> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.custral.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Living notes > A summary Stella keeps on every record, rewritten as fields change and conversations happen. **Living notes** are a short summary Stella keeps on every record of an object, such as every contact or every deal. When a field changes, an email arrives, a call ends or a task is done, Stella rewrites the summary so anyone who opens the record knows where things stand. Living notes sit above the record's own **Notes**. Stella only writes living notes. Your Notes stay yours, and Stella never edits them. Try it in a [sandbox](/start/sandboxes/overview) first: turn it on for one object, open a few records, and read what Stella writes. ## Turn it on 1. Open **Objects** and pick the object, for example **Contacts**. 2. On the **Overview** tab, switch on **Living notes**. 3. Optionally change the **Sections**, add **Extra instructions**, and choose what it updates from. You need **Can edit** on the object to change this. Notes start appearing as people open records and as records change. Stella doesn't rewrite every record at once. | Setting | What it does | | - | - | | **Sections** | The headings every note has, in order. Starts as Summary, Where things stand, Open questions, Next steps. Up to 8. | | **Extra instructions** | One line of extra direction, like "Always note their renewal date and who signs off." | | **Update from** | **Field changes**, **Emails, calls, chats**, and **Tasks**. Each is both something Stella reads and a reason to update. | ## How it updates * **It waits for things to settle.** Stella rewrites a note once the record has been quiet for about 30 seconds. Ten edits in a minute, or a call that runs for an hour, cost one update at the end. * **It skips when nothing changed.** If everything Stella would read is the same as last time, nothing runs and nothing is charged. * **Each update starts from the previous note**, so facts that are still true keep their wording. * **Every line says where it came from**, like *(Call · Oct 11)* or *(Field · Stage)*. Stella only writes what the record's fields, conversations and tasks say. A section with nothing to go on stays empty and is hidden. * **It counts toward your AI usage** like the rest of Stella, and respects your workspace's AI limits. The header shows when the note last changed and why, like *Updated 4 minutes ago · after a call*. **Refresh** (needs **Can edit** on the record) updates it now. ## Version history Open **⋮ → Version history** on the note to see every version, newest first, with when and why each one was written. The last 50 versions of each record are kept. ## Who sees what Living notes are read by everyone who can open the record, so Stella writes them only from what all of those people can see: * **Restricted properties** are left out. * **Conversations restricted from Share, or in a private inbox,** are left out. ## Troubleshooting | What you see | Why | What to do | | - | - | - | | No Living notes card on a record | Living notes are off for that object | Turn it on from **Objects → (object) → Overview**. | | "Nothing to summarize yet" | The record has no filled fields, conversations or tasks to read | Add details, or wait for the first email or call. | | The note didn't change after an edit | It waits about 30 seconds after the last change, or nothing it reads changed | Wait a moment, or press **Refresh**. | | A conversation isn't in the note | It's restricted, it's in a private inbox, or it's older than the 8 most recent | Expected. Notes only use what everyone who can read the record can see. | | Refresh is greyed out | You can view the record but not edit it | Ask for edit access to the record. | | The note stopped updating | Your workspace reached its AI limit | Check **Settings → AI** limits. | ## Related * [Notes](/blocks/embedded/object/notes): the record's own collaborative notes. * [Property Auto-Fill Agents](/ai/property-agents/overview): AI that fills a single field. * [Daily Brief](/ai/daily-brief): a rundown of your day from Stella. This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.