Forem Notes

Welcome to Forem Notes

Forem Notes is a powerful, secure note-taking app designed to help you capture ideas, organize thoughts, and stay productive. Whether you're jotting down quick reminders or creating detailed documents, Forem Notes has you covered.

Key Features

• Rich Text Editing: Format your notes with bold, italic, underline, lists, and more
• Voice Input: Dictate notes hands-free with speech-to-text
• Password & Biometric Protection: Lock notes with master password, Face ID, Touch ID, or fingerprint
• Color Coding: Organize notes visually with 14 vibrant colors
• Folders & Tags: Organize notes into folders and add tags for powerful retrieval
• Note Templates: Start faster with Meeting Notes, Daily Journal, and more
• Collaboration: Share and collaborate on notes with edit or view-only access
• Checklists with Due Dates: Create to-do lists with priorities and deadlines
• Today Screen: Daily overview of tasks, reminders, and recent notes
• Statistics & Streaks: Track your productivity and build daily habits
• Image Attachments: Add photos from camera or gallery to your notes
• Subscription Reminders: Track recurring payments and subscriptions
• Dark Mode: Comfortable viewing in low-light environments
• Offline & Cloud Sync: Works offline with automatic cloud sync across devices
• Home Screen Widget: Quick access to notes from your home screen
• Trash & Recovery: Restore deleted notes within 30 days

Getting Started Steps

1. Download Forem Notes from the App Store or Google Play
2. Create an account or sign in with Google/Apple
3. Tap the + button to create your first note
4. Explore the settings to customize your experience

Sign Up Options

Forem Notes offers multiple ways to create an account for your convenience:

Sign Up with Email

1. Open Forem Notes app
2. Tap "Sign Up" on the welcome screen
3. Enter your email address
4. Create a strong password (minimum 8 characters)
5. Enter your name
6. Tap "Create Account"
7. Verify your email by clicking the link sent to your inbox

Sign Up with Google

1. Tap "Continue with Google"
2. Select your Google account
3. Grant necessary permissions
4. Your account is created automatically

Sign Up with Apple (iOS only)

1. Tap "Continue with Apple"
2. Authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode
3. Choose to share or hide your email
4. Your account is ready to use

Sign In Methods

Sign in using the same method you used to create your account:

Sign In with Email

1. Open Forem Notes app
2. Tap "Sign In"
3. Enter your registered email address
4. Enter your password
5. Tap "Sign In"

Sign In with Google/Apple

1. Tap the corresponding sign-in button
2. Select your account
3. Authenticate if prompted
4. You're signed in instantly

Stay Signed In

Enable "Remember Me" to stay signed in on your device. You can also enable biometric login (Face ID/Fingerprint) for quick access in Settings.

Reset Your Password

1. On the sign-in screen, tap "Forgot Password?"
2. Enter your registered email address
3. Tap "Send Reset Link"
4. Check your email inbox (and spam folder)
5. Click the reset link in the email
6. Enter your new password twice
7. Tap "Reset Password"

Password Requirements

• Minimum 8 characters
• At least one uppercase letter
• At least one number
• At least one special character recommended

Link Expired?

Reset links expire after 24 hours. If your link has expired, request a new one by repeating the process above.

Creating a Note

1. Open Forem Notes app
2. Tap the + button (usually bottom right)
3. Enter a title for your note (optional but recommended)
4. Start typing your note content
5. Your note saves automatically as you type

Formatting Options

Use the formatting toolbar to enhance your notes:

• Bold, Italic, Underline: Emphasize important text
• Headings: Create section headers
• Bullet Lists: Organize information
• Numbered Lists: Create step-by-step instructions
• Checkboxes: Add to-do items

Customizing Your Note

• Tap the palette icon to change note color
• Tap the lock icon to password-protect the note
• Tap three dots menu for more options

Adding Checkboxes to Notes

1. Create a new note or open an existing one
2. Tap the checkbox icon in the formatting toolbar
3. Type your task item
4. Press Enter to add more checkbox items
5. Tap a checkbox to mark it complete

