S2NodesSideNotes
install help

Installing SideNotes

This is the initial release, and the app isn't code-signed with Apple or Microsoft yet. Your computer will warn you the first time you open it. This page shows how to get past that once. After that, SideNotes opens normally.

Mac instructions Windows instructions

macOS

Apple Silicon Macs (M1, M2, M3, M4) · macOS 11 or later

  1. Download and unzip

    Get the Mac download link by email (104 MB zip). Double-click the zip in Downloads to get SideNotes.app.

  2. Move it to Applications

    Drag SideNotes.app into the Applications folder in Finder.

  3. Allow it once (pick one way)

    Open Terminal (press ⌘ Space, type "Terminal"), paste this line and press Return:

    xattr -cr /Applications/SideNotes.app && codesign --force --deep --sign - /Applications/SideNotes.app

    This removes the "downloaded from the internet" flag and signs the app for your Mac only. It doesn't change anything else.

    or, without Terminal

    In Applications, right-click (or Control-click) SideNotes and choose Open. When macOS asks, click Open again.

    illustration · wording varies by macOS version

    On newer macOS versions: if there's no Open button, go to System Settings → Privacy & Security, scroll down and click Open Anyway next to SideNotes.

  4. Done

    From now on SideNotes opens like any other app. Keep it in the Dock for quick access.

Windows

Windows 10 or 11 · 64-bit

  1. Download and extract

    Get the Windows download link by email (117 MB zip). Right-click the zip, choose Extract All… and pick a folder, for example Documents\SideNotes.

  2. Run SideNotes.exe

    Open the extracted folder and double-click SideNotes.exe. Don't run it from inside the zip.

  3. Get past SmartScreen once

    Windows shows a blue "Windows protected your PC" box. Click More info, then Run anyway.

    illustration · "Run anyway" appears after clicking "More info"
  4. Pin it

    Right-click SideNotes.exe and choose Pin to Start or Pin to taskbar. To uninstall, just delete the folder.

last step · mac and windows

Activate with your licence key

SideNotes starts as a 7-day free trial. Your download email contains two licence keys: one for your office computer, one for your personal computer. Each key works on one computer.

  1. Open the licence window

    It appears by itself during the trial. Or choose Help → Licence…

  2. Paste one key and click Activate

    Keys look like SN-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX. Internet is needed this once; after that SideNotes works offline.

  3. Changing computers later?

    On the old computer choose Help → Licence… → Release this computer, then activate the key on the new one. If the old computer is gone, reply to your download email and we'll reset it.

why the warning?

About code signing

Apple and Microsoft show these warnings for any app that hasn't been signed with a paid developer certificate. It's about the publisher not being registered yet, not about what the app does. Signing for both platforms is in progress and will come in a future update. When it does, these steps won't be needed.

SideNotes never uploads your documents and never modifies your PDFs. It goes online only to activate your licence key, re-check it about once a week, and check for updates.

early release v1.1.0

This is the first public version, so expect some rough edges and bugs. If something doesn't work, use the bug report form. Fixes ship in the next update.