FAQ

Where are my notes?

~/Documents/ShadyNotes/ by default, as plain .md files. Change or add folders in Preferences → Vault. → Vault and files

Is it compatible with Obsidian?

Yes. Notes are plain Markdown with the same wikilink, embed and callout conventions, so the same folder can be an Obsidian vault. Front matter is shared too.

Obsidian plugins do not work here — Shady Notes has its own plugin format.

Does it upload my notes?

No. Notes never leave your Mac. The only thing that goes online is an account token, to check whether your plan is active. → Privacy and data

Does it work offline?

Yes. After a successful entitlement check the app works offline for 14 days before re-checking. Everything else is local and always works.

Is there a Windows or Linux version?

No. Shady Notes is a native macOS app — the shade, the menu bar behaviour and the global hotkeys are built on macOS APIs. Because notes are plain Markdown, you can read and edit them with anything on other platforms.

Does it run on Intel Macs?

Yes. The download is a universal build for Apple Silicon and Intel. macOS 13 or later.

How do I export my notes?

Copy the folder. There is no export step, because there is no proprietary format.

How do I uninstall it?

Drag the app to the Trash, or brew uninstall --cask shadynotes. Your notes are untouched — delete the vault folder yourself if you want them gone.

What is free?

Everything except plugins, the thirteen non-default themes, and revision history. No note limit. → Licensing

Can I use it on more than one Mac?

Yes. Note that the trial is tracked per machine, so a second Mac starts its own trial.

Can I sync between machines?

Put the vault in iCloud Drive, Dropbox, or a git repo — Shady Notes has no opinion. It detects outside changes and offers a three-way merge on conflict. → Conflicts

Is there a mobile app?

No. Since notes are plain files, any iOS Markdown editor pointed at the same synced folder works.