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Use this guide for your first Onnoir session. The goal is not to learn every feature. The goal is to create a local encrypted library, save the recovery material, write one note, and leave with a backup you have verified.

Before you start

Onnoir is a private desktop notebook. The current beta creates a local encrypted library on your computer, protects it with the system keychain on that device, and gives you a recovery key during first launch. You do not need an account to write, organize, back up, or export.

Set aside a few minutes and choose a safe place for the recovery key before you begin. A password manager, printed emergency sheet, or encrypted external drive is better than leaving the key only in Downloads.

Step-by-step

  1. Download Onnoir from the official Download page.
  2. Open Onnoir and choose Create your library.
  3. Save the recovery key when Onnoir shows it. Use Copy to clipboard or Download as file, then store it somewhere safe.
  4. Check the acknowledgement that says you saved the recovery key.
  5. Pick a theme and open the library.
  6. Open the welcome notebook or create your first notebook from the Shelf.
  7. Write a short test note.
  8. Open Settings and create an encrypted .onbk backup.
  9. Verify the backup before you trust it.

What to expect

Onnoir may unlock automatically on the same device because the system keychain holds the local vault key. That does not mean Onnoir has an account copy or server copy. If the keychain entry is wiped, moved, or unavailable, Onnoir will ask for the recovery key you saved during setup.

The first library is named My Library by default. You can still create notebooks, chapters/pages, captures, files, and exports inside it without setting up sync.

Safety notes

Onnoir cannot recover your library through an account. Keep the recovery key and verified .onbk backups outside the app. Markdown export is useful for readable copies, but it is not the restore path for a full encrypted library.

Troubleshooting

If Onnoir asks for a recovery key, paste the exact key you saved during first launch. If the app will not open, keep the local data folder untouched until you have checked Troubleshooting.