How to Create a New Note in the iPhone Notes App
To creating a basic note in the Notes app: By default, the note is assigned a filename that includes the date (or time) and the first few words of the note and is positioned at the top of the list of notes.
How to Format Text in iPhone Notes
To make the note visually appealing or better organized, add formatting to the text.
How to Make a Checklist in an iPhone Note
To use Notes to create checklists:
How to Draw in Your Notes on iPhone
If you’re a visual person, sketch in your notes. In an open note, tap the pen icon in iOS 11 and higher (tap the squiggly line in iOS 10) above the keyboard to reveal the drawing options. The available options differ depending on the version of the iOS, but options include:
Tool: Choose from a pencil, marker, pencil, or eraser. Tap a tool to select and unselect it.Color: Tap the black dot at the right to change the line color.Undo and Redo: To undo a change or redo it, tap the curved arrows at the top next to the Done button.Create a second page: Tap the square icon with the plus sign in it. Move between pages by swiping with two fingers.Tables (iOS 11 and up): Tap the grid icon to insert a table. Then, tap More (…) on the top or side of the table to edit the row or column. Tap a table cell to add content to it.
How to Attach Photos and Videos to Notes on iPhone
You can add more than text to a note. When you want to quickly reference other information, attach a file to a note. Attachments can be any type of file including documents, photos, and videos.
How to Scan Documents in iPhone Notes
In iOS 11 and up, the Notes app includes a feature that scans documents and saves the scanned documents in Notes. This tool is especially good for saving receipts or other documents.
How to Attach Other Kinds of Files to Notes
Photos and videos aren’t the only kind of file you can attach to a note. Attach other kinds of files from the apps that create them, not the Notes app itself. For example, to attach a location follow these steps:
How to Organize Notes Into Folders on iPhone
If you have a lot of notes or like to keep your life super organized, create folders in Notes.
Create Folders in the Notes App
Move Notes to Folders in the Notes App
How to Password Protect Notes on iPhone
When your notes contain private information such as passwords, account numbers, or plans for a surprise birthday party, password-protect notes.
How to Sync Notes Using iCloud
The Notes app used to exist only on the iPhone, but it’s available on iPads and Macs, as well as in iCloud on the web. Because these devices can sync content with your iCloud account, you can create a note anywhere and have it appear on all your devices. With that done, every time you create a new note or edit an existing one on any of your devices, the changes are synced automatically to all the other devices.
How to Share Notes on iPhone
Notes are a great way to keep track of information for yourself, but you can share them with others. To share a note, open the note you want to share and tap the Share icon. A window appears with many options including:
AirDrop: This tool is a wireless file-sharing feature built into iOS and macOS. With it, you can send a note to the Notes app on another iPhone, iPad, or Mac using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Learn how to use AirDrop on iPhone. Message: Send the contents of a note in a text message. When sending to another Apple device, this option uses Apple’s free, secure iMessage system. Mail: Convert a note to an email by tapping this button. It opens in the default Mail app that comes with the iPhone. Save Image: If an image is attached to the note, tap this button to save the image (not the entire note) to the Photos app on the device. Print: If you’re near an AirPrint-compatible printer, this option wirelessly sends the note to the printer for a quick hard copy. Assign to Contact: This option works only with images attached to notes. Tap it to assign an image in a note to be the default photo for a person in your Contacts app (your address book).
How to Collaborate With Others on Shared Notes
Invite others to collaborate on a note with you. In this situation, everyone you invite can make changes to the note, including adding text, attachments, or completing checklist items — think of shared grocery or to-do lists. When people accept the invitation, they’re authorized to view and edit the note. To see who has access to the note, tap the person with plus sign icon. Use this screen to invite more people or stop sharing the note.
How to Delete Notes on iPhone
There are several ways to delete notes. To delete notes from the Notes list, when you first open the app:
Swipe right to left across a single note and tap Delete or the trash can icon.Tap Edit and tap multiple notes that you want to delete. Tap Delete or Delete All depending on your version of iOS.
From within a note:
Tap the trash icon at the bottom. If you don’t see it, tap Done in the upper-right corner, and it appears.
How to Recover Deleted Notes
If you deleted a note that you now want to get back, the Notes app retains deleted notes for 30 days, so you can recover it.
Advanced iPhone Notes App Tips
There are endless tricks to discover and ways to use the Notes app. Here are a few extra tips for how to use the app:
Use Siri: Use Siri to create a new note. Activate Siri and say, “take a note” or “start a new note.” Then say what the note should contain. Siri transcribes the note for you. Create Notes From Other Apps: If you use an app that lets you select text, Mail or Safari, for example, create a note by highlighting text. In the menu above the selected text, tap Share, then tap Add to Notes. In the window that appears, add any additional information and tap Save to create a new note or Choose Note to add to an existing one. Permanently Delete Notes: Notes that you delete are kept for up to 30 days. If you want to delete notes right away, go to the Recently Deleted folder. Then, swipe right to left across a note and tap Delete. The note is deleted immediately.
