Tips & Best Practices
A few small habits can turn Memo into a seriously powerful capture tool. Here are the tips that make the biggest difference.
Quick Capture
Use the Quick Memo Button Constantly
The Quick Memo button (the "+" in the sidebar or top bar) is your best friend. Instead of navigating to a board first, just hit Quick Memo, type your thought, and save. Your default board handles the rest.
Save Even Faster with Ctrl+Enter
When filling in a Quick Memo, press Ctrl+Enter to save instantly without reaching for the mouse. Type → Ctrl+Enter → done. The fastest capture possible.
Skip the Title
The title field is completely optional. If you're in a hurry, just type your content and save. You can always search by content later, so don't let an empty title field slow you down.
Boards
Set a Default Board
Go to your most-used board's settings and mark it as your default board. Every Quick Memo lands there automatically, so you always know where fresh captures end up.
Name Boards by Context, Not Just Topic
Board names like "Work — Q3 Ideas" or "Home — Shopping" are easier to scan than just "Ideas" or "Shopping" — especially once you have several boards across different circles.
One Board Per Project
If you're running a project, give it its own board. It keeps memos focused and makes it easy to archive or delete everything in one go when the project is done.
Don't Over-Organise
Resist the urge to create a board for every tiny sub-topic. A handful of well-named boards is easier to work with than twenty hyper-specific ones. Start broad and split only when a board gets unwieldy.
Memo Types
Always Use the Right Type
Memo types aren't just labels — they change how content is displayed and interacted with:
- URL → becomes a clickable link in the detail view. Perfect for bookmarks and references.
- Email → renders as a
mailto:link so you can open your email client in one click. - Phone → renders as a
tel:link, handy on mobile for dialling directly. - Address → links straight to your maps app. Great for delivery addresses or venue notes.
- Password → encrypts the value with AES-256-GCM. Use this any time you're storing a credential, even temporarily.
Store Passwords as Password Memos, Always
Never save a password or secret token as a plain Text memo. The Password type encrypts the value before storing it, so it's never sitting in the database as readable text. The extra second it takes to choose the right type is absolutely worth it.
Use URL Memos as a Read-Later List
Create a board called "Read Later" or "Research" and drop every interesting URL there as a URL-type memo. Your links stay clickable, organised, and easy to review in one place.
File Attachments
Attach the Source Material
When a memo is based on a document, contract, or image, attach the file directly. You'll always have the context right alongside the note instead of hunting through folders.
Keep Attachments Under 50 MB
Each memo supports attachments up to 50 MB. For larger files, consider linking to a cloud storage URL in a URL-type memo instead.
Organisation
Use Descriptive Content for Searchability
Even without a title, write content that includes the key terms you'd search for later. "Meeting notes — product roadmap kickoff 2025-06-01" is far easier to find than "notes from today".
Archive Stale Boards by Removing Memos
When a project board is done, review it and delete memos you no longer need. Keeping boards clean means less noise when you're scanning for active work.
Security & Circles
Put Sensitive Boards in Private Circles
If a board contains personal or sensitive information, make sure it lives in a circle only you (or the right people) belong to. Circle isolation is your first line of defence.
Reveal Passwords Only When Needed
The "Reveal" button on a Password memo decrypts and displays the value on demand. Don't leave the detail view open on a shared screen — close or navigate away after you've copied what you need.