FAQ

Straight answers about root

root is meant to be understandable without a long onboarding sequence. This page covers what it is, what it is not, and how the local-first capture and handoff workflow works.

  • What is root?

    root is a private-by-default local workspace for working text. In the current Chrome beta it starts as a new-tab workspace, and it can also be used on demand when you prefer one stable root tab instead. The job stays the same either way: capture, shape, reuse, and intentionally share the text you are still working with.

  • Is root a notes app?

    People can absolutely use it like a simple notepad, but that is not the product center. root is designed more like a lightweight context workspace than a general-purpose notes archive.

  • Is a new item basically a note?

    Yes. A new item can absolutely be used like a simple note. root uses the word item because some of those notes become project context, reusable snippets, checklists, or handoff material, but you do not need to overthink it.

  • Do I need an account?

    No. The current beta is local-first and does not require an account to use the workspace.

  • What is Quick Capture?

    Quick Capture is the extension popup for fast intake. Type or paste into a small field and append it straight into Inbox. It can also turn the capture into task lines or include the current page link. The Append into list stays intentionally short: Inbox plus pinned items. If you want a note available there, pin it.

  • Will Current page work on every Chrome page?

    Not always. In our Chrome testing, Current page is unavailable on some internal Chrome pages such as chrome://extensions and chrome://settings. On normal websites it works, and in our testing it has also worked on Chrome Web Store pages and chrome://newtab.

  • Can I drag files into root?

    Yes. You can drag one or more .md or .txt files straight onto the workspace to import them. The Import menu also still works when you would rather choose files or a full export folder manually.

  • Do I have to use root as my new tab?

    No. The Chrome build can replace your new tab, but you can also use root on demand. If you prefer one stable workspace tab instead of opening root on every new tab, turn on Redirect new tabs in Quick Capture and use Open workspace from there. In our Chrome testing, if you install another new-tab extension, Chrome asks whether to keep the newer one or revert to the previous one. If you keep the newer extension, it takes over new tabs while root can still be opened from the extension button as long as root stays enabled.

  • What is the best setup if I want one stable root tab?

    The cleanest current setup is to turn on Redirect new tabs in Quick Capture, open the workspace once, and then pin that workspace tab if you want it parked in the browser. That keeps root available without multiplying workspace tabs every time you open a new tab.

  • Does root work the same way in Atlas as it does in Chrome?

    Not yet. In our current Atlas testing, Atlas can install root, but Atlas does not currently expose the extension button path we need for Quick Capture, so the popup flow is not available there yet. The full workspace can still open if you visit the installed extension page directly in the form chrome-extension://<your-extension-id>/newtab.html and bookmark that workspace tab once it is open. Atlas can still be useful for Context Handoff and selected-text review, but the full extension experience is more reliable in Chrome right now.

  • Does root have built-in voice dictation?

    No. We removed in-app browser dictation because new-tab and extension surfaces are not a reliable place to promise it. The better path is to use your operating system's built-in dictation wherever your cursor is in root. On Mac, use the Dictation shortcut you set in Keyboard settings, commonly Fn or Globe twice, and see Apple's Dictation guide. On Windows, press Windows logo key + H and see Microsoft's Voice typing guide.

  • Why does the button say Copy Context if the panel says Context Handoff?

    Copy Context is the action. Context Handoff is the panel that opens and lets you choose the scope, preview the output, and decide exactly what gets copied.

  • What is Context Handoff?

    Context Handoff lets you preview and copy a clean packet from the current item, selected items, a project tag, pinned context, or open tasks. Nothing is sent automatically. You inspect it first, then copy it where you want.

  • What does the ATLAS button do in Context Handoff?

    ATLAS is a helper for the Atlas browser workflow. It selects the visible packet inside Context Handoff so Atlas can work from that selected text on the current page. It does not send your notes anywhere by itself. For Atlas to read the packet, ChatGPT page visibility for that page also needs to be allowed in Atlas.

  • Do I always need to copy and paste the packet into AI first?

    No. Copy and paste is still the most universal path, but it is not the only one. In Atlas, the ATLAS button turns the visible packet into a selected on-page handoff. In our Chrome testing, Gemini has also been able to work directly from the visible Context Handoff packet in some cases, which means you may be able to keep the packet open and talk to the browser AI without pasting it into a separate input first.

  • If I want AI to work from my root files, what are the easiest current ways?

