FAQ

Absolutely! Cleft’s Silent Mode lets you create text-first notes:

• Text-Only Creation: Start with text instead of voice
• No Recording Needed: Perfect for quiet environments
• Same Organization: Uses the same tagging and folder system
• Convert Later: Add voice recordings to text notes if needed

To create a text-only note:

1. Tap the ”+” button (or use ⌘ + N on Mac)
2. Select “Text Note” or “Silent Mode”
3. Type your note as you would in any text editor
4. Save and organize with tags just like voice notes

This feature is ideal for:

• Library or office environments where recording isn’t appropriate
• Quick text capture when speaking isn’t convenient
• Starting a note framework before adding voice content
• Importing text from other sources

Yes! With Cleft’s rolling notes feature (Plus), you can add to existing notes with voice:

• Continuous Recording: Add new voice recordings to notes you’ve already created
• Seamless Transitions: New content flows naturally from existing text
• Horizontal Line Breaks: Clear separation between original content and additions
• Perfect For: Ongoing projects, developing thoughts, or adding context to earlier notes

To add to an existing note:

1. Open the note you want to add to
2. Tap the microphone button or press Space (on Mac)
3. Start speaking - your new content will be transcribed and appended
4. A horizontal line will separate the original content from your addition

This feature is especially useful for:

• Journal entries throughout the day
• Adding follow-up thoughts to meeting notes
• Building on ideas over time
• Creating comprehensive documentation in stages

Custom Instructions (Plus feature) let you personalize how Cleft processes and formats your voice notes:

• Personalized Formatting: Tell Cleft exactly how you want your notes structured
• Consistent Style: Maintain the same format across all your notes
• Special Requirements: Add specific instructions for technical terms, formatting preferences, or note organization

To set up Custom Instructions:

1. Go to Settings > AI Preferences > Custom Instructions (or use ⌘ + . on Mac)
2. Enter your instructions in the text field
3. Save and they’ll apply to all future notes

Example instructions:

• “Format my notes with clear headers and bullet points”
• “Always include a summary at the top”
• “Organize technical terms in a glossary section”
• “Format in Markdown compatible with Obsidian”

Check out our Cookbook for inspiration to get started.

Cleft’s Notion integration (Plus feature) makes it easy to send your notes directly to Notion:

• One-Click Send: Send any note to a Notion database with just a tap
• Auto-Send Option: If you only have one Notion database selected, notes can be sent automatically for instant syncing
• Format Preservation: Your note structure, formatting, and organization are maintained in Notion
• Database Integration: Notes can be sent to Notion databases with proper field mapping
• One-Way Sync: Changes in Cleft sync to Notion, but edits in Notion don’t sync back to Cleft

To set up:

1. Go to Settings > Integrations
2. Connect your Notion account
3. Select target database(s)
4. Configure field mapping if needed

We recommend setting up one database that syncs with your general inbox to ensure you can send notes with as little friction as possible.

Cleft’s enhanced Zapier integration (Plus feature) lets you create powerful automations based on tags:

• Tag-Based Triggers: Automatically trigger actions when notes contain specific tags
• Enhanced Data Export: Send more comprehensive note data to other apps
• Multiple Destination Support: Send notes to different tools based on tags
• Customizable Workflows: Create complex automations tailored to your needs

Example automations:

• Tag a note with #todo to automatically create a task in your task manager
• Use #meeting to send notes to your team in Slack
• Tag with #notion to automatically sync to a specific Notion database
• Use #calendar to create events from dates mentioned in your notes

To set up:

1. Connect Cleft to Zapier in Settings > Integrations
2. Create a Zap with the “New Tagged Note in Cleft” trigger
3. Specify which tag(s) should trigger the automation
4. Configure the action in your destination app

Please note: To access the full power of Zapier like filters and multi-step automations, you must be a paid Zapier user.

Cleft has robust offline capabilities:

• Offline Recording: Record notes without an internet connection
• Local Storage: Notes save locally on your device
• Offline Editing: View and edit existing notes while offline
• Automatic Sync: Changes sync automatically when you’re back online
• Offline Transcript Saving: Transcripts are preserved even without connection
• Visual Indicators: Clear offline state indicators show when you’re working offline

To use Cleft offline:

1. Record as usual - Cleft detects you’re offline automatically
2. Your audio is saved locally
3. When you reconnect, transcription processes automatically
4. Any edits you made while offline will sync

For best offline experience:

• Enable “Offline Mode” in settings when you know you’ll be without connection
• Use “Sync Online” from the context menu when you reconnect
• Check the sync status indicator to confirm your notes have synced

This makes Cleft reliable for capturing thoughts anywhere, even without internet access.

