Outline for Mac Cannot Start

If Outline for Mac is not launching or behaving unexpectedly, resetting the app’s cache may help resolve the issue. This guide provides step-by-step instructions for both Mac App Store and direct download users to reset Outline and restore their notebooks.

🔹 Step 1: Close Outline

Before making any changes, ensure that Outline is completely closed:

1. Click Outline in the menu bar.
2. Select Quit Outline (or press Cmd + Q).

🔹 Step 2: Backup Your Cache Folder

Your notebooks are usually stored outside of the cache folder, but to be safe, create a backup before resetting.

For Direct Download Users (from our website)

1. Open Finder.
2. Click Go > Go to Folder in the menu bar.
3. Enter the following path and press Enter:

~/Library/Outline/

4. Copy the StorageOne folder to a safe location (such as your desktop).

For Mac App Store Users

1. Open Finder.
2. Click Go > Go to Folder in the menu bar.
3. Enter the following path and press Enter:

~/Library/Containers/com.gorillized.outlinemac/Data/Library/Outline/

4. Copy the StorageOne folder to a safe location.

🔹 Step 3: Delete the Outline Cache Folder

Now, delete the cache folders for a fresh start.

For Direct Download Users

• Delete the entire ~/Library/Outline/ folder.

For Mac App Store Users

• Go to ~/Library/Containers/.
• Delete all folders named “Outline”.

🔹 Step 4: Restart Outline and Reopen Your Notebooks

1. Launch Outline.

• Your previously opened notebooks will not appear automatically.
• Don’t worry! Your data is safe, and you just need to reopen them.

2. If you don’t remember where your notebooks are stored, use Finder’s search:

• Type your notebook name or a section name.
• Look for .one or .onedoc files.
• Once found, open them in Outline.

After reopening your notebooks, everything should be back to normal! If you still experience issues, please contact us at support@outline.app for further assistance. 😊