Overview
Anytype is a local-first, open-source knowledge management tool that stores all data on your device and syncs via encrypted peer-to-peer connections. Unlike cloud-based tools, your data never passes through centralized servers unencrypted. Anytype organizes information as interconnected objects with types, relations, and sets, giving you a structured yet flexible way to manage knowledge.
Anytype supports rich content editing with blocks (similar to Notion), bidirectional linking, templates, graph visualization, and powerful filtering through sets and collections. It is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android with real-time sync across all devices through an encrypted P2P protocol built on IPFS and libp2p.
Installation
# macOS via Homebrew
brew install --cask anytype
# Linux via Snap
sudo snap install anytype
# Linux via Flatpak
flatpak install flathub io.anytype.app
# Linux - Download AppImage
wget https://download.anytype.io/linux
chmod +x Anytype-*.AppImage
./Anytype-*.AppImage
Core Concepts
Object Types
| Type | Description |
|---|
| Page | Standard document with blocks |
| Task | To-do item with status tracking |
| Note | Quick capture without title |
| Bookmark | Saved web link with preview |
| Human | Contact or person profile |
| Book | Book tracking with metadata |
| Set | Dynamic collection filtered by type/relations |
| Collection | Manual curated group of objects |
| Template | Reusable object structure |
Relations
| Relation | Type | Description |
|---|
Name | Text | Object title |
Description | Text | Brief description |
Tag | Multi-select | Categorization tags |
Status | Select | Current state |
Due Date | Date | Deadline |
Priority | Select | Importance level |
Assignee | Object | Person responsible |
URL | URL | Web address |
Created Date | Date | Auto-generated |
Last Modified | Date | Auto-updated |
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|
Ctrl+N | Create new object |
Ctrl+Shift+N | Quick capture note |
Ctrl+O | Open object search |
Ctrl+S | Navigate to sets |
Ctrl+K | Add link to selected text |
Ctrl+Shift+K | Create new object and link |
Ctrl+/ | Toggle block style menu |
Ctrl+L | Toggle object lock |
Ctrl+Shift+\ | Toggle sidebar |
Ctrl+. | Toggle graph view |
Tab | Indent block |
Shift+Tab | Outdent block |
/ | Slash command menu |
@ | Mention/link an object |
Block Types
| Slash Command | Block Type |
|---|
/text | Plain text paragraph |
/h1, /h2, /h3 | Headings |
/todo | Checkbox / to-do |
/bulleted | Bulleted list |
/numbered | Numbered list |
/toggle | Toggle / collapsible |
/quote | Block quote |
/callout | Callout box |
/code | Code block with syntax highlighting |
/divider | Horizontal divider |
/file | File attachment |
/image | Image embed |
/bookmark | Web bookmark with preview |
/table | Table block |
/latex | LaTeX math block |
/relation | Relation value display |
Sets and Collections
Set Views
| View | Best For |
|---|
| Grid | Spreadsheet-like data overview |
| List | Compact ordered listing |
| Gallery | Visual card-based display |
| Kanban | Status-based workflow boards |
| Calendar | Date-based scheduling |
| Graph | Relationship visualization |
Set Filters
| Filter Operator | Description |
|---|
Is | Exact match |
Is not | Exclude match |
Contains | Partial text match |
Does not contain | Exclude partial match |
Is empty | No value set |
Is not empty | Has any value |
Greater than | Numeric/date comparison |
Less than | Numeric/date comparison |
Configuration
Space Settings
Settings > Space
├── Name: Your space name
├── Icon: Space avatar
├── Homepage: Default landing object
├── Default Type: Object type for new items
└── Remote Storage: Manage backup node storage
Advanced Usage
Templates
- Open an object of the desired type
- Click the three-dot menu and select Create Template
- Design the template layout with blocks and default relations
- Use the template when creating new objects of that type
Inline Sets
Embed live-filtered sets within any page by typing /inline set, choosing the source type, and configuring filters, sorts, and view layout.
Custom Types and Relations
- Go to Library (sidebar) then Types
- Click Create Type
- Name the type and add recommended relations
- Create a default template for the type
Data and Privacy
| Feature | Detail |
|---|
| Storage | Local-first, all data on device |
| Sync | Encrypted P2P via anytype network nodes |
| Encryption | AES-256 for data at rest and in transit |
| Recovery | 12-word mnemonic phrase (store securely) |
| Export | Markdown and Protobuf export available |
| Open Source | Client code available on GitHub |
Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
|---|
| Sync not working across devices | Ensure both devices are online; check recovery phrase matches |
| Objects missing after update | Clear cache in Settings then Data; restart the app |
| Slow performance | Reduce number of inline sets on pages; close unused spaces |
| Recovery phrase lost | Cannot be recovered; always store securely offline |
| Import from Notion failing | Use Markdown export from Notion; import via Anytype importer |
| Graph view empty | Ensure objects have links or shared relations |
| Storage growing too large | Remove unused files and media attachments |
| App crashes on startup | Delete cache folder and restart; reinstall if persistent |
