What local-first means in Compose
When you write in Compose, the active document is stored on the device you are using. You can work on local documents without creating an account, and signing in does not move those documents into an online document store.
This is about where the writing lives. It does not mean every feature in the app works without an internet connection.
What is kept on the device
Your document, Shelf notes, sources, Review items and version history are stored together on your device while you work.
Browser data can still be cleared by browser settings, device cleanup or profile removal. Local storage is useful for day-to-day work, but it is not a substitute for a separate backup.
Two browsers on the same computer do not share one Compose document store. Use the browser where you created the document, or move it deliberately with a .compose file.
Why a .compose file matters
A .compose file gives you a copy that you control outside the browser. It preserves the document with its Compose features intact. It is also a simple way to move a document between devices.
For important work, save a .compose file somewhere covered by your normal backup routine. You can also use Save a Copy when you want a milestone without changing the file you normally save to.
When Compose uses the internet
A DOI is an identifier used by many academic publications. If you ask Compose to look one up, it sends only that DOI to its citation service. The service then requests publication details from Crossref or DataCite.
Images loaded from a web address can also need the internet during PDF preparation. These are specific actions; ordinary writing is not uploaded to Compose.
A practical way to protect important work
Local-first gives you control, but control also means deciding where your independent copies live. A small routine is enough for most documents.
If you move between devices, a .compose file is the simplest way to take the work with you. Open it on the other device instead of expecting the browser copy to follow automatically.
- Keep working in Compose as normal.
- Save a .compose file for anything you would be upset to lose.
- Store another copy somewhere separate from this browser or device.
- Keep PDF or Word exports for delivery, not as the only editable backup.