Desktop & Mobile Apps

Desktop App for Mac

Thoughtful offers a native desktop application for macOS that provides a seamless, distraction-free experience with exclusive features not available in the web version.

Downloading the Desktop App

You can download the Thoughtful desktop app from our website at thoughtful.app. The app is available as a DMG installer for macOS.

Key Desktop Features

The desktop app includes several features designed to make Thoughtful feel like a natural part of your Mac workflow:

Global Keyboard Shortcuts

Access Thoughtful instantly from anywhere on your Mac using customizable keyboard shortcuts:

• Open Thoughtful - Press Command twice (Command + Command) to instantly bring Thoughtful to the front, no matter what app you're using. This works system-wide.
• Voice Shortcut - Press Control + Option to activate voice input and speak directly to Thoughtful. Your voice is transcribed and sent to the AI assistant.

You can customize these shortcuts in the app's settings. The available modifier keys are:

• Command
• Control
• Option
• Shift

To use global shortcuts, you'll need to grant Thoughtful "Input Monitoring" permission in System Settings > Privacy & Security.

Native Desktop Notifications

Receive native macOS notifications for important updates. These integrate seamlessly with your system's notification center and can be configured in Settings.

Granola Integration

If you use Granola for meeting transcription, the desktop app provides a powerful integration that lets you:

• Browse your meetings - Ask the AI to list your recent Granola meetings
• Import transcripts - Pull meeting transcripts directly into your Thoughtful pages
• Create pages from meetings - Turn any meeting into a structured page with notes and transcript

To use this feature, simply ask the AI something like:

• "Show me my recent Granola meetings"
• "Import the transcript from my last meeting"
• "Create a page from my standup meeting yesterday"

This integration works locally - Thoughtful reads from Granola's cache on your Mac, so your meeting data never leaves your computer.

Hidden Title Bar

The desktop app uses a clean, minimal design with the macOS traffic lights (close, minimize, fullscreen) integrated into the window. This gives you more screen space for your content.

Auto-Updates

The desktop app automatically checks for updates and notifies you when a new version is available. Updates are downloaded in the background, and you can choose when to restart and apply them.

System Requirements

• macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later
• Apple Silicon or Intel processor

Mobile Experience with PWA

Thoughtful works beautifully on mobile devices through a Progressive Web App (PWA). This means you can install Thoughtful directly from your browser and use it like a native app.

What is a PWA?

A Progressive Web App is a website that can be installed on your device and used like a regular app. It offers:

• Offline-capable - Core functionality works even without an internet connection
• App-like experience - Full-screen interface without browser chrome
• Push notifications - Receive updates about activity in your workspace
• Home screen icon - Launch Thoughtful just like any other app

Installing on iOS (iPhone/iPad)

To install Thoughtful as a PWA on iOS:

• Open Safari and navigate to thoughtful.app
• Tap the Share button (the square with an arrow pointing up)
• Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen
• Give it a name (or keep "Thoughtful") and tap Add

That's it! You'll now find Thoughtful on your home screen. Tap it to launch the full app experience.

Note: Push notifications on iOS require the PWA to be installed. You cannot receive notifications when using Thoughtful in the browser.

Installing on Android

To install Thoughtful as a PWA on Android:

• Open Chrome and navigate to thoughtful.app
• Tap the three-dot menu in the top right
• Tap Add to Home screen or Install app
• Confirm by tapping Add

Mobile-Optimized Interface

The mobile version of Thoughtful is specifically designed for smaller screens:

• Bottom navigation - Switch between Chat and Pages with easy-to-reach tabs
• Full-screen pages - Page details open as a full-screen overlay for focused reading and editing
• Touch-friendly controls - All interactions are optimized for touch
• Safe area support - Content properly avoids notches and home indicators

Push Notifications

Once you've installed the PWA and granted notification permissions, you'll receive push notifications for:

• AI responses when you're away
• Activity in your workspace
• Important updates

You can configure notification preferences in Settings.

Native iOS App

We have a fully native iOS app built with Swift and SwiftUI. It provides a polished mobile experience with:

• Native performance and animations
• Full offline support
• Push notifications
• Seamless integration with iOS features

You can join the beta via TestFlight or download it from thoughtful.app/download/ios.

Cross-Platform Experience

Thoughtful is designed to work seamlessly across all your devices:

Real-Time Sync

All your pages, chats, and settings sync in real-time across devices. Start a conversation on your Mac and continue it on your phone without missing a beat.

Consistent Design

Whether you're on desktop, tablet, or phone, Thoughtful maintains a consistent design language. You'll always feel at home.

Platform-Appropriate Features

Each platform gets features that make sense:

Choosing the Right App

• Use the desktop app if you spend most of your time on a Mac and want the best keyboard-driven experience with Granola integration
• Use the PWA if you primarily access Thoughtful from mobile devices or prefer using a browser
• Use both for the full cross-platform experience

Troubleshooting

Desktop App

Global shortcut not working?

• Check that Thoughtful has "Input Monitoring" permission in System Settings > Privacy & Security
• Try disabling and re-enabling the shortcut in Settings

Granola integration not finding meetings?

• Make sure Granola is installed and you've recorded at least one meeting
• The feature reads from Granola's local cache, so meetings must be synced locally

Mobile PWA

Can't install the PWA?

• Make sure you're using Safari on iOS or Chrome on Android
• Check that you're on the actual thoughtful.app website, not a redirected page

Not receiving notifications?

• Verify you've enabled notifications in your device settings
• On iOS, the PWA must be installed to your home screen for notifications to work