Yes! Cleft Plus offers password-protected shareable links:

• Password Protection: Add a password to any shared note link
• Expiration Settings: Set links to expire after a specific time
• Access Control: Choose who can view your shared notes
• Auto-Copy: Links automatically copy to clipboard for easy sharing
• Tracking: See when shared links were last accessed

To share a note securely:

1. Open the note you want to share
2. Tap the share icon
3. Select “Create Shareable Link”
4. Enable password protection
5. Set an optional expiration date
6. Share the link and password separately for maximum security

This feature is perfect for sharing sensitive information, client deliverables, or private thoughts with trusted individuals.

Here’s how to get your notes syncing:

1. Quick Fix: Refresh Both Devices

On macOS

• Press ⌘ R while the app is in focus, or
• Click Refresh in the menu bar

On iOS

• Pull down from the top of any screen in Cleft

2. If Still Not Syncing, Check Your Account

• Go to Settings > Account on each device
• Confirm you’re signed in with the exact same email (check for any differences in capitalization or spelling)
• If you’re not sure, try signing out and back in on both devices

3. Other Quick Checks

• Verify your internet connection
• Make sure you’re using the latest app version
• Try restarting the app on both devices

For detailed instructions and visuals, see our refresh guide.

Try these steps in order:

1. Quick Fixes

• Refresh the app (⌘ R on Mac, pull down on iOS)
• Close and reopen the app
• Check your internet connection

2. If Issues Persist

• Clear app cache (Settings > Advanced > Clear Cache)
• Check available storage space
• Update to the latest version
• Restart your device

3. For Specific Issues

• Slow transcription: Check internet speed
• UI lag: Reduce number of open notes
• Sync delays: See syncing guide above

Follow these steps:

1. Check Recording Setup

• Ensure microphone access is granted
• Check microphone isn’t blocked/covered
• Test in a quiet environment

2. Verify Settings

• Check internet connection
• Ensure you’re within time limits (5 min free, 30 min Plus)
• Verify language settings

3. Try Recording Again

• Start with a short test recording
• Speak clearly at a normal pace
• Keep phone/mic close to your mouth

Cleft makes it easy to work with your raw transcripts:

1. View Your Transcript

• Open any note created with voice
• Look for the “Transcript” toggle at the top of your note
• Tap/click to switch between the organized note and raw transcript

2. Edit Your Transcript

• While viewing the transcript, make any necessary edits
• Correct any words that weren’t transcribed accurately
• Add punctuation or clarify technical terms

3. Regenerate Your Note

• After editing the transcript, select “Regenerate”
• Choose to regenerate just the transcript or both transcript and summary
• Your edited transcript will be used to create an improved organized note

Here’s how to regain access:

1. Check Basic Access

• Verify internet connection
• Ensure correct email is entered
• Check for typos in password

2. Reset Password

• Click “Forgot Password”
• Follow email instructions
• Use reset link within 24 hours

3. Still Locked Out?

• Clear app data and sign in again
• Try on a different device
• Contact support with your account email

Your data is protected through multiple security layers. Learn more in our privacy guide.

During Recording

• Audio stays on your device
• Processing happens locally using Whisper model
• No cloud storage of raw audio

For Stored Notes

• End-to-end encryption
• Secure cloud backup
• Optional local-only storage
• Auto-delete audio after processing

For Sharing

• Encrypted links
• Expiring access options
• Granular permissions control
• Activity logging

Here’s how Cleft handles your audio. Read our privacy guide for more details.

1. During Recording

• Audio saves temporarily on your device
• Processed locally for transcription
• No cloud upload of raw audio

2. After Processing

• Audio auto-deletes after 1 hour
• Keep audio longer by enabling “Save Audio”
• Download audio files if needed
• Manual delete option always available

3. Long-term Storage

• Only transcribed text stored by default
• Audio files optional (user choice)
• Local storage options available

Yes, you have full control over your data:

Exporting Data

1. Go to Settings > Privacy
2. Choose “Export All Data”
3. Select format (ZIP, PDF, Markdown)
4. Download to your device

Deleting Data

1. Individual notes: Swipe to delete
2. Bulk delete: Select multiple notes
3. Account deletion: Settings > Privacy > Delete Account
4. Confirmation email sent

Data deletion is permanent and includes all versions and backups. See our privacy guide for more information.

We offer multiple support channels:

Immediate Help

1. Check in-app help (tap ? icon)
2. Visit docs.cleft.com
3. Use in-app chat support

Direct Support

1. Email [email protected]
2. Include your issue details
3. Add screenshots if relevant
4. Expect response within 24 hours

Visit our community page for more ways to connect.

Join our beta program in 4 steps:

1. Sign Up

• Email [email protected] with subject “Beta”
• Include your Apple ID
• Mention your use case

2. Get Access

• Receive TestFlight invitation
• Install beta version
• Keep both stable and beta versions

3. Provide Feedback

• Use the beta feedback form
• Report bugs you find
• Suggest improvements
• Share your experience

4. Stay Updated

• Regular beta updates
• Early access to features
• Direct contact with developers

Learn more in our beta guide.

The Basic plan is free forever and lets you try core features. This gives you a chance to experience Cleft’s voice-to-text capabilities before deciding to upgrade to Plus.