Basic Memory
Cloud

Note Editor

Editing modes, markdown formatting, frontmatter, drafts, note management, and keyboard shortcuts in the web app.

Notes in the web app open ready to edit, and everything you write is saved as plain Markdown.


Editing modes

The app has three modes, switchable from the toolbar or with keyboard shortcuts:

ModeShortcutDescription
Rich editorCmd/Ctrl + Shift + IWYSIWYG editing — type and format directly, with tables, code blocks, callouts, and task lists
Source modeCmd/Ctrl + Shift + RPlain Markdown editing with full frontmatter visible — for power users
PreviewCmd/Ctrl + Shift + PRead-only rendered view with clickable [[wiki links]] for navigating your knowledge graph
Rich editor mode

And here's the same note in Preview mode, with clickable wiki links:

Preview mode
Press Cmd/Ctrl + Option + Z to toggle Zen mode — a distraction-free full-screen editor. Press Escape to drop back to Preview from the editor.

Markdown formatting

The rich editor supports full Markdown including:

  • Headers, bold, italic, inline code
  • Code blocks with syntax highlighting
  • Tables
  • Links and images
  • Task lists (- [ ] and - [x])
  • Basic Memory semantic syntax (observations, relations)

Press Cmd/Ctrl + / to see all formatting shortcuts.

Edit frontmatter

Open the Frontmatter panel from the toolbar (or the command palette) to edit a note's YAML metadata separately from its content.

Edit Frontmatter

Drafts

Start typing in an empty editor — or press Cmd/Ctrl + N for a new note — to create a draft.

  • A new draft saves into the current project automatically once it has meaningful content (a title, tags, or body text).
  • Use Save Draft in the command palette to save immediately without waiting.
  • Once saved, the note syncs like any other and is available to your AI assistant.
Saved notes are written automatically as you edit. Status dots tell you the state: unsaved, saving, or draft — no dot means saved.

Creating and managing notes

Create a note

  • Start typing in an empty editor, or
  • Press Cmd/Ctrl + N, or
  • Open the command palette (Cmd/Ctrl + K) → New Note
New note

Move notes

  • Use a note's menu → Move to relocate it to another folder, or
  • Drag the note card from the list onto the desired folder, or
  • Drag a folder in the tree to move an entire directory.

Delete notes

Open a note's menu → Delete.

Deletion is permanent. Create a snapshot before bulk deletions if you want the ability to restore.

From a note's menu you can Rename Note and Copy link for your agent; the command palette also offers Copy Permalink.

Share a note

From a note's menu, choose Share note to create a public, read-only link anyone can open without an account. See Shared Notes.

See a note's history

Every save creates a new version. Click the File history icon (clock) in a note's toolbar to browse the timeline, compare any earlier version against the current one, and merge old content back in. See File History.


Keyboard Shortcuts

The web app is designed for keyboard-first navigation. Press Cmd/Ctrl + / to see the full list in the app.

Command palette

Press Cmd/Ctrl + K to open the command palette and search for any action — navigate to notes, settings, the graph, or projects; create a new note; switch view modes; change theme; or run note and editor actions.

Command palette

Formatting

ShortcutAction
Cmd/Ctrl + BBold
Cmd/Ctrl + IItalic
Cmd/Ctrl + EInline code
Cmd/Ctrl + Option + 1Heading 1
Cmd/Ctrl + Option + 2Heading 2
Cmd/Ctrl + Option + 3Heading 3
Cmd/Ctrl + DTask checkbox

Structure

ShortcutAction
Cmd/Ctrl + ]Indent list
Cmd/Ctrl + [Outdent list

View

ShortcutAction
Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + IRich editor
Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + PPreview
Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + RSource mode
EscapePreview from editor

Global

ShortcutAction
Cmd/Ctrl + KCommands
Cmd/Ctrl + NNew note
Cmd/Ctrl + Option + EFocus editor
Cmd/Ctrl + Option + ZToggle Zen mode
Cmd/Ctrl + /Keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts

Next Steps

AI Collaboration

Connect an agent and watch it write alongside you.

File History

Every save is a version — browse, compare, and merge back.

Knowledge Format

The semantic structure for observations and relations.