Take notes in style on Linux with Paper – Addictive Tips Guide

Linux users have a special talent: we can run a rock-solid workstation for months… and still lose a brilliant idea
because we wrote it on a napkin, a terminal scrollback, or (be honest) the back of a shipping label.
If you want your notes to look sharp and stay easy to manage, Paper is a sleek little
Linux note-taking app built for GNOME and other GTK desktops. It keeps things simple: notebooks,
Markdown notes, quick search, and a design that feels like it actually belongs on your desktop.

This in-depth guide walks through what Paper is, how to install it, how to use it like a pro (without turning your
life into a productivity hobby), how to back up your notes, and what to do if Flatpak permissions or runtimes raise
an eyebrow. We’ll also end with a longer, experience-based section that shows how Paper fits into real daily
workflowsbecause apps don’t live in blog posts; they live in Tuesday afternoons.

What is Paper on Linux?

Paper is a modern Markdown note-taking app for Linux designed with GNOME in mind.
The headline features are refreshingly practical:

• Notebooks to group notes without over-engineering your brain.
• Markdown-based notes (your notes are actual text files, not trapped in a mystery database).
• “Almost WYSIWYG” Markdown rendering, so formatting looks good while you type.
• GNOME search integration so notes are findable when your memory isn’t.
• Highlight and strikethrough formatting for emphasis and “I did it!” moments.
• Notebook color theming so your notes can look organized even when your thoughts aren’t.
• A Trash feature for safer deletes (because we’ve all “cleaned up” the wrong thing).

Why Paper feels “stylish” (without trying too hard)

Some apps look “Linuxy” in the way a beige keyboard looks “retro”: technically correct, emotionally questionable.
Paper goes the other direction. Its GNOME-friendly design aims for clean spacing, readable typography, and UI
elements that match a modern desktop. The result: your notes feel like they belong in the same universe as your
settings panel, your file manager, and the rest of your GTK apps.

Markdown that doesn’t make you choose between pretty and portable

Paper’s sweet spot is simple: your notes are readable as plain text, but they can also be formatted with Markdown
when you want headings, lists, links, code blocks, or quick emphasis. That’s perfect for Linux users who like tools
that don’t lock them in.

How to install Paper on Linux

Paper is commonly installed via Flatpak (through Flathub), and it’s also available via the
Arch User Repository (AUR). You can also build from source if you enjoy collecting dependencies
like they’re limited-edition trading cards.

Option 1 (recommended): Install Paper via Flatpak

Flatpak is popular because it works across many distributions and keeps app dependencies nicely contained. If
Flatpak is already set up on your system, the basic flow looks like this:

Once installed, you can launch Paper from your app menu, or run it from the terminal:

Fedora note

On Fedora Workstation (and related Fedora variants), Flatpak is often present by default. You may only need to
enable Flathub (commonly through third-party repositories or by adding the remote) and then install Paper.

Option 2: Install Paper from the Arch Linux AUR

If you’re on Arch Linux (or Arch-based distros like Manjaro, EndeavourOS, and friends), Paper can be installed from
the AUR. One common approach uses an AUR helper (like trizen) to streamline installation:

Option 3: Build Paper from source

Building from source can be a good option if you want to tinker, patch, or track development more closely. In
practice, dependencies vary by distribution, so many users use the AUR package info as a reference point for what
libraries and build tools they’ll need.

Development hosting can change over time, so if the “official” upstream location looks different than an older
tutorial, that’s normal. (Open-source projects sometimes migrate platformskind of like how we migrate between text
editors every six months.)

First run: create a notebook and your first note

Paper is easy to understand within about ten seconds, which is exactly how long most of us are willing to read a
welcome screen.

1. Open Paper from your app launcher.
2. Click New Notebook.
3. Name the notebook (examples: “Work,” “Home,” “Linux Stuff I Will Forget,” “Recipes I Swear I’ll Make”).
4. Open the notebook, then click New Note.
5. Name the note and start typing.

