Frequently asked questions
Answers to common questions about Legend. Something missing? Send feedback.
What is Legend?
Legend is a keyboard-native markdown editor that treats every file the same. It opens a
folder of .md files and indexes the vault for search and backlinks. You do not need an
account, and your notes stay as plain .md files on disk. The index is derived from
those files; it is not the source of truth.
How do I download and install it?
Visit Legend's download page for current downloads. If you have an invitation link, you can also use it to get a build for your platform.
On Windows: SmartScreen may warn you when you first run the installer. If you trust the download, choose "More info", then "Run anyway".
On macOS: Legend's release process signs and notarizes the app. macOS may still ask you to confirm that you want to open an app downloaded from the internet.
Platforms: The release builds target Windows and Apple Silicon macOS. Check the download page for current availability.
Does Legend change or move my files?
Legend opens your vault in place, with no required import or migration. It saves edits when you ask it to. If you rename or move a file, Legend can also update links in other notes that point to it. If you turn on sync, changes from your other devices are applied to the vault.
The derived index is stored in .legend/cache/ and can be rebuilt from your files.
Saved graph views live in .legend/graph-views.json, so keep that file if you want to
keep your views. Images you paste or drop into a note go to the attachment folder you
choose in Settings, which can be inside .obsidian/.
Can I open my existing Obsidian vault?
Yes. Point Legend at the folder and it opens in place, with no required import or
conversion. [[wiki-links]] resolve, callouts (> [!NOTE]) render, and embeds render.
Legend adds its own files under .legend/. Your notes change when you edit them, when
you ask Legend to update links after a rename or move, or when enabled sync applies
changes. Pasted images go to your chosen attachment folder, even if it is under
.obsidian/.
For a wikilink with a path, Legend looks for an exact path, then a matching path suffix, then those matches without case sensitivity. For a link with only a page name, it looks for an exact basename, then one without case sensitivity. If more than one file matches at the same step, the first match wins.
What are the keyboard basics?
| Shortcut | Does |
|---|---|
Ctrl+P |
Go to a file by name (recents first) |
Ctrl+Shift+F |
Full-text search across the vault |
Ctrl+\ |
Toggle the file browser (Ctrl+. does the same) |
Ctrl+N |
New file in the current folder |
Ctrl+O |
Open any file from disk (notepad mode) |
Ctrl+E |
Toggle source / live preview |
Ctrl+Shift+P |
Command palette — every command, searchable |
Ctrl+, |
Settings (rebind listed commands here) |
On a Mac, read every Ctrl above as Cmd. Legend binds these to the platform's own
modifier rather than to Ctrl literally.
Commands listed in Settings can be rebound, and the command palette (Ctrl+Shift+P)
shows each command's current chord. Ctrl/Cmd+1 through 8 jump to those tabs, and
Ctrl/Cmd+9 jumps to the last tab. Those tab shortcuts are fixed.
(Ctrl+B is Bold, as it is everywhere else. The file browser is Ctrl+\.)
What's the vault model — do I have to pick a folder?
Legend works two ways. Vault mode opens a folder and indexes the whole thing (search,
backlinks, autocomplete). Notepad mode (Ctrl+O / Save As anywhere) edits a single
loose file with no indexing — a file that lands inside the vault becomes an indexed page;
a file outside is just a loose file you're editing.
How do I report a bug?
Fastest path: inside Legend, open the command palette (Ctrl+Shift+P) and run
Report a bug. It shows you exactly what gets included — your Legend version, your OS,
and how many notes are in your index — then opens a pre-filled issue form in your browser.
Legend sends nothing here: it opens a URL, and you review and submit the issue
yourself.
Legend also lists an issue form and support@alegend.io as contact options.
Is there any telemetry? Does Legend phone home?
Nothing is sent for telemetry before you agree to it. Legend asks for consent and may ask again if you install a newly seen official plugin. If you decline or do not answer, it sends no telemetry.
If you do opt in, Legend sends counts periodically during a 30-day window. It posts
to https://alegend.io/api/telemetry, and the payload is six counters:
| Counter | What it counts |
|---|---|
graphOpens |
times you opened the graph |
editorActiveMinutes |
minutes spent actively editing |
layoutForceUses · layoutCascadeUses · layoutVennUses |
which graph layouts you used |
writeSideTouched |
whether you used a feature that writes to the vault |
No file names, file contents, paths, vault contents or identifiers. Six integers count which features get used.
Consent expires after 30 days and the counts stop sending. If a newly installed official plugin triggers another prompt, sending pauses until you agree again.
Separately, a bug report includes your Legend version, OS and vault file count — it shows you exactly what it will include, and you submit the GitHub issue yourself. Nothing is sent from Legend for that.