Local-first, cross-platform note-taking with WebDAV sync — the desktop companion to Simple Notes Sync.
📥 Download · 📖 Documentation · 🤝 Contributing
🌍 Deutsch · English
Download the latest release for your platform:
| Platform | Download | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Download | .msi / .exe |
| Linux (Debian/Ubuntu) | Download | .deb |
| Linux (Fedora/RHEL) | Download | .rpm |
| Arch Linux | See installation guide | AUR / AppImage |
Windows installs update themselves via the built-in updater. On Linux, update through your package manager or by downloading the newest release.
📝 Markdown Editor • ✅ Checklists • 📁 Folders • 🎨 15 Themes • 🔄 WebDAV Sync
- 🗄️ Local-first & offline — Notes are stored locally and are instantly editable with or without a server; WebDAV sync runs quietly in the background when connected
- 📝 Markdown editor — Syntax highlighting, formatting toolbar, and live preview (CodeMirror 6)
- ✅ Checklists — Tap-to-check items, drag-to-reorder, 5 sort modes, done/open separator
- 📁 Folders — Organise notes into folders; mark a folder local-only to keep it off the server
- 🗑️ Trash — Soft-delete with restore, permanent delete, and cross-device deletion sync
- 📌 Pin, color & sort — Pin notes to the top, apply Keep-compatible colors, and sort the list five ways
- 🔀 Multi-select — Batch pin, color, move, or delete notes (F6)
- 🎨 15 themes — Breeze, Catppuccin, Nord, Gruvbox, Tokyo Night, Rosé Pine, and more — plus System/Light/Dark
- 🔄 WebDAV sync — Works with Nextcloud, the Simple Notes server, and any WebDAV provider
- 🔒 Local server support — Connect to
localhostand private IPs that browser PWAs can't reach - 📄 Markdown export — Human-readable
.mdcopies written alongside the JSON on the server - 🔍 Search — Filter notes by title or content as you type
- 🖥️ Native desktop — System tray, autostart, resizable sidebar, and (on Windows) an in-app updater
This app is part of the Simple Notes family — all apps share the same data format and sync seamlessly:
| App | Platform | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Notes Sync | Android | Mobile app with offline-first sync |
| Simple Notes Desktop | Windows/Linux | You're here! Native desktop experience |
The desktop app solves a critical limitation: local WebDAV servers (localhost, private IPs like 192.168.x.x, plain http://) cannot be accessed from browser-based PWAs due to:
- Mixed Content (HTTPS → HTTP) blocking
- CORS restrictions
Simple Notes Desktop uses native HTTP requests, bypassing these browser limitations.
Grab the package for your platform from the Releases page and install it. The app opens straight into a working, offline notebook — no account or server required.
Sync is only needed if you want your notes on other devices.
Option A — Simple Notes Server (Docker)
git clone https://github.com/inventory69/simple-notes-sync.git
cd simple-notes-sync/server
cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env and set your password
docker compose up -dOption B — your existing Nextcloud
https://your-nextcloud.com/remote.php/dav/files/USERNAME/Notes/
- Open Settings (⚙️)
- Turn Offline mode off and enter your WebDAV URL, username, and password
- Hit Test connection, then Save
- Your notes sync automatically in the background 🎉
➡️ Detailed setup: docs/SETUP.md
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Ctrl+N |
New note |
Ctrl+Shift+N |
New checklist |
Ctrl+S |
Save now |
Ctrl+F |
Search notes |
Ctrl+B / Ctrl+I |
Bold / italic (editor) |
Ctrl+Z |
Undo |
F6 |
Toggle multi-select |
Esc |
Close dialog / clear search |
| Document | Description |
|---|---|
| SETUP.md | Detailed installation & configuration |
| BUILDING.md | Build from source (developers) |
| CHANGELOG.md | Version history |
| CONTRIBUTING.md | Development setup & conventions |
Install fuse2 (required for AppImage):
# Arch
sudo pacman -S fuse2
# Debian/Ubuntu
sudo apt install libfuse2Contributions are welcome! Please read CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines.
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/inventory69/simple-notes-desktop.git
cd simple-notes-desktop
# Install dependencies (pnpm required)
pnpm install
# Start development server
pnpm dev
# Build for production
pnpm buildMIT License — see LICENSE
v0.10.0 · Built with ❤️ using Tauri + CodeMirror