Straight answers about Root

What is Root?

Root is a private-by-default local workspace for working text, available in Chrome and on iPhone. Chrome gives you the complete desk workspace. Root for iPhone is a smaller, capture-first version of the same core workspace, with Voice Note and Meeting Transcripts added for mobile capture.

Where can I download Root?

Download Root for iPhone from the App Store, or install Root for Chrome from the Chrome Web Store. Core local use is free and does not require a Root account.

Is Root a notes app?

People can absolutely use it like a simple notepad, but that is not the product center. Root is designed more like a lightweight context workspace than a general-purpose notes archive. If you want the longer version of that distinction, read Working Text Is Not the Same as Notes.

Is Root like a better Notepad for working text?

That is a fair way to think about one part of it. If you already use Notepad, TextEdit, VS Code, or folders of .txt and .md files, Root gives that plain-text habit a working surface. Drag multiple files in, see them together in one sidebar, edit them, turn lines into Open Tasks, save reusable bits as Snippets, and hand off the exact context when it is ready.

Is a new item basically a note?

Yes. A new item can absolutely be used like a simple note. Think of an item more like a digital index card than a giant document: it is bigger than a line, smaller than a polished doc, and the right size for one thought, one project slice, or one reusable block of text.

Why use Root instead of just pinning a Google Doc or using Apple Notes?

Because Root is built for handoff and active text, not just storage. It gives you Research Draft, Inbox, Open Tasks, Snippets, and Context Handoff in one small local surface. A pinned doc or a notes app is still better when you want a polished long-form document, long-term archive, or broad collaboration. Root is for the text before that point.

Do I need an account?

No. The current beta is local-first and does not require an account to use the workspace.

Do I need AI tools to get value from Root?

No. Root is still useful if you never copy anything into an assistant. The same workspace is good for rough thinking, pasted research, reusable text, and project organization even if you keep everything local.

What is AI project memory?

AI project memory is the working context you keep outside any one assistant: decisions, links, constraints, open questions, task lines, snippets, reusable prompts, and the rough project notes you may want to bring into ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, a browser AI sidebar, a doc, or another person.

In Root, that might be a project brief with current goals, a bug note with steps and source links, meeting prep with checklist lines, an about-me.md or project-context note you reuse, or saved prompt snippets that help frame a Context Handoff.

Root does not manage agents for you. It gives the human a more focused Markdown-friendly place to keep the material before deciding what to share.

What kinds of work is Root good for?

Root is especially good for work that keeps turning into small pieces of working text: bug notes, script fragments, meeting prep, follow-ups, research links, assignment checklists, and reusable instructions.

What is Research Draft?

Research Draft is an automatically saved writing surface in Chrome's side panel. Keep it open beside the web, mark quotes, findings, and questions, attach the current page, or right-click selected text to keep an excerpt with its source. Save the draft as a new note without clearing it, or append it to Inbox and begin again with a clear draft. For a more focused browser workflow, read A Better Browser Capture Workflow.

Can I use Apple Shortcuts with Root on iPhone?

Yes. Root 1.0.1 or later adds native actions to Apple Shortcuts automatically. You can send text to Inbox, open or append to notes, copy note content, create notes, and find notes by content or tag.

The native actions work without installing a separate Shortcut. If you want a ready-made starting point, Root also offers three optional starters: Send to Root, Add Root Task, and Save Clipboard To Root. Review and download the starters.

These actions work locally with the Root library on your iPhone. They do not require a Root account, Root Connect, Google Drive, or a network connection for local use.

Can I drag files into Root?

Yes. You can drag one or more .md or .txt files straight onto the workspace to import them. This is especially useful when you have several scratch files open and want to view, edit, task, and hand off the material together instead of bouncing between separate text editor windows. The Import menu also still works when you would rather choose files or a full export folder manually.

Does Root replace my new-tab page?

No. The current public Chrome package leaves your usual new-tab page alone. Selecting the Root extension icon opens Research Draft in Chrome's side panel.

• Beside the web: use Research Draft for the active writing and source-capture loop.
• Full workspace: use Open workspace when you want the complete Root library and editor.
• Pin Root from Chrome's Extensions menu if you want the side panel one click away.

How do I keep one stable full-workspace tab?

Choose Open workspace from Research Draft, then pin or bookmark that tab if it helps. Root focuses and reuses the existing workspace tab when one is already open instead of creating duplicates.

What is Inbox?

Inbox is the default landing spot for rough capture. It is where quick text goes first when you do not know where it belongs yet. If you want the philosophy behind that design, read Why Inbox Matters More Than Perfect Organization.

What is Open Tasks?

