Frequently asked questions

Is PhotoTray really free? Yes. It is funded by sharing a slice of your device's idle internet bandwidth while it runs — never your photos or personal data. See The bandwidth exchange.

Are my photos uploaded anywhere? No. Every conversion, resize, upscale, cutout, scrub and video fix happens on your own device. That is also why there is no file-size cap and no batch limit.

Why do the utilities stop working when I turn sharing off? Sharing is what pays for them. The app says so on the switch, in the tray menu, and in place of any panel you open while it is off.

Where did my files go? Into your output folder, in a per-utility subfolder. Open or reveal any result directly from the Job Queue, or change and reveal the root folder in Settings ▸ General.

Can I close the window without stopping my conversions? Yes. Closing hides the app to the tray and jobs keep running. Only Quit PhotoTray from the tray menu fully stops the app.

Do I need to download a model for AI Enhance? No. The upscaling model ships inside the installer, and Background Remover's model ships inside the app. There is nothing to fetch and nothing to wait for.

Why will Privacy Scrub not strip my HEIC in place? PhotoTray can read HEIC but cannot write it. It offers a stripped JPG copy instead, and it will not do that without your explicit confirmation. Your original is left untouched — including its GPS.

How do I turn a utility off? Settings ▸ Utilities — switch one off to hide it from the sidebar.

How do I update the app? It updates itself. You can also check manually in Settings ▸ Updates ▸ Check now, then press Restart to update when prompted.

How do I stop bandwidth sharing entirely? Turn Share idle bandwidth off (the utilities go with it), quit the app from the tray, or uninstall to end participation permanently.