Logseq Quick Capture: How to Capture Notes Faster (iPhone, iPad and Desktop)

Logseq quick capture is how you get a thought into Logseq before it slips. Logseq is an outliner where everything lands in blocks and the journal is the default inbox. This page covers what Logseq does on its own, where that falls short, and apps that capture without waiting for Logseq to open.

Ways Logseq’s own app lets you capture quickly

Today’s journal

Logseq opens on today’s journal, so typing there is the baseline. On desktop, g j jumps to journals.

Share sheet (iPhone and iPad)

Share text, links or images to Logseq. Text and links go in with the quick capture template (by default a [[quick capture]] line with the time); images and files are saved as assets. Logseq opens to finish the capture.

config.edn options let you insert into today’s journal or a default page and choose whether to jump to the page.

Quick add, Capture tab and widgets

The newer Logseq app (the database version) adds faster entry points on top of typing in the journal. The Quick add box sends to today’s journal (Cmd+E on Mac, Ctrl+Alt+E on Windows and Linux). The newer iPhone app adds a Capture tab with audio recording, Home Screen widget and Control Center buttons, and Shortcuts actions (Quick Add, Record Audio). These open the app.

Shortcuts and the URL scheme

logseq://x-callback-url/quickCapture?...&page=TODAY&append=true sends text, a link or a title to today’s journal or a named page. It is desktop only: it opens or focuses Logseq. The Share to Logseq bookmarklet uses the same link.

On iPhone, iPad and Mac you can also build a Shortcut that appends a - line to today’s journal file (journals/YYYY_MM_DD.md) in your graph folder. It runs from the Lock Screen, Action Button, Siri or the share sheet without opening Logseq, and works only with a Markdown (file) graph.

Desktop

On desktop you can use Quick add, g j, the bookmarklet and the URL scheme. There is no system-wide hotkey: Logseq has to be open and in front.

Where Logseq’s built-in capture falls short

Logseq’s own capture is fast once the app is open, but most built-in paths still go through Logseq first.

• Every built-in route except a Shortcut that appends to the journal file opens Logseq first (share sheet, Shortcuts actions, widgets, URL scheme). On a big graph or after an iCloud sync you wait before you can type.
• No global hotkey on Mac or PC; you have to switch to Logseq.
• Voice: the newer app records audio into the journal.
• The share sheet can drop captures onto whichever page is open instead of the journal unless you change the config.
• The URL scheme is desktop only.

Third-party apps for Logseq quick capture

Some apps write straight into your graph’s journal file or talk to the desktop app, so Logseq doesn’t have to open. The tools that write files need a Markdown (file) graph.

	How you start it	Capture without opening the Logseq app	What you can capture	Where it saves	Append to an existing page	Platforms
Logseq (built-in)	Today’s journal, share sheet, Quick add box, Shortcuts, a Shortcut that appends to the journal file, Home Screen widget and Control Center in the newer app, URL scheme and bookmarklet on desktop	No, except a Shortcut that appends to the journal file	Text, links, images, files and audio recordings	Today’s journal, or a default page you set	Yes, today’s journal or a page you name	iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows, Linux, web
Quick Notes - Supasend	Its capture screen, Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets, share sheet	Yes	Text, photos, files, scanned documents and audio	A new page, today’s journal or an existing page	Yes, top or bottom	iPhone
Drafts (Append to Logseq action)	Write a draft, then run the action	Yes, but the Logseq desktop app must be running	Text, as a block with child blocks	Today’s journal	Yes, adds to the end of today’s journal	Mac
Raycast Logseq extension	Raycast command (Quick Note, Add task) from anywhere	Yes	Text and tasks	Today’s journal file	Yes, adds to the end of today’s journal	Mac, Windows
Logseq Copilot	Browser extension button or menu on a web page	Yes, but the Logseq desktop app must be running	Selected text and page links	Today’s journal	Yes, adds to today’s journal	Chrome, Edge and Firefox on desktop

Quick Notes - Supasend (best third-party app)

Quick Notes - Supasend opens to an iPhone capture screen and writes into Logseq without opening Logseq: a new page, today’s journal or an existing page, adding to the top or bottom. You can start it from that capture screen, Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets, or the share sheet. Captures can be text, photos, files, scans and audio.

Drafts (Append to Logseq action)

Drafts sends the first line as a block and following lines as child blocks into today’s journal. It uses Logseq’s HTTP API server, so the Logseq desktop app must be running.

Raycast Logseq extension

The Raycast Logseq extension’s Quick Note command, run from anywhere on Mac or PC, appends to today’s journal. It can also add tasks and search.

Logseq Copilot (browser extension)

Logseq Copilot clips selected text or the page link to today’s journal from Chrome, Edge or Firefox. It needs Logseq’s HTTP API server turned on in the desktop app.

Which way to capture should you use?

• Already in Logseq on the desktop: Quick add (Cmd+E) or the journal.
• On iPhone without waiting for Logseq to open: Quick Notes - Supasend, the best third-party app (today’s journal or any page, top or bottom, plus photos, scans and audio); a Shortcut works for text only.
• Saving links from Safari on iPhone: Supasend.
• Mac or PC from anywhere: Raycast.
• Long notes you draft first: Drafts.
• Clipping while browsing on desktop: Logseq Copilot.