Question 1

What is DeskMemo?

Accepted Answer

DeskMemo is a macOS desktop sticky notes app that keeps your notes always visible on your screen while you work. Unlike traditional note apps that hide in separate windows, DeskMemo notes float directly on your desktop — just like real sticky notes stuck to your monitor. It offers three note types: Text notes (rich text), Canvas notes (infinite freeform workspace), and Outline notes (hierarchical nested lists). Available on macOS 12 (Monterey) and later.

Question 2

How is DeskMemo different from Apple's Stickies app?

Accepted Answer

DeskMemo goes far beyond Apple's built-in Stickies in several ways: it supports three note modes (Text, Canvas, Outline), lets you attach images, PDFs, videos, Word and Excel files with inline previews, has full iCloud sync across devices, lets notes float above all windows or drop behind all other app windows, and includes a full task manager with the Eisenhower Matrix priority system. Apple Stickies is basic text-only with no sync. DeskMemo is a full-featured desktop note workspace.

Question 3

What are the three types of notes in DeskMemo?

Accepted Answer

DeskMemo has three note types, each created from the menu bar icon: Text Note — a floating sticky note with rich text formatting (bold, italic, colors, highlights, checklists, images, PDFs); Canvas Note — an infinite freeform canvas where you place and arrange Text blocks, Task blocks, and file blocks anywhere you like; Outline Note — a hierarchical outliner for structured thinking, with unlimited nesting levels, per-row file attachments, and completion tracking. Each type syncs via iCloud.

Question 4

Which macOS versions does DeskMemo support?

Accepted Answer

DeskMemo works on macOS 12.0 (Monterey) or later. It is fully compatible with macOS 26 (Sequoia) and takes advantage of its new Liquid Glass visual effect for note backgrounds.

Question 5

Does DeskMemo support macOS 26 Sequoia?

Accepted Answer

Yes. DeskMemo is fully compatible with macOS 26 (Sequoia) and takes advantage of its new Liquid Glass visual effect for note backgrounds. All other features — iCloud sync, float on top, canvas mode, outline mode — work on macOS 12 (Monterey) and later.

Question 6

What is the Liquid Glass mode in DeskMemo?

Accepted Answer

Liquid Glass is a modern visual style for note backgrounds available on macOS 26 (Sequoia) and later. When enabled, a note's background becomes a frosted glass effect that dynamically blurs and reflects the content behind it — similar to the translucent panels in macOS 26's new design language. You can combine Liquid Glass with a tint color. On older macOS versions, notes use the standard flat background style unchanged.

Question 7

How do I create a new sticky note?

Accepted Answer

Click the DeskMemo icon in your menu bar and select 'New Normal Note', 'New Outline Note', or 'New Canvas Note'. Your new note will appear on your desktop.

Question 8

How do I keep a note always on top?

Accepted Answer

Click the 'Float on Top' button in the note's control bar at the top. The note will stay above all other windows.

Question 9

What is the 'Move Behind Desktop' feature?

Accepted Answer

'Move Behind Desktop' is a button in each note's control bar. When clicked, the note sinks to sit directly on top of your wallpaper but behind all desktop icons and open windows. The note stays there passively like a part of your background. Click it once to bring it back to the front for editing. This is the opposite of 'Float on Top'.

Question 10

Can I customize the appearance of notes?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Use the 'Appearance Settings' button in the control bar at the top of each note to change background colors, borders, and transparency. You can also format text using the Format button.

Question 11

How do I lock a note to prevent editing?

Accepted Answer

Click the 'Lock' button in the note's control bar. This makes the note read-only and prevents accidental changes.

Question 12

How do I format text in my notes?

Accepted Answer

Click the 'Format' button (text icon) in the control bar to access text formatting options. You can make text bold, italic, underlined, change colors, add highlights, adjust font size, and change alignment.

Question 13

How do I change the line spacing in my notes?

