First Launch
Jotaid doesn't walk you through a setup wizard — it drops you straight into a clean, empty workspace. This page sets expectations so nothing feels missing.
An Empty Library Is Normal
On first launch Jotaid has no sample notes, no default project, and no onboarding tour. A blank workspace is the intended starting point, not a sign something went wrong. You'll see a short prompt telling you how to create your first note.
Where You Land
- macOS: You open directly into the main three-pane window, ready to create a note (⌘N).
- iOS: You open into the Quick Note capture screen first — a fast place to jot something down. The full app loads behind it; tap through to reach your lists and views.
Don't be surprised that iOS starts on a capture box rather than a note list — that's by design, so your first instinct can be to write.
The Inbox
Every note you create starts life in the Inbox. The Inbox isn't a folder you manage — it's simply the "not yet organized" state. Capture freely; move notes into Projects and Themes later when structure helps. The Inbox is always free.
Permissions
Jotaid asks for almost nothing:
- No notification prompt on launch
- No photo library or accessibility permission required
- The macOS global Quick Note shortcut works without any special access
If you never see a permission dialog, that's expected.
iCloud
If you're signed into iCloud, sync turns on automatically — there's no switch to flip. If you're not signed in, Jotaid still works fully; it just runs locally. You can check sync status anytime in Settings → Sync Health. See Sync, Backup & Export.
Your First Five Minutes
- Write a note (⌘N on macOS, or the Quick Note box on iOS)
- Link two ideas with
[[ - Create a Theme (⌘T) to group related notes
- Switch to Node or Canvas view to see the shape of things
Next: Quick Start walks through each step.