Open Tasks is a live rollup of unfinished checklist items from across active items. It is not a separate task database. It reflects markdown-compatible task lines already living in your workspace. If you want the longer version of why that matters, read Why Open Tasks Is Not a Task Manager.

How should I use tags?

Use tags as lightweight labels, not rigid folders. Good tags usually describe a role, project, state, person, or use: #school, #website, #waiting, #client, or #handoff. If you want examples, read How to use tags in Root.

What is Clean View?

Clean View is a more readable rendering of the same note. It keeps the underlying plain text and markdown-compatible structure intact, but shows bullets, tasks, strike, links, and date stamps in a cleaner reading mode.

What tools are in the main editor?

Root keeps the main editor intentionally minimal. The core tools are Clean View for reading, Tidy paste for cleaning rough pasted text, bullets, tasks, date stamps, and snippets. That is enough structure to shape messy working text without turning Root into a full document editor.

Tidy paste is for copied text that brings awkward spacing, extra blank lines, or broken line breaks with it. It does not summarize, rewrite, or send anything to AI. It only tidies the text already in the item.

What does Links only do?

Links only changes the output so you share the matching URLs without all the surrounding notes. It is useful when the references are the real payload and the extra commentary would only add noise.

What are Snippets?

Snippets are reusable text blocks that live in their own view instead of cluttering the main item list. Save selected text as a snippet, then insert it later when you need repeated instructions, bios, tone guidance, project boilerplate, or prompt fragments. In Context Handoff, saved prompt snippets can also be added at the top of the packet before you copy or share it. If you want a public starter set, see Starter snippets for messy work.

Can I use Snippets as a simple prompt library?

Yes. Snippets are a lightweight way to keep reusable prompts, repeated instructions, tone guides, and prompt fragments without turning Root into a heavy prompt-management system. If you want a simple local prompt library, Snippets are a good fit. One of the most useful current patterns is to save prompts there, then use the Add prompt control inside Context Handoff to frame a packet before it leaves Root. For a public starting point, see Starter snippets for messy work. For a fuller walkthrough, read How to Build a Personal Prompt Library Without Making a Mess.

What is Context Handoff?

Context Handoff lets you preview and copy a clean packet from the current item, selected items, a project tag, pinned context, or open tasks. You can also add a saved prompt from Snippets at the top, which makes it easier to hand off not just the context, but the exact framing for what you want next. Nothing is sent automatically. You inspect it first, then copy it where you want. If you want the broader thinking behind smaller packets, read Copy Less Context, Get Better AI Help.

Can I add my own custom prompt during Context Handoff?

Yes. Save your instruction, question, response format, or other custom prompt as a Snippet first. Open that Snippet and select Prompt to add it to the prompt list. Then open Context Handoff, choose Add prompt, and select it. Root places the prompt above the selected context so the packet includes both the material and what you want done with it.

Once at least one Snippet is marked as a prompt, Add prompt shows only the marked Snippets. If none are marked, Root shows all saved Snippets as a fallback.

The current handoff panel chooses prompts from saved Snippets rather than using a separate free-typing field. You can preview the complete packet, change or remove the prompt, and copy only when it looks right.

Why is Context Handoff its own panel?

Context Handoff is where you choose the scope, preview the packet, and decide exactly what gets copied or shared. It is intentionally a separate step so Root can stay explicit about what leaves the workspace.

What are Meeting Transcripts?

Meeting Transcripts turn a spoken meeting, call, lecture, walkthrough, or long thinking session into a dedicated Root note. Start Meeting on iPhone, save when you are done, and Root keeps the original transcript with duration and a short local description.

The point is not to pretend the meeting is already organized. The point is to keep the conversation so you can search it, edit it, pull out the useful parts, or hand it off later.

Is Root a private or local meeting transcription app for iPhone?

Root is private by default and does not send your meeting notes to a Root-hosted workspace. Meeting capture uses Apple Speech, the short meeting description is generated locally on the device, and the original transcript stays in your editable Root note.

Root does not promise that every speech-recognition step is fully offline. Apple Speech availability and processing can vary by device, language, and system conditions.

How do I make the best use of Meeting Transcripts?

Use it when the exact words may matter later. Start Meeting before a call, discussion, video, lecture, or review session. Put the phone on the table, let it listen, then save the transcript as a meeting note.

After the meeting, rename the note if needed, search for the important phrase, clean up the parts that matter, turn follow-ups into task lines, or copy the original transcript into another tool when you want deeper analysis.

Does Root summarize meetings with AI?

Root keeps this intentionally modest. The transcript is captured with Apple Speech, and the short description is generated locally on device. Root does not create a full AI meeting report or guess action items for you.

That is deliberate. The original transcript comes first, so you can decide what matters instead of trusting an automatic summary to decide for you.

