Getting started

Open the box, and write.

Turn on your Zerowriter Ink using the power switch on the side. You'll see the logo for a moment, and then the editor and your writing canvas. A blank page with a cursor. Go ahead and write! There's no account to create, and nothing to configure.

Start typing. Your words appear, and the cursor follows along. Most standard word-processing controls will work as you expect. For example, press Enter for a new paragraph, Backspace to delete a character, etc.

The SD card

Your documents live on the SD card. You can pop the card out by pressing on it, and activated the spring mechanism. No card? You can still work. Zerowriter also has 1MB of built-in storage, which shows up on the device as hd. It's reccomended to primarily use SD card storage.

The Menu key

The Menu key helps you access more controls outside the current document. It's important for managing your documents and settings. Press it to open the menu; press it again from anywhere to jump straight back to writing.

Guide written for v2.04+

Want to update your Ink? Press the Menu key, and you will see a version number at the bottom of the screen, like V1.3. Download the latest firmware file from the updates page, copy it to your SD card as exactly firmware.bin, insert the card into your Ink, and power on. The device updates itself. If you'd rather not update, no problem. But this guide may have some features your Ink does not.

How Ink is different

Ink's built for writers.

Zerowriter Ink isn't a low-power laptop or computer. It's a writing tool. Stuff works a bit differently, and for a good reason: it has to!

Your first document

Write first, name it later.

Saving

Your Zerowriter actually has two file name components: one for writers, and one for geeks. The title, like Chapter 1, is automatically created from your first line of text in your document. The filename, like (zw000001.txt) is the computer-friendly name of the file which is auto-generated by default. You can change your filename by renaming the file, and you can update your title by adjusting the first line in your document.

Press Ctrl+S to save. Or, access the Menu and select Save. Your first save names your document automatically (something like zw000001.txt); every save after that updates the same file. Save will automatically generate a document title from your first line: Chapter 1, for example.

Renaming a file

If you do want a new file name, like helloworld.txt, you can adjust it. In your document, highlight a word in your text. Hold Shift and move the cursor across it. Then press Ctrl+S. This performs a "Save As", and the highlighted word becomes the filename.

Highlight helloworld, save, and you've got helloworld.txt. You can also rename any file later from the file browser in the Menu.

Autosave

Zerowriter quietly saves as you work: every 250 words by default. You can change the pace (or turn it off) in Settings › system › Autosave Every.

Starting fresh

Press Ctrl+N to save what you're working on and open a new, blank document. Press Ctrl+D to duplicate the current document instead. These options are also available in the Menu.

Opening a document

Press the Menu key, and navigate to Files. Your files are listed there. Arrow down to one and press Enter to pick it up where you left off.

Your canvas

Your writing area. Make it look the way you want.

Everything about how the editor looks: Menu › settings › Canvas.

E-Paper canvas tips

E-paper can pick up faint artifacts/ghosting over time. It's how the technology operates. Press Ctrl+R for a full refresh and a clean page. You can also trade speed for contrast with the ePaper Speed setting (in the input tab): Fastest is the most responsive, Slow gives the darkest text.

Making Zerowriter Ink feel faster

The less the screen has to repaint, the snappier typing feels. A few settings make the biggest difference:

Set ePaper Speed to Fastest (Settings › input). It's the single biggest speed adjustment, traded against lighter/dirtier text. Pick a smaller Font. A 14-point font repaints less screen than a 24-point one. Experiment with different margins, line spacing, and other options to adjust canvas speed.

Your files

Simple file management. More control when needed.

Press the Menu key, then select Files and press Down or Return to see your documents. Four tabs across the top filter the view. Switch with Left and Right:

File actions

Select a file and press Tab to open its actions. Use actions to rename, move, duplicate, flag, or delete it. Flagged files are marked with an "!" and get their own tab, so if you are juggling a lot of files, you can quickly find your works-in-progress. (You can also press f on any SD file to flag or unflag it.)

