Are my photos uploaded to a server when I restore or upscale them?

No. ZeroPNG runs a 100% in-browser AI model powered by ONNX Runtime and WebAssembly/WebGPU. Your images never leave your device, so your photos stay completely private. There is no server involved at any point.

Is the AI photo restorer free to use?

Yes, it is completely free with no usage limits, no watermarks, and no sign-up required. Because your own device does all the AI processing, there are no GPU server costs, which is why we can offer it for free.

What does the AI photo restorer actually do?

It runs a Real-ESRGAN deep-learning model that reconstructs detail, reduces noise and grain, removes JPEG compression artifacts, and sharpens edges while enlarging the image up to 4x. Choose 1x to clean and denoise at the original size, or 2x/4x to also upscale.

Why does the first run take longer?

On first use your browser downloads the AI model (about 5 MB) one time and caches it. After that, processing runs locally and starts instantly, even offline. Larger images and CPU mode take longer than small images on GPU.

Which image formats are supported?

You can upload PNG, JPEG, WebP, AVIF, and HEIC images. The restored result can be downloaded as PNG, WebP, or JPEG.

Is there a size limit on images?

Because a 4x upscale uses a lot of memory, input images are limited to 1600 pixels on the longest side. For larger photos, resize them down first or upscale a cropped region. This keeps the tool stable across devices.

Can I restore multiple photos at once?

Yes. Drop multiple images and each one is processed in sequence by the local AI. All results can be downloaded individually or exported as a single ZIP archive.

Tool

AI Photo Restorer

Beta

Restore, denoise, and upscale photos up to 4× using local AI. Remove grain and JPEG artifacts and bring back detail. All processing runs on your device so your files stay private.

No uploadsNo trackingWorks offlineIn-browser AI processing

How it works

Restore a photo in three steps

No app to install, no account, no cloud processing. The AI runs entirely inside your browser.

Drop your image

Select a PNG, JPG, WebP, AVIF, or HEIC photo. The file stays on your device, meaning nothing is sent anywhere.

PNGJPGWebPHEIC

AI restores locally

On first use, your browser downloads the Real-ESRGAN model once (~5 MB) and caches it. It then denoises, removes artifacts, and rebuilds detail using ONNX Runtime.

Local AIONNX RuntimeWebGPU

Choose size & download

Pick 1× to clean at original size, or 2×/4× to enlarge. Export as PNG, WebP, or JPEG. No watermark, ever.

Up to 4×No watermark

Why local AI

Better than cloud-based upscalers

Running the AI model in your browser is not a compromise; it is genuinely better in four ways.

Total privacy

Zero data risk

Your photos never leave your device

No image is uploaded to any server, ever
Safe for personal, family, and confidential photos
No account means no data profile on you
Cannot be accessed, stored, or breached by anyone

Why it matters

A true privacy guarantee that cloud upscalers cannot match

Completely free

No limits

Free because your device does the work

No subscription, no credits, no usage cap
No watermarks on output images
Cloud upscalers charge because they pay for GPUs
Your device does the processing at no cost

Why it matters

Free forever - no bait-and-switch pricing model

Works offline

Reliable

No internet needed after first load

Model is cached after the first ~5 MB download
Works on a plane, in a basement, on slow connections
No API rate limits or server downtime
Consistent performance regardless of network

Why it matters

Reliable even when your connection is not

Instant results

Fast

No upload round-trip latency

Processing starts the moment you drop the file
No waiting for data to travel to a remote server
WebGPU acceleration uses your graphics card
Cached model means near-instant startup on repeat visits

Why it matters

Often faster than cloud tools for typical photo sizes

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about AI photo restoration and upscaling in the browser.

Files never leave your device

Works without an internet connection

Local AI - no cloud dependency

Are my photos uploaded to a server?

Is the AI photo restorer free?

What does it actually do to my photo?

Why does the first run take a moment?

Is there a maximum image size?

Which formats can I use?

Can I restore several photos at once?

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