File Format Resources
In-depth guides and explanations about file formats, encoding standards, and digital file management
Understanding File Formats
Metadata & Encoding
Privacy & Security
Does image metadata show location?
GPS Privacy
Can photos reveal your address?
Privacy Risk
How to check EXIF data online
Online Tools
Can PDF files track you?
Document Privacy
Is metadata personal data?
GDPR & Privacy
How to remove hidden data
Data Removal
Are screenshots safe to share?
Screenshot Privacy
Can screenshots contain metadata?
Screenshot Data
Do videos contain GPS data?
Video Privacy
How to anonymize files
Complete Privacy
Common Problems & Solutions
Why can't I open this file?
File Opening
Why is my PDF so large?
File Size
Why does my image look blurry?
Image Quality
Why does my file say corrupted?
File Corruption
Why won't Windows open this file?
Windows Issues
Why does Mac create .DS_Store files?
macOS Files
Why are my photos rotated?
Image Rotation
Why does email block attachments?
Email Security
Why can't I upload this file?
Upload Issues
Why is my file size increasing?
File Bloat
Quick Answers
Can files contain viruses?
Security
Are file names case sensitive?
File Names
Why file extensions matter
Extensions
Can changing extension break file?
File Integrity
Are hidden files dangerous?
Hidden Files
What happens if metadata is removed?
Metadata Effects
Do files store history?
Version Control
Can files track downloads?
Tracking
Can PDFs track opens?
PDF Tracking
Are images traceable?
Image Tracking
Format Comparisons
Head-to-head format comparisons to help you choose the right file type
PNG vs JPEG Quality
Which looks better?
PDF vs DOCX Differences
When to use each
HEIC vs JPG Size
Storage savings
WebP vs PNG SEO
Which ranks better?
MP4 vs MKV Difference
Video format choice
SVG vs PNG When to Use
Vector or raster?
RAW vs JPEG Photography
Pro photographer choice
ZIP vs RAR Compression
Which compresses better?
Lossless vs Lossy Audio
Can you hear it?
TIFF vs PNG Printing
Best for print
PDF Security & Features
Understanding PDF protection, passwords, signatures, and special features
What is a Secured PDF?
PDF Security
Protected vs Encrypted PDF
Security Types
Why PDF Cannot Be Edited
Editing Issues
Why PDF is Read-Only
Permissions
How PDF Passwords Work
Password Security
Can PDF Contain Malware?
PDF Safety
Are PDF Signatures Secure?
Digital Signatures
PDF/A vs PDF Difference
Archival Standard
Why Scanned PDFs Are Large
File Size
Why OCR PDFs Are Editable
Text Recognition
Platform-Specific Problems
Solving photo and file issues across iPhone, Android, Windows, and cloud services
Open iPhone Photos on Windows
HEIC Compatibility
Transfer Photos Without Losing Quality
Device Transfer
Why Android Photos Look Blurry
Camera Issues
Why WhatsApp Reduces Image Quality
Messaging Apps
Why Email Compresses Images
Email Limits
Why iCloud Photos Are Smaller
Storage Optimization
Download Original Photos from iCloud
iCloud Download
Export Photos from Google Photos
Google Takeout
Save Images Without Compression
Lossless Saving
Preserve Image Quality When Sharing
Sharing Best Practices
Tech Explained Simply
Complex technical concepts explained in plain language with practical examples
What is File Encoding?
Text Storage
What is Character Encoding?
Character Maps
What is MIME Type?
File Identification
What is a Container Format?
Video/Audio
Codec vs Format Difference
Media Files
What is Transcoding?
Format Conversion
What is File Hashing?
File Fingerprints
What is Checksum Verification?
Integrity Check
What is Digital Fingerprinting?
File Recognition
What is Metadata Stripping?
Privacy Protection