What is txtshell?

A fast, local-first text editor. Everything stays on your device — no accounts, no cloud, no tracking. Just type and save.

How it works

Type anything in the editor. Press ⌘/Ctrl + ⏎ to save it as a block. That's the core loop — write, save, find later.

Finding your blocks

⌘/Ctrl + K opens search. Type to filter, use #tags and @mentions to organise. Or type a word followed by // in the editor to search inline without leaving your writing.

Useful commands

/re reopens your latest block for editing

/y shows yesterday's blocks

/w shows last week

/pin shows pinned blocks

/q opens the full shortcut reference

Optional features

/encrypt encrypts your blocks locally with a passphrase

/export downloads an encrypted backup of your blocks

/import restores from an export file

Quick Retrieval

term // -> show matching blocks under the editor

#tag // -> show blocks with that tag under the editor

@name // -> show blocks with that mention under the editor

Shift + ⏎ after term // -> edit the first matching block

/- -> pick from your tags; /-tag opens most recently edited block tagged #tag

Commands

/re -> reopen your most recent saved block in the editor

/y -> show blocks saved yesterday

/ya -> show blocks created or edited yesterday

/w -> show blocks saved during the last week

/wa -> show blocks created or edited in the last 7 days

/pin -> show only pinned blocks

☆/★ on a block -> toggle pin

/import -> import blocks from an export file

/500 -> set a word/char/line count target (Esc to clear)

/q -> open this help sheet

Encryption

/encrypt -> encrypt your blocks with a passphrase

/encrypt change -> change your passphrase

/encrypt off -> remove encryption and restore plaintext

/lock -> lock the vault (clears decrypted data from memory)

Save your recovery key when shown -> it is the only way back if you forget your passphrase

Editor

⌘/Ctrl + ⏎ -> save the current block

⌘/Ctrl + Shift + ⏎ -> reopen your most recent block

⌘/Ctrl + Shift + F -> open find and replace

Esc -> cancel editing and clear the editor

Tab / Shift + Tab -> indent / outdent

Search

⌘/Ctrl + K -> open search

⌘/Ctrl + Shift + H -> open this reference sheet

↑/↓ -> move through results

Enter -> expand or collapse the selected result

⌘/Ctrl + ⌫ -> delete the selected block

Shift + ⏎ -> edit the selected block

Shift + click on a result -> select multiple (for merge or delete)

Esc -> close search

Toolbar

⌨ button -> cycle counter: words / chars / lines / off

↓ button -> export blocks (encrypted, requires unlocked vault)