Notes: Capture, Process, and Organize
Keepsake has two kinds of notes. QuickNotes are instant captures that land in your Inbox — raw, fast, unfiltered. Notes are archived knowledge: linked to contacts and projects, each with its own dedicated page and permanent link. A QuickNote becomes a Note when you decide it's worth keeping. You can also create Notes directly from a tag or contact page — they're automatically archived and linked to the right context.
The flow: Capture → Inbox → Action
1. Capture
Write a QuickNote from anywhere in the app. The note bar is always visible at the top of the screen. Don't think about where it goes — just write it down. See QuickNotes for all capture methods (typing, voice dictation, offline, T+ shortcuts).
2. Inbox
Your note lands in the Inbox. The Inbox is a holding space — it's not the final destination. Notes wait here until you decide what to do with them.
3. Process
For each note, you choose one of five actions: transform into a task (something to do), transform into an entry (something that happened), archive (keep for reference), pin (keep visible), or delete (no longer needed).
Tip
This Capture → Inbox → Action flow is inspired by GTD (Getting Things Done). The idea is simple: your brain is for having ideas, not for holding them. Capture everything, then process at your own pace.
Processing your notes
Transform into a task
If the note is something you need to do, convert it into a task. Choose ASAP (urgent), a specific due date, or Someday. The note disappears from the Inbox and becomes a task in your task list.
Transform into an entry
If the note describes something that happened — a call, a meeting, an observation — convert it into a dated entry. Link it to the relevant contacts and it will appear on their profiles.
Archive
If the note is useful reference material but doesn't require action, archive it. It leaves the Inbox and goes to the Notes view, where you can search and filter it anytime.
Pin
If you need a note to stay visible for a while — a hotel room number, a reservation code, an idea you're working on — pin it. Pinned notes sit at the top of your Inbox and don't count toward your unread total.
Delete
If a note is no longer relevant, delete it. It goes to the trash and stays there for 30 days, so you can recover it if needed.
Tip
Try to process your Inbox regularly — once a day works great. When the Inbox is empty, Keepsake shows a little celebration. Inbox Zero feels good.
Where do notes appear?
On contact profiles
If a note mentions a contact with @, it appears on that contact's profile. This builds a history of everything related to that person — notes, entries, and tasks, all in one place. See Contact Profiles.
On tag pages
If a note uses #tag# or [[tag]] syntax, it appears on the corresponding tag page alongside related entries, tasks, and contacts. See Tags & Pages.
In the Notes view
Archived notes live in the Notes view, accessible from the sidebar. You can search by content and filter by tag or contact to find what you need — and there's a dedicated filter to show only notes published to your Keepsake Page. A Sort button lets you order notes by creation, modification, publication or archive date, ascending or descending — your choice is remembered.
In the Inbox
Unprocessed and pinned notes stay in the Inbox until you decide what to do with them.
Dedicated note pages & permanent links
Open a note's page
Click on any archived note to open its dedicated page. The page auto-saves as you type — no save button needed. And if you create a note then close it empty, it isn't kept — no clutter in your archives.
Rich text editing
Format your text with bold, italic, lists, and headings using the floating toolbar. Type # or [[ to autocomplete tags and contacts inline.
Write full screen
On desktop, the ⤢ button clears everything away — sidebar, tags, metadata — leaving just your text, the table of contents, and the capture bar (because ideas strike precisely when you're writing). Press Escape or the corner button to come back.
A table of contents on long notes
When a note has two or more headings, thin marks appear along the right edge — one per heading. Hover to unfold the full outline, click to jump to a section. It follows your edits live as you write. (Desktop only.)
Manage tags and contacts
Add or remove tags and contacts directly from the note page. The note will appear on the corresponding tag pages and contact profiles.
Copy, print, share
The Copy content menu grabs the note's text in the format you need (plain text, Markdown, HTML). The Print button opens a clean layout ready for paper. And each note has a permanent URL you can copy, bookmark, or jump to from Cmd+K search.
