# Spaces

A Space is where a folder's notes meet the people you work with. Connect a folder to a Space and its notes sync across your devices, and with everyone in the Space, in real time.

Your folder is still a folder of Markdown files on your device. The Space keeps the shared copy.

## Create a Space

You need to be signed in. See [Signing in](/p/docs/signing-in).

- **On the first open**, at **Choose a Space**: choose **New Space**, give it a name and an emoji, and choose **Create & sync**.
- **Later**, in **Settings › Space**: under **Space binding**, choose **New**, name it and choose **Create Space**.

The person who creates a Space is its owner.

![Settings › Space: the Space this folder syncs with, People and Space sync](https://niv.md/docs-media/settings-space.dark.png)

## Connect a folder to a Space you're in

Go to **Settings › Space** and pick the Space from the list. On the first open, pick it and choose **Sync here**.

One folder syncs with one Space. If a folder already holds notes from another Space, that Space shows "not for this folder". To work in another Space, use a new folder.

## The first sync

When you connect a folder that already has notes, Niv compares its files with the Space before creating anything. Home shows the plan: how many files will link to notes that already exist, how many new notes will be created, and how many will be downloaded. Choose **Review**, then **Apply**, or **Not now**. Notes already linked keep syncing meanwhile.

If a file here and a note in the Space can't be matched, your copy is kept under a new name and uploaded separately. Nothing is thrown away.

**Settings › Space › Space sync › Sync now** runs the same comparison any time. You see the plan before anything is downloaded or uploaded.

## Your Space on another device

Install Niv on the other device, sign in with the same account, pick a new empty folder, and choose the Space. Its notes come down into that folder.

## Stop syncing

In **Settings › Space**, choose **Unbind**. The folder stops syncing with the Space. Your files stay in the folder.

## Who's in a Space

**Settings › Space** lists the people in the Space, and which note each one is in right now. See [Members and roles](/p/docs/members-and-roles).

## Learn more

- [Sync status](/p/docs/sync-status): what the line at the bottom of the sidebar means.
- [Writing together](/p/docs/writing-together): real-time editing and presence.
- [Local-only files](/p/docs/local-only-files): notes that stay on your device.

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Published with [Niv](https://niv.md/) in the Space Docs.