Usage Guide
Getting Started:
Usage Guide
From installation to capture and restore,
this guide walks you through
ThreadKeeper's basic operations step by step.
1Installation and First Launch
Available for both Windows and macOS.
Just run the downloaded installer — no special knowledge required.
For Windows
- Download
ThreadKeeper.Setup.0.1.0.exe from the home page
- Double-click the downloaded exe file to run it
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete installation
- Launch ThreadKeeper from the desktop or Start menu
If you see a SmartScreen warning:
Click "More info," then "Run anyway."
This appears because the app does not yet have a code signing certificate,
but it is safe to use.
For macOS
- Download
ThreadKeeper-0.1.0.dmg from the home page
- Open the downloaded dmg file
- Drag ThreadKeeper into the Applications folder
- Launch ThreadKeeper from Applications or Spotlight
If you see an "unidentified developer" warning:
Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security, then click "Open Anyway."
This appears because the app does not yet have an Apple Developer signature,
but it is safe to use.
First Launch Setup
When you launch ThreadKeeper for the first time,
you'll be prompted to configure an AI provider.
An API key is required to use the AI summary feature.
Don't have an API key yet?
Google Gemini offers a free tier,
so you can get started right away.
View the AI Setup Guide
You can skip the API key setup if you prefer.
Capture and manual restore will still work.
Only the AI summary feature will be disabled.
2Understanding the Main Screen
The main window appears when you launch the app.
All operations can be performed from here.
API design research and Slack discussion
2026/02/21 14:32 · Windows x4 · Tabs x8
Restore
React component refactoring
2026/02/21 10:15 · Windows x6 · Tabs x15
Restore
Watching AWS tutorial on YouTube
2026/02/20 18:40 · Windows x2 · Tabs x5
Restore
Session List
Previously captured sessions are
listed in chronological order.
You can see the AI-generated title,
date/time, and number of
windows and tabs at a glance.
Capture Button
Click to instantly record
your PC's current state.
Can also be triggered via
keyboard shortcut.
Restore
The button on the right side
of each session card.
One click restores the apps
and tabs from that moment.
Settings Button
Switch AI providers,
change shortcut keys,
and configure other settings.
3Capturing a Session
Whenever you want to save your current state,
just press the shortcut.
How to Capture
You can capture using either of these methods:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + S (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + S (macOS) on your keyboard
- Click the "Capture" button on the main screen
Scanned Items
Windows x5
Tabs x12
Clipboard
Recent Files x3
What Gets Recorded
- Open applications — A list of window titles
- Browser tabs — URLs and page titles
- Clipboard — Copied content (first 200 characters)
- Recent files — A list of file paths
Tip: You can capture as many times as you like.
Recording at each work milestone makes it
easier to return to any point later.
4AI Summary and Notes
Immediately after capture, AI analyzes your work.
It automatically summarizes "what you were doing."
AI Auto-Summary
"It appears you were researching API design using Gemini
while communicating with team members on Slack.
You also had authentication code open in VSCode."
Does this summary look correct?
Yes
Edit
✎ Note: Auth error handling incomplete. Continue tomorrow.
What You Can Do Here
- Review the summary — Check if the AI's interpretation is correct
- Edit the summary — If it's wrong, click "Edit" to modify it
- Add notes — Add your own notes freely.
"Done up to this point," "Start with XX next," etc. —
perfect as a message to your future self
If AI is not configured:
No summary will be generated, and the title will default
to a "date + window count" format.
You can still manually enter a title and notes.
5Understanding the Session List
Here's what each item in the
session list on the main screen means.
API design research and Slack discussion
2026/02/21 14:32
Open Applications
VSCode
auth-handler.ts — ThreadKeeper
Browser Tabs
Gemini — API Design Best Practices
Notes
Auth error handling incomplete. Continue tomorrow.
Restore
Information Shown on Session Cards
- Title — AI-generated summary or manually entered title
- Date/Time — When the capture was taken
- Window/Tab count — Overview of recorded information
- Notes — Personal notes added at capture time
Click a session card to expand it and see
the full list of apps and tabs that were open.
6Restoring a Session
Just press the restore button.
Your work environment from that moment comes right back.
How to Restore
- Find the session you want to restore in the main screen's session list
- Click the "Restore" button
- Apps will launch and browser tabs will reopen automatically
What Gets Restored
- Applications — Apps that were open at capture time will be launched
- Browser tabs — Tabs from the capture will open in a new window
- Clipboard — The clipboard content from capture time is restored
Current version limitations:
Scroll position and window size restoration are not yet supported.
Browser form input content cannot be restored.
The original applications must be installed on your PC.
Tip: You can restore the same session as many times as you want.
There's no issue with restoring the same session repeatedly.
You can even use it as a template —
"I want to start with this setup every morning."
7Settings
Access various settings from the "Settings" button
on the main screen.
AI Provider
Configure your AI provider
and API key.
Supports Gemini / OpenAI /
Anthropic / Ollama.
AI Model
Choose which model to use
for each provider.
Lighter models respond faster.
Shortcut Key
Customize the capture shortcut key
to your preference.
Default is Ctrl+Shift+S.
Data Storage Location
View where session data is stored.
Default location:
Windows: %APPDATA%\ThreadKeeper\
macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/ThreadKeeper/
Language
Change the display language.
Supports Japanese, English,
Français, Italiano, and 中文
(5 languages).
About switching providers:
Your existing session data is preserved
when you switch providers.
You can change providers at any time.
8Keyboard Shortcuts
Handy keyboard shortcuts to remember.
| Key |
Action |
Ctrl + Shift + S (Windows)
Cmd + Shift + S (macOS) |
Capture session |
Tip: You can change the shortcut key in the settings.
If it conflicts with another app, customize it to your liking.
9Tips and Tricks
A few tips to help you get the most
out of ThreadKeeper.
Capture Before Leaving Work
Capture at the end of each day, and you'll never have to wonder
"What was I doing yesterday?" the next morning.
The AI summary becomes a handoff note from yesterday's you.
Capture When Switching Tasks
When an interruption comes in, capture your current work first.
Once the interruption is done, hit "Restore"
to get back to your original work environment instantly.
Make the Most of Notes
Leave a quick note like "Start from XX next" or "Waiting on YY" at capture time,
and you'll know exactly where to pick up when you restore.
Think of it as a message to your future self.
Works Without AI Too
Even without an API key,
the core capture and restore features work just fine.
Try it without AI first,
and add AI summaries later if you find it useful.
Go Fully Offline with Ollama
If you don't want any data sent externally,
use Ollama for a completely offline experience.
See the AI Setup Guide for details.