Joplin User Guide

Introduction

Joplin is an open-source note-taking and personal knowledge management application. This guide covers the most important workflows for using Joplin on desktop and mobile, including installation on Windows, adding a new note, saving the notes on the cloud, syncing, installation on mobile (Android), and viewing the online notes.

Install Joplin

• Visit https://joplinapp.org and download the latest version for Windows.

Note: Alternatively, install from the command line for desktop builds or use the portable app when available. For open source development, the repository is available at https://github.com/joplinapp/joplin.

Windows installation

• When installing on Windows, you will be prompted to choose whether the app is available for all users or only your account, as shown below.
• Users can select Anyone who uses the computer (All Users) or only for me (Admin name).

• After choosing the install Users, click the Install button.
• When installation completes, click the Finish button.

Tip: Users can also enable the Run Joplin option to launch the app after clicking on the Finish button.

Welcome screen (Dashboard)

• When Joplin opens for the first time, you will see a welcome screen with some example notes. Users can refer to the information to learn more about Joplin.

Create your first note

1. Open Joplin.

2. In the left sidebar, click the New note icon.

3. Enter the notes. The preview of the notes will be displayed on the right side.

Tip: Use notebooks to separate major contexts like projects, study, and personal notes.

Editing with Markdown

Markdown basics

Joplin uses Markdown for formatting notes. Common syntax includes:

• # Heading 1 for headings
• **bold** and *italic* for text styles
• - or * for lists
• `inline code` for code snippets
• > blockquote for quoted text

Adding checklists

• Create a checklist item using - [ ] Task name.
• Mark it complete with - [x] Task name.
• Checklists are great for task lists, meeting agendas, or action items.

Code blocks and attachments

• Use triple backticks for code blocks:

  ```python
  print("Hello, Joplin")
  

  ```

• Add attachments with Insert > Attach file or drag files directly into a note.
• Attachments can include images, PDFs, and documents.

Save & Sync

• Use Ctrl+S to save the current note.

The following screen shows the sync options available in Joplin:

• Joplin Cloud: the native, fully integrated sync service optimized for notes and Joplin-specific features. Click (here) to learn more about Joplin Cloud.
• Dropbox: a general cloud storage provider that syncs your Joplin note files across devices.
• OneDrive: Microsoft’s cloud storage service, also used to sync Joplin note files between devices.

• Select the preferred cloud storage option

Note: the same cloud storage method has to be selected on other devices to sync with Windows.

Syncing via OneDrive

1. Choose OneDrive as your sync target in Joplin.
2. Sign in with your Microsoft account when prompted.
3. Allow Joplin to connect to OneDrive and grant the required access.
4. Wait for the confirmation that syncing is complete.

1. The following success text will be displayed.

Syncing Notes

Configure sync

1. Open Tools > Options > Synchronization.
2. Choose your sync target: Dropbox, OneDrive, Nextcloud, WebDAV, or File system.
3. Enter your account or server details.
4. Click Synchronize to start.

Sync workflow

• Sync regularly to keep desktop and mobile notes aligned.
• Joplin stores note revisions, so accidental changes can be recovered.
• If you use multiple devices, sync after finishing work on one device before switching.

Mobile Usage

Install and sync mobile

• Install Joplin Mobile from Google Play or the Apple App Store.
• Open the app and choose Configuration > Synchronization target.
• Use the same sync target as the desktop for seamless note access.

Mobile features

• Capture quick notes with the mobile editor.
• Use the camera to attach images directly to notes.
• Swipe gestures help move notes, archive, or delete quickly.

Tips for Productivity

• Use a consistent notebook and tag structure.
• Create templates for recurring note types such as meeting notes, daily journals, or project plans.
• Pin important notes to keep them easy to access.
• Use the map view or note links for personal knowledge management.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use Joplin offline?

A: Yes. Joplin works offline and syncs changes when a network connection is available.

Q: How do I backup my notes?

A: Export your notes to JEX or Markdown, or sync to a reliable cloud service.

Q: Is Joplin truly open source?

A: Yes. Joplin is licensed under GPLv3 and its source code is available on GitHub.

Q: Can I encrypt my notes?

A: Yes. Enable Encryption Options under Tools > Options > Encryption to secure notes and attachments.