Tip
Create a Note directly from a tag or contact page — it's automatically archived and linked to the right context. No need to go through the Inbox for structured knowledge.
Link notes together
From the Linked notes section
Below every note, a Linked notes section gathers all connected notes. Click + Link to search for a note and connect it on the spot.
Several at once, from the Notes view
Select multiple notes in your archives and link them all together in one action.
Right inside the text
Copy a note's link and paste it into another note's text: it becomes a clickable link showing the beginning of the target note. Remove it like any text; links created this way disappear when you edit them out.
Tip
Linked notes turn your archive from a pile into a web. When you file a new note, take five seconds to ask: "Which existing note does this connect to?"
Create tasks from a note
From the note
A Tasks section below the note gathers all linked tasks. Create new ones there (they inherit the note's tags), check them off, snooze them or open them without leaving your note — with a progress ring showing how many are done.
From the task
A task created from a note keeps a visible link back to it — the context is always one click away, in your task lists and in the Day view.
From the Inbox
The Transform menu on a QuickNote offers "Create a linked task" — unlike "Transform into task", your note is kept and the new task points back to it.
Tip
A note can have several tasks, and a link can be removed at any time without deleting anything on either side.
Notes vs. Entries — what's the difference?
A note is something to keep
Ideas, drafts, reference material, checklists, quotes, procedures. Notes are about information — things you want to remember or use later. They're not tied to a specific moment.
An entry is something that happened
A phone call, a meeting, a lunch, a milestone. Entries are about events — things that occurred on a specific date. They build a chronological timeline on contact profiles and in the Journal.
When in doubt
Ask yourself: "Is this about something that happened on a specific day?" If yes, it's an entry. If it's information to keep or an idea to develop, it's a note. And don't worry too much — you can always reorganize later.
Tip
The key difference is time. Entries are dated events. Notes are timeless information. A note saying "Ideas for the next product launch" is a note. "Met with Sophie to discuss the product launch" is an entry.
Best practices
Capture immediately
The moment an idea crosses your mind, write it down. Even a few words are enough. The QuickNote bar is designed for this — zero friction, instant save.
Link to people and projects
Use @mentions and #tags in your notes. A note that says "Book recommendation from @Sarah: Deep Work" is far more useful than one that just says "Deep Work". Six months from now, you'll find it on Sarah's profile.
Process regularly
Don't let notes pile up. A quick Inbox review once a day — even just 2 minutes — keeps everything flowing. Archive what you've processed, transform what needs action, delete what's done.
Use the Notes view
The Notes view is not a graveyard — it's a library. Put reference material there: procedures, meeting prep, ideas you've already explored. It's searchable and filterable, so you'll find things fast.
Questions?
Related guides
Capture Ideas Instantly with QuickNotes
Learn how to use QuickNotes to capture thoughts, ideas, and reminders in seconds. Works offline, syncs automatically, and connects to your contacts.
The editorial pipeline: from draft to published note
Track a note on its way to publication with an optional editorial pipeline: Draft → To review → Ready → Published. A colored indicator on each card, click to advance, and filters by stage — all inside the Notes view.
Entries: Build Your Interaction History
Learn how to use entries in Keepsake to log meetings, calls, and interactions. Link entries to contacts and projects to build a complete relationship history.
The 5 Element Types in Keepsake
Understand the difference between contacts, tags, entries, tasks, and notes in Keepsake. A practical guide to organizing everything naturally.
Contact Profiles: Your Relational Memory
Learn how Keepsake's Contact Profiles work as your relational memory. Track interactions, set reminders, and build a complete picture of every relationship.
Organize Everything with Tags & Pages
Learn how to use Tags & Pages in Keepsake to organize notes, tasks, and contacts into flexible projects. No upfront setup — projects emerge naturally from your content.
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