Guide

Storage and local-first guide

What ChalkReel saves, what stays local, why relinking happens, and how to manage browser storage.

Storage

Your source footage stays local

Uploading a video gives ChalkReel browser access for playback and recording without sending the original footage to a backend.

  • Review, annotation, and recording happen in your browser.
  • Your source file remains on your machine.
  • You choose when to download or share a finished exported breakdown.
Storage

What ChalkReel saves in your browser

ChalkReel stores the project information needed to reopen your workspace in the current browser profile.

  • Saved data includes settings, moments, clips, notes, tags, and the annotations and timing attached to saved moments or clips.
  • Annotations left only on the general canvas are not recovered unless you save them in a moment or clip.
  • Browser-produced recording artifacts may also be stored locally.
  • Final exports you want to keep should be downloaded to your machine.
Storage

Why source video relinking happens

Saved projects remember information about the source video, but browsers do not permanently embed arbitrary local files into a project.

  • Reopening a project may ask you to select its original source video again.
  • ChalkReel compares file metadata to help identify mismatched footage.
  • Relinking reconnects saved annotations and clips with the local video file.
Storage

Browser storage has limits

Local browser storage is convenient, but it is still controlled by your browser, browser profile, and device.

  • Clearing site data or using private browsing can remove saved projects and recordings.
  • Switching browsers, browser profiles, or devices does not carry local project data over.
  • Storage pressure may affect data the browser keeps available.
Storage

Manage and recover local work

Use Saved Work in the studio to open projects, retrieve recordings, and manage browser-held data.

  • Open saved projects and relink original footage when prompted.
  • Download recording exports you want to keep outside the browser.
  • Delete individual recordings or clear local data only after saving important work.