Shaxpir will be shutting down on April 30, 2026 •
read the full announcement here
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After Sunset: Working Offline After Service Shutdown?

Since announcing that Shaxpir will be shutting down on April 30, 2026, I’ve received a lot of emails from users asking if they can continue using the desktop app in offline mode after the service ends. Some have also asked about open-sourcing the codebase, but for a variety of technical reasons, that would be far too much work to undertake.

First of all, I’m heartened by all the supportive messages and expressions of love and appreciation for Shaxpir. Some of you are devoted fans, and for that, I’m very grateful!

The short answer is: yes, the desktop app will technically continue to work offline after shutdown, but this comes with significant caveats and risks. Here’s what you need to know.

What Will Still Work

If you want to continue using the Shaxpir desktop app after the service shuts down, here’s what you can expect:

  • Access to all your content - All work that was synced to your device before shutdown will remain accessible
  • Creating and editing - You can create new documents and edit existing ones
  • All writing features - The full Shaxpir editor, organization tools, and writing features will continue to function
  • Authentication - You’ll be able to log in using your existing email and password (stored locally)

Of course, there’s no guarantee! These are the things that ought to work, but if something goes wrong, you’re on your own.

What Will Not Work

  • Password reset - It will be impossible to reset your password, and you cannot access your content without your password. It is encrypted on your local machine and virtually impossible to read without your password.
  • Sync between devices - Changes won’t sync to other computers or the web app
  • Cloud backup - Your work will only exist on your local machine
  • Updates - No bug fixes, improvements, or new features
  • Support - No technical support will be available

How It Works

The desktop app was designed to work offline from the beginning. Every feature of the app was designed with offline work as a foundational requirement, so virtually everything should continue to work as expected. When you open the app after April 30:

  1. The app will attempt to connect to the Shaxpir servers
  2. When it can’t connect, it will automatically work in offline mode
  3. You can log in using your existing email and password
  4. All your content will be available locally

This happens automatically - there’s nothing you need to configure.

Your offline content is stored in an encrypted local database (not in “files” like Microsoft Word or other typical desktop apps), and it’s not possible to move that database to a new computer. So, without cloud sync, your data is not portable.

Critical Warning

NEVER use the Clear Local Cache button in Debug Tools after April 30.

The login screen includes a Debug Tools option with a Clear Local Cache button. This feature was designed to help resolve sync issues when the cloud service was running.

After the service shuts down, using this button will permanently delete all your work with no way to recover it.

Before April 30, clearing the cache would let you re-sync your data from the cloud. After April 30:

  • There is no cloud to re-sync from
  • Clearing your cache will erase your only copy of your work
  • This cannot be undone
  • There is no backup or recovery option

If you experience any issues with the desktop app after shutdown, do not use Debug Tools. Export your work immediately.

Important Warnings

This is completely unsupported. We cannot guarantee that the offline mode will work perfectly in all situations, and we won’t be able to help if you encounter problems.

Export your work as a backup. Even if you plan to continue using Shaxpir offline, you should export all your important work as DOCX or EPUB files. This protects you from:

  • Computer crashes or hardware failure
  • Potential bugs in offline mode
  • Software incompatibilities with future operating systems
  • Data corruption
  • Accidentally clearing your local cache

No cloud backup means higher risk. If something goes wrong with your computer, your work could be lost. Regular exports are essential.

Recommendation

We strongly recommend exporting your work and transitioning to another writing tool. The desktop app will continue to function offline as a technical consequence of how it was built, but this is not an intended use case after shutdown. Relying on unsupported software for your creative work carries significant risks.

If you choose to continue using Shaxpir offline, make sure to:

  • Export everything before April 30 as a backup
  • Export your work regularly going forward
  • Never use the Clear Local Cache button
  • Consider it a temporary solution while you transition to other tools