Getting Started

From zero to a working note-taking setup in about 5 minutes. This page is the quickstart — for deep dives into install, settings, themes, and plugins, follow the links along the way.

1. Install (1 minute)

Download Binderus for your platform on the download page, install it the usual way for your OS, and open it.

Each platform shows a one-time security warning the first time you launch (we don't pay Apple / Microsoft signing fees). If you see "can't be opened", "Windows protected your PC", or a missing-dependency error, follow the platform-specific fix in the dedicated install guide.

2. Pick a vault (1 minute)

A vault is just a folder on your disk that Binderus indexes. On first launch you'll be asked to pick or create one.

Anywhere under ~/Documents/ works — the project root, a Dropbox subfolder, an iCloud Drive folder, etc. Binderus reads and writes plain Markdown, so anything you save stays portable to any other Markdown editor.

3. Write your first note (1 minute)

Press Cmd N (macOS) or Ctrl N (Windows / Linux). Start typing — formatting works the way you'd expect:

# Heading
**bold** *italic* ~~strike~~
- bullet list
1. numbered list
[link](https://example.com)
`inline code`

Type / at the start of a line to bring up the slash-command menu for headings, code blocks, callouts, and more.

4. Link notes together (1 minute)

Type [[ and start typing a note title — Binderus autocompletes existing notes and creates the link. If the target doesn't exist yet, it's created on click.

Every note shows incoming backlinks at the bottom, so you can see which other notes reference this one.

5. Make it yours (1 minute)

Three customizations most people do on day one:

Where to go next

• Stuck on install? Installation has full per-platform workarounds.
• Want the keyboard cheat sheet? Keyboard Shortcuts.
• Have a question? FAQ, or ask on Discord.