My cousins and I, along with a neighbor, started using Google Keep to coordinate our weekly gaming sessions and movie nights. We’d create shared notes, post strategies, tips and tricks, game suggestions, and vote on movies. But as weeks went on, the app just didn’t feel adequate for the type of note collaboration my group needed. Google Keep was good for personal use, but it just felt a bit rigid for collabs.
Then I discovered Memos, a self-hosted note-taking app where you can collaborate and share notes on feeds just like on social media. Since I was already self-hosting my own services at home, there was no reason not to try Memos. At least, everything would stay private and better meet our needs. A week later, our group coordination runs smoother than ever, everyone had an easier way of participating, our personal information never leaves my server, plus it’s more fun to have notes posted as feeds where everyone can interact.
Why Memos clicked
A social media approach to group notes
Memos feels like a stripped-down version of X mixed with a note-taking app. The feed-style layout displays notes chronologically just like a social media timeline, and group members can comment, react with emojis, and reference other posts directly. Hashtags work exactly like Instagram, grouping related content without the need for folders or complex organization. Markdown formatting keeps our posts looking clean and professional, while photos and files are embedded inline, so everything appears in context. Overall, the interface really encourages interaction in ways that traditional note apps don’t.
This social approach transforms how we coordinate activities. For example, when planning movie nights, I can post a #movienight note with potential films and streaming options and save it as Protected. This allows the memo to be posted on member feeds where they can react with preselected emojis, comment alternative suggestions, or even drop trailer links directly into the thread. Gaming coordination follows the same pattern with #gaming posts where people react to show interest, comment about game availability, or suggest alternatives. The conversations feel natural and engaging rather than like managing a to-do list.
On your personal dashboard, Memos includes features that keep important information accessible. You can pin notes for key details—such as rules, schedules, or frequently referenced information—so they never get buried under newer content. This combination of social interaction and practical organization means everything stays in themed threads instead of getting buried in more recent posts. The result is a system that feels as casual as social media but as useful as a dedicated planning tool.
The search and filtering capabilities make this social approach practical for long-term use. Search pulls up results instantly as you type keywords or hashtags, so old vacation plans or restaurant recommendations surface immediately. Tag filtering lets you view only #gaming posts or #shopping lists, while author filters show contributions from specific group members. The calendar view displays time-sensitive notes by date, turning the feed into a visual schedule for movie nights, game tournaments, and deadlines.
Keyboard shortcuts let power users navigate quickly between views, and the combination of these tools means information never gets lost in the stream of daily posts. This powerful, layered filtering approach is one of the reasons Memos has also become my new favorite way of capturing personal notes.
Installing Memos in a few minutes
Simple self-hosting on Windows
I repurposed an old Windows 11 laptop to host our group’s note-taking system. The process required installing Docker Desktop, which needs WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux). So, I opened Windows’ hidden start menu by pressing Windows Key + X and selected Terminal(Admin) to open a terminal where I installed WSL using:
wsl --install
After installation and rebooting my PC, I downloaded Docker Desktop and installed it with default settings.
With Docker running, I created a “Memos” folder on my desktop and created a new file called “docker-compose.yml”. I then pasted the following configuration before saving.
version: '3.8'services:
memos:
image: neosmemo/memos:stable
container_name: memos
ports:
- "5230:5230"
volumes:
- ./memos:/var/opt/memos
environment:
- MEMOS_MODE=prod
- MEMOS_PORT=5230
restart: unless-stopped
This file tells Docker to download Memos, store our group’s data locally, and make everything accessible on port 5230. To run Memos, open a terminal in the folder, then use the command:
docker-compose up -d
I then access the service by opening my web browser and entering my IP address, followed by port 5230 (”192.168.8.192:5230” in my case).
Any device with a web browser connected to your network should be able to access Memos. Overall, self-hosting Memos only took me a few minutes, and it is one of the most practical ways I’m able to repurpose my old laptops.
Setting up Memos for the group
When you first open Memos at your domain, you are prompted to set up the host account. As the host, your account will have access to the settings panel to manage the service. Here you can manage user accounts, adjust storage limits, configure backup options, set preferences, and register.
The first thing I do is to turn off registration since I’m only inviting a couple of people I already know. I simply create their accounts on the member management page and provide them with default passwords they can change after they log in. I also set generous storage limits since our group shares a lot of photos and videos from our activities. The backup configuration is important too, so I enable automatic data exports to keep our conversations and plans safe.
Another smart setting is configuring the default note visibility to Private to ensure no one accidentally posts personal notes they didn’t intend to share. Members can still share notes for the group by simply selecting Secure before posting. I also keep user permissions open and collaborative, allowing everyone to create, edit, and comment rather than restricting access. If your group grows, you can always promote trusted members to admin roles to help manage accounts and settings.
Your group deserves better collaboration
Creating a private space where your friends and family can collaborate shouldn’t be complicated or costly. Memos proves that the best solutions are often the simplest ones. No learning curves, no subscription fees, no wondering if your personal conversations are being analyzed by algorithms. Just a straightforward platform that makes group coordination actually enjoyable instead of frustrating. Your group’s plans and memories belong to you, not to distant servers that change policies without warning. Take the leap and give your people the collaborative experience they deserve. The setup is easier than you think, and the results speak for themselves.