Checklist Features

• Check/Uncheck: Tap to toggle completion status
• Strikethrough: Completed items are crossed out
• Reorder: Long-press and drag to reorder items
• Delete: Swipe left on an item to delete it

Checklist Tips

• Create separate notes for different projects or categories
• Use headings to group related tasks
• Set reminders for time-sensitive tasks
• Archive completed checklists instead of deleting them

Changing Note Color

1. Open the note you want to customize
2. Tap the palette/color icon in the toolbar or menu
3. Select from available colors:
   • White (default)
   • Yellow
   • Green
   • Blue
   • Purple
   • Pink
   • Orange
   • Red
4. The color is applied instantly

Color-Coding Ideas

• Yellow: Ideas and brainstorming
• Blue: Work and professional notes
• Green: Personal and lifestyle
• Red: Urgent or important
• Purple: Creative projects
• Orange: Shopping and lists

Using the Color Filter

1. On the main notes screen, look for the filter icon (funnel shape)
2. Tap the filter icon
3. Select one or more colors to filter by
4. Only notes with those colors will be displayed
5. Tap "Clear" or deselect colors to remove the filter

Filter Options

• Single Color: View only notes of one specific color
• Multiple Colors: Select several colors to see notes from all selected categories
• All Notes: Clear filter to see everything

Combining Filters

You can combine color filters with the search function to find specific notes within a color category.

Setting Up Master Password

Before locking notes, you need to create a master password:

1. Go to Settings > Security
2. Tap "Set Master Password"
3. Enter your desired password
4. Confirm the password
5. Optionally set up a recovery email

Locking a Note

1. Open the note you want to protect
2. Tap the lock icon in the toolbar, or
3. Tap three dots menu > Lock Note
4. Enter your master password to confirm
5. The note is now locked with a lock indicator

Accessing Locked Notes

• Tap on a locked note
• Enter your master password
• The note opens and remains unlocked for your session
• It re-locks when you close the app or after timeout

Setting Up Master Password (First Time)

1. Go to Settings > Security
2. Tap "Set Master Password"
3. Create a strong password you'll remember
4. Re-enter to confirm
5. Add a recovery email (highly recommended)

Changing Your Master Password

1. Go to Settings > Security
2. Tap "Change Master Password"
3. Enter your current password
4. Enter your new password
5. Confirm the new password

Forgot Master Password?

If you have a recovery email set up:

1. Tap "Forgot Master Password?"
2. Enter your recovery email
3. Check your email for the reset link
4. Create a new master password

Changing Account Password

1. Go to Settings > Account
2. Tap "Change Password"
3. Enter your current password
4. Enter your new password
5. Confirm your new password
6. Tap "Save"

Password Best Practices

• Use at least 8 characters
• Mix uppercase and lowercase letters
• Include numbers and special characters
• Don't reuse passwords from other accounts
• Consider using a password manager

Starting Collaboration

1. Open the note you want to share
2. Tap the share icon or three dots > Share
3. Tap "Add Collaborator"
4. Enter the email of the person you want to invite
5. Choose their permission level:
   • Can Edit: Full editing access
   • Can View: Read-only access
6. Tap "Invite"

Collaboration Features

• Real-time Sync: Changes sync automatically for all collaborators
• Presence Indicators: See who's currently viewing the note
• Edit History: View who made what changes
• Comments: Add comments without editing content

Collaboration Best Practices

• Use headings to assign sections to team members
• Add comments for feedback instead of direct edits
• Regularly communicate about major changes

Adding New Collaborators

1. Open the shared note
2. Tap share icon or three dots > Manage Sharing
3. Tap "Add Collaborator"
4. Enter the person's email address
5. Set their permission level
6. Tap "Invite"

Removing Collaborators

1. Open the shared note
2. Tap share icon or Manage Sharing
3. Find the collaborator you want to remove
4. Tap on their name or the X icon
5. Confirm removal

Changing Permissions

1. Go to Manage Sharing
2. Tap on the collaborator's name
3. Change between Can Edit and Can View
4. Changes apply immediately

About Subscription Reminders

Forem Notes includes a built-in subscription tracker to help you manage recurring payments for services like Netflix, Spotify, gym memberships, and more.

