Master the New Mem.ai Interface: Essential Workarounds for a Seamless Experience

TL;DR

Enable the new user experience via Settings by turning on “Try the new user experience.”

Briefing Cornell Notes

Briefing

Mem’s new interface removes several familiar building blocks—most notably Templates, Tasks, and the dedicated Inbox—while simplifying the home screen into a more streamlined set of navigation and filters. The practical takeaway is that the missing features can be rebuilt using Collections and Tags, plus a few external automations, so long-time users don’t have to abandon their workflows.

The first step is enabling the new user experience in Settings (“Try the new user experience”). Once enabled, the home view looks cleaner, but the usual options for Templates, Tasks, and Calendar disappear. Calendar syncing is described as coming back later, yet a workaround is offered immediately for people who rely on calendar-driven note creation—especially for recurring events like podcast interviews.

Templates can be replaced by turning a “template” into a Mem that lives inside a Collection. Instead of selecting a template from a templates library, users create a master Mem (for example, a project-planning template) and then copy it or apply it through workflows such as asking MemChat to plan a project. The approach is designed to keep a single source Mem that can be reused without needing the removed template picker.

For users who depended on short template keyboard shortcuts, the transcript recommends using a text expander tool—specifically Rayt or TextExpander—to recreate the effect of inserting small, repeatable snippets. That way, “micro-templates” (like literature note starters) remain fast to deploy even without Mem’s built-in template shortcuts.

Tasks are handled in two main ways. One option is to create a “Master task list” Mem containing tasks for every day, then favorite it so it becomes the daily planning hub. Another option is to recreate task views using Collections and statuses (e.g., building an Eisenhower Matrix-style setup with “urgent” and “important” collections). For those who want a simpler daily checklist, the transcript also mentions using a separate to-do app (Slash) that shows the current task on-screen and relies on manual check-off.

The Inbox—described as a key processing area—is replaced by an “inbox collection.” Incoming items can be tagged (for example, tagging forwarded emails with “inbox”) so they land in the collection where they can be reviewed and processed. A bolding difference in the new inbox experience is noted, but no workaround is provided for that specific formatting change.

Calendar events are rebuilt using Zapier automation. By connecting a Google Calendar account, setting a trigger for “new event added,” and mapping event fields (like event name and attendees) into a newly created Mem, calendar-driven note creation returns even without native calendar integration. The transcript emphasizes that multiple Zaps can be connected to Mem, enabling different event-to-note workflows.

Navigation in the new interface centers on Home, Collections, Favorites, Chat, and Search, with “lenses” that filter notes by categories such as recently viewed, added by the user, shared with the user, and content features like quotes or links. Notes also surface in a way that automatically brings the most recently viewed item to the top when returning. Overall, the changes trade some direct feature access for a simplified interface that can still reproduce prior workflows through Collections, Tags, and automation.

Cornell Notes

Mem’s new interface streamlines the home screen but removes Templates, Tasks, and the dedicated Inbox, with Calendar syncing deferred. The workaround strategy is to rebuild those functions using Collections and Tags: store reusable “templates” as master Mems inside a Collection, recreate quick inserts with a text expander tool, and replace Tasks views with either a master task list Mem or Collections with status labels (e.g., urgent/important). The Inbox becomes an “inbox collection,” populated by tagging forwarded emails (e.g., “inbox”). For Calendar-dependent note creation, Zapier plus Google Calendar can automatically create Mems from new events, restoring event-to-note workflows.

How can users replace Mem’s removed Templates feature without losing the ability to reuse structured content?

Create a master Mem that acts like a template and place it inside a Templates-like Collection. Instead of selecting a template from a templates library, users copy/replicate that master Mem or use it as the basis for workflows (for example, asking MemChat to plan a project using the master Mem). This keeps one reusable source while avoiding the missing template picker.

What’s the best workaround for users who relied on template keyboard shortcuts for small, repeatable note formats?

Use a text expander tool such as Rayt or TextExpander to trigger short snippets. The transcript frames this as a way to recreate “micro-templates” (like a literature note starter) by inserting predefined text quickly, even though Mem’s built-in template shortcuts are gone.

With Tasks removed, how can users still plan and track work inside Mem?

Two in-app approaches are offered: (1) build a “Master task list” Mem containing tasks for each date and favorite it as the daily planning hub, or (2) recreate task categorization using Collections and statuses (for example, a collection structure that mirrors an Eisenhower Matrix with labels like “urgent” and “important”). A third option uses an external to-do app (Slash) that shows the current task and relies on check-off completion.

How does the transcript recommend replacing the removed Inbox feature?

Create an “inbox collection” and route items into it using tags. For example, when forwarding an email into Mem, include a tag like “inbox” so the note lands in the inbox collection for later processing. This shifts the Inbox from a dedicated interface element to a collection-based workflow.

What workaround restores Calendar-driven Mem creation when native calendar syncing isn’t available?

Use Zapier with Google Calendar: connect the Google Calendar account, set a trigger for “new event added,” then map event fields (such as event name and attendees) into a newly created Mem. The result is automatic Mem creation whenever new calendar events appear, even without the removed calendar sidebar.

What navigation changes define the new Mem interface, and how do filters (“lenses”) help?

The home screen is simplified and organized around Home, Collections, Favorites, Chat, and Search. Notes can be filtered using lenses such as recently viewed (which automatically surfaces the most recently opened note), notes added by the user, shared-with-me notes, and content-based filters like notes containing quotes or links. Sorting options (e.g., most relevant, last modified, last created) help narrow results quickly.

Review Questions

If Templates are removed, what specific structure (master Mem + Collection) replaces the template library, and how is it reused day-to-day?
Describe two different ways to recreate Tasks functionality using only Mem features (Collections, favorites, tags) without relying on the old Tasks view.
How would you design a Zapier workflow to create Mems from Google Calendar events, and which event fields would you likely map into the Mem?

Key Points

1
Enable the new user experience via Settings by turning on “Try the new user experience.”
2
Rebuild Templates by creating a master Mem and storing it in a Collection, then copy/repurpose it for new projects.
3
Replace template keyboard shortcuts using a text expander tool like Rayt or TextExpander for fast insertion of repeatable snippets.
4
Recreate Tasks using either a favorited “Master task list” Mem or Collections with status labels (e.g., urgent/important) to mimic task views.
5
Swap the removed Inbox for an “inbox collection” populated through tags (such as tagging forwarded emails with “inbox”).
6
Restore Calendar-to-Mem automation with Zapier + Google Calendar by triggering on new events and creating Mems from mapped event fields.
7
Use the new home filters (“lenses”) and sorting options to quickly find notes by recency, authorship, sharing status, and content features like quotes or links.

Highlights

Mem’s missing Templates, Tasks, and Inbox can be reconstructed using Collections and Tags rather than waiting for feature parity.

A “master task list” Mem plus favorites can function as a daily planning dashboard even without the old Tasks view.

Zapier can recreate calendar-driven note creation by triggering on new Google Calendar events and auto-creating Mems with selected event fields.

The new home screen emphasizes simplified navigation and “lenses” that filter notes by recency, who added them, sharing status, and content markers like quotes or links.

Topics

Mem Interface
Templates Workarounds
Task Planning
Inbox Collections
Zapier Calendar Automation

Mentioned

Zapier
Rayt
TextExpander
Slash