View Modes

Lithium supports three different view modes for each page. A view mode changes how content is displayed without changing the underlying blocks. Switch freely between modes depending on what you’re working on.

The three modes

Outline

The default view. Shows all blocks in a hierarchical tree structure with full editing capabilities. Every block type is visible, indentation is clear, and you can nest blocks as deeply as you want.

Use outline mode when:

• Building complex hierarchies with multiple levels
• Working with mixed content types (paragraphs, todos, headings)
• You need full structural control

Note

A focused writing view optimized for long-form content. Hides visual clutter like indent guides and simplifies the interface to keep you in the flow.

Use note mode when:

• Writing essays, documentation, or long articles
• You want minimal distractions
• Working primarily with paragraphs and headings

Todos

Shows only todo blocks from the page, flattening the hierarchy into a simple list. Completed todos can be hidden per section, and breadcrumbs show where each todo lives in the outline structure.

Use todos mode when:

• Managing tasks and action items
• Reviewing what’s left to do
• You want to ignore non-todo content temporarily

Switching modes

Click the view mode dropdown in the bottom toolbar of any page. The current mode is highlighted.

You can also change the view mode from the page menu (three-dot icon in the page header).

Default view mode

New pages open in the view mode you’ve set in Settings > Preferences > Default Page View. Each page remembers its own view mode independently, so changing the default only affects new pages.

Mode persistence

View modes are stored per page. If you switch a page to note mode, it stays in note mode until you change it again, even across devices.