Accepted Answer

Click the 'Format' button (Aa) in the note's control bar, then look for the Line Spacing option. You can choose Single, 1.5x, or Double spacing, or set a custom value. Line spacing is saved per note.

Question 14

Can I add images to sticky notes?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Click the 'attach file' button in the control bar to attach photos as sticky notes on your desktop.

Question 15

How do I adjust note transparency?

Accepted Answer

Click the 'Appearance Settings' button in the control bar and adjust the transparency slider. Make DeskMemo notes semi-transparent to blend beautifully with your desktop wallpaper.

Question 16

Can I add PDFs to notes?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Click the 'attach file' button in the control bar to attach a PDF. You can navigate through pages, change size, and even edit the PDF in Preview app while it stays attached to your DeskMemo note.

Question 17

Can I create checklists in notes?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In a Text note, click the checklist button in the control bar to add interactive checkboxes to your notes. For more advanced task management with sections, due dates, reminders, and priority levels, use a Canvas note with a Task block instead.

Question 18

Can I create a to-do list in a regular Text note?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In a Text note, click the checklist button in the control bar to add interactive checkboxes. You can type a list item next to each checkbox and check them off directly in the note. For more advanced task management with sections, due dates, reminders, and priority levels, use a Canvas note with a Task block.

Question 19

How does iCloud sync work in DeskMemo?

Accepted Answer

DeskMemo automatically syncs all your notes across your devices using iCloud Drive. Make sure you're signed in with the same Apple ID on all devices and iCloud Drive is enabled.

Question 20

Can I use DeskMemo offline?

Accepted Answer

Yes. DeskMemo works fully offline — you can create, edit, and view all notes without an internet connection. When you reconnect, iCloud sync automatically catches up and pushes changes to your other devices.

Question 21

How many notes can I create?

Accepted Answer

Unlimited. Create as many DeskMemo sticky notes as you need.

Question 22

Can I organize notes into folders?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Use the sidebar in the main DeskMemo window to create and organize folders. Drag notes into folders to organize them by project, topic, or category.

Question 23

What are Quick Notes?

Accepted Answer

Quick Notes is the default folder for new notes in DeskMemo. It's perfect for temporary ideas and quick capture. You can move notes to other folders when you want to organize them permanently.

Question 24

How do I move notes between folders?

Accepted Answer

Open the main DeskMemo window, find your note in the list, then drag it to a different folder in the sidebar.

Question 25

How do I delete a note?

Accepted Answer

Right-click the note and select 'Delete' from the menu, or delete it from the main DeskMemo window's note list.

Question 26

Can I use DeskMemo as a desktop vision board or inspiration board?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can attach any image as a sticky note using Photo Stickies. Once placed, click the Lock button on each note to lock it — the note becomes uneditable and clicks pass straight through it, making it a permanent, passive part of your desktop display. Combine multiple photo stickies at different sizes and positions for a full vision board layout on your actual desktop.

Question 27

What happens during the free trial?

Accepted Answer

You get full access to all DeskMemo features for 7 days. No charges until the trial ends.

Question 28

How do I cancel my DeskMemo subscription?

Accepted Answer

Go to System Settings → Your Name → Media & Purchases → Manage → Subscriptions → Find DeskMemo → Cancel Subscription.

Question 29

What is Canvas Mode in DeskMemo?

Accepted Answer

Canvas Mode is a free-form infinite canvas where you can create and arrange blocks of content — text notes and task lists — anywhere you like. Unlike regular sticky notes, Canvas Mode lets you build a visual workspace that reflects how you actually think and work.

Question 30

How do I enter Canvas Mode?

Accepted Answer

Open a note and switch to Canvas Mode from the note's toolbar. You'll see an empty infinite canvas ready for your blocks.

Question 31

What types of blocks can I add to the canvas?