Folders

If you choose, you can manage your files in Folders. The SD card gives you access to up to nine folders, and you can label each folder with a tag: select a folder in the browser, press Tab, and choose tag. For example, Fiction or Ideas. Press 1–9 in the file browser to jump straight into a folder, or move files there with the move action. Inside a folder, a << back row at the top of the list returns you to the main view. If you don't want to worry about folders, you can hide folders via Settings › system › Show Folders.

Deleting

You can delete a file in the browser by selecting it and pressing Backspace. Your Zerowriter is designed with safety in mind, so deleting a file on the SD card actually archives it. The file moves to an archived folder on the card, recoverable (or fully erasable) anytime from a computer. Deleting from the Zerowriter HD is permanent.

Automatic backups

Turn on Settings › storage › Auto-Backup Saves and every save to the SD card also keeps a copy on built-in storage. Your backups appear under the hd tab in Automatic Backups. You can also back up the document you're writing at any moment with Ctrl+I ([I]nternal).

The menu

The tools at your disposal.

Navigate with the arrow keys, confirm with Enter, and press Menu whenever you're done. It always takes you straight back to your writing.

Writing tools

Tools and modes to write your way.

Drafting mode

Press Ctrl+M to switch between Standard and Drafting modes.

Drafting Mode keeps the cursor at the end of your document and turns off backtracking. Like a typewriter, designed to write forward. Perfect for first drafts, sprints, or any time momentum matters more than polish. Drafting mode is indicated by a D in the status bar.

Standard Mode gives you access to line-by-line edits, document review, copy/cut/paste, and all of the standard word processing tools you may need.

Privacy mode

Writing somewhere public? Press Ctrl+P (Privacy) and every line except the one you're typing is masked. Ideal for wandering eyes, or steamy scenes.

Writing goals

Type a number, highlight it, and press Ctrl+G (Goal). The Sprint status bar now tracks your progress toward that many words. Press Ctrl+G again to clear the goal, or set a standing Default Session Goal in stats › settings. Ctrl+T resets the session timer whenever you want a fresh start.

Bookmarks

Put #A Title on its own line anywhere in a document and it becomes a bookmark. Press Ctrl+B to see all your bookmarks and jump between them. A simple way to organize chapters, scenes, or sections.

Hot-swap slots

Working on several pieces at once? Assign the current document to a slot with Ctrl+Alt+1–9, then flip between slots instantly with Ctrl+1–9. No menus, no searching.

Markdown and Fountain

In Settings › input › Render Mode, choose Markdown to see headings, bold, and italics styled as you type, or Fountain for screenplay formatting. Scene headings, character names, dialogue. You can learn more about Markdown here, and Fountain here.

Undo

Replaced or deleted a highlighted passage by mistake? Ctrl+Z brings it back. Undo is limited to highlight-based edits, like paste or multi-line delete. It won't step back through ordinary typing the way a computer does.

Exporting your files

Your writing is plain text. Here's three ways to get at it.

Input features

Extras that help you write.

Smart punctuation

Type two hyphens and get an em-dash (—). Type three dots and get a real ellipsis (…). Both are on by default, and both can be switched on or off in Settings › input.

Accents and other characters

Three ways to type é, ñ, ü, and other accented characters:

Make the keyboard yours

The Keymap Editor lets you remap your keyboard keys using a computer. You can find it over at optional tools.

Notice accidental characters, or more typos than usual? If a keypress ever registers multiple times or feels sensitive, the Extra Debounce setting allows you to adjust this sensitivity. The higher the Debounce rate, the less sensitive the keys.

Power, sleep & lock

Understand how Zerowriter power works.

Sleep

If you stop working, Zerowriter sleeps on its own. This happens after 3 minutes by default (adjust in Settings › system › Autosleep After). During sleep, your battery usage drops to an absolute minimum, and a sleeping Zerowriter can last for weeks or months before it needs recharging. Press any key to instantly wake up. Your document will be exactly where you left it. You can also sleep on demand with Ctrl+L or from the power menu.

