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Your notes sync automatically between your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Create a note on one device and it appears on the others.

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Refresh Manually

If you want to check for the latest changes right away:

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iPhone and iPad

Pull down on your notes list to refresh.

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Mac

1

Keyboard shortcut

Press ⌘ + R
2

Menu bar

Click File > Refresh

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When Does Syncing Happen?

Opening the App

Notes refresh when you open Cleft

After Changes

Any edit or new note syncs right away

In the Background

Cleft checks for updates while the app is open

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Going Offline

Turn on Preflight Mode to download all your notes before you lose connectivity (great for flights, commutes, or areas with poor signal). Go to Settings > General > Offline and toggle Preflight Mode on. This downloads text only, so it’s fast.

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Auto-Export to a Folder

Cleft can save every note to a folder on your device as a Markdown file (useful if you work with apps like Obsidian, NotePlan, Logseq, or any tool that reads from a folder). As of v1.14.0, this is free on Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
  1. Open Cleft and go to Settings → Local Sync
  2. Free users get Cleft’s Documents/Cleft Notes folder out of the box. Cleft Plus lets you point exports at any folder you choose (your Obsidian vault, NotePlan project, etc.)
  3. New notes appear there automatically, including ones that arrived via cross-device sync
  4. Use Save existing notes as files if you want to backfill notes that were already in Cleft
See Local Sync for the full setup, the file format, and per-app tips for Obsidian, NotePlan, Logseq, Drafts, and Bear.
  • You need an internet connection for syncing
  • After editing on one device, give it a moment before opening the same note elsewhere
  • Many preferences sync through iCloud, including theme, note style, copy format, note language, writing rules, Notion auto-send, and Local Sync on/off choices
  • Folder permissions and device permissions are still configured per device
  • If something looks out of date, try a manual refresh