ForestNote is a handwriting-first notebook for e-ink tablets. It works as a completely local app: you can write, organize, search, export, back up, and restore notes without creating an account or configuring a server. Recognition, transcription, calendar tasks, and sync are optional additions.
For installation and project information, see the README.
- Install or update ForestNote.
- Choose where the local library lives when ForestNote first opens.
- Open Library, create a notebook, and write with the stylus.
- Make a local backup before experimenting with sync or moving to another device.
The first-run storage choice and backup behavior are explained in Getting started.
| Page | Covers |
|---|---|
| Getting started | Installation, updates, first-run storage, local-only operation, and backups |
| Editor | Toolbar, brushes, widths, erasers, text, lasso, pages, templates, undo/redo, and viewport controls |
| Library and files | Folders, full-library search, selection, moving, recycle bin, PDF/SVG export, backup, and restore |
| Recognition and connections | On-device recognition, optional transcription endpoints, UltraBridge sync, and CalDAV tasks |
| Device notes | Viwoods fast ink, Boox behavior, generic Android fallback, and troubleshooting |
The editor's top bar contains, from left to right:
- Library, previous/next page, and the tappable page counter;
- Undo, Redo, and viewport controls;
- the currently selected brush, Lasso, Text, and the selected eraser;
- Paste, Clear, OCR, and Template.
A small ▾ means tapping the cell opens a chooser. Finger touches never draw ink, but two-finger
gestures can move a zoomed page when the viewport is unlocked.
ForestNote starts with network sync off and full-page endpoint transcription off.
| Feature | Network behavior |
|---|---|
| Writing, editing, Library, PDF/SVG export, backup/restore | Always local |
| Selection recognition and Run local page recognition | Local after a one-time language-model download |
| Run endpoint | Uploads the current page only when you tap it |
| UltraBridge sync | Runs only while Enable network sync is on |
| CalDAV tasks | Sends only tasks you explicitly create; queues them while offline |
Passwords and API keys are stored in Android's encrypted credential store and are excluded from ForestNote backups.
The installed version appears at the bottom of Settings → About. When reporting a device issue, include that version, the tablet model, Android/firmware version, stylus model, and whether the issue also occurs after reopening the page. Debug file logging can be enabled under Settings → Debug; see Device notes.