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FerventMind App

Getting Started

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FerventMind is a mind-mapping app for iPhone, iPad and Mac. A map starts with one central topic, and you build out from it: ideas, points, tasks and notes, arranged so you can see how they connect.

Make Your First Map

  • On the Mac, choose File ▸ New (⌘N) for a blank map, or File ▸ New from Template… (⇧⌘N) to start from a template.
  • On iPhone and iPad, tap New Map on the launch screen, or one of the template buttons such as New Message or New Pencil Notes. In portrait the extra buttons fold into More….

A new map opens with a central topic. Select it and press Tab (or tap Add Child) to add a topic under it, and Return (or tap Add Sibling) to add one beside it. Type to name each topic as you go.

Find Your Way Around

  • The map is where you build. Drag topics to move them; drop one on another to move it there.
  • The outline shows the same map as an indented list. Switch with the Map, Outline and Map Setup choice at the top of the window.
  • The inspector shows the selected topic's note, link, task, look and named text.
  • Notes (F4) opens a Markdown note for the selected topic, below or beside the map.

Open The Maps You Already Have

The Library shows every map in the folder you choose, such as your iThoughts folder in iCloud Drive, and searches all of them at once. On the Mac it opens at launch, or choose File ▸ Library… (⇧⌘L). On iPhone and iPad, tap Library on the launch screen.

Explore A Sample Map

The Sample Maps folder in your FerventMind folder has finished maps to look around, such as A Christmas Carol and a fantasy football draft plan. Find it in the Library, or in Files under iCloud Drive ▸ FerventMind ▸ Sample Maps.

Where To Go Next

  • Moving From iThoughts explains how your iThoughts maps open and how to keep editing them.
  • Building A Map covers topics, relationships, boundaries, callouts and the keyboard.
  • Presenter Mode And Recording shows how to present a map one branch at a time.

Opening, reading, presenting and exporting maps are free. Making and changing maps needs Unlock Editing, described in its own page.

Next: Moving From iThoughts →