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Quick Start

FoldNotes is a native app for writing and organising Markdown notes on macOS and iOS. Your notes live as plain .md files in iCloud Drive, so they sync across devices and are always accessible outside the app.

Installation

macOS

Download FoldNotes from foldnotes.io.

iOS / iPadOS

Download the FoldNotes companion app from the App Store.

On first launch, FoldNotes creates a collection folder in your iCloud Drive:

~/Library/Mobile Documents/iCloud~com~foldnotes/Documents/

If you're not signed in to iCloud, the collection is created locally1 at ~/Documents/FoldNotes/.

First Launch

When you open FoldNotes for the first time:

  1. The main window appears with a sidebar (note list) and an editor
  2. Click New Note (Cmd+N) to create your first note
  3. Start typing — FoldNotes auto-saves continuously

The Interface — Mac

macOS window layout

The main window has four areas:

  • Library (left) — collections, tags, saved views, and daily notes calendar
  • Notes List (centre-left) — your note list with search, filters, and sorting
  • Editor (centre) — the Markdown editor with fold arrows, line numbers, and live rendering
  • Inspector (right, toggle via the toolbar) — outline, word count, properties, and tasks

The toolbar shows the note title (click to rename), status indicators, and quick actions.

The status bar at the bottom shows word count, character count, and cursor position. Toggle it with Cmd+/.

The Interface — iPhone

iPhone screens

On iPhone, the four areas are separate full-screen views. Navigate between them by tapping through or swiping back.

The Interface — iPad

iPad layout

On iPad, all four panes can be visible simultaneously. Swipe right to reveal the Library and Notes List, swipe left on the editor to reveal the Inspector. The keyboard toolbar at the bottom provides quick access to all formatting actions. See iOS Companion App for full details.

What's Next

  1. Notes stored locally won't automatically sync. Sign in to iCloud Drive to enable sync for new notes. If you have existing local notes, you will have to copy them. ↩