schengen (35×45mm), UK (35×45mm), Canada (50×70mm), Australia (35×45mm), India (35×45mm), China (33×48mm), Japan (35×45mm), and many more. Select your country and document type in the tool to get the correct dimensions automatically.

US passport photos must be 2×2 inches (51×51mm) at 300 DPI (600×600px), with a plain white or off-white background. Your head must measure between 1 inch and 1⅜ inches (25–35mm) from chin to crown. Eyes must be open and looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression. Glasses are not permitted. Our Passport Photo Maker handles all of this automatically.

Stand in front of a plain white or off-white wall, about 50cm away to avoid shadows. Face a window for even, natural diffused light — avoid direct sunlight and flash. Look straight at the camera with a neutral expression and mouth closed. Use your phone’s rear camera (not selfie). Wear everyday clothing, avoiding white tops that blend into the background. Our tool will handle background removal, cropping, and compliance checking.

Yes. The Passport Photo Maker can arrange multiple copies on a 4×6 inch print sheet. Download the sheet as a PDF or JPG, print at home on photo paper (select "Actual Size" or "100%" — do not scale to fit), or take it to any pharmacy or photo lab. Most pharmacies offer printing for under $1 per sheet.

EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) data is hidden metadata embedded in every photo by your camera or phone. It can include GPS coordinates accurate to within a few meters, device serial numbers, timestamps, camera settings (aperture, shutter speed, ISO), and more. When you share photos online — via email, forums, marketplaces, or cloud links — this data travels with the image, potentially revealing your home address, location history, and device information. Use our EXIF / Metadata Remover to strip it before sharing.

Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and X (Twitter) strip EXIF data from publicly displayed images. However, they read and store your metadata on their servers before stripping it — you’ve still handed your GPS coordinates and device info to the platform. For true privacy, strip EXIF data before uploading. Use our EXIF Remover — it runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.

No. EXIF data is metadata stored alongside the image pixels — it has nothing to do with the actual photo quality. Stripping it reduces file size slightly (typically 5–50KB depending on the amount of metadata) and has zero impact on image resolution, color, or sharpness. Use our EXIF Remover for clean, metadata-free photos.

Yes. Use our Image Metadata Viewer to inspect EXIF, GPS, camera settings, and other hidden info in any image — all in your browser. View the data, then use the EXIF Remover to strip it. Both tools are free and private.

EXIF can include: GPS coordinates (latitude and longitude of where the photo was taken), date and time, camera make and model, lens information, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, white balance, focal length, orientation, software used, and in some cases, your name (if set in camera settings). Some cameras also embed a thumbnail image that may contain its own EXIF data. Use our Metadata Viewer to see exactly what’s in your photos.

GPS coordinates in photos can reveal your home address, workplace, or daily routines to anyone who downloads the image. This is a serious concern for journalists, activists, abuse survivors, and anyone sharing photos from sensitive locations. Even casual users risk doxxing by sharing photos taken at home. Strip GPS data with our EXIF Remover before sharing.

Try these steps: (1) Refresh the page. (2) Clear your browser cache and cookies for the site. (3) Try a different browser (Chrome or Edge work best for AI tools). (4) Disable browser extensions that might interfere. (5) Ensure you have enough free RAM — close unnecessary tabs. If the problem persists, contact us with details about your browser, device, and the tool you’re using.

AI tools run neural networks locally in your browser, so processing speed depends on your device’s CPU, GPU, and available RAM. On modern devices with hardware acceleration, most AI operations complete in 2–10 seconds. On older devices or those without GPU acceleration, it may take longer. Tips: close other tabs to free memory, use Chrome or Edge for best WebGPU support, and process one image at a time for AI tools.

This can happen if your browser applies color management differently between the canvas (preview) and the exported file. To minimize differences, use a color-managed browser (Chrome, Firefox) and ensure your monitor isn’t using an unusual color profile. If the difference is significant, try exporting in a different format (PNG instead of JPG) or report the issue.

There’s no server-side file size limit because images are processed in your browser. However, your device’s available RAM is the practical limit. Most browsers handle images up to roughly 16,384px per side or about 256 megapixels. Very large files (40MP+ RAW exports) work but may be slow on devices with limited memory. For extremely large images, process them in smaller batches.

Once a tool page is loaded, most basic tools (compress, resize, crop, rotate, convert) work offline because they run entirely in your browser. AI tools need to download the model on first use, but after caching, they also work offline. To test: load a tool, enable Airplane Mode, and try processing an image. If it works, the tool is fully offline-capable.

We’d love to hear from you. For bug reports, contact us with details about the issue, your browser, and device. For new tool ideas, use our tool recommendation page. You can also vote on upcoming features on our roadmap and track new releases on our changelog.

Never. All Pixly tools produce clean, watermark-free output at full resolution. Every tool is unlimited — no daily caps, no hidden fees, no premium tiers. We believe in honest, transparent tooling that anyone can use without restrictions.