Getting Started

Getting started

Beta 4 is now available for testing. It includes Phases 2 to 4 from the main branch, plus Phases 5 to 12 built and integrated. Download the latest build from the Releases page.

Download OpenNote

Once a release exists, you will find it on the Releases page. OpenNote is one file, with no installer. Download the one that matches your PC.

File	Choose it if
OpenNote_Windows64.exe	You have a 64-bit PC. This is most PCs.
OpenNote_Windows32.exe	You have a 32-bit PC.
OpenNote_WindowsARM64.exe	You have an Arm PC, such as a Snapdragon laptop.

To check your PC, open Settings, then System, then About. "System type" says whether it is 64-bit, 32-bit, or Arm-based.

The release also holds files that end in .sig and a file named latest.json. You don't need them. OpenNote uses them to find and check updates.

OpenNote runs on Windows 10 (version 22H2) and Windows 11. It uses Microsoft Edge WebView2, which is already part of both. If it is missing, OpenNote offers Microsoft's small installer.

First-run setup

The first time you open OpenNote, a short setup asks where to keep your notes, which theme you prefer, and whether to enable optional smart features. A new page starts with just your title and a gray "Changed ..." subtitle—no separate date box.

Choose your look

OpenNote has two themes:

Choice	What it does
Light	Always uses warm paper with dark ink
Dark	Always uses a dark background
Match Windows	Follows the Windows light or dark setting, and switches when Windows does

Setup shows the three choices as preview cards, and the whole screen changes as you pick. The card that matches your current Windows setting is selected in advance, so clicking Continue keeps what you already use.

You can change the look at any time:

• Click the sun and moon button in the title bar.
• Press Ctrl+Shift+D.
• Open Settings, then choose a theme.

Switching keeps your place on the page. Notes don't change, and pens use each theme's colors.

Where to keep your notes

You choose a folder for your notes on first launch. OpenNote can keep them in Documents, on a USB drive, or on cloud storage like OneDrive. The folder can be anywhere Windows lets you write files.

What next

• Learn how notes are organized in Notebooks, sections, and pages.
• See the keyboard shortcuts in Keyboard shortcuts.
• If something goes wrong, read Troubleshooting.