no login (#110)

Author: Frooodle

docs/Getting Started.md

@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ Native apps with system integration:
 | **Mac (Intel)** | [DMG](https://files.stirlingpdf.com/mac-x86_64-installer.dmg) | [Mac Guide](./Installation/Mac.md) |
 | **Linux** | [DEB](https://files.stirlingpdf.com/linux-installer.deb) | [Unix Guide](./Installation/Unix.md) |
 
-**Features:** Fast startup, "Open with" integration, sign in with Stirling Cloud or self-hosted server
+**Features:** Fast startup, "Open with" integration, no login required, optional server connection for advanced tools
 
 ---
 

docs/Installation/Mac.md

@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@ Native Mac desktop app with all PDF tools available.
 ### What You Get
 
 - ✅ **Native macOS application** - Optimized for both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs
-- ✅ **Sign in to start** - Choose Stirling Cloud or your self-hosted server on launch (required before using tools)
-- ✅ **Processes files locally after login** - Most tools run offline once signed in
-- ✅ **Stirling Cloud login is offline-only today** - SaaS sign-in keeps processing on your Mac; optional cloud assists for advanced tasks are planned for a future release
-- ✅ **All features included** - Every PDF tool available
+- ✅ **No login required** - Install and start using PDF tools right away
+- ✅ **Processes files locally** - All your PDF processing stays on your Mac
+- ✅ **Optional server connection** - Connect to Stirling Cloud or your own self-hosted server for advanced tools like OCR and document conversions
+- ✅ **All local tools included** - Merge, split, rotate, sign, and more work without any server
 - ✅ **Better performance** - Native speed on M1/M2/M3 chips
 - ✅ **No external browser needed** - Uses the built-in window
 - ✅ **Menu bar integration** - Feels like a native Mac app
@@ -64,8 +64,9 @@ The app will now open normally every time!
 ### Using the Desktop App
 
 1. Launch Stirling PDF
-2. Sign in with your Stirling Cloud account or enter the URL for your self-hosted server.
-3. After login, use the in-app interface to upload or drag-and-drop files into the window.
+2. Start using local PDF tools right away - no login needed
+3. Upload or drag-and-drop files into the window
+4. Optionally connect to Stirling Cloud or a self-hosted server for advanced tools like OCR and document conversions
 
 **Making Stirling PDF your default PDF viewer:**
 1. Right-click (or Control+click) any PDF file

docs/Installation/Unix.md

@@ -19,9 +19,10 @@ Native Linux desktop app with all PDF tools available.
 
 - ✅ **Native Linux application** - Integrated with your desktop environment
 - ✅ **Open PDFs directly** - Double-click any PDF to open in Stirling-PDF
-- ✅ **Sign in to start** - Choose Stirling Cloud or your self-hosted server on launch (required before using tools)
-- ✅ **Processes files locally after sign-in** - All your PDF processing stays on your device
-- ✅ **All features included** - Every PDF tool available
+- ✅ **No login required** - Install and start using PDF tools right away
+- ✅ **Processes files locally** - All your PDF processing stays on your device
+- ✅ **Optional server connection** - Connect to Stirling Cloud or your own self-hosted server for advanced tools like OCR and document conversions
+- ✅ **All local tools included** - Merge, split, rotate, sign, and more work without any server
 - ✅ **Better performance** - Native Linux integration
 - ✅ **No browser needed** - Standalone application
 
@@ -41,19 +42,19 @@ sudo dpkg -i linux-installer.deb
 - Search for "Stirling-PDF" in your application menu, or
 - Run `stirling-pdf` from the terminal
 
-### Choosing your connection
+### Connecting to a server
 
-On first launch, you'll be prompted to choose how to connect:
+The desktop app works fully offline for local PDF tools like merging, splitting, rotating, and signing. If you need advanced server-side features like OCR or document format conversions, you can connect to a server at any time:
 
 **Stirling Cloud**
 - Sign in with your Stirling Cloud account
-- All PDF processing stays on your device — your files never leave your machine
-- Login is required because optional cloud assists for advanced tasks are planned for a future release
+- Gives access to advanced tools powered by server-side processing
+- Your files are processed securely and never stored
 
 **Self-hosted Server**
 - Enter the URL of your own Stirling-PDF server instance (e.g., `http://192.168.1.53:8080`)
-- Files are processed on your server, keeping data under your control
-- Useful for team deployments or running your own Stirling-PDF server
+- Full control over your data and processing
+- Useful for team deployments or when you want all features on your own infrastructure
 
 ---
 

docs/Installation/Windows.md

@@ -15,9 +15,10 @@ Stirling PDF for Windows comes in two versions: a **Desktop Application** for pe
 
 - ✅ **Native Windows application** - Feels like a built-in Windows program
 - ✅ **Open PDFs directly** - Double-click any PDF to open in Stirling PDF
-- ✅ **Sign in to start** - Choose Stirling Cloud or your self-hosted server on first launch (required before using tools)
-- ✅ **Processes files locally after sign-in** - All your PDF processing stays on your device
-- ✅ **All features included** - Every PDF tool available
+- ✅ **No login required** - Install and start using PDF tools right away
+- ✅ **Processes files locally** - All your PDF processing stays on your device
+- ✅ **Optional server connection** - Connect to Stirling Cloud or your own self-hosted server for advanced tools like OCR and document conversions
+- ✅ **All local tools included** - Merge, split, rotate, sign, and more work without any server
 - ✅ **Automatic updates** - Stay current with latest features
 - ✅ **Better performance** - Optimized for Windows
 - ✅ **No browser needed** - Standalone application
@@ -27,22 +28,22 @@ Stirling PDF for Windows comes in two versions: a **Desktop Application** for pe
 1. **Download**: [Stirling PDF Desktop Installer](https://files.stirlingpdf.com/win-installer.exe)
 2. **Run the installer** - Follow the prompts (installs to `C:\Program Files\Stirling-PDF`)
 3. **Launch from Start Menu** - Search for "Stirling PDF"
-4. **Sign in** - Choose how to connect (see [Choosing your connection](#choosing-your-connection) below)
-5. **Start working with PDFs!**
+4. **Start working with PDFs!**
+5. **Optionally connect a server** - For advanced tools, see [Connecting to a server](#connecting-to-a-server) below
 
-### Choosing your connection
+### Connecting to a server
 
-On first launch, you'll be prompted to choose how to connect:
+The desktop app works fully offline for local PDF tools like merging, splitting, rotating, and signing. If you need advanced server-side features like OCR or document format conversions, you can connect to a server at any time:
 
 **Stirling Cloud**
 - Sign in with your Stirling Cloud account
-- All PDF processing stays on your device — your files never leave your machine
-- Login is required because optional cloud assists for advanced tasks are planned for a future release
+- Gives access to advanced tools powered by server-side processing
+- Your files are processed securely and never stored
 
 **Self-hosted Server**
 - Enter the URL of your own Stirling PDF server instance (e.g., `http://192.168.1.53:8080`)
-- Files are processed on your server, keeping data under your control
-- Useful for team deployments or running your own Stirling PDF server
+- Full control over your data and processing
+- Useful for team deployments or when you want all features on your own infrastructure
 
 ### Using the Desktop App