FAQ

Installation & Setup

Why does macOS block Zenboard from opening?

macOS Gatekeeper displays a warning for apps that have not been notarized by Apple. Zenboard is completely safe — this warning appears because the developer does not yet have an Apple Developer Program certificate. See First Launch for how to bypass this.

Does it work on Intel Macs?

Zenboard is currently built for Apple Silicon (M1 or later) only. Intel Macs are not supported.

Is an internet connection required?

No. Zenboard works entirely offline. An internet connection is only used for checking for updates.

Features

What is Ghost Mode?

Ghost Mode makes the Zenboard canvas click-through, allowing you to interact with the app behind it. See Ghost Mode for details.

Does notch integration work on all Macs?

Notch integration is only available on Macs with a notch (MacBook Pro 14” and 16” with M-series chips). Other Macs use menu bar mode instead.

Can I use it with multiple monitors?

Yes. You can place the canvas on any connected display.

What file formats are supported?

Images (PNG, JPEG, WebP, GIF, SVG, HEIC, TIFF, BMP), videos (MP4, MOV, AVI, M4V), text, Markdown, and code files in over 180 programming languages. See Supported File Types for details.

Board Data & Privacy

Where is my data stored?

All board data is stored locally on your Mac. There is no syncing with external servers or cloud services, so your data remains completely private.

Do you collect usage data?

No. Zenboard does not collect or transmit any usage data or information from your canvases.

Can I back up my boards?

Yes. Press Cmd + S to save your current board as a .zen file. To restore, press Cmd + O to load the board file. See Save & Load Boards for details.