Getting Started
Browsers & requirements
visualOS runs in any modern browser — but one feature, saving into a real folder, needs the browser to support it. Here’s the honest compatibility picture.
More in Getting Started
The short version
| Browser | Canvas & all tools | Folder connection |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome (desktop) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Edge (desktop) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Brave (desktop) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Safari | ✓ | — browser storage only |
| Firefox | ✓ | — browser storage only |
| Native app (iPhone/iPad/Mac) | ✓ | ✓ incl. iCloud Drive |
Why the difference?
Saving into a folder of your choice uses a browser capability called the File System Access API. Chromium-based browsers (Chrome, Edge, Brave, Arc, Opera…) ship it; Safari and Firefox don’t yet. In those browsers visualOS shows “Browser only” — everything works, but data lives in the browser’s internal storage instead of visible files.
Using Safari or Firefox anyway?
That’s fine for trying things out. For real work we recommend two habits:
- Export backups now and then (Settings → Folder & Workspace → Export backup) — a single file containing all your boards and images. Details.
- Don’t use private/incognito windows — browsers may drop stored data when the window closes. visualOS warns you if storage isn’t available.
Other requirements
None worth mentioning. There’s no minimum spec — the canvas is engineered to stay fast with thousands of elements on ordinary hardware. An internet connection is only needed to load the app the first time and for optional link previews; everything else works offline.
One canvas, several browsers? Keep just one tab open at a time — visualOS warns you if the same workspace is open twice, because two live tabs could overwrite each other.