Accepted Answer

Two types: Text blocks for free-form writing with rich formatting (bold, italic, colors, highlights), and Task blocks for to-do lists with sections, due dates, reminders, and priority levels.

Question 32

How do I add a block to the canvas?

Accepted Answer

Click the '+' button in the bottom-right corner of the canvas, then choose 'Text' or 'Task'. The new block appears centered in your current view.

Question 33

Can I move and resize blocks in Canvas Mode?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Drag any block by its header to reposition it. Grab any of the 8 resize handles around a block's edge to resize it. Blocks snap to a minimum size so they always stay readable.

Question 34

How does zooming work in Canvas Mode?

Accepted Answer

Use the zoom controls in the bottom-left corner — click '+' or '−' to zoom in or out, or click the percentage to choose a preset level (10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 150%, 200%, 400%). You can also use 'Zoom to Fit Content' to see everything at once.

Question 35

Can I use the Task block like a full to-do list?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Task blocks in DeskMemo support nested sections and tasks, due dates, reminders, and the Eisenhower Matrix priority system (Q1–Q4). Filter tasks by All, Today, Upcoming, Someday, Done, or view them in the 4-quadrant grid.

Question 36

What is the Eisenhower Matrix (4Q) feature in DeskMemo?

Accepted Answer

The Eisenhower Matrix is a productivity framework for prioritizing tasks by urgency and importance. In DeskMemo's Task blocks, every task can be assigned one of four quadrants: Q1 (Important + Urgent — do now), Q2 (Important, not urgent — schedule it), Q3 (Urgent, not important — delegate), Q4 (Neither — eliminate or defer). Switch to the '4Q' tab in a Task block to see all your tasks arranged in the 2×2 priority grid. DeskMemo is the only macOS sticky notes app with built-in Eisenhower Matrix task management.

Question 37

Can I set reminders for tasks in DeskMemo?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Inside any Task block in Canvas Mode, each task can have a reminder with a specific time. DeskMemo uses system notifications — the reminder fires at the time you set and shows a banner notification even if DeskMemo is in the background. Reminders are cancelled automatically when you complete or delete the task.

Question 38

Can I add files to the Canvas?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can attach files directly onto the DeskMemo canvas — each file becomes its own resizable block you can freely position alongside your text and task blocks. Supported file types include images, PDFs, videos, audio, Word documents, and Excel spreadsheets. Each type comes with its own viewer: PDFs get a multi-page viewer with a thumbnail strip, images have size presets, and videos and audio play inline.

Question 39

Can I attach Word or Excel files to my notes?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In Canvas Mode, you can attach Word (.docx) and Excel (.xlsx) files directly as blocks on the canvas. DeskMemo reads the file metadata directly — for Word files it shows the page count, for Excel files it shows the sheet names — without converting the file. The file opens inline using Quick Look preview.

Question 40

Can I play video or audio directly inside DeskMemo?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in Canvas Mode. When you attach a video or audio file to a DeskMemo canvas, it becomes a resizable block with built-in inline playback controls — play, pause, and scrub through the file without opening a separate app. This works for common formats like MP4, MOV, MP3, and M4A.

Question 41

Is there a limit to how many blocks I can add to a canvas?

Accepted Answer

No fixed limit. You can add as many Text blocks, Task blocks, and file blocks as you need. The canvas is infinite in all directions, so you never run out of space. Zoom out to see everything at once, or zoom in to focus on a section.

Question 42

Can I undo changes on the canvas?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Canvas Mode supports full undo/redo (up to 100 levels) for moves, resizes, and content changes.

Question 43

Does Canvas Mode sync via iCloud?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your DeskMemo canvas layout, block positions, and all content sync automatically to iCloud along with the rest of your notes.

Question 44

What is an Outline Note in DeskMemo?

Accepted Answer

An Outline Note is a hierarchical note type where each item can have sub-items, and those sub-items can have their own sub-items — with no limit on how deep you go. Think of it like a structured tree: a main topic at the top, with branches and sub-branches beneath it. It is great for project plans, research outlines, meeting agendas, or any information that has a natural parent-child structure.