Lock

Accidental wakeups happening? Set an Unlock Code in Settings › system and the device asks for a simple unlock gesture on wake: Ctrl+Alt+Right. Choose CTRL+L to lock only when you say so, or Always to lock on every sleep (even when it happens automatically).

Restart

Menu › power › reboot saves everything and restarts the device.

The hardware

What to expect from your Zerowriter Ink

The e-paper panel

E-paper is what makes Zerowriter Ink look and act like paper. Enjoy high contrast, no blue light, and a simple, eye-friendly experience.

Faint ghost images build up over time, but your Zerowriter Ink has technology to reduce and limit it. Press Ctrl+R to clear the screen. Keep in mind: the last image stays on screen even when the device is off.

Treat the panel like paper, not a computer screen. Avoid pressing on it, avoid sharp objects around it, and avoid stacking heavy things on it in a bag. Clean it with a soft, dry microfiber cloth.

The keyboard

Your Ink features Choc V1 switches. Every keycap and switch is removable, so you can repair or customize any key. There's dozens and dozens of choc V1 switches available, so you can control how your keyboard feels.

To remove a keycap, pull it gently straight up (a keycap puller makes this easier). To swap a switch, use a switch puller and press the new one straight in. Replacement switches must be low-profile Kailh Choc V1. Standard full-size mechanical switches won't fit.

Battery and charging

The battery indicator on Zerowriter Ink uses an estimate, and measures in 5% increments. It is normal to see jumps in the current battery indicator. Don't be alarmed!

Charge over USB-C. A full charge takes a few hours and gives you 50 to 100 hours of writing time. Why the range? Ink only uses meaningful power while you're typing and the screen is updating, and everyone writes at a different pace and style. Asleep, Zerowriter Ink lasts weeks to months.

The main battery is user-replaceable. If you're storing Zerowriter Ink long-term, consider leaving it around half charged and topping it up every few months. Avoid leaving Ink in extreme heat, like a parked car in summer, or extreme cold, like outside in most of Canada for half of the year.

The enclosure

The enclosure is 3D-printed and designed to be friendly to open. The enclosure will have some visible seams, marks, flaws, and it's own look to it. You can open your Zerowriter Ink to modify things: install the coin cell battery, replace the main battery, service the keyboard, etc. Work on a clean, soft surface, and keep track of the screws.

Switches, ports, and slots

The power switch on the side turns the device off. Remember that e-paper keeps its last image, so the screen won't go blank when you switch off. The USB-C port handles charging. The SD card slot takes a standard microSD card. Push to release the SD card. Remember to turn off or sleep Zerowriter Ink before removing the SD card.

Need spare parts, replacement switches, or repair help? Get in touch. Zerowriter is designed to be repairable.

Your writing stats

Your writing log and journal.

Menu › stats shows your writing history. Words written today, this week, over 30 days, and across the year, with goal streaks and time spent. It fills in on its own as you write and save.

From the stats settings tab you can set your Default Session Goal, export your full writing log to the SD card, or reset everything and start clean.

Settings reference

Every option at a glance.

In settings, Left/Right on the tab bar switches tabs, and Enter drops into the list. On a setting, Left/Right or Enter cycles its value. Changes apply immediately.

canvas. How the page looks

Font, Line Spacing, Status Bar, Cursor Type, Canvas Colour, Margins, Trailing Lines, and Vertical Margin. Covered in Your canvas.

input. How typing behaves

system. Device behavior

storage. File actions

Keyboard shortcuts

The complete list. Also on the device, anytime: Ctrl+H.

Files

Editing

Navigation

Device

File browser

Good to know

Some quick pointers.

Your files are just text

Every document is a plain .txt file. Open them in any word processing app, on basically any computer. There are no proprietary formats.

