Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about appx.work, weekly planning, notes, and security.
General Questions
What is appx.work?
appx.work is a minimalist, distraction-free digital notepad workspace combining a 7-day visual weekly planner, rich-text markdown notes, an infinite whiteboard canvas, Pomodoro focus timers, ambient focus soundscapes, and local-first cross-device sync.
Do I need an account or credit card to get started?
No. You can start planning and writing immediately as a guest. All tasks and notes are saved directly to your browser’s local storage. When you want cloud backup and sync across devices, you can create a free account with passwordless email OTP or Google Sign-In with zero credit card required.
How is appx.work different from tools like Notion or Obsidian?
appx.work is intentionally lightweight, private, and focused. There are no complicated database setups, slow loading times, or feature bloat. It feels as fast and straightforward as a clean paper notebook on your desk, augmented with cloud sync, ambient soundscapes, and weekly planning clarity.
Planner & Tasks
How does the 7-day visual planner work?
The planner presents your entire week across clean columns (Monday through Sunday, plus Someday/Backlog lists). You can add tasks with one keystroke, check them off, drag or move items between days, and maintain visual clarity over your week without switching between complex calendars.
Can I set up recurring tasks?
Yes. Plus subscribers have access to Recurring Tasks to schedule daily, weekly, or custom repeating routines that automatically populate in your planner columns.
Can I connect external calendars like Google or Outlook?
Yes. You can connect your Google Calendar or Microsoft Outlook account with read-only permissions in Settings. Your upcoming meetings and events will appear alongside your daily tasks in your planner.
Notes & Whiteboard Canvas
What note-taking features are supported?
appx.work features a distraction-free rich-text editor with markdown shortcuts, headings, task checklists, code blocks, tables, image uploads, note color tagging, and full export to PDF or JSON. You also have access to an infinite whiteboard canvas for brainstorming, diagrams, and sketches.
How does note sharing work?
You can generate a clean public share link for any note with a single click. Anyone with the link can view your formatted note in a high-contrast, distraction-free reader without needing to sign up or log in.
What happens when I reach the note limit on the Starter plan?
The Starter plan includes up to 100 total notes for free forever. If you need infinite notes, file attachments, and photo uploads, you can upgrade to the Plus plan at any time.
Voice Dictation & Focus
Why is Voice Typing / Speech Recognition not working?
• Brave Browser: Brave disables Google Speech Services by default for privacy. You can enable it in: brave://settings/privacy → toggle on "Use Google services for speech recognition".
• VPN, Pi-hole, or Ad Blocker: It might be blocking requests to Google's speech recognition endpoints (*.googleapis.com).
• Firefox: Firefox does not natively support the Web Speech API recognition engine.
• iOS / macOS / Windows: You can also use your operating system or keyboard's built-in dictation (the microphone icon on your keyboard) which runs 100% locally and offline without cloud latency.
What ambient soundscapes are included?
appx.work includes built-in ambient audio generators for Rain, Cafe, Ocean Waves, Campfire, White Noise, and Forest Birds. You can adjust the volume and run soundscapes alongside your Pomodoro focus sessions.
What is Panic Mode?
Panic Mode is a deep-focus sprint writing tool where you set a countdown timer or word target. If you stop typing for more than a few seconds, the screen alerts you to maintain momentum until your thought is completely captured.
Privacy & Security
Is my data private and secure?
Yes. We enforce PostgreSQL Row Level Security (RLS) on cloud data and TLS 1.3 encryption in transit. We never sell your personal information, display third-party advertisements, or feed your notes and tasks into AI training models. What you write is strictly yours.
Can I export my data anytime?
Yes. You retain 100% full ownership of your data. You can export individual notes to PDF or download your entire workspace as structured JSON anytime directly in Settings.
Does appx.work work offline?
Yes. appx.work is built local-first. You can keep planning, managing tasks, and writing notes even with no internet connection. When you reconnect, all changes synchronize automatically.
Pricing & Plans
Is the Starter plan really free forever?
Yes. The Starter plan is completely free forever with no trial period, no credit card required, and no advertisements.
What is your refund policy?
We offer a 14-day no-questions-asked refund policy on paid purchases. If appx.work isn’t right for you, contact [email protected] and we will promptly process a full refund.