MindMap Chat
Features & setup
What the app does, and how to set it up in five steps.
Download — it's free Full user guide
What it does
| Feature | What you get |
|---|---|
| AI chat on any node | Ask about one idea; the AI sees that branch, not the whole document. Save the answer as the node's note |
| AI edits the map | The AI proposes new branches; you review them, and one Undo takes them back |
| Local AI | Runs on your computer through Ollama or LM Studio, which the app installs for you. Private and free |
| Encrypted on your device | Maps, chats and settings are AES-256 encrypted with your passphrase. No account |
| Offline semantic search | Find ideas by meaning, with no internet |
| Papers from arXiv | Find papers for any node in ArticleAtlas's dataset of arXiv papers, and AI answers that know about them — with a tested model, AI that searches arXiv itself and lists its sources. Followed topics kept up to date. Public data, off with one switch |
| Import | Freeplane (.mm) and XMind (.xmind) maps |
| Cloud AI (optional) | Claude or OpenAI with your own API key — only if you choose it, and only after you agree |
| Also | Starter templates, maths (LaTeX), rich text, full undo/redo |
Set it up
1. Install
Download the app for Windows, macOS, Linux or Android from the website and install it.
- macOS: if it says the app cannot be checked, open System Settings → Privacy & Security and press Open Anyway.
- Android: allow installing apps from your browser when asked.
2. Choose a passphrase
On the first screen, Protect your data, type a passphrase twice and press Encrypt & continue. Tick Remember on this device to skip typing it next time.
Write it down. Nobody can recover it, and without it your maps cannot be opened.
3. Choose an AI (optional)
Everything except the AI works without this step. Open Settings → AI (library: ⋮ menu; in a map: the gear icon), then:
| You want | Do this |
|---|---|
| Private and free (recommended) | Provider: Ollama. Model: Gemma 3n, or Qwen 2.5 (7B) with 16 GB of memory. Press Save — the app installs Ollama and downloads the model |
| LM Studio, which you already use | Provider: LM Studio, pick a Model, press Save. On Linux, install LM Studio yourself first |
| Best answers, paid per use | Provider: Claude (Anthropic) or OpenAI, paste your API key, agree to the prompt, press Save. The User guide shows how to get a key |
| AI on your phone | Set up Ollama or LM Studio on a computer on the same Wi-Fi, then enter its Server address (e.g. 192.168.1.50) on the phone. Claude and OpenAI also work on a phone |
4. Make a map
New map for a blank one, ⋮ → Start from a template for a ready structure, or Import for a Freeplane or XMind file. Select a node to see its actions, including the AI chat.
Need help?
See Troubleshooting in the User guide, or write to feedback@mindmapchat.app.