Accessing Subscription Reminders

1. Open Forem Notes app
2. Tap the Subscriptions tab (or find it in the menu)
3. View all your tracked subscriptions
4. See upcoming payments at a glance

Subscription Dashboard Features

• Monthly Overview: See total monthly subscription costs
• Upcoming Payments: View payments due soon
• Payment History: Track past payments
• Categories: Organize subscriptions by type

Reminder Notifications

Get notified before each payment is due:

• 1 day before (default)
• 3 days before
• 1 week before
• Customize per subscription

Adding a Subscription

1. Go to the Subscriptions section
2. Tap the + button
3. Enter subscription details:
   • Name: Service name (e.g., Netflix)
   • Amount: Payment amount
   • Billing Cycle: Monthly, Yearly, Weekly
   • Next Payment Date: When it's due
   • Category: Entertainment, Utilities, etc.
4. Set reminder preferences
5. Tap "Save"

Popular Subscription Templates

Forem Notes includes templates for popular services:

• Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, YouTube Premium
• iCloud, Google One, Dropbox
• Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft 365
• Gym memberships, magazines, newspapers

Adding Widget on Android

1. Long-press on an empty area of your home screen
2. Tap "Widgets"
3. Find "Forem Notes" in the list
4. Choose widget type:
   • Quick Note: Create notes instantly
   • Note Preview: Display a specific note
   • Checklist: Show your to-do list
5. Drag to your home screen
6. Configure the widget if prompted

Adding Widget on iOS

1. Long-press on your home screen until icons wiggle
2. Tap the + in the top corner
3. Search for "Forem Notes"
4. Choose widget size (Small, Medium, Large)
5. Tap "Add Widget"
6. Long-press widget to edit settings

Widget Sizes

• Small: Quick add button or single note preview
• Medium: Note with content preview
• Large: Full checklist or multiple notes

Changing View Layout

1. On the main notes screen, look for the view toggle icon
2. It's usually in the top right (grid or list icon)
3. Tap to switch between:
   • Grid View: Notes displayed as cards in a grid
   • List View: Notes displayed in a vertical list

Grid View

• Visual overview of all notes
• See note colors at a glance
• Content preview in each card
• Better for visual organization

List View

• Compact display of notes
• Shows more notes on screen
• Title and date clearly visible
• Better for scanning through many notes

Accessing Notification Settings

1. Go to Settings > Notifications
2. Review and customize each notification type

Notification Types

• Reminder Notifications: Alerts for note reminders you've set
• Collaboration Updates: When someone edits a shared note
• Subscription Reminders: Upcoming payment alerts
• App Updates: New features and improvements

Customization Options

• Toggle each notification type on/off
• Set quiet hours (no notifications during certain times)
• Choose notification sound
• Enable/disable badge count on app icon

Device Settings

Make sure notifications are also enabled in your device settings:

• Android: Settings > Apps > Forem Notes > Notifications
• iOS: Settings > Forem Notes > Notifications

Before You Delete

Please consider the following before deleting your account:

• All your notes will be permanently deleted
• Shared notes will be removed from collaborators
• Subscription reminders will be lost
• This action cannot be undone

Export Your Data First

1. Go to Settings > Account > Export Data
2. Choose export format (PDF or Text)
3. Wait for export to complete
4. Save the exported file to your device or cloud storage

Deleting Your Account

1. Go to Settings > Account
2. Scroll down and tap "Delete Account"
3. Read the warning carefully
4. Enter your password to confirm
5. Tap "Permanently Delete"
6. Your account will be scheduled for deletion

Grace Period

You have 30 days to recover your account by signing back in. After 30 days, deletion is permanent.