Backing up

Routinely copy files off the SD card with any card reader. Turn on Auto-Backup Saves for an on-device safety net, too.

The golden rule: your words should always exist in two places. The Zerowriter, and somewhere else. No writer has ever regretted having an extra copy.

Updating the firmware

Download the latest firmware file from the updates page, copy it to your SD card as firmware.bin, insert the card, and power on. The device updates itself and cleans up afterward. Your files, settings, and backups all carry over. If power is lost mid-update, the device simply keeps its current firmware.

If the screen looks "dirty" or "ghosty"

Press Ctrl+R which will force a refresh of the screen. For darker, cleaner text overall, try a slower ePaper Speed or using the black-on-white mode.

Room to write

A single document can grow to about 35,000 words. Writing something novel-length? Split it into chapters. Ink is faster and happier that way.

If the device won't start properly

Hold Z+W+I while switching on to perform an emergency reset. This erases built-in storage (hd), both settings and files, and starts the device clean. It never touches your SD card. Use it only as a last resort.

Every startup also writes a boot.log file to the SD card. If something goes wrong, that file tells us exactly where. Include it when you contact support.

If a file seems missing

Check which tab you're on. sd and hd are separate places, and folders have their own views. Deleted SD files are waiting in the card's archived folder. If you connect your SD card to a computer, you should be able to find all of your files, as the Zerowriter itself rarely deletes a file, by design.

Troubleshooting

Common hiccups, and how to clear them.

My SD card isn't detected

Make sure the card is pushed fully in until it clicks. If it still doesn't appear, reformat it on a computer (back up your files first). Some cards simply behave better than others, so trying a different card is a quick test. Ink still runs without a card, using built-in hd storage.

My space bar / backspace / return kick is sticky

Sticky oversized keys (like SPACE, RETURN, BACKSPACE) are usually due to a problem with the stabilizer and the keyboard plate. The stabilizer is what keeps the oversized keys balanced and uniform, and the keyboard plate holds everything together. If you find a key to be sticking, you can often solve the issue by "massaging" the key in place which adds range of motion to the stabilizer and plate. The easy way to do this is to take the problem key and pinch it between your thumb and pointer finger, and wiggle it up-and-down, and side-to-side. You may need to remove the nearby keycaps to be able to do this.

A key isn't registering, or types twice

If a key double-fires or feels oversensitive, raise Extra Debounce (Settings › input). If a key does nothing at all, the switch may have worked loose. Because switches are hot-swappable, you can gently pull it out, and press it back in. Simply pulling out the switch and re-seating it fits most problems.

The screen is frozen

The battery may be flat, and remember e-paper keeps its last image even with no power, so a "stuck" screen often just means it needs a charge. Connect USB-C and give it a few minutes. If it is still frozen, the power switch may be broken or stuck - take a closer look and feel for resistance in the button. If it feels loose, it may need replacing.

Typing feels slow

See Making Ink feel faster. Set ePaper Speed to Fastest, choose a smaller font, try different margins and line spacing settings.

Wrong characters when I type

Your keymap decides what each key produces. Check Settings › input for your Diacritics / Deadkeys and Accent Picker settings. If you loaded a custom keymap.json and things look off, remove it from the SD card to fall back to the default QWERTY layout.

The screen has faint ghosting

There will be minor ghosting as you work on E-paper. Press Ctrl+R for a full refresh. For cleaner output overall, try a slower ePaper Speed.

I am stuck in a boot loop - the logo is flashing

As a last resort, hold Z+W+I while switching on to reset built-in storage. This erases hd settings but never touches your SD card. See Good to know for details.

Getting help

Real people, ready to help.

Still stuck, or need a spare part? Get in touch. When you write in, it helps to include your firmware version (shown in the MENU at the bottom) and, if the device misbehaved, the boot.log file from your SD card. That file tells us exactly where things went wrong.

Zerowriter is built to be repaired. Keycaps, switches, and batteries are all serviceable, so most issues have a simple fix.