Writing in Markdown without turning it into a “thing”

Paper supports Markdown in a way that’s meant to be helpful, not performative. Use it when you want structure, skip
it when you don’t. Here’s a simple example you can paste into a note:

You can also use quick formatting like strikethrough for completed items and highlighting for “don’t forget this”
details. The goal is to keep notes readable and scannable, not to write a novel in Markdown syntax.

Organizing notes with notebooks (without building a second brain)

Paper uses notebooks as the main organizing concept. That’s enough structure for most peopleespecially if you keep
notebook names purpose-based rather than mood-based.

A notebook structure that actually works

• Work: meeting notes, project notes, quick drafts, checklists
• Personal: shopping lists, home tasks, life admin, reminders
• Tech: commands, troubleshooting notes, config snippets
• Writing: outlines, titles, research bullets, link dumps

If you’re tempted to create 27 notebooks, pause and ask: “Am I organizing my notes… or procrastinating with
folders?” (No judgment. Okay, a little judgment. Mostly love.)

Finding notes fast with GNOME Search

One of Paper’s best quality-of-life features is desktop search integration. That means you can hit the
Super key (or open your GNOME overview), type a keyword, and potentially surface notes right from
searchgreat for those “I wrote it down somewhere” moments.

Depending on your GNOME version and packaging method, you may need to enable Paper as a search provider in
Settings → Search. This is also a privacy-friendly pattern: search providers can see what you type
into system search, so being able to toggle them on/off is a feature, not a bug.

Backing up Paper notes (the easy way)

A big win with Paper is that notes are saved as .md (Markdown) files. Translation: backups don’t
require special export flows or obscure file formats.

Quick manual backup

1. In Paper, find a note you want to back up.
2. Right-click it and choose something like Open containing folder.
3. Copy the .md files to your backup location.

“Better than manual” backup ideas

• Version control: track your notes folder with Git (ideal for technical notes and changelogs).
• Sync tools: use your preferred file sync approach (cloud drive, Syncthing, rsync, etc.).
• Periodic archives: zip a snapshot weekly/monthly and store it with your normal backups.

Deleting notes (and why Trash is your friend)

Paper lets you move notes to the Trash instead of deleting them instantly. This is the digital equivalent of putting
something in a box labeled “don’t throw away yet,” which is the only reason many of us still own HDMI cables from
2009.

If you’re pruning old notes, Trash buys you time in case you delete something importantlike the one command that
fixed your audio issue that one time.

Common issues and fixes

“Potentially unsafe” or “end-of-life runtime” warnings (Flatpak)

Some Flatpak listings can warn that an app uses an older runtime or requests broad filesystem access. That doesn’t
automatically mean “danger,” but it does mean “pay attention.”

• If you see an end-of-life runtime warning: it usually means the runtime isn’t receiving updates
  anymore. Consider checking for newer versions, monitoring upstream, or choosing an alternative until it’s updated.
• If filesystem access looks too broad: review and limit permissions where possible.

Manage Flatpak permissions with Flatseal (GUI)

If you prefer not to manage permissions via terminal commands, Flatseal is a popular GUI utility
for inspecting and adjusting Flatpak permissions. The workflow is simple: install Flatseal, select the app, tweak
permissions, and restart the app.

Manage Flatpak permissions via command line

You can also grant a Flatpak app access to a specific directory using a command like this (adjust the path to your
needs):

If you ever need to undo overrides, you can reset permissions back to defaults for the app:

Paper vs other Linux note-taking apps

Paper is a great fit if you want something lightweight, GNOME-friendly, and Markdown-based. But different note apps
shine in different situations. A quick comparison:

Choose Paper if you want…

• A clean GNOME-style interface for daily notes
• Markdown notes that are easy to back up
• Notebooks + fast search without a giant feature checklist

Consider alternatives if you need…

• Built-in syncing: you may prefer apps designed around cloud or Nextcloud-style sync.
• Heavy knowledge-base features: backlinks, graph views, plugins, and advanced tagging are better
  served by more expansive tools.
• Encrypted-by-default notes: choose a security-focused notes product with encryption features.

