Stable

VS Code, Cursor & Codex IDE

The primary developer entry point — compose, configure, and share without switching context.

Install from MarketplaceDeveloper walkthrough
PrivateNote sidebar panel in VS Code or Cursor with title, content, expiry, and burn-after-reading options
Sidebar panel in VS Code or Cursor — compose a note, set expiry and burn-after-reading, then share without leaving the editor.

Who this is for

If you spend your day in an editor, this is the lowest-friction path. Install once and create encrypted handoff links from the sidebar, a context menu, or the editor title bar.

Select any text and right-click Share as PrivateNote for quick one-off transfers. The extension encrypts locally and copies the link to your clipboard.

Install

# VS Code / Cursor Extensions panel (Cmd+Shift+X / Ctrl+Shift+X)
# Search: PrivateNote

# Or install from the terminal:
code --install-extension PrivateNote.privatenote-vscode

Security architecture

The extension uses the same client-side encryption as the web app: AES-256-GCM with a random 256-bit key that never leaves your machine.

Only ciphertext is uploaded. The decryption key is appended to the share URL as a fragment, outside HTTP requests.

Encrypt locally

AES-256-GCM on your device — browser, editor, terminal, or MCP process.

Upload ciphertext

Only encrypted bytes and note metadata (expiry, burn-after-reading) reach the server.

Key in #fragment

The decryption key stays in the URL hash. Browsers do not send fragments in HTTP requests.

privatenote.ai/note/…#key

Full diagram on developer hub

  • Sidebar flow for deliberate notes with expiry and burn settings.

  • Selection and title-bar shortcuts for fast handoffs.

  • Link copied to clipboard after create — treat it like the secret itself.

Workflows and commands

NameDescription
Sidebar panelCompose content, set expiry, burn-after-reading, then share
Share as PrivateNoteContext menu on selected text
Title bar actionLock icon when text is selected
privatenote.apiBaseUrlAPI host for self-hosted instances (default: https://privatenote.ai)
privatenote.webOriginShare-link origin; usually matches apiBaseUrl
Default expiry15 minutes, 1 hour, 1 day, or 7 days
Burn after readingEnabled by default; note self-destructs after first view

Related integrations

PrivateNote CLI

Zero-footprint secrets in scripts, pipes, and CI — encrypted locally before anything reaches the network.

View docs

MCP server for AI agents

Let agents hand off secrets securely — encryption runs locally in the MCP process.

View docs

OpenAI Codex plugin

MCP plus skills for Codex CLI and IDE — same repository as this site.

View docs

Chrome extension

Encrypt selected text in the browser without opening privatenote.ai — same client-side flow, fewer context switches.

View docs
Developer integrations

VS Code, Cursor & Codex IDE

The primary developer entry point — compose, configure, and share without switching context.

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