Using Voice Input

1. Open a new or existing note
2. Tap the microphone icon in the toolbar
3. Grant microphone permission when prompted (first time only)
4. Start speaking clearly — your words are transcribed in real time
5. Tap the microphone icon again to stop recording

Tips for Better Accuracy

• Speak clearly at a natural pace
• Minimize background noise for best results
• Say punctuation marks like "period", "comma", or "new line" to add formatting
• Works in both notes and to-do items

When to Use Voice Input

• Quick Capture: Jot down ideas while on the go
• Meeting Notes: Transcribe key points during meetings
• Hands-Free: Add notes while cooking, driving, or exercising

Enabling Biometric Lock

1. Go to Settings > Security
2. Toggle on "Biometric Lock"
3. Authenticate with your Face ID, Touch ID, or fingerprint
4. The app will now require biometric verification each time you open it

Supported Methods

• Face ID: Available on supported iPhones and iPads
• Touch ID: Available on iPhones and iPads with a fingerprint sensor
• Fingerprint: Available on Android devices with a fingerprint scanner

How It Works

• Biometric lock activates when the app is opened or resumed from background
• If biometric fails, you can fall back to your app password
• Works alongside master password protection for individual notes

Using Templates

1. Tap the + button to create a new note
2. Select "Choose Template" from the options
3. Pick a template that fits your need
4. The note opens pre-formatted — just fill in the details

Available Templates

• Blank Note: Start with a clean slate
• Meeting Notes: Pre-structured with agenda, attendees, action items, and follow-ups
• Daily Journal: Date-stamped entry with prompts for reflection and gratitude

When to Use Templates

• Recurring meeting notes with a consistent format
• Daily journaling to build a writing habit
• Any note where a predefined structure saves time

Using Folders

1. Open a note or create a new one
2. Tap the folder icon or go to three dots > Move to Folder
3. Choose from built-in folders or create your own:
   • Work — Professional and office notes
   • Personal — Private and lifestyle notes
   • Ideas — Brainstorming and creative thoughts
   • Shopping — Lists and purchase plans

Using Tags

1. Open a note
2. Tap the tag icon or go to three dots > Add Tags
3. Type a tag name and press Enter
4. Add multiple tags to a single note
5. Remove tags by tapping the X on any tag

Filtering by Folder or Tag

• On the dashboard, tap the filter icon
• Select a folder or tag to view matching notes only
• Combine with color filters for even more precise results

Accessing the Today Screen

1. Open Forem Notes
2. Tap the "Today" tab in the bottom navigation
3. View your personalized daily overview

What You'll See

• To-Dos Due Today: Checklist items with today's due date
• Reminders: Notes with reminders scheduled for today
• Recently Edited: Your last 5 edited notes for quick access
• Overdue Tasks: Any past-due to-do items that need attention

Quick Actions

• Tap any item to open it directly
• Use the quick add shortcuts to create a new note or to-do instantly
• Check off to-do items right from the Today screen

Viewing Your Statistics

1. Open the navigation drawer (swipe right or tap the menu icon)
2. Tap "Statistics"
3. View your productivity dashboard

What Statistics Are Tracked

• Total Notes: Count of regular notes vs. to-do lists
• To-Do Completion Rate: Percentage of completed checklist items
• Current Streak: Consecutive days you've used the app
• Longest Streak: Your all-time best streak record
• Last Modified: When you last updated your notes

Building Streaks

• Open the app and create or edit a note every day to maintain your streak
• Your streak resets if you miss a full day
• Challenge yourself to beat your longest streak!

Adding Images

1. Open a note or create a new one
2. Tap the image icon in the toolbar
3. Choose your source:
   • Camera: Take a photo directly
   • Gallery: Pick from your photo library
4. The image is inserted into your note
5. Images are synced to the cloud automatically

Image Use Cases

• Capture whiteboard sketches from meetings
• Save receipts and documents
• Add reference images to project notes
• Create visual to-do lists with photos

Searching Notes

1. Tap the search icon on the dashboard
2. Type your search query
3. Results update in real time as you type
4. Search looks through note titles and content

Sorting Notes

Tap the sort icon on the dashboard to sort notes by:

• Last Updated: Most recently edited notes first
• Date Created: Newest notes first
• Title: Alphabetical order (A-Z)
• Color: Grouped by note color

Combining Search with Filters

• Search within a specific folder
• Filter by color and then search within those results
• Use tags to narrow down before searching

Enabling Dark Mode

1. Go to Settings
2. Find the "Dark Mode" toggle
3. Tap to switch between light and dark themes
4. The theme applies instantly across the entire app

Dark Mode Benefits

• Reduced Eye Strain: Easier on the eyes in low-light environments
• Battery Savings: Uses less battery on OLED/AMOLED screens
• Better Focus: Less visual distraction while writing

System Theme

Forem Notes can follow your device's system theme. If your phone switches to dark mode at night, the app will too.

Accessing the Trash

1. Open the navigation drawer (menu icon)
2. Tap "Trash"
3. View all deleted notes

Recovering a Note

1. Find the note you want to recover in Trash
2. Tap on the note to preview it
3. Tap "Restore" to move it back to your notes
4. The note returns to its original folder and retains all content

Permanent Deletion

• Notes in Trash are automatically deleted after 30 days
• You can permanently delete a note immediately by tapping "Delete Forever"
• Permanently deleted notes cannot be recovered

Pinning a Note

1. Open the note you want to pin, or long-press it on the dashboard
2. Tap the pin icon or go to three dots > Pin Note
3. The note moves to a "Pinned" section at the top of your dashboard

Unpinning a Note

1. Open the pinned note
2. Tap the pin icon again or go to three dots > Unpin Note
3. The note returns to the regular notes list

Pin Tips

• Pin frequently accessed notes like daily to-do lists
• Pin project notes you're actively working on
• You can pin multiple notes — they all appear in the Pinned section

Adding Due Dates

1. Open a to-do note or create a new checklist
2. Tap on a checklist item
3. Tap the calendar icon to set a due date
4. Pick the date and time from the picker
5. The due date appears below the task item

Setting Priority Levels

• High Priority: Marked with a red indicator — urgent tasks
• Medium Priority: Marked with an orange indicator — important but not urgent
• Low Priority: Marked with a blue indicator — can wait

How Due Dates Help

• Tasks with today's due date appear in the Today Screen
• Overdue tasks are highlighted so you never miss them
• Get reminder notifications before tasks are due

Setting a Recurring Reminder

1. Open a note or to-do item
2. Tap the bell/reminder icon
3. Set the initial reminder date and time
4. Toggle on "Repeat"
5. Choose the recurrence pattern:
   • Daily — Every day at the set time
   • Weekly — Same day each week
   • Monthly — Same date each month
6. Tap "Save"

Managing Recurring Reminders

• View all active reminders in Settings > Notifications
• Edit or delete recurrence at any time from the note
• Completing a recurring to-do automatically schedules the next occurrence

Enabling Daily Summaries

1. Go to Settings > Notifications
2. Toggle on "Daily Summary"
3. Set your preferred delivery time (e.g., 8:00 AM)
4. Save your settings

What's Included in the Summary

• Number of to-do items due today
• Upcoming reminders for the day
• Overdue tasks that still need attention
• Subscription payment reminders

Customization

• Choose the time you want to receive the summary
• Disable on weekends if preferred
• Tap the notification to jump straight to the Today Screen

Offline Capabilities

• View Notes: All previously synced notes are available offline
• Create Notes: Write new notes that sync when you reconnect
• Edit Notes: Make changes — they're saved locally and synced later
• Checklists: Check off items offline

Cloud Sync

• All notes sync automatically to the cloud via Firebase
• Changes made offline are queued and uploaded when internet is available
• Access your notes from any device by signing in with the same account
• Images and attachments are cached locally for offline viewing

Sync Indicators

• A cloud icon shows sync status on each note
• An offline banner appears when no internet is detected
• Notes sync automatically — no manual action needed