Who Paper is best for

• GNOME users who want a native-feeling notes app
• Students who want clean Markdown notes without distraction
• Developers who want a place for snippets, commands, and troubleshooting logs
• Writers who want a lightweight idea-catcher with basic structure
• Anyone who’s tired of “notes apps” that require a tutorial series

FAQ

Does Paper support Markdown on Linux?

YesPaper is built around Markdown notes, with formatting designed to stay readable as you type.

Where does Paper store notes?

Notes are stored as .md files. A practical way to find them is to use the app’s option to open the
containing folder for a note, then back up or manage those files from your file manager.

Can I sync Paper notes across devices?

Paper’s biggest strength is that notes are ordinary Markdown filesso syncing can be handled externally with your
preferred file-sync method. If you want built-in sync inside the app itself, you may prefer a different note app.

Is Paper only for GNOME?

Paper is designed for GNOME and GTK-based environments, but it can be used on many Linux desktopsespecially when
installed via Flatpak.

Conclusion

If you want a simple, stylish note-taking app on Linux that plays nicely with GNOME and keeps your
notes in Markdown, Paper is a strong contender. It focuses on the essentialsclean notebooks,
readable formatting, quick search, and easy backupswithout dragging you into a feature arms race.

Install it, create two or three notebooks, write notes you’ll actually look up later, and back them up like you
mean it. That’s the whole secret. (Well, that and naming your notes something better than “asdf-final-final-2.md.”)

Real-world experience: what it’s like using Paper day to day (extra section)

Paper tends to shine in the “daily driver” zonewhere your goal isn’t to build a second brain, but to reliably
capture information without friction. If you try Paper for a week, a few patterns usually emerge that make it feel
genuinely useful (and not just “another app you installed at 1 a.m.”).

First, Paper works best when you treat it like a catcher’s mitt, not a museum. You open it, you
write the thing, you move on. A simple workflow is to keep one notebook called Inbox (or “Quick
Notes”), where you dump everything: meeting scraps, random ideas, links, and “remember this later” commands. Then
once or twice a week, you move the notes that matter into more specific notebooks like Work, Personal, or Tech. The
key is you don’t need a perfect system up frontPaper doesn’t demand it.

Second, Markdown becomes a quiet superpower when you keep it practical. Instead of fancy formatting, you’ll
probably use:

• Headings for quick scanning (“Decisions,” “Action Items,” “How I Fixed This”).
• Bullets for lists that don’t pretend they’re a full task manager.
• Code blocks for terminal commands you’ll forget otherwise.
• Links for bookmarking without opening a “tabs apocalypse.”

A surprisingly satisfying use case is a “Linux Fixes” note. Every time you solve somethingBluetooth weirdness,
printer setup, GPU driver quirksyou write a mini recipe: symptoms, solution, and the exact command you ran. Paper’s
GNOME search integration makes this even more valuable, because you can later search your desktop for “audio crackle”
or “mount smb” and retrieve your own instructions instead of re-reading half the internet.

Another realistic pattern: Paper becomes your meeting notes and research scratchpad.
If you’re drafting a blog post, planning a home project, or comparing tools, you can keep a running note with short
sections like “Pros,” “Cons,” “Costs,” and “Decision.” Because notes are Markdown files, it’s also easy to copy your
outline into a CMS, a doc, or a README later. It’s not glamorousbut it’s the kind of workflow that saves time.

Finally, Paper is at its best when you keep backups boring. Since notes are plain .md files, you can
copy them somewhere safe, sync them, or version them. The “experience” here is peace of mind: your ideas aren’t
trapped. If you ever switch apps, you’re not exporting from a walled gardenyou’re just moving text files. In Linux
terms, that’s not just convenience. That’s freedom with good typography.