Question 45

How do I create an Outline Note?

Accepted Answer

Click the DeskMemo icon in your menu bar and select 'New Outline Note'. A floating outline note appears on your desktop, ready to type.

Question 46

How do I add a new item to an Outline Note?

Accepted Answer

Click on any row to start editing, then press Return to create a new row directly below it.

Question 47

How do I create a sub-item (nest an item) in an Outline Note?

Accepted Answer

While editing a row, press Tab to indent it — it becomes a child of the row above. Press Shift+Tab to outdent it back up to the parent level. You can also use the indent and outdent buttons in the control bar at the top of the note.

Question 48

How deep can I nest items in an Outline Note?

Accepted Answer

There is no limit. You can nest items as many levels deep as you need in DeskMemo's Outline Note.

Question 49

How do I collapse and expand sections in an Outline Note?

Accepted Answer

Click the chevron (▶) to the left of any row that has children to collapse it and hide all its sub-items. Click it again to expand. This helps you focus on one part of your outline without deleting anything.

Question 50

Can I reorder items in an Outline Note?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Drag any row by its left edge to move it up, down, or to a different nesting level. The whole subtree moves with it — children follow their parent.

Question 51

Can I mark outline items as done?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Click the circle to the left of any row to mark it complete. The row shows a strikethrough to indicate it is done. Click again to unmark it.

Question 52

Can I delete a row in an Outline Note?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Select the row and press Delete, or swipe left on the row to reveal a delete action. Deleting a parent row also deletes all its children, so be careful with collapsed sections that may have sub-items hidden inside.

Question 53

Can I add a note or extra detail to an outline item?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Each row has a secondary annotation field — a smaller, dimmer line that appears below the main topic. Select a row and click the Annotation button in the control bar to show or hide it. When shown, the cursor jumps straight into the annotation field so you can start typing extra context or details immediately.

Question 54

Can I add a link to an outline item?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Select the text in a row, then click the Link button in the control bar. Paste or type a URL and it becomes a clickable inline hyperlink within that row. Click the link to open it in your browser.

Question 55

Can I format text in an outline item?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Use the Format (Aa) button in the control bar to apply bold, italic, text color, highlights, and font size to selected text within any row. Formatting is per-row and stored with the note.

Question 56

Can I attach a file to an outline item?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Each row can have one file attachment — an image, PDF, video, Word document, Excel spreadsheet, and more. Use the Attach File (paperclip) button in the control bar to attach a file to the currently selected row, or drag a file from Finder directly onto a row. The attachment appears as a card beneath that row.

Question 57

Can I add checklists inside an outline item?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Use the Checklist button in the control bar to insert an interactive checkbox inside the topic text of a row. This lets you embed a small checklist within a single row's text.

Question 58

Can I undo changes in an Outline Note?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Press Cmd+Z to undo and Cmd+Shift+Z to redo. Undo works for typing, indenting/outdenting, reordering, completing rows, and adding or deleting rows.

Question 59

Does the Outline Note sync via iCloud?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All outline content — including the nesting structure, completion states, annotations, and file attachments — syncs automatically via iCloud along with your other DeskMemo notes.

Question 60

Can I customize the appearance of an Outline Note?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Use the Background (paint palette) button in the control bar to change the background color, border style, and transparency — the same appearance options as a regular Text note. On macOS 26 (Sequoia), you can also enable Liquid Glass mode.

Question 61

What is the difference between an Outline Note and a Canvas Note?

Accepted Answer

An Outline Note is structured and linear — items stack top to bottom in a clear hierarchy, like a traditional outliner or bullet-point list. A Canvas Note is freeform — blocks float anywhere on an infinite canvas, and you arrange them spatially however you like. Use Outline Notes when structure and nesting matter; use Canvas Notes when you want a visual, spatial layout.

