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Cleft creates clean Markdown files from your notes, so you can keep finished thoughts in Bear without retyping them.
Bear does not watch a folder like Obsidian or Logseq. Today’s Bear workflow is export from Cleft, then import the Markdown into Bear when you want that note in your Bear library.

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Set up your Cleft folder

1

Open Local Sync

In Cleft on your Mac, open Settings and go to Local Sync.
2

Choose where Cleft saves files

Use the default Cleft Notes folder, or choose a custom folder if your plan includes custom destinations.
3

Record or update a note

Cleft writes each finished note as a .md file. Retitled, edited, and retagged notes are written again so the file stays current.
4

Import into Bear

In Bear, import the Markdown file or folder you want to keep. Bear adds the imported content to its own library.

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What Bear receives

  • Markdown body. Your Cleft note stays readable as headings, lists, and paragraphs.
  • Inline tags. Cleft appends tags as #tag, which Bear can use after import.
  • One file per note. Each Cleft note has its own .md file with a date and title in the filename.

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What to expect

This is one-way. Edits you make in Bear do not sync back to Cleft, and Cleft does not update Bear’s internal note database automatically.
Bear is best when you want to choose which Cleft notes become part of your writing library. If you want a folder that updates automatically, use a folder-based app such as Logseq or Obsidian.

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Troubleshooting

Bear stores notes in its own library. It can import Markdown files, but it does not treat your Cleft folder as a live vault. Import the latest .md file when you want a Cleft note in Bear.
Cleft writes tags as inline hashtags. Bear recognizes that syntax after import, but YAML frontmatter at the top of a file can remain visible because Bear does not use an Obsidian-style Properties panel.
Check Settings -> Local Sync in Cleft and confirm the folder path. If you use the default folder, look for Cleft Notes in your Documents folder.