Your browser data, explained.

What is saved locally?

Favorites, categories, search preferences, appearance, tool settings and quick notes use browser localStorage. Uploaded wallpaper is resized and stored there as image data.

Markdown previews disappear when you close the tool. An older saved draft remains available under Previous draft. Previewing another text does not change it or the original file.

Local storage is not a private vault or a backup

localStorage is not encrypted. Someone with access to the browser, or code running on the same website origin, may be able to read it. Do not use a draft to store passwords or sensitive credentials.

Clearing site data, using a different browser profile or switching devices can make drafts unavailable. Private browsing may remove them when the session ends. Copy important writing to a file or another place you control before clearing data; StarterTab has no server copy from which to restore it.

What happens when I change language or domain?

Language subdirectories on the same protocol, domain and port share local storage. Moving from /sg/en/ to /my/zh/ on the same site keeps your saved drafts and favorites.

A different domain, HTTP instead of HTTPS, another port or a local file has a separate storage area. Moving from the old file version to the hosted website does not transfer data automatically and does not delete the old copy. Copy important drafts before moving.

When does information leave the browser?

• Search sends your query to the provider you choose. That provider handles results, accounts and its own data policies.
• Pressing Translate sends the submitted text to Google. The Open in Google Translate link also carries the text and language choices.
• Opening a website or store takes you to that service. StarterTab does not handle its login or checkout.
• External images in Markdown are fetched from their hosts only if you choose Load linked images. QR codes and calculations run on this device.
• Missing icons are looked up on Google using the public domain name.

The hosting provider may keep ordinary access logs, such as IP addresses and requested pages. Browser-local drafts are different from those logs.

Keep control of your data

1. Open Search preferences → Local backup → Download backup. The JSON contains custom sites, categories, Dock order and regional search settings. Select a quick note or previous Markdown draft only if you want its text in the file.
2. In the new browser or on your new StarterTab website, choose Local backup → Choose backup file. Review the counts and confirm Restore backup. Existing sites and text are kept; the backup sets the Dock order and regional search settings.
3. The file does not include uploaded wallpaper or running timers. Keep it somewhere private and verify the restored settings before clearing the old browser’s site data.

Clearing StarterTab data does not delete accounts or data held by Google, AI providers, social networks or shops. Those services have their own controls.