Search saved blocks
What is txtshell?
A fast, local-first text editor. Everything stays on your device — no accounts, no cloud, no tracking. Just type and save.
The core loop
Write. Type anything in the editor. A block is one note — no title, no formatting, no folders.
Save. Press ⌘/Ctrl + ⏎, or tap Save block below the editor.
Find. ⌘/Ctrl + K (or tap Saved (N)) opens search. Or type a word followed by // in the editor and press ⏎.
Edit. In search, hit Edit on a block — or select it and press Shift + ⏎ — change it, and save again.
— the same four steps as short cards.
Organise as you go
Put #tags and @mentions anywhere in a block — search understands them, and several words together match only blocks containing all of them.
/t, /y and /w show today’s, yesterday’s and last week’s blocks. ☆ on a block pins it; /pin shows only pinned blocks.
/re reopens your most recent block.
Keep it yours
/encrypt locks your blocks with a passphrase that never leaves your device. /export downloads a backup (/export plain for plaintext) and /import restores one.
Go further
/q opens the full reference — every command and shortcut, grouped by task.
— the first-visit screen on why your notes are unreadable to anyone but you.
Start here
four short cards on the core loop: write, save, find, edit
/aboutfirst-time guide and the pitch
/q · ⌘/Ctrl + Shift + Hthis reference (also the ? button in the footer)
Editor
⌘/Ctrl + ⏎save the current block (on a phone with the keyboard up, ⏎ alone saves)
Esccancel editing and clear the editor — also closes whatever is open
⌘/Ctrl + Shift + ⏎ ·
/rereopen your most recent block
⌘/Ctrl + Shift + Ffind and replace inside the editor
Tab / Shift + Tabindent / outdent
/500set a word/char/line target for the counter (Esc clears it)
/font 12note font size, 11–24px; /font reset restores 14px
counter button (top bar)cycle the counter: words / chars / lines / off
Symbols
/sym · ;;chemistry & math symbol palette — click to insert ₂ → Δ ²⁺ as plain text (;; works after a space or at a line start)
convert buttonH_2O → H₂O, Ca^2+ → Ca²⁺, ∫_0^1 → ∫₀¹, e^{-x} → e⁻ˣ; ∞ and π stay as typed
Find from the editor
term // + ⏎search for that term
#tag // · @name // + ⏎search filtered to that tag or mention
term // + Shift + ⏎open the first matching block in the editor
/- · /-tagpick from your tags; /-tag opens the latest block tagged #tag
By date
/t · /y · /wblocks saved today · yesterday · in the last week
/ta · /ya · /wablocks created or edited today · yesterday · in the last 7 days
/otdon this day: blocks from today’s date in earlier months and years
Search
⌘/Ctrl + K · Saved (N)open search
several wordsonly blocks containing all of them; mix in
#tag or @name to narrow
↑/↓move through results
⏎expand / collapse the selected block
Shift + ⏎edit the selected block (also ⌘/Ctrl + Shift + E)
⌘/Ctrl + Ccopy the selected block (or the whole multi-selection)
⌘/Ctrl + ⌫delete the selected block
Shift + click · Shift + ↑/↓select multiple, then copy, merge or delete
Escclear the multi-selection, then close search
Links inside blocks are clickable and open in a new tab.
Pins
☆/★ on a blockpin / unpin
/pinshow only pinned blocks
☆ button (top bar)pinned quick-access panel
Backup
/export · ↓ buttondownload an encrypted backup (vault must be unlocked)
/export plaindownload an unencrypted plaintext backup
/importrestore blocks from an export file
/wipedelete all blocks and vault metadata
Encryption
/encryptencrypt your blocks with a passphrase
/encrypt changechange your passphrase
/encrypt offremove encryption and restore plaintext
/lock · lock button (top bar)lock the vault — clears decrypted data from memory
Save your recovery key when it is shown: it is the only way back if you forget your passphrase.
Sync & phone (needs /encrypt first)
/sync setupset the sync Worker URL and auth token
/mirrorshow a pairing QR to link an iOS device
/portset up this browser from another browser’s pairing data
/pullfetch the latest blocks from cloud
/inboxtriage captures synced from your phone
txtshell