Question 62

What is the difference between an Outline Note and a regular Text Note?

Accepted Answer

A Text Note is an open-ended rich text editor — like a word processor. You type freely and format as you go. An Outline Note is purpose-built for hierarchical lists: every line is a discrete row with its own nesting level, completion state, annotation, and optional file attachment. Use a Text Note for writing; use an Outline Note for structured information with parent-child relationships.

Question 63

Does DeskMemo collect any personal data?

Accepted Answer

No. DeskMemo collects zero personal data. All note content is stored exclusively in your own iCloud Drive — it never passes through Cynthia Apps' servers. The app uses Sign in with Apple for authentication, so the developer receives only an anonymous identifier. There are no analytics, no usage tracking, and no third-party data sharing. Your notes are private by design.

Platform	macOS 12 (Monterey) and later, including macOS 26 (Sequoia)
Note types	3 — Text, Canvas, Outline
Price	HK$10/month · 7-day free trial · cancel anytime
Storage	Your own iCloud Drive — zero data collected by developer
Canvas zoom	10% – 400%
Undo levels	Up to 100 (Canvas & Outline modes)
File types supported	Images, PDF, video, audio, Word (.docx), Excel (.xlsx)

Feature	DeskMemo	Apple Stickies
Note types	Text, Canvas, Outline	Text only
iCloud sync	✓	✗
File attachments	Images, PDF, video, Word, Excel	✗
Task management	✓ Eisenhower Matrix	✗
Float above windows	✓	✓
Sink behind desktop	✓	✗
Infinite canvas	✓	✗

DeskMemo Support & FAQ

Contact Us

DeskMemo at a Glance

Frequently Asked Questions

What is DeskMemo?

How much does DeskMemo cost?

How is DeskMemo different from Apple's Stickies app?

What are the three types of notes in DeskMemo?

How do I create a new sticky note?

How do I keep a note always on top?

Can I customize the appearance of notes?

How do I lock a note to prevent editing?

How do I format text in my notes?

Can I add images to sticky notes?

How do I adjust note transparency?

Can I add PDFs to notes?

How does iCloud sync work?

How many notes can I create?

Can I organize notes into folders?

What are Quick Notes?

How do I move notes between folders?

How do I delete a note?

Can I create checklists in notes?

What happens during the free trial?

How do I cancel my subscription?

Which systems are supported?

Canvas Mode

What is Canvas Mode?

How do I enter Canvas Mode?

What types of blocks can I add?

How do I add a block to the canvas?

Can I move and resize blocks?

How does zooming work?

Can I use the Task block like a full to-do list?

What is the Eisenhower Matrix / 4Q view in Task blocks?

Can I add files to the Canvas?

Can I undo changes on the canvas?

Does Canvas Mode sync via iCloud?

Outline Notes

What is an Outline Note?

How do I create an Outline Note?

How do I add a new item?

How do I create a sub-item (nest an item)?

How deep can I nest items?

How do I collapse and expand sections?

Can I reorder items?

Can I mark items as done?

Can I delete a row?

Can I add a note or extra detail to an item?

Can I add a link to an outline item?

Can I format text in an outline item?

Can I attach a file to an outline item?

Can I add checklists inside an outline item?

Can I undo changes in an Outline Note?

Does the Outline Note sync via iCloud?

Can I customize the appearance of an Outline Note?

What is the difference between an Outline Note and a Canvas Note?

What is the difference between an Outline Note and a regular Text Note?

Privacy & Data

Does DeskMemo collect any personal data?

Can I use DeskMemo offline?

Troubleshooting

Notes aren't syncing across devices

Notes disappeared

Can't edit a note

Control bar buttons not working

Notes won't stay on top of other windows

Images or PDFs won't attach

Transparency/appearance changes not saving

Feature Requests & Feedback

Tips & Tricks

Productivity Tips