    The easiest current paths are all deliberate. You can use Copy Context and paste the packet into an AI tool, use the ATLAS button in Context Handoff so Atlas can work from the selected packet on the current page, keep the visible packet open while using Gemini in Chrome when that browser workflow is available, or save the current Context Handoff packet as PDF when a document-style handoff makes more sense. root does not automatically send your whole workspace to AI, but browser-level AI features may still read visible page content or tabs you share with them.

  • What is a good way to make a narrower AI packet?

    A strong current pattern is to use Selected items in Context Handoff and turn metadata off when you want the actual selected text with less framing. That keeps the packet tighter for browser AI sidebars and normal copy-paste handoffs alike.

  • Does private by default mean browser AI cannot read my root tabs?

    No. In root, private by default means your workspace stays local and root does not automatically send your notes anywhere. But browser AI features, such as Gemini in Chrome or Atlas with page visibility allowed, may still be able to read the current page or other tabs you share with them. That browser-level behavior is separate from root's own Copy Context and export actions.

  • Does root warn me before I copy sensitive text?

    Yes. Context Handoff can show quiet local warnings when copied text looks like email addresses, credentials, private keys, card numbers, banking details, or other obviously sensitive patterns. It does not block you, and it does not send anything anywhere.

  • What is Clean View?

    Clean View is a more readable rendering of the same note. It keeps the underlying plain text and markdown-compatible structure intact, but shows bullets, tasks, strike, links, and date stamps in a cleaner reading mode.

  • What does Links only do?

    Links only changes the output so you share the matching URLs without all the surrounding notes. It is useful when the references are the real payload and the extra commentary would only add noise.

  • What are Snippets?

    Snippets are reusable text blocks that live in their own view instead of cluttering the main item list. Save selected text as a snippet, then insert it later when you need repeated instructions, bios, tone guidance, project boilerplate, or prompt fragments.

  • Can I use Snippets as a simple prompt library?

    Yes. Snippets are a lightweight way to keep reusable prompts, repeated instructions, tone guides, and prompt fragments without turning root into a heavy prompt-management system. If you want a simple local prompt library, Snippets are a good fit.

  • What is Inbox?

    Inbox is the default landing spot for rough capture. It is where quick text goes first when you do not know where it belongs yet.

  • What is Open Tasks?

    Open Tasks is a live rollup of unfinished checklist items from across active items. It is not a separate task database. It reflects markdown-compatible task lines already living in your workspace.

  • What kinds of work is root good for?

    root is especially good for work that keeps turning into small pieces of working text: bug notes, script fragments, meeting prep, follow-ups, research links, assignment checklists, and reusable instructions. A developer might keep Bugs and Feature requests. A content creator might keep Hooks and Sponsor links. An executive assistant might keep Daily handoff and Follow-ups. A student might keep Lecture dump and Research links.

  • Where is my content stored?

    The current prototype stores workspace content locally in the browser. Export and import keep content portable through visible files and markdown-friendly text.

  • Do I need the rootpad.json file when I import a backup?

    Not for every import. If you are importing plain .md or .txt files, root can still bring those in without the JSON file. But if you are restoring a full exported root library, keep rootpad.json with it. The note files are the content, and rootpad.json is the library manifest that helps root recognize the full export cleanly.

  • Can I use root as a huge long-term text archive?

    It is better to think of root as an active workspace than a giant storage vault. Because the current prototype depends on browser storage limits, it is best for working text, project context, reusable snippets, and active material rather than full-blown mass text storage. Export is there when you want a backup or a way to move larger sets of content out.

  • Will root feel slow if I keep everything in it?

    root works best as a living work surface, not a storage beast or mass text editing environment. A normal active workspace should feel good, but very large libraries, lots of long notes, or treating it like a giant permanent archive will make the browser do more work than root is meant to carry. If something no longer feels active, export it or move it out.

  • Can I recover something I deleted?

    Yes. Delete moves items into Trash first. Trashed items can be restored or deleted forever, and the current build keeps them for 30 days before cleanup.

  • Can I keep multiple root tabs open?

    A few are fine, but root works best with one main workspace tab. Multiple open tabs can drift out of sync, and editing the same item in two tabs at once can lead to the later save winning.

  • Do I need AI tools to get value from root?

    No. root is still useful if you never copy anything into an assistant. The same workspace is good for rough thinking, pasted research, reusable text, and project organization even if you keep everything local.

Still deciding?

Need a more direct answer?

If your question did not fit neatly into the FAQ, the next best places are Support for troubleshooting, Contact for general questions, and Privacy for the local-first and data-handling details.

Support Setup, recovery, and rough-edge help. Contact Questions, feedback, and product conversation. Privacy What stays local and what does not.