Available with Plus: Custom Instructions let you shape how Cleft organizes your creative chaos.
Custom instructions transform how Cleft organizes your thoughts. For visual thinkers with ADHD, they’re the bridge between our constellation-like thinking and structured output. Your brain doesn’t do bullet points. Now your notes don’t have to either.
1

Open Settings

Tap the Settings icon (⚙️) > AI Preferences > Custom Instructions
Custom Instructions Screen in Cleft for iOS
2

Type or paste your instructions

You’ll start with a blank template that you can customize.
Custom Instructions Blank Template for iOS
3

Fill in your custom instructions

Write your instructions in the text box using the template structure below.
Custom Instructions Filled Example for iOS
4

Save your instructions

Tap “Save” to apply your custom instructions to all future notes.
Saving Custom Instructions on iOS
Mac users: Just press ⌘ + . anytime to quickly adjust how Cleft organizes your thoughts.

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Template Structure

Use this template to create your own custom instruction style: 
[Context statement] here.
Group by [organization categories].
Flag [important elements].
Keep track of [progress metrics].
Make it [primary quality] but [balancing quality].

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Understanding Each Component

  1. Context Statement: Sets the scene for what you’re doing
  2. Organization Categories: Defines how to group your content
  3. Important Elements: Specifies what should be highlighted
  4. Progress Metrics: Determines what to track over time
  5. Style Balance: Sets the tone while maintaining usefulness

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Quick Examples

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Casual Style

Write my notes in a casual tone.
Group by main topics and subtopics.
Flag key takeaways and action items.
Keep track of next steps.
Make it conversational but clear.

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Formal Style

Write in a professional tone.
Group by categories and priorities.
Flag critical points and decisions.
Keep track of follow-up items.
Make it structured but accessible.

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Visual Thinker Style

Hey Cleft! I think visually in constellations. Please:

- Group related ideas even when I jump topics (I do this a lot!)
- Highlight concepts I repeat—they're important to me!
- Use casual language + emoji occasionally 😊 to match my thinking style
- Preserve my questions—they spark my best design insights
- Create visual hierarchy with clear sections for ideas vs. actions
- Flag potential UX issues I mention for quick follow-up
- Make it feel like MY thoughts, just better organized for sharing

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Writing Effective Instructions

When creating your custom instructions:
  1. Be clear and specific about your preferences
  2. Use full sentences for better interpretation
  3. Consider your preferred:
    • Writing tone
    • Content structure
    • Formatting style

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Benefits

  • Consistent note style across all devices
  • Personalized note-taking experience
  • Improved readability and organization
  • Time-saving through automated formatting
Need inspiration? Check out our Style Inspirations for many more examples across different use cases.
You can update your Custom Instructions anytime. Experiment with different styles to find what works best for your note-taking workflow.
Example of a note processed with custom instructions

A formatted note after applying custom instructions

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