FAQ & Troubleshooting

The questions asked most often, followed by fixes grouped by symptom. For keyboard shortcuts and gestures, see Shortcuts.

Common Questions

How do I unlock Pro?

The free Inbox tier is fully usable on its own. When you want Pro, the unlock screen offers a yearly subscription or a one-time purchase — both unlock the same features. See Unlock Pro.

Do I need an account?

No account is required. Jotaid is local-first and stores data on your device. Optional iCloud sync uses your existing Apple ID.

Where is my data stored?

On your device, in Jotaid's local store. If you enable iCloud sync, a copy also lives in your private iCloud. Your AI API key is stored in the system Keychain and never leaves your device except when you call your chosen provider.

Does JOTAID use my notes to train AI?

No. AI features only send content to the provider you configure, and only when you trigger a feature. Nothing is collected for training.

Can I use JOTAID without AI?

Yes. All core features — editing, three-tier organization, backlinks, the graph, and the matrix — work without any AI configuration. AI is an optional Pro layer.

How do I move notes out of the Inbox?

Create a Project (Pro), then move notes into it. On the free tier everything lives in the Inbox.

What happens if I lose my backup password?

Encrypted backups can't be recovered without the password — it derives the encryption key. Store it somewhere safe.

• Getting Started — Start from the top

Sync

My notes aren't syncing between devices

• Make sure both devices are signed into the same iCloud account. Sync follows your iCloud account — there's no in-app switch.
• Open Settings → Sync Health and check iCloud Connection. If it says Not Signed In or Restricted, fix it in your system iCloud settings.
• If Sync Configuration reports a missing zone, use its Fix action.
• Sync runs in the background and isn't instant; give a new device time to download.

Sync Health shows a warning

Warnings (orphaned attachments, in-progress cleanup) are often temporary — a device mid-sync is normal. Re-check after sync settles. Persistent errors are worth reading in full; each check explains what it found.

"Rebuild from iCloud" — should I use it?

Only as a last resort for a truly stuck device. It wipes local data and re-downloads from iCloud; unsynced local changes are lost (Jotaid backs up first). If in doubt, export a backup yourself before trying it.

Backups

I forgot my backup password

There is no recovery. Backup encryption derives its key from your password, so a lost password means the backup can't be opened. Always store backup passwords somewhere safe.

Importing a backup didn't restore everything

Import merges into your current library and can finish as a partial success — for example, some attachments may be missing. Check the import report for details.

Import & Export

My Markdown folder imported into the wrong structure

Folder import maps structure automatically: the folder becomes a Project, top-level subfolders become Themes, and deeper subfolders fold in as #tags. Arrange your folders that way before importing.

Some files were skipped on import

Files over ~10 MB or that aren't UTF-8 text are skipped and listed in the import report.

My exported file is missing images

Exports contain text only. To move notes and attachments together, use an encrypted backup instead. See Sync.

AI

"Invalid API key"

Re-check that you pasted the full key with no trailing spaces, and that the key has quota/credit on the provider's side. See AI Setup.

AI results are empty or cut off

The model is likely too small for the task. Switch to a larger model, or a provider with a higher output limit.

I can't find the AI settings

AI is a Pro feature. Unlock Pro first; the AI configuration area appears only after unlocking. See Unlock Pro.

Getting Around

I can't switch views on iPhone

On iOS there are no keyboard shortcuts. Open the left drawer (hamburger icon) and tap Note, Node, or Theme. See Interface Views.

The app opened to a blank screen / a capture box

That's expected on first launch — Jotaid starts empty, and iOS lands on Quick Note. See Introduction.