Bug reports and feature requests: github.com/zendax673/papyrus-release/issues
Email: zdfu189@gmail.com
Before opening an issue, check the in-app Help screens, the FAQ below, and the latest Changelog.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Papyrus Papers cloud-first?
No. Papyrus Papers is local-first. Your library database, imported PDFs, notes, search indexes, and backups live on your Mac unless you explicitly export, share, or sync them.
What is the difference between Copy Into Library and Keep PDFs In Place?
Copy Into Library copies the PDF into the managed library storage. Keep PDFs In Place leaves the file where it already lives and stores a security-scoped bookmark. Use Copy if you want Papyrus Papers to own the file lifecycle; use Keep if you already manage PDFs in Finder or a synced folder.
Does Papyrus Papers upload my PDFs automatically?
No. Papyrus Papers only sends files off your Mac when you explicitly enable WebDAV sync, share via the macOS share sheet, or export. Metadata lookup sends identifiers and queries, not your library.
Which metadata services does Papyrus Papers use?
Papyrus Papers can use Crossref, arXiv, Semantic Scholar, OpenAlex, OpenLibrary, NCBI / PubMed / PMC identifier services, Zenodo, and doi.org links for metadata lookup, identifier conversion, title repair, and citation-count enrichment. It also reads embedded XMP metadata directly from PDFs without a network request. The resolver registry is pluggable, so additional sources can be added without changing the rest of the app.
Where is the library stored?
Under ~/Library/Group Containers/group.com.zhendafu.Papyrus/Library/Application Support/. Managed PDFs and the full-text index live in the same App Group container.
Does Papyrus Papers keep backups?
Yes. Rolling local database backups, up to seven snapshots. You can also trigger a manual backup from Settings.
How does sync work?
The built-in v1.0 sync path is WebDAV. You choose the server, username, password, and remote folder. Papyrus Papers can also coexist with folders synced by other tools, but iCloud Drive sync is not part of the v1.0 app.
Does Papyrus Papers need an account?
No Papyrus Papers account is required.
Does Papyrus Papers include AI features?
On supported Macs and locales, Papyrus Papers can call Apple-provided Foundation Models for background metadata synthesis when an enrichment source returns ambiguous or partial data. Nothing in Papyrus Papers requires AI to function — every user-facing feature works without it, and enrichment falls back to non-AI heuristics on unsupported hardware.
Does Papyrus Papers index my library in Spotlight?
Yes. Core Spotlight integration lets papers appear in macOS system search. This is local, not a cloud service.
Filing a Bug Report
Include enough detail to reproduce the problem:
- macOS version
- Papyrus Papers version, commit hash, or build date
- Whether the PDF was copied into the library or kept in place
- Step-by-step reproduction instructions
- Whether sync, export, or metadata enrichment were involved
- Screenshots or screen recordings when helpful
Logs and Diagnostics
Papyrus Papers writes to the macOS unified logging system. A relevant Console excerpt can help when reporting runtime issues. Also useful:
- Whether automatic backups were enabled
- Whether the issue persists after restarting
- Whether it affects one paper, one project, or the whole library
Sensitive Data
Do not post secrets or private material in a public issue. Avoid including WebDAV passwords, OAuth tokens, private server URLs, or confidential PDFs.
Security Issues
If you believe you found a security issue, avoid posting exploit details publicly. Email zdfu189@gmail.com with a minimal description and we will follow up with a private reporting channel.
Last updated: May 19, 2026