Guides / How to Edit Photos Offline (and on a Flight)
How to Edit Photos Offline (and on a Flight)
Short answer: Use a Progressive Web App that processes photos on your device. Open ToneLab.photo once while online, add it to your home screen, and it keeps working with no internet — even in airplane mode.
Flights, trains, patchy signal, or just saving data — there are plenty of times you want to edit without a connection. Most "online" editors can't, because they send your photo to a server. A client-side editor can.
Why it works offline
ToneLab does all its image processing locally, in the browser, using the HTML canvas. After the first visit, the app caches itself on your device, so it loads and runs with no network. Your photos and edits stay on your device the whole time.
Set it up for offline (once)
- Open tonelab.photo once while you have internet.
- Choose Add to Home Screen (mobile) or install it from your browser (desktop).
- Now open it any time — on a plane, offline — and edit as normal. Export saves to your device.
The only thing that needs a connection is the very first load and buying Pro; editing itself never does.
FAQ
Does ToneLab work offline?
Yes. Once it has loaded once, it keeps working with no internet — even in airplane mode — because editing happens on your device.
How do I install it for offline use?
Open it in your browser and choose Add to Home Screen (mobile) or install it (desktop). Then it opens like an app, offline.
Do I need an account?
No. There's no sign-up, and nothing is uploaded.