Troubleshooting and FAQ
First-run warnings, sign-in issues, sync questions, and where to get help.
Most problems on this page have a short fix. Find the heading that matches what you see, follow the steps, and you are usually back in under a minute.
”Windows protected your PC”
SmartScreen shows this notice for publishers it has not seen much of yet, even though the Kempt installer is code-signed. Click More info, then Run anyway. The notice fades on its own as the app builds reputation.
macOS asks before opening the app
Kempt builds are signed and notarized, so this should be rare. If macOS still asks, right-click the app and choose Open once.
The AI panel says “Sign-in needed”
Claude Code is installed but not signed in. Click Open terminal to sign in, run /login in the terminal that opens, and Kempt detects the sign-in. Note that a paid Claude plan is required (Pro, Max, Team, or Enterprise); the free Claude.ai plan does not include Claude Code. See AI in Kempt for the full setup.
The AI says “Installed, restart to finish”
Restart Kempt once after installing Claude Code. That completes the setup.
”This folder is already open in another window”
One home opens in exactly one window. Another Kempt window already has this folder open, so close that window first.
Note: After a crash, the lock clears automatically on the next launch. You do not need to do anything.
Kempt cannot find my home folder
You probably moved or renamed the folder. Kempt shows a recovery screen instead of starting over; point it at the folder’s new location and continue where you left off.
Warning when picking a OneDrive or Dropbox folder
Cloud sync engines can corrupt files while Kempt is working with them. Choose a plain local folder instead, or proceed knowingly at your own risk. See Your data for how Kempt stores files.
Sync says “Device limit reached”
Remove a computer you no longer use under Settings > Cloud Sync > Synced devices, or move to a plan with more devices.
Sync says “Some files weren’t synced”
A file exceeds your plan’s maximum file size. That file stays local; everything else syncs normally.
I forgot my sync encryption password
Unlock with your recovery code, the code in the form XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX. See Sync for details.
Warning: If both the password and the recovery code are lost, the data on the server cannot be decrypted by anyone. That is the point of the zero-knowledge design. Your local files are unaffected either way.
Search results seem stale
The index is catching up. The status indicator shows Updating… or Rebuilding… while it works, and results correct themselves once it finishes. No action needed.
How do I switch the app to Korean?
Open Settings > General > Language and pick the language you want.
Do I need an account?
No. Accounts exist only for Sync. Everything local works with no account and no network connection.
Is my data sent anywhere?
No. Your notes stay on your machine. The AI runs on your own Claude account, and only when you use it. Sync uploads data only if you turn it on, and only as encrypted data.
Do I need to reinstall to update?
No. Kempt updates itself in the background.
Still stuck
Ask in Discord or email hello@kempt.md. Describe what you did and what you saw; that is usually enough for a quick answer.