NotesNotes app in iOS 17DeveloperApple Inc.Stable release(s)iOS1.3.3 / September 19, 2019; 6 years ago (2019-09-19)[1]macOS4.10 Operating systemiOS, iPadOS, visionOS, and macOSTypeNotetaking softwareLicenseProprietaryWebsitewww.icloud.com/notes Part of a series onmacOS History and architecture Architecture Version history Transition to Intel processors Transition to Apple silicon Darwin Cocoa XNU Versions Version history Rhapsody (Developer Release) Hera (Server 1.0) Kodiak (Public Beta) Cheetah (10.0) Puma (10.1) Jaguar (10.2) Panther (10.3) Tiger (10.4) Leopard (10.5) Snow Leopard (10.6) Lion (10.7) Mountain Lion (10.8) Mericks (10.9) Yosemite (10.10) El Capitan (10.11) Sierra (10.12) High Sierra (10.13) Moje (10.14) Catalina (10.15) Big Sur (11) Monterey (12) Ventura (13) Sonoma (14) Sequoia (15) Tahoe (26) Applications App Store Automator Books Calculator Calendar Contacts Dashboard Dictionary FaceTime Finder Game Center Grapher iTunes (history) Mail Messages Music Notes Notification Center Photo Booth Podcasts Photos Preview QuickTime Reminders Safari Sherlock Stickies TextEdit Time Machine List of built-in apps List of compatible software List of compatible games Utilities Activity Monitor AirPort Utility Archive Utility Audio MIDI Setup Bluetooth File Exchange ColorSync Console Crash Reporter DigitalColor Meter Directory Utility DiskImageMounter Disk Utility Font Book Grab Help Viewer Image Capture Installer Keychain Access Migration Assistant Network Utility ODBC Administrator Remote Install Mac OS X System Preferences System Information Terminal Universal Access VoiceOver Related operating systems Classic Mac OS Copland NeXTSTEP Rhapsody Darwin vte
Notes is a notetaking app developed by Apple Inc provided on the company's iOS, iPadOS, visionOS, and macOS operating systems, the latter starting with OS X Mountain Lion.
Usage[edit]It functions as a service for making short text notes, which can be synchronized between devices using Apple's iCloud service.
Interface[edit]The application uses a similar interface on iOS and macOS, with a non-textured paper background for notes and light yellow icons, suggesting pencil or crayon.
Until 2013, both applications used a strongly skeuomorphic interface, with a lined, textured paper design; the Mountain Lion version placed this inside a leather folder. This design was replaced in OS X Mericks and iOS 7.
iOS/iPadOS version[edit] iOS 7[edit]In iOS 7, as with all other default apps, Notes was redesigned, losing the notepad-like UI in the process.
iOS 9[edit]Starting with iOS 9, Notes received a significant functional overhaul: iCloud sync (instead of IMAP; in-line with the OS X El Capitan version), the ability to create sketches (and later, support for Apple Pencil), advanced text formatting options, several styles of lists, rich web and map link previews, support for more file type attachments, a corresponding dedicated attachment browser and a system share extension point for sing web links, images, etc.[2]
As of iOS 9.3, individual notes can be password-protected (with the ability to use Touch ID to unlock all notes on compatible devices), however, only one password can be set for all notes locked henceforth. The password syncs across compatible devices.[3]
iOS 10[edit]In iOS 10, Notes now has a collaboration feature for many people to work on a note at the same time.[4]
iOS 11[edit]The update to Notes released with iOS 11 adds tables,[5] pinned notes,[6] a document scanner,[5][6] graph and lined paper,[6] monospaced text support,[6] handwriting search[6] and improved integration with Apple Pencil.
Tapping the Pencil on the Lock screen will bring up a new note, with drawing active; the Pencil can also be used while in the Notes app to start an inline drawing.
iOS/iPadOS 13[edit]In iOS 13, the Notes app includes a new gallery view that displays notes as thumbnails, and shared folders.
Checklist items can be automatically moved to the bottom when completed, and can be reordered using drag and drop.
Search can find text in documents scanned using Notes and can recognise images within notes.[7]
iOS/iPadOS 15[edit]Notes supports using tags to categorize notes, and using mentions to notify collaborators of important changes to shared notes.
A new Activity view shows all the recent changes to a shared note.[8]
iOS/iPadOS 16[edit]Quick Notes is now ailable on iPhone through the Share Sheet, and Smart Folders support new filters for organizing notes.
Notes can be locked using the device passcode, instead of using a specific passcode only for locked notes.[9]
macOS version[edit]Prior to Mountain Lion, Apple Mail on macOS supported a mailbox containing notes, which was synced with notes in the Notes application in iOS. This situation was a kludge: as Apple Mail already implemented the IMAP mailbox synchronization protocol, it could also sync notes with minimal additional work.[10]
In Mountain Lion, notes were moved to a separate Notes application.[11][12] Created notes are synced through all the user's Apple devices through the iCloud service. Notes can be arranged in folders and pinned to the user's desktop.
When the application is closed, the pinned note still remains. Additionally, unlike the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch versions, the OS X Mountain Lion Notes application allows for images to be embedded within notes.
Originally, notes could be created in three different default fonts, Noteworthy, Marker Felt, and Helvetica. Users could also add custom fonts by visiting the "Show Fonts" menu. The menu allows users to change text size, and format lists, choose the alignment (left, center, justify, or right), assign a writing direction, and indent text. Attachments, images, and hyperlinks can also be added to a note. Attachments cannot be viewed on iOS devices.[13]
Due to the proprietary nature of the data storage mechanism for the Apple Notes apps, users of this software may be locked into it without a convenient way to export all Notes data to a different format.[14]
While Apple does provide a way to export individual notes as PDF files, the software does not provide a mechanism to export the text of all notes to a text file, a Rich Text File, or other commonly used data file formats as a bulk data transfer. However, advanced users can utilize AppleScript or Shortcuts to automate note exports.
OS X El Capitan[edit]As of OS X El Capitan, Notes received a significant functional overhaul (in-line with the iOS 9 version), with major features including: iCloud sync, the ability to view sketches created on the iOS counterpart, advanced text formatting options, several styles of lists, rich web and map link previews, support for more file type attachments, a corresponding dedicated attachment browser and a system share extension point for sing web links, images, etc.[15]
As of OS X El Capitan 4, individual notes can be password-protected, with the password syncing across compatible devices.[3]
macOS High Sierra[edit]The update to Notes released with macOS High Sierra adds tables.[16]
macOS Catalina[edit]The new Notes app in macOS Catalina lets users turn their notes into reminders.[17]
macOS Sonoma[edit]With macOS Sonoma, Notes now lets users create links between notes.
In popular culture[edit]Social media users he often used the Notes application to write short notes, which can then be posted as a screenshot to social media sites such as Instagram or Twitter.[18][19]
Writers he noted that this form of communication has often been used by celebrities to make public statements, perhaps to give them an informal feel or extend beyond platform character limits, including often to post public apologies.[20][21]
See also[edit] Evernote – Notetaking software and online service Google Keep – Note-taking service developed by Google Microsoft OneNote – Freeform note-taking software Reminders (Apple) – iOS stock task management app Windows Notepad – Simple text editor included with Microsoft Windows Notebook – Book for writing, drawing, scrapbooking References[edit] ^ "Notes". App Store