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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Floatnote.

Is Floatnote free?​

Yes, Floatnote is completely free and open source under the MIT license. You can view the source code, contribute, or fork it on GitHub.

Does it work on Windows or Linux?​

Currently Floatnote is macOS only. It uses macOS-specific APIs for the transparent overlay functionality. Cross-platform support may be considered in the future.

Where is my data stored?​

Notes are stored in ~/.config/floatnote/floatnote-data.json. Your data stays local and is never sent anywhere. You can back up this file or copy it to another machine.

How do I update Floatnote?​

Download the latest DMG from the GitHub Releases page and replace the app in your Applications folder. If installed via npm, run:

npm update -g floatnote

The app is not showing up when I press Cmd+Shift+D​

Make sure Floatnote is running (check the menu bar tray icon). You may need to grant accessibility permissions:

  1. Open System Preferences (or System Settings on macOS 13+)
  2. Go to Privacy & Security > Accessibility
  3. Add and enable Floatnote in the list

If the shortcut still does not work, another application may be using the same key combination.

Can I change the keyboard shortcut?​

The global shortcut (Cmd+Shift+D) is currently not configurable. If this is important to you, please request the feature on GitHub Issues.

How do I draw shapes?​

  1. Click the shape dropdown in the toolbar (or press S)
  2. Select your shape type: rectangle, circle, triangle, line, or arrow
  3. Click and drag on the canvas to draw the shape
  4. Release to finalize the shape

How do I select and move shapes?​

  1. Click the pointer/select tool in the toolbar
  2. Click on a shape to select it (handles will appear)
  3. Drag the shape to move it
  4. Drag handles to resize
  5. Use the rotation handle to rotate
  6. Press Delete/Backspace to remove a selected shape

Can I use Floatnote for presentations?​

Yes! Floatnote's transparent overlay makes it perfect for annotating slides or any screen content during presentations. Use the freeze feature (press F) to lock the canvas in place while presenting.

How do I export my drawings?​

Press Cmd+E or use the export button in the toolbar to save the current canvas as a PNG file. The file is saved to your Desktop with a timestamped filename.