Profiles & Privacy Modes
NoteCove uses profiles to organize your notes and provide different privacy levels for different use cases.
What Are Profiles?
Profiles are separate note collections with their own:
- Storage location: Notes stored in a folder you choose
- Privacy settings: Control over network features like link previews
- User identity: Optional display name and handle for comments
This lets you maintain separate note collections for different purposes (work, personal, research) or on shared computers.
Profile Modes
When creating a new profile, you choose a mode that determines default settings:
Local Mode
The standard mode for most users.
- Storage:
~/Documents/NoteCove - Privacy: You choose link preview behavior
- Cloud: Can add cloud storage directories later
Best for: Personal notes, general use
Cloud Mode
Start with cloud-synced storage from the beginning.
- Storage: Your chosen cloud provider’s folder (iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive)
- Privacy: You choose link preview behavior
- Sync: Automatic sync across devices via cloud folder
Best for: Multi-device users, team collaboration
Paranoid Mode
Maximum privacy for sensitive notes.
- Storage:
~/Documents/NoteCove(local only) - Privacy: All network features disabled
- No link unfurling or previews
- No favicon fetching
- No oEmbed requests
- Locked: Cannot add cloud storage or change link settings
Best for: Confidential notes, air-gapped systems, privacy-conscious users
Custom Mode
Full control over all settings.
- Storage: Any folder you choose
- Privacy: You choose link preview behavior
- Flexibility: Maximum configurability
Best for: Advanced users, specific workflows
Creating a Profile
The onboarding wizard guides you through profile creation:
Step 1: Profile Name
Give your profile a descriptive name like “Work Notes” or “Personal Journal”.
Step 2: Mode Selection
Choose from Local, Cloud, Paranoid, or Custom mode based on your needs.
Step 3: Storage Configuration
Depending on your mode:
- Local/Paranoid: Confirms default location (
~/Documents/NoteCove) - Cloud: Select from detected cloud providers
- Custom: Browse to choose any folder
Step 4: Your Identity (Optional)
Set a display name and handle for use in comments. You can skip this step and set them later in Settings.
Step 5: Confirmation
Review your choices and create the profile.
Switching Profiles
When NoteCove launches, you can:
- Select an existing profile from the picker
- Create a new profile using the wizard
- Skip the picker if you have a default profile set
Profile Settings
After creation, you can modify some profile settings:
| Setting | Local | Cloud | Paranoid | Custom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Add storage directories | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Link preview mode | Yes | Yes | No (locked to secure) | Yes |
| Display name/handle | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Privacy Considerations
What Paranoid Mode Blocks
- oEmbed requests: No fetching of video previews, tweet cards, etc.
- Favicon fetching: No downloading site icons
- Link unfurling: All links appear as plain text
- Cloud storage: Cannot add synced storage directories
What All Modes Share
- Local storage: Your notes are always stored on your device
- No telemetry: NoteCove never sends your note content anywhere
- Your cloud, your choice: Sync uses your own cloud storage accounts
Technical Details
Storage Locations
Profiles store notes in a designated folder:
~/Documents/NoteCove/ # Default for Local/Paranoid
~/Library/Mobile Documents/ # iCloud
~/Dropbox/ # Dropbox
~/Google Drive/ # Google Drive
~/<custom path>/ # Custom mode
Profile Data
Profile configuration is stored in:
~/Library/Application Support/NoteCove/profiles.json
This includes:
- Profile ID and name
- Mode setting
- Creation timestamp
- Last used timestamp
Note content is stored in the profile’s storage directory, not in the app’s data folder.
Best Practices
Use Separate Profiles For
- Work and personal notes
- Different clients or projects
- Shared vs. private notes
- Notes requiring extra privacy
Profile Naming
Use clear, descriptive names:
- “Work - Company Name”
- “Personal Journal”
- “Research - Project X”
- “Confidential”
Choosing Modes
- Use Local if you’re unsure - it’s the most flexible
- Use Cloud if you need sync from day one
- Use Paranoid only for truly sensitive content
- Use Custom when you have specific storage needs