19 ESSENTIAL TIPS TO MASTER THE APPLE NOTES APP

Apple's Notes app may have started as a humble space for grocery lists and last-minute thoughts, but in true Apple fashion, it has quietly transformed into a powerful productivity tool.

- Words By: Sandesh Bhosle

With the rollout of Apple Intelligence in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, Notes is no longer just about jotting down ideas; it's about organizing, sharing, editing, and even letting AI help you sound smarter. Whether you're a student scribbling down lecture highlights, a content creator organizing scripts, or a busy professional tracking tasks, these 19 tips will turn you into a Notes app pro..

01 Launch Quick Note Like a Pro

Add Quick Note to your Control Center for one-swipe access. Head to Settings > Control Center, then tap the green plus icon next to Quick Note. You can even rearrange the order of icons to keep it at your fingertips.

Once it's set up, just swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPhone or iPad and tap the scribble icon. Type away, hit Save, and your idea is instantly filed into the Notes app, no app-hopping necessary.

Bonus: In apps like Safari, tap the Share icon and select Add to Quick Note to save text or links directly.

02 Lock Notes With Face ID or a Custom Passcode

Some notes are just for your eyes, think personal journaling, passwords, or secret recipes. With iOS/iPadOS 16 or later, you can lock notes using your device passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID. Tap the ellipsis (…) in any note and select Lock. On other Apple devices, make sure they're running the latest OS to unlock the same notes securely.

03 Switch to Gallery View for a Visual Boost

By default, your notes are listed in good old-fashioned text form. But if you're more of a visual person, Gallery View is your friend. Tap the ellipsis in the top-right corner and select View as Gallery to transform your notes into tidy thumbnail previews, complete with attached images and rich formatting.

04 View All Attachments in One Place