Install and update issues

Troubleshooting Updated 27 July 2026

Requirements

Notel runs on macOS 15 or later, on Apple silicon and Intel Macs. If your Mac is on an older macOS, the app will not launch.

Installing properly

1. Double-click the downloaded Notel.zip. macOS unzips it in place and leaves Notel.app beside it.
2. Drag Notel into your Applications folder before launching it. Running the app straight out of Downloads is the most common cause of odd behavior and broken updates.
3. Open Notel from Applications. The leftover zip can go in the trash.

First open

The first launch may take a moment while macOS verifies the app. Notel is notarized by Apple, so Gatekeeper allows it through. If macOS shows a prompt, choose Open.

Updates

Notel can check for updates itself, from Notel ▸ Check for Updates… in the menu bar or from Settings → About, which also carries a switch for checking automatically. Installing takes one click and a relaunch. Early builds ship without an update feed; on those the check says so plainly and the automatic switch stays dimmed rather than pretending to work. All updates are free. If an update fails repeatedly: quit Notel, download the latest version from the download page, and drag it into Applications to replace the old copy. Your notes are stored separately and are never touched by reinstalling.

Something else?

The FAQ covers licensing questions. Discord is the fastest way to reach us.