In this post, I’ll be highlighting some of the most useful Notes app ideas, features, and tips for you. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what the Apple Notes app is truly capable of!
Not an iPhone user? See the end of this post for a great Android alternative to the Notes app!

Like many people, I depend on my smartphone to keep track of all sorts of important information. Without the Calendar and Notes applications on my iPhone, I’m sure I would regularly forget appointments, due dates, to-do list items, and more!
I’ve been using the Notes app for a long time now, but I’ve recently started exploring some of its less obvious features. It seems as though the more I learn about this seemingly basic note-taking app, the more useful it becomes!
11 Useful Things You Can Do In The Notes App

1. Draw In Your Notes
Express yourself with drawings right in the Notes app! In an open note, tap the pen icon above the keyboard to reveal the drawing options, including:
- Tools – Choose from a pen, highlighter, eraser, and more
- Color – Tap the black dot to change the line color
- Undo & Redo – To undo a change or redo something you undid, tap the curved arrows near the top of the screen
I like that I can import my Notes drawings into the new iPhone Journal app, because Journal currently doesn’t have drawing options.

2. Attach Photos & Videos
In addition to adding handwritten additions or sketches to notes, you can also attach files to them! This feature makes it easy to quickly reference relevant documents, photos, or videos.
To add a photo or video, open a note and place the cursor in the body. Tap the camera icon, then select either Take Photo or Video or Photo Library to select an existing file.
To attach information from another app to a note, open the item (like a webpage, a PDF, etc.) in that app, then tap Share and select Notes. Save the item to an existing note, or save it in a new note.

3. Organize With Folders
The more notes you have in your Notes app, the trickier it can be to find what you’re looking for. In addition to searching by keyword, you can also use folders to organize your notes however you like!
To make a folder, open the Notes app and hit the back button to view your folders. Select New Folder, give it a name, then hit save to create it.
To move notes into a new folder, go to your list of notes and tap the ellipsis icon near the top of the screen. Select the notes you want to move, then select Move To… to select a new folder.

4. Scan Documents
Move over bulky scanner, because the Notes app offers a surprisingly powerful document scanner! Scan things like recipes, owner manuals, forms, and more to keep a digital copy of them at your fingertips.
To do it, create a new note, then select the camera icon above the keyboard. Select Scan Documents, then position whatever you want to scan within the frame shown on the screen. It usually does a good job of cropping and adjusting the image on its own, but you can adjust it if necessary. When you’re happy with the selection, hit Keep Scan, then Save to finish up!

5. Add A Link
Did you find a webpage in Safari or Chrome that you want to check out later? Save the link in a Note! Just hit Share, select the Notes app, then choose the folder or note you want to save the link to.

6. Make Notes Password-Protected
If you’re keeping sensitive information like account numbers, passwords, or gift ideas in a note, you can keep it safe by password-protecting it. Open the note, tap Share, then select Lock Note to add an unlocked note icon.
When you’re finished writing the note, tap the lock icon to protect it. The next time you (or anyone else) try to access it, it will show This Note Is Locked until you enter your password or use TouchID or FaceID to access it.

7. Share Notes
The Notes app is a great way to keep track of information for yourself, but it also makes it easy to share information with others (like your grocery list with your husband!) Open a note you want to share and tap Share. Options include:
- AirDrop – Use WiFi and Bluetooth to share the note wirelessly with other iOS and macOS devices
- Message – Send the contents of a note to someone via iMessage or text message
- Mail – Send the contents of a note in an email via the Mail app
You can also add other iOS users to your notes, providing them access to them within their own Notes app. Any changes you make will update on their end automatically! Just hit the person-shaped icon in a note to add someone to it.

8. Make A List
Who doesn’t love the satisfying feeling of checking something off a long to-do list? You can get the same gratification in Notes by using the built-in checkmark icons, which are perfect for to-do lists, shopping lists, packing lists, and more!
With your cursor in the body of a note, select the checkmark button to add an empty circle to the note. Then you can simply tap the circle to check that item off your to-do list!

9. Use Siri
You can create and populate notes in the Notes app without lifting a finger! Just activate Siri and say “Take a note” or “Start a new note.” Dictate what you want in the note, and Siri will transcribe it for you.

10. See Notes In Gallery View
The iOS 13 update brought a few new features to the Notes app, including Gallery View. When viewing your list of notes, tap the icon with four squares to switch to Gallery View to display your notes as thumbnails.
These thumbnails contain a mini preview of what the note looks like, which can come in handy depending on what you’re looking for. Super helpful for recipes!

