Install Loose Thought as an app

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Loose Thought runs in your browser, but it doesn't have to live in a browser tab. When installed, it gets its own icon and window, and opens like any other app. It only takes a few clicks, and there's nothing to download from an app store.

Jump to: Chrome or Edge · Safari on a Mac · iPhone and iPad · Android · Firefox

Why install it

  • Easy to find. It sits in your dock, taskbar or home screen.
  • Works offline. Loose Thought keeps a copy of your notebooks on each device. Your changes sync when you're back online.

Chrome or Edge on Windows, Mac, Linux or a Chromebook

  1. Open app.loosethought.com in Chrome or Edge, and sign in.
  2. Click the install icon at the right-hand end of the address bar, then Install.
    • Can't see the icon?
      • In Chrome, open the ⋮ menu, then Cast, save, and share, then Install Loose Thought (it may say Install page as app).
      • In Edge, open the … menu, then More tools, then Apps, then Install this site as an app.
    • Or, in Loose Thought, click Install on the banner at the top of the directory, or choose Help > Install.
  3. Loose Thought opens in its own window. You're already signed in.

Finding it later: on Windows it's in the Start menu. While it's open, right-click its taskbar icon and choose Pin to taskbar. On a Mac, search for it with Spotlight (Cmd+Space), and while it's open, right-click its Dock icon and choose Options > Keep in Dock.

See the Edge documentation or the Chrome documentation for more information.

Safari on a Mac

You need macOS Sonoma (14) or later.

  1. Open app.loosethought.com in Safari.
  2. Choose File > Add to Dock, or click the Share button and choose Add to Dock.
  3. Click Add.
  4. Open Loose Thought from the Dock and sign in. Stay online until your notebooks appear.

It's a good idea to install the app on Safari. Safari can clear website data if you haven't visited for a while, but installed web apps are counted separately, so the app's offline data is retained.

See the Safari documentation for more information.

iPhone and iPad

  1. Open app.loosethought.com in Safari. Chrome and Edge work too.
  2. Tap the Share button. In recent versions of Safari, tap ••• next to the address bar first, then Share.
  3. Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen.
  4. If you see Open as Web App, leave it switched on. Tap Add.
  5. Open Loose Thought from your Home Screen and sign in. Stay online until your notebooks appear.

On an iPad you get the full canvas editing experience. On a phone, Loose Thought shows your notes as a list, for reading and quick edits.

Android

  1. Open app.loosethought.com in Chrome, and sign in.
  2. Tap the ⋮ menu, then Add to home screen, then Install. On some phones the menu says Install app instead.
  3. Open Loose Thought from your home screen or app list. You don't need to sign in again.

Other Android browsers have a similar option in their menu, usually called Install or Add to home screen.

As on an iPhone, an Android phone shows your notes as a list, for reading and quick edits.

Firefox

  • Windows: Firefox 143 and later can pin Loose Thought to your taskbar as its own app. Open app.loosethought.com and click Add tab to taskbar in the address bar. Note that this isn't available in the Microsoft Store version of Firefox.
  • Mac and Linux: Firefox can't install web apps yet. Loose Thought works fine in a Firefox tab; to install it, use Safari, Chrome or Edge.

After you install

  • Automatic updates. New versions download in the background, and an Update to Latest button appears when one is ready.
  • The Help menu shows sync status. It reads "All changes synced", or "Sync paused while offline" when you're not connected.
  • A few things need a connection: adding images, sharing, loading new link previews, and signing in.
  • You stay signed in while you use it. If you haven't opened it for more than 30 days, it asks you to sign in again.

Removing it

Removing the app doesn't affect your account. If you've been working offline, reconnect and let everything sync to make sure all of your content is securely backed up online.

  • Chrome or Edge: open Loose Thought, open the menu at the top of its window, and choose Uninstall.
  • Safari on a Mac: in Finder, open your home folder, then Applications, and drag Loose Thought to the Trash.
  • iPhone, iPad and Android: touch and hold its icon, then choose the option to remove it.

If something doesn't work

  • No install option in Chrome or Edge? Check that you're on app.loosethought.com rather than loosethought.com, and not in a private or incognito window. If it's already installed, the browser offers to open it instead.
  • Asked to sign in again after installing on a Mac, iPhone or iPad? That's expected the first time. The installed app has its own sign-in.
  • Still stuck? Email support@loosethought.com, or use the Feedback button in the app.