The iPhone’s Notes is a handy, built-in tool that serves as an easy and efficient way to jot down thoughts, create lists, and more. It’s like sticky notes and a notebook combined, but much more organized and lightweight, as everything is in the device you hold in your hands.
After this brief introduction, you’ll find that Notes is a great app to use anytime, anywhere. Let’s explore the basics of how to use the iPhone’s Notes app.
How to Compose a New Note on Your iPhone
To start, go to the Notes app. Tap the Compose button (the icon looks like a square of paper with a pen) located in the bottom-right corner to create a new note.
Start typing using your on-screen keyboard. By default, the first line is the title and the rest is body text.
The iPhone’s Notes app automatically saves the content you write. On the same screen, simply tap < Notes in the top left to see your new note logged into the app’s list of folders and notes.
How to Format Text Styles in Notes on an iPhone
Like your usual word processor, the iPhone’s Notes app allows you to format text. For greater clarity, you can bold, italicize, underline, and strikethrough words. You can also apply heading and subheading styles. Here’s how:
- Double-tap the word you want to format.
- If you want to format more than one word, drag the yellow dots on either side to highlight the phrases or sentences you wish to edit.
- Tap the Format button (the icon looks like Aa) to bring up text style options. This button is located just above your on-screen keyboard.
- Select the desired formatting style.
How to Create a Checklist With the Notes App
Whether it’s planned purchases or tasks for the day, checklists help keep track of what you need to get done. Here’s how to use them:
- Tap the Checklist button (the list icon located next to Aa).
- Enter your first item by typing next to the empty bullet that appeared.
- Press Return on your on-screen keyboard to go to the next line and enter more items.
- Whenever you fulfilled an item, tap the empty bullet. A tick will be displayed.
How to Insert Photos or Videos Into an iPhone Note
To insert a photo or video, tap the Camera icon, located between Checklist and Markup buttons.
You can choose to add an image from your iPhone’s photo library or take a new picture there and then.
Once you’re done, you can easily share your note and collaborate with others as well.
How to Scan Documents Into the iPhone’s Notes App
When you scan a document instead of merely taking a picture, the output is much sharper because your iPhone places emphasis on the text. To scan a document into Notes:
- Tap the Camera icon next to Checklist, then choose Scan Documents.
- Place your document in front of your iPhone’s camera.
- By default, the document scanning function is on Auto mode. You can change the mode to Manual by tapping on the feature in the top-right corner.
- Tap the Shutter button to capture the scan.
- Drag the corners to adjust the image. When you’re satisfied, press Keep Scan, Done, and lastly Save to insert the scanned document into your note.
How to Use Live Text in the iPhone’s Notes App
Live Text was introduced in iOS 15. It can serve as a good alternative to scanning if you wish to have an editable version of the text in an image. Here’s how to make use of it:
- Tap the blinking cursor on your note.
- Tap the Live Text button, which looks like rows of text in a box.
- Place the desired section of the physical document in front of your iPhone’s camera.
- Press Insert once the text is detected and inserted into your note.
How to Draw and Sketch in the Notes App
Sometimes, words can’t accurately capture the content you need. Instead of typing, you can draw simple sketches in Notes:
- Tap the Markup button (this looks like a pen tip).
- Choose your drawing tool (such as a pen or pencil) and select a color from the color wheel.
- To customize line thickness and opacity, tap your selected drawing tool again to view the available options.
- Use your finger to draw. For perfectly straight lines, use the ruler tool.
- Once your drawing is completed, tap Done.
The Undo and Redo buttons are located at the top of your screen, above your note’s title. For more instructions, check out our detailed guide on how to undo in the Notes app.
If a sketch doesn’t suit you, and you prefer columns and rows, we also have a guide on how to create and format tables in Notes.
How to Organize Notes Into Folders and Subfolders
Over time, you’ll likely have dozens of notes in your app. An easy way to keep things organized is to sort them into folders and subfolders.
To save a note you’re working on to a folder:
- Tap the More button in the top-right corner of your note (the icon looks like three dots in a circle).
- Select Move Note.
- Select New Folder to create a fresh folder.
- Enter a folder name. Tap Save.
- Your note is now in the assigned folder.
To move an existing note to a different folder:
- From your list of notes, swipe left on the note you want to move.
- Tap the Move button, which looks like a folder.
- Select the folder you want to move the note to.
You can also move multiple notes at once:
- Using two fingers, double-tap anywhere on your notes list.
- Tick the notes you wish to move.
- Tap Move, located in the bottom-left corner of your screen.
- Select a destination folder.
You can further organize your notes using tags and smart folders if you want.
As an additional tip, you can choose to view your notes as a gallery rather than a list. To do so, simply tap the More button in the top right and select View as Gallery.
How to Delete and Restore Notes on Your iPhone
For a note you longer need, here’s how to trash it:
- Swipe left on the note you want to remove.
- Tap the red Delete button.
You can also delete multiple notes at once:
- Use two fingers and double-tap anywhere on your list of notes.
- Tap to tick the notes you wish to remove.
- Tap Delete, located at the bottom of your screen.
The iPhone’s Notes app keeps deleted notes for 30 days. If you want to recover some notes you accidentally removed, here’s how:
- From the Folders page of your Notes app, tap Recently Deleted.
- Tap Edit, located in the top-right corner.
- Tick the note you wish to restore.
- Tap Move and select the folder you want to restore the note to.
Get Productive With the iPhone’s Notes App
Apple’s Notes app on iPhone is an incredibly helpful built-in tool. Whether you use it for grocery shopping, event planning, or the quickly jotting down a spark of inspiration, you’re sure to find that the Notes app will serve you well in your daily life.