> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://learn.cleftnotes.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Drafts

> Send Cleft notes into Drafts via Apple Shortcuts, with Local Sync as a fallback

<Note>
  Drafts stores notes in its own database, not as files on disk, so it isn't folder-watched. The natural fit for Drafts is the **[Apple Shortcut](/user-guides/integrations/drafts/shortcuts/cleft-voice-note-to-drafts-inbox)**, which sends a note straight into Drafts via URL scheme. **Local Sync** is also available if you want a file-based archive alongside Drafts.
</Note>

## Recommended: Apple Shortcut

For a one-tap **Send to Drafts** flow, use the [Cleft → Drafts shortcut](/user-guides/integrations/drafts/shortcuts/cleft-voice-note-to-drafts-inbox). It uses Drafts' URL scheme (`drafts://x-callback-url/create?text=...`) so notes appear directly in your Drafts inbox without any file imports.

This is the primary integration path for Drafts users.

## Alternative: Local Sync

If you prefer a file-based archive (for example, to keep `.md` files alongside an Obsidian vault or NotePlan folder that Drafts can occasionally pull from), [Local Sync](/user-guides/integrations/local-sync/overview) is free on Mac, iPhone, and iPad and auto-exports every note as a `.md` file. [Cleft Plus](/user-guides/upgrade-to-plus) lets you point exports at a Drafts-adjacent folder instead of Cleft's Documents/Cleft Notes folder.

Here's what a synced note looks like:

```markdown theme={null}
---
cleft_id: 12431
title: "Meeting with Jonny"
tags: ["work", "ideas"]
created: 2026-05-06T10:30:00Z
updated: 2026-05-06T11:15:00Z
source: cleft
transcript: "full transcript on one line, newlines collapsed to spaces"
---
AI-generated summary body goes here.

#work #ideas
```

In Drafts, this renders as:

* **Body** containing the full file. Frontmatter shows up as visible text at the top (Drafts has no Properties concept), then the AI summary, then inline hashtags
* **Tag pane** picks up `#work` and `#ideas` from the inline hashtags, clickable for filtering
* **Drafts library** does **not** auto-import the file. You have to drag-drop it in or run an Action that reads the folder

This is one-way sync: Cleft → folder. Edits you make to the `.md` file are overwritten on the next Cleft sync of that note.

## Drafts-specific tips

* **Tags:** Inline `#tag` syntax at the end of the body is clickable in Drafts' tag panel. Multi-word tags become `#multi-word` and slashed tags like `#work/meetings` are preserved.
* **Frontmatter as body content:** Drafts has no Properties UI, so the YAML block appears at the top of the draft as visible text. If that bothers you, use the Apple Shortcut path instead; it sends just the body content.
* **Drag-drop import:** Drafts doesn't watch folders by default. To pull a `.md` file into Drafts, drag-drop it onto the Drafts window or use a custom Drafts Action that reads from your Local Sync folder.

## Limitations

* **Not folder-watched.** Drafts stores notes in its own database, so `.md` files written by Local Sync won't appear in Drafts automatically. You'll need to import them manually or via a Drafts Action.
* **No frontmatter rendering.** YAML keys like `title`, `tags`, `cleft_id` show up as text, not structured fields.
* **No bidirectional sync.** Edits you make in Drafts to an imported `.md` don't propagate back. If you also have Local Sync writing to the same `.md`, your Drafts edits get overwritten.

For most Drafts workflows, the [Apple Shortcut](/user-guides/integrations/drafts/shortcuts/cleft-voice-note-to-drafts-inbox) is the right choice.