Troubleshooting

Solutions to common issues.

Keyboard Shortcut Not Working

The global shortcut itself needs no Accessibility permission. If pressing it does nothing or asks for permission to control Finder, see below. Otherwise:

  1. Check that a shortcut is set in NoteDrop Settings › Shortcuts
  2. If Settings › Shortcuts says "Another app is using this shortcut", record a different one
  3. If it still doesn't respond, quit and reopen NoteDrop

Finder Extension Not Showing

App Location

NoteDrop must be in your Applications folder. Move it there if it's elsewhere.

Extension Not Enabled

  1. Open NoteDrop Settings › Filing › Finder and check the Finder extension status
  2. Click Turn On… — macOS opens its Finder extensions list
  3. Turn on NoteDrop
  4. If the menu item still doesn't appear, restart Finder (Option-click Finder in Dock → Relaunch)

Toolbar Button Missing

The toolbar button isn't added automatically. In a Finder window choose View → Customize Toolbar… and drag the NoteDrop button into the toolbar.

New File Submenu Missing

It's off for new installs. Turn on Show "New File" in Finder's right-click menu in Settings › Filing › Finder.

Alternative

Use the Services menu instead: right-click a folder → New File Note (or Services → New File Note). No extension required.

Folder Not Detected as Project

Check Recognise a matter folder by in Settings › Filing › Matter Folders, and use Test a Folder… there to see what NoteDrop reads from the folder:

  • Name starts with a number: Folder must start with a number
  • Name matches my profile's pattern: Folder must match your profile's pattern
  • Use the folder I start from: No detection; uses the folder you start from, without looking in parent folders

If your folder doesn't match the expected pattern, try "Use the folder I start from".

Notes Saving to Wrong Location

Check Settings › Filing › Save Location:

  • Verify the names in Subfolders to look for match your folder structure
  • Choose Save directly in the matter folder if you don't use subfolders

Can't Save to a Folder

When a save fails, NoteDrop says why and what to do next:

  • Read-only, moved or deleted folder: choose Save to Another Folder…. The draft moves with the note and saves straight away.
  • Protected folder (Desktop, Documents, iCloud Drive, network drives): click Allow Access… once and approve the macOS prompt.
  • Folder can't be read (for example a disconnected network drive): reconnect it, or save elsewhere. The filename preview shows "—" for the note number until the folder can be read.

You don't need to grant NoteDrop access to your matters folder to save. The Matters Folder in Settings › Filing only sets where the picker starts and what search looks through.

Note Would Go to the Wrong Matter

The panel always shows the destination. Use Change… to pick another subfolder, the matter folder itself, or Other…. NoteDrop only uses a Finder window automatically when Finder is the active app (or was within the last 10 seconds); a window left behind another app is only suggested in the folder picker.

"The update is improperly signed"

NoteDrop's update signing key changed in July 2026. Copies of NoteDrop 3.0 and earlier can't verify updates signed with the new key, so the updater reports that the update is improperly signed.

Fix: download the latest version once from the download page, open the DMG and drag NoteDrop to Applications, replacing the old copy. Your settings are kept, and automatic updates work again from then on.

Keyboard shortcut or menu bar asks for Automation permission / doesn't see my Finder folder

When you press the shortcut or choose New File Note from the menu bar, NoteDrop asks Finder which folder you're working in. macOS requires your permission for one app to control another, so the first time you'll see "NoteDrop wants access to control Finder". Click Allow.

If you clicked Don't Allow, NoteDrop can't see your Finder folder. To fix it:

  1. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Automation
  2. Find NoteDrop and turn on Finder
  3. Press the shortcut again with the matter folder open in Finder

If you declined, NoteDrop tells you where to allow it (once per launch) and shows the folder picker instead. Settings › Filing › Finder shows the Finder Automation status and has a button to fix it.

The Services menu, Finder right-click and Finder toolbar button don't need this permission.

Apple Intelligence Menu Missing or Unavailable

  • Apple Intelligence needs an Apple-silicon Mac with Apple Intelligence turned on in System Settings. Settings › Note Panel › Apple Intelligence and Dictation shows its status and links to the right System Settings page.
  • Check Use Apple Intelligence in the note panel is on.
  • If the model is still downloading, try again later.

Dictation Doesn't Start

  • Allow microphone access for NoteDrop in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone.
  • The first time, the speech model for your language downloads — watch the progress on the button.
  • If your language isn't supported, NoteDrop uses macOS Dictation instead; turn that on in System Settings → Keyboard → Dictation.

Getting Help

If you're still having issues:

  • Use the "Send Feedback" option in the menu bar for bug reports, or email [email protected]
  • Include your macOS version and NoteDrop version
  • Describe the steps to reproduce the issue