FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Want the full picture? Read how the encryption works.
What can I use MnemoNotes for?
Anything you would write down. It is a general note-taking app: quick notes and ideas, lists and plans, study and reading notes, a private journal, meeting notes, and shared documents such as a team decision log. Every note is end-to-end encrypted, whatever it is for.
Can the person who runs MnemoNotes read my notes?
No. Your notes are encrypted on your device with keys that never reach the server unencrypted. I store only encrypted data and have no way to open it.
Is MnemoNotes free?
Yes. An account holds about 10 MB of notes, which is a few thousand notes of ordinary length, and keeps each note’s first version and its three most recent ones. Paid plans may come later, but there will always be a free plan.
Who makes MnemoNotes?
Me, a solo developer. I built it for my own quick notes, thoughts and quotes that are easy to find again, and for a decision log at work that is always close. It is free while I learn what other people need from it.
What happens to my notes if MnemoNotes stops?
You can export your notes at any time, from Settings, as JSON, a single text file or a zipped folder of Markdown files. If I ever stop working on MnemoNotes, I will open-source it on request, if I haven’t already, so anyone can run it themselves.
What does end-to-end encrypted mean here?
Everything you write, tag and organise is encrypted on your device before it is sent, and decrypted only on your devices and those of the people you share with. Nothing in between, including the server, can read it.
How can my notes sync if the server cannot read them?
The server does not need to read them to pass them on. Each change is sent as a sealed, signed package. The server stores the packages in order and hands them to your other devices, which unlock them with your keys and rebuild your notes locally.
Why do I sign in with Google?
Google only proves who you are, so the server knows which sealed data is yours. I ask Google for an anonymous identifier, not your email address. Your notes are unlocked separately, on your device, with a passkey, a passphrase or your recovery key.
What is a passkey, and why use one?
A passkey is a credential kept by your device or password manager and unlocked with your fingerprint, face or PIN. Most apps use a passkey only to sign you in. Here it is also the key to your notes: it produces a secret, on your device, that unlocks them without you typing anything, and that secret never reaches the server. Passkeys that sync through iCloud Keychain or Google Password Manager unlock your notes on each device they reach.
Why does my passkey say it does not support PRF unlock?
To unlock your notes, a passkey has to do more than sign you in: it has to produce a secret key on your device. Browsers call this the WebAuthn PRF extension. Current versions of Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox support it, as do passkeys saved in iCloud Keychain or Google Password Manager. Some password managers, older phones and computers, and some security keys can sign you in but cannot produce that secret, so they cannot unlock end-to-end encrypted notes. Update your browser and operating system, or save the passkey in iCloud Keychain or Google Password Manager. You can always unlock with a passphrase or your recovery key instead.
What happens if I lose my phone?
Your notes are still on the server, encrypted, and on your other devices. On a new device, unlock with a synced passkey, your passphrase or your recovery key, and everything syncs back.
What if I forget my passphrase and lose my recovery key?
If you lose every passkey, your passphrase and your recovery key, your notes cannot be recovered. Because I never have your keys, I cannot reset them. Keep your recovery key somewhere safe.
What can the server see?
Some information is needed to sync and share: that your account exists and its display name, who your contacts are and who shares which notes with whom, and how many changes you make, when and roughly how large they are. It cannot see the text, titles, tags, folders or search terms.
Does it work offline?
Yes. Your notes are stored on your device, so you can read, write and search without a connection. Changes sync when you are back online. Adding a contact needs a connection.
Can I share notes with other people?
Yes. Add someone as a contact with a one-time invite link, then share individual notes with them as an editor or a viewer, or create a shared document for a team. They receive the keys; I do not.
Which browsers are supported?
Unlocking with a passkey works in Chrome, Edge, Safari 18 and later, and Firefox 135 and later. Other browsers can unlock with a passphrase or the recovery key.
Is there a desktop or mobile app?
Not yet. MnemoNotes runs in your browser, on computers and phones. Desktop and mobile apps are planned.
Can I bring my notes from Obsidian, or take them with me?
Yes. You can import an Obsidian vault, and export your notes at any time as JSON, a single text file or a zipped folder of Markdown files. Both happen on your device.