11. Sync With iCloud
With the help of iCloud, you can also access and edit your notes from your iPad, MacBook, or any other Apple device. To set it up, go to Settings and select your name from the top of the screen.
From there, select iCloud, then slide the toggle next to Notes to the on position. Then you’ll be able to access your notes from any device associated with your Apple ID!
Do You Prefer Pen And Paper?
I don’t blame you! There are times when I prefer to have a quick hand-written list as well. But you know me — I’m always on the lookout for the best, fastest, or easiest way to do things. You can get all my best to-do list tips here!
Not An iPhone User?
If you don’t have an iPhone, never fear! Android users should check out the Google Keep app, which offers many of the same useful features as Notes. You can download it for free in the Google Play Store!
Want Even More Smartphone Hacks?
- For even more clever hacks that will make your smartphone more useful and easier to use, check out the other posts in the “iPhone Hacks” series!
- Click here to explore the “iPhone Hacks” series archive.
How often do you use the Notes app?
I am an Android user. I wish you had feature articles and “how to’s” for Android users too. I do use a note app and have been for quite some time for grocery lists, vacation check list (what to pack), all the fragrance oils I have on hand for my candle making hobby, measurements, etc.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Very useful, thank you. I’ve tried so many note apps but always come back to this one in the end.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use Android QuickMemos, which has a password protected Locked Memos. The most important thing in the world to me is to have the list of all OTC and RX Medications so that I hand the phone to the nurse or Dr so that they know at a glance exactly what I’m taking each day. No trying to pronounce the unreadable or unpronounceable and exactly correct MG’s. You could even take pictures of each as well, but typing works as well.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This is great information, Lynetta. Especially for readers that have Androids. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use the Pin Note often. The 6 more important things I save in Notes are pinned at the top, like our medical information/meds, a grocery list I update when going next time, and a few things that really make me happy – links straight into YouTube music, photos, the recipe I’m making right now, etc. You can unpin and pin all the time but you know you’ve got the more timely right there at top.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Rather than scanning and using the notes app I just take a screen shot when doing research or shopping when I find things I want to remember or email to someone else.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have the Dinosaur of All iphones! There is a note app, but you can only place a note for yourself in there, nothing else. You cannot scribble in it or scan something in it, nothing, only post! I guess you have to have a newer iphone to do anything with. I cannot even do a screenshot of my screen for someone. BUT, it can STILL make a call and text!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you for this information, Jillee! I am a new iPhone user (3months) and had no idea Notes could be so incredibly useful! I will definitely be using the tips you provided.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hello all. I’ve looked high and low on my iPhone and cannot locate a Notes app. There is a Reminders app? but it is pretty useless. Where exactly is Notes App?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Stevie, here are directions from Apple Support. Hopefully, this will help you locate notes.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.How To Find Notes on iPhone
I love having Notes on my iPhone, as well as on my MAC laptop, because they are sync’d. I can easily use my laptop to edit my notes. Thanks for a couple things I did not know!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This was so useful!!! I never knew about the check list feature. That helps so much with sharing a grocery list!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you, Jillee!!! I use Notes all the time but I did not know about the scan feature. I may be able to discontinue the separate scanner app that I have to pay for.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The separate scanner app may have a built-in OCR to convert the scanned image to text.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Is there a certain iOS or particular iPhone that allows some of these “tricks”? I tried the scanning from notes; however, I do not have a camera icon when I start a new note. I have an iPhone XR and run iOS 13.3.1
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have the XR as well but I have the camera icon above the keyboard. But if you have no icons above your keyboard, hit the plus sign above the keyboard and it will show all the icons available to use.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Brilliant advice! Thank you Jilly.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use notes daily for everything I need.
It has become my memory and brain..
One of the best things on my iPhone..
I had been looking for an app for Android that will sync with my computer so I can actually type in notes (with a real keyboard!) and have them appear on my phone. I had given up and quit looking. Thank you so much for pointing me to Google Keep. It looks exactly like what I’ve been looking for! I have used a PalmPilot ever since it first came out over 20 years ago, and syncing it with my computer. But lately I have had trouble syncing it with the latest Windows upgrades. Now all I have to do is copy my notes from the Palm Desktop, paste them into Google Keep, and continue as before, with some very nice added features. Again, thank you, thank you!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Oh, and to give you suggestions for using a notes app, everything I have to remember is in there, and I mean everything: the sizes of my family’s clothing, the sizes of light bulbs in our fixtures for replacement, the size of our A/C filter, the meds my husband and I take, other medical lists like the dates of past surgeries and procedures, model numbers of my appliances so I don’t have to go looking for them when they need repairs, recipes, info I might need to write my resume, and on and on. These are all edited as necessary, so that I always have the latest info. My family all know this so they will have the info if anything happens to me.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You will not regret reading Beneath a Scarlett Sky……it’s amazing!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m not familiar with the Notes app, but I use and love Notepad on my Android phone (Editor’s Choice on Google Play). More functionality available in the Notes app it seems, but I love that I NEVER have to write another list on paper. Thanks for the tips, Jillee!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Oops – I meant to write (above) that I use the ColorNote Notepad app on Android, rather than Notepad. At any rate, good to know about the Notes app. I assume the Notes app is the one by developer Mike Schulz.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I would love to print some of these ideas, but when I tried to copy and paste I get all the ads and gar-baage! Is there a way to print?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Copy to a document and remove the garbage, then print.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.click on the four little horizontal lines to the left of the address box (onegoodthingbyjillee.com) and you will get the reader view without the ads, then print
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Use the “print friendly” button! It’s a green button at the bottom of every post :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I never knew about some of these! Thanks for the tutorial.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use Notes to keep track of my sons medical info. He has several specialists and medications. So I keep it all in a note along with how to contact each dr. Anytime there is an adjustment to his meds that goes in there. I keep it shared with my son and my husband so that if I cannot make the appointment the two of them will have all the info they need!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.good info, however, i could not do some of the items on my iphone 8…do some of the options need a newer phone? i could not protect passwords, or use the scanner…;9(
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Same with me. I have an iphone 7 with the most recent update and don’t have those options.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Very helpful, thank you!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for all this information! I will be using the Notes App much more now.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have a Pixel (Android) and use my Keep app for grocery lists mainly, but also any sort of list that I need to change or add to frequently. I can have multiple lists for different stores or add any title I want when creating them (e.g., supplements for the dog). I used to write out grocery lists by hand – and then forget them when I left for the store! Now the list is always with me and I can tick off items as I go through the store, or even look at my “checked-off” items to see if I need a refill on anything. I hadn’t much explored the other features, but this makes me want to take a second look!
Btw my husband recently read “Beneath a Scarlet Sky” and enjoyed it very much. Happy reading! :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have a grocery list I on my Iphone 6 I use the same way. I mark some things for the local grocery, hardware store, etc.
Good thing it was a free app. now that I see I could have used notes…..
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you for the informative
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Post this morning! I saved it to my Notes folder for easy future reference
As always, very helpful