Buying and the trial
How much does Stickies cost?
$4.99, paid once. There's no subscription, updates are free, and one purchase covers up to 3 of your Windows PCs. You can try every feature free for 7 days first, without a credit card.
What happens when the free trial ends?
Your notes are never deleted. You can still open and read them and save a backup, but you can't create new notes until you buy a license. Once you paste your license key, everything works again right where you left it.
Can I use Stickies on more than one PC?
Yes, one license key works on up to 3 of your PCs at the same time. To move it to a new PC, click Deactivate this PC in Settings → License on the old one. If the old PC is gone, remove it at polar.sh/eigenlabs/portal, or email me and I'll sort it out.
I lost my license key. Where do I find it?
It's in the receipt email from Polar, the store I sell through. You can also sign in at polar.sh/eigenlabs/portal with the email you bought with to see your key at any time.
Is the Microsoft Store version different?
No, it's the same app. The only difference is that the Store version gets its updates from the Microsoft Store instead of from Stickies itself.
Privacy and security
Where are my notes stored?
On your PC, in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Stickies\stickies.db, unless you picked another folder in Settings → Backup & Data. There's no account and no cloud, and I never see your notes.
Can anyone else read my notes?
Every note is encrypted with Windows' built-in protection (DPAPI), so only your Windows account on your PC can read the notes file. Someone using your PC while you're signed in can open Stickies, though, so lock private notes with a PIN or press Win+L when you step away.
Does Stickies collect any data about me?
No. There's no analytics and no tracking. Stickies only goes online to activate your license and to check for updates, and you can turn off update checks in Settings → General.
Can I lock private notes with a password?
Yes. Set a 4-digit PIN in Settings → PIN Lock, then lock any note with Ctrl+Shift+L. Locked notes get a second layer of encryption with a key made from your PIN, and they ask for it every time you open them. The guide to locking notes explains what this protects.
What if I forget my PIN?
Click Forgot your PIN? and type the recovery key you got when you set up the PIN. Without the PIN or the recovery key, nobody can open locked notes, me included, so keep the recovery key somewhere safe.
Backups and moving PCs
Do my notes sync between PCs?
No. Your notes are encrypted for your Windows account on one PC, so another PC can't read them. To move notes to another PC, save a backup file and restore it there. You can also keep the notes file in a OneDrive, Dropbox or NAS folder, but only one PC can read it (what that protects).
How do I back up my notes?
Go to Settings → Backup & Data and click Save a backup. You get one file with all your notes, archived ones and pictures too, which you can restore on any PC. The backup file isn't encrypted, so keep it somewhere private.
How do I move my notes to a new PC?
On the old PC, save a backup in Settings → Backup & Data. Install Stickies on the new PC, then click Restore from a backup. Then move your license: the guide to moving to a new PC has every step.
Can I export notes to Markdown or plain text?
Yes. Open a note's More menu and choose Copy as Markdown or Save as Markdown, or type /copy in the note. The full backup is a JSON file, so your notes are never stuck in Stickies.
Using Stickies
How do I make a note from any app?
Press Win+Alt+N (or Ctrl+Alt+N or Alt+Shift+N) anywhere in Windows. Win+Alt+A opens All Notes, and the Shortcuts tab in Settings lists the rest.
I can't find the dock. Where did it go?
This can happen after unplugging a monitor. Right-click the Stickies icon near the clock and choose Reset Dock Position, or use Move it back in Settings → Dock.
Do notes stay on top of full-screen apps and games?
The dock stays on top of other windows by default, and you can change that in Settings → General. A note you pop out into its own window has a pin button to keep it on top too.
Does it work with more than one monitor?
Yes. In Settings → Dock you pick which screen the dock lives on: your main screen, a second screen, or whichever one your mouse is on. If you unplug a monitor, the dock moves back to a screen you still have.
Can I add pictures to a note?
Yes. Paste a screenshot, drag an image in from File Explorer, or type /image. Pictures are encrypted like the rest of the note.
Does Stickies start with Windows?
Yes, by default it starts when you sign in and waits at the edge of your screen. You can turn that off in Settings → General.
Windows and updates
Which versions of Windows does Stickies run on?
Windows 11 and Windows 10, 64-bit. It uses WebView2, which is already part of Windows 11 and most Windows 10 PCs.
Is there a Mac, phone or web version?
No, Stickies is only for Windows. On a Mac, I recommend Hold My Notes, the app that inspired Stickies.
How do I update Stickies?
Stickies checks for updates on its own and asks before installing one. You can also download the latest installer from the download page and run it over your current version. Your notes are kept. The changelog lists what changed in each version.
Something's broken. How do I get help?
Open Settings → Help & Support and click Write an email. The email already includes details about your setup (never your notes), which helps me find the problem faster. I read and answer every email.
Try Stickies free for 7 days
Then $4.99 once for up to 3 PCs. No subscription, no account, and your notes never leave your PC.