Getting started

Save favourite tools and reopen recent ones

Click the save button on any tool card in the AltFTool directory to add it to the Saved tab, and any tool you open appears automatically in the Recent tab (up to 12). Both lists are stored in your browser, need no account, and do not sync between devices.

Updated 3 min read

On this page
  1. How to save a tool
  2. How the Recent tab works
  3. Where the lists are stored
  4. Related guides
  5. Related tools
  6. FAQ

How to save a tool

Saving builds a small personal toolbox inside the tool directory, so the handful of tools you use every week are one click away.

  1. Open the directory

    Go to /tools/all, or any category hub such as /tools/developer.

  2. Find the tool

    Search or scroll to the tool you want, for example the JSON Formatter or the Image Compressor.

  3. Press save

    Use the save button on the tool card. Its label changes to 'Remove' so you can undo it the same way.

  4. Open your toolbox

    Switch the directory view from All to Saved, or open /tools/all?view=favorites directly. Bookmark that URL for one-click access.

How the Recent tab works

You do not need to do anything for Recent. Each time you open a tool page, it is added to the top of the list, which keeps the 12 most recent tools. Open the Recent view in the directory, or go to /tools/all?view=recent, to see them.

If a tool is later renamed or merged into another one, the directory skips the old entry rather than showing a broken link.

Where the lists are stored

Saved and recent tools are kept in your browser's local storage on this device. Nothing is sent to an AltFTool server, and no account is involved. That has two consequences worth knowing:

  • The lists do not follow you to another browser, phone or computer.
  • Clearing site data, using a private window, or some privacy extensions will empty them.

For search tips see find the right tool fast. For everything else AltFTool keeps in your browser, such as your theme choice, read saved preferences and browser storage. The privacy and local processing guide and accounts and sign-in explain what is and is not sent to a server.

Keyboard users can reach the save button on each card with Tab and press Enter or Space to toggle it; see keyboard shortcuts and navigation for the rest of the site's shortcuts.

Tools used in this guide

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an account to save tools on AltFTool?

No. Saved and recent tools are stored in your browser's local storage, so they work without signing in.

Why did my saved tools disappear?

The list lives in browser storage. Clearing cookies and site data, browsing in a private window, or switching browser or device will show an empty Saved tab.

How many recent tools are kept?

The Recent tab keeps the 12 tools you opened most recently, newest first.

Keep reading

Your saved tools