Where do Meeting Transcripts live?

Meeting Transcripts live as normal editable Root notes with their own Meetings view. They stay out of the ordinary Recent list so they do not crowd everyday notes, but they remain searchable from main search.

If you use Root Connect, meeting notes can sync through your connected Root Workspace so you can open, edit, and search them in Chrome too. Root does not use a Root-hosted server for this.

What is Root Connect?

Root Connect lets you sync devices with your Google Drive so Root on Chrome and iPhone can use the same workspace. It is for people who want quick capture on mobile and deeper working-text editing on Chrome without treating Root as a hosted account.

The core idea is simple: Root stays local-first, and Root Connect gives those local workspaces a shared bridge when you choose to connect them.

What does Root Connect do?

Root Connect keeps the useful parts of your Root Workspace available across connected devices: items, Inbox, task lines, tags, snippets, Archive, and Trash state. Open Tasks is still a live rollup from task lines, so when task lines move between devices, Open Tasks updates too.

It is built for working continuity: capture a thought on iPhone, use Sync now, then keep shaping it in Chrome; or clean up a note in Chrome, sync, then have it with you on iPhone.

Does Root Connect mean Root hosts my workspace?

No. Root Connect uses a Root Workspace file in your Google Drive. Root does not run a hosted workspace account, and Root is not storing your notes on a Root server.

Google Drive is the bridge. Your local Root apps read and write the workspace file after you connect and grant access.

Do I need Root Connect to use Root?

No. Root on Chrome can be used locally without Root Connect, without Google Drive, and without a Root account. Root Connect is for the connected Chrome-and-mobile workflow.

How does Sync now work?

Sync now is the normal Root Connect action. It sends local changes that are ready, checks Google Drive for newer workspace changes, and applies what can be merged safely.

Root keeps this action visible because the trust moment matters. You should be able to see when the workspace is syncing and when it has finished.

What happens if the same item changes in two places?

If Root cannot merge changes safely, it keeps a separate Version Conflict item instead of silently overwriting work. The point is not to make conflicts feel exciting; it is to make them recoverable and understandable.

The safer habit is still simple: use Sync now before switching devices, and avoid editing the same item in two places at the same time.

Can Root Connect replace backup?

No. Root Connect is for workspace continuity across Root surfaces. It is not a full backup system, file history product, or account recovery service. Keep normal device and Google account recovery habits in place.

What support and guarantees come with Root Connect?

Root support covers purchase or restore problems, connection setup, Root-generated diagnostics, and synchronization problems between supported Root surfaces. Root Connect is provided as-is: it does not guarantee uninterrupted Google Drive availability, conflict-free synchronization, a response-time service level, or data recovery.

Keep normal backups and read the current Terms and Support scope.

What permissions does Root Connect need?

Root Connect needs permission to work with the Root files it creates or opens in your Google Drive. The goal is narrow access for the workspace bridge, not broad account access.

The public Chrome package remains usable as a local workspace. It asks for Google authorization and optional Drive access only when you choose Root Connect.

Where should I start?

Start on iPhone, then add Chrome. Install Root on iPhone, unlock Root Connect, connect Google Drive, and use Sync now. Then install Root on Chrome, connect the same Google account, use Sync now, and confirm one simple test note appears on both sides. After that, test Inbox, Open Tasks, Archive, Trash, and a normal edit round trip.

What is Root for Codex?

Root for Codex is a work-in-progress beta that we are still testing. It uses three focused skills: Find Codex Drafts, Answer from Codex Drafts, and Manage Codex Drafts. Answer from Codex Drafts can produce task lists, briefs, resume summaries, project memory, and ship checks without turning each output into another skill.

Codex Drafts are ordinary Markdown files outside your live Root Workspace. If you want one in Root, open Root Chrome and choose Import Codex Drafts manually; Root does not watch or import the folder automatically. Existing Codex notes folders remain supported and are not moved or renamed.

Codex Drafts are not Chrome's Research Draft. Research Draft is one writing surface inside the Root Chrome experience; Codex Drafts are separate local files prepared with Codex.

The plugin is free for anyone and separate from Root Connect. It does not need a Root account, Root server, Google Drive, iPhone, Root Workspace, or Root Connect to be useful.

Read the beta page at Root for Codex.

Is Root for Codex supported like Root Workspace or Root Connect?

No. Root for Codex is a free permanent beta provided as-is. It has no guaranteed compatibility, continued availability, support response, service level, or data recovery. Documentation and reproducible issue reports are best-effort, and you are responsible for backing up the local Markdown files you want to keep.

Root support primarily covers Root Workspace and Root Connect. See the Support scope, Terms, and Privacy.