Desktop and web: what differs
What the desktop app and the web app at app.filarr.com do differently, and how to choose between them.
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Documentation sections
Filarr comes in two forms: the desktop app for Windows and Linux, and the web app at app.filarr.com. Both open the same account, the same files and the same notes, and both encrypt everything on your device before it leaves. Most features work the same way in both. The tables below list what differs.
Where your data lives and how you unlock it
| Topic | Desktop app | Web app |
|---|---|---|
| Profile without an account | Your data stays on this computer | Your data stays in this browser. Clearing the site's data or switching browsers erases it |
| Your key between two uses | Kept on this computer, protected by the system, unless you turn on Enhanced lock | Not kept: you enter your password at each visit, unless you tick Stay unlocked on this device (14 days) |
| Several accounts | One account per profile, several profiles side by side | One account signed in per browser |
| Passkeys | Cannot be created or used here | Create them and sign in with them |
| Sign in with your organization's identity (SSO) | Available | Not available |
| Download the recovery phrase as a PDF when you create an account | Available | Not available: copy it instead |
| Security page explaining the web model | Not needed | Settings → Security → Web security model |
| Recovery key (file): Export and Restore | Available | Not available, even though Settings → Security shows the buttons |
Files
| Topic | Desktop app | Web app |
|---|---|---|
| Largest file you can add | 5 TB | 500 MB |
| Open a file in another program (Open with… → System application) | Available | Not available: download the file |
Show in file explorer, drag a file out with Alt | Available | Not available |
| Search inside PDF files | Yes, in the background | No |
| To tidy: refine suggestions with photo dates, spot your Downloads folder | Available | Not available. Looking for duplicates may download files from the cloud |
| Watched folders | Available | Not available |
| File version history | Versions are kept and can be restored | Versions are not kept, so they cannot be restored |
| Export all and Import a backup | Available | Not available: the web app says to use the desktop app |
Notes
| Topic | Desktop app | Web app |
|---|---|---|
| Import from Obsidian, Notion, Evernote... | Available | Not available. Import Note works in both |
| Web Clipper | Available | Not available |
| Link previews and automatic filling of database rows | Filarr contacts the websites directly | Goes through Filarr's servers, after you allow it once (Link previews via server, Source lookups via server) |
| Editor toolbar | Shown | Hidden at first: Show toolbar brings it back |
Sync, offline and notifications
| Topic | Desktop app | Web app |
|---|---|---|
| Without a network | Everything keeps working, and changes sync when the network is back. Shared vault notes are the exception, see below | The app opens if you used it before in this browser. Open a folder, right-click one of its subfolders and choose Keep offline to have its files at hand |
| Failed items in Sync activity | Retry and Dismiss buttons | No such buttons |
| Your own storage on your local network (NAS) | Available | Not available: a browser cannot reach your network storage |
| Reminders on files, folders and notes | Notify you, even with the window closed if Filarr starts at login | Listed on the Reminders page, but no notification |
| Task reminders | Notify you while Filarr is open | Notify you while the tab is open: a system notification if you allow it, a banner in the page otherwise |
Protection, system and updates
| Topic | Desktop app | Web app |
|---|---|---|
| Protect files in place, mini vault, tray icon | Available | Not available, even if the menus show them |
| Hidden vault, Hardware security key | Available | Meant for the desktop app, even though Settings lists them |
System-wide shortcuts (Ctrl+Alt+F, Ctrl+Alt+Shift+L) | Available | Not available |
| Lock with the session, Lock on sleep | Available | Not available |
| Settings → System (start at login, display on Linux) | Available | Hidden |
| Updates | Downloaded in the background and installed when you quit Filarr | A banner says A new version of Filarr is ready: click Reload |
| Some keyboard shortcuts | Ctrl keys | Alt keys for new file, new note, tabs and favorites. See Keyboard shortcuts |
Which one to choose
- Choose the desktop app if you want your files on your own computer, work often without a network, handle large files, or want the extra protections: protect in place, mini vault, system-wide lock, watched folders. It is also the only place to make a full backup of everything.
- Choose the web app to reach your account from any computer without installing anything, or to sign in with a passkey.
- Use both with a cloud account. You find the same files and notes on each side, and sync keeps them up to date.