The desktop app

Studio for Mac and Windows is the whole Studio writing environment as an app on your computer. It works with no account and no internet connection, every tool is free on your computer, and Studio Premium adds sync with the web app, the mobile app and your BYOK. It is also the only app that can read your BYOK's card directly.

Install

Download Studio from byok.io/studio/desktop. It needs macOS 13 (Ventura) or later, or Windows 10 or later.

Writing with no account

Open Studio and start writing. With no account, Studio works in local mode: your whole library (projects, files, manuscripts, outlines, wikis, cards, grids, the Scratch Pad, comments and version history) lives on your computer. Nothing you write, and no file or project names, leave it.

The header shows On this computer while you're in local mode.

Turning on sync

Sync keeps one library across the desktop app, the web app, the mobile app and your BYOK. It needs Studio Premium (or the free 14-day trial).

1. Open the account menu (the person icon, top right) and choose Sign in, or open Account › Sync and click Start free trial to make an account.
2. Sign in with your Studio account. Studio checks your plan and restarts once to switch to sync.
3. If this computer already has a local library, Studio adopts it into your account: nothing is lost, and it uploads alongside what's already in your account. Your account's library then downloads to the computer.

The first time, Studio copies your library to the computer so it works offline. A small banner shows progress; if the connection drops it pauses and resumes when you're back online.

Working offline while synced

Keep writing with no connection. Changes wait on your computer (Account › Sync shows how many are Waiting to sync) and go up when you're back online. See Sync, offline and conflicts.

Signing out

Signing out keeps your library on the computer and returns Studio to local mode. Only the link to your account goes. If Premium ends, sync stops the same way and your library stays put.

Back up and restore your library

Account › Sync › Back up library… saves your whole library to a single file: every project, folder, document, manuscript, tag, Scratch Pad note, comment and version snapshot. Keep a copy somewhere other than your computer.

Restore from backup… puts it all back, on this computer or another one. It's also how you move a local library to a new computer.

Updates

Studio checks for updates in the background and downloads them quietly. When one is ready, a small Restart to update card appears. Nothing is forced: if you never click it, the update installs the next time you quit.

To check yourself, click Check for updates in Account › Sync › About, which also shows your version. On a Mac you can also choose Studio › Check for Updates… in the menu bar. What changed in each version is in the update log.

Privacy

The app sends anonymous usage counts and crash reports, tied to a random install ID, so we can see what breaks. They never include your writing, file names or project names. Turn them off in Account › Sync › About by unchecking Send anonymous usage and crash reports.

Spelling

Studio checks your spelling as you type and underlines misspelled words in red.

• Right-click a misspelled word for up to six suggestions; click one to swap it in. Add to Dictionary teaches Studio the word (character names, places, invented words), so it's never underlined again.
• Right-click anywhere in your text for Cut, Copy, Paste, Select All, the Check Spelling switch and Spelling Settings….

• Account › Spelling has the settings:

  • Check spelling as I type turns the red underlines on or off.
  • Languages (Windows): tick every language you write in. A word counts as correct if it's right in any of them, so you can write in Polish and English side by side. Studio starts with your computer's language plus English.
  • On a Mac, Studio uses the spelling languages set for your Mac: System Settings › Keyboard › Text Input › Edit… › Spelling. Automatic by Language checks each paragraph in the language it's written in.
  • Your dictionary lists the words you've added, with a button to take each one out again.

On the web, spelling is your browser's: right-click a word for its suggestions, and set its languages in the browser's settings.

What only the desktop app does

• Works offline and with no account, with every tool free.
• Brings in writing from your BYOK over USB or from its microSD card.
• Puts tools and fonts on your BYOK from the Toolbox and Font Library.
• Backs up and restores your whole library to a single file.
• Its own spelling settings: languages, an on/off switch and a personal dictionary.
• A few extra keyboard shortcuts the browser keeps for itself on the web, such as Cmd+N for a new file, Cmd+W to close a file and Cmd+1 / Cmd+2 for the left and right file. See Keyboard shortcuts.

Report a bug

Open the account menu and choose Report Bug. It files a ticket with your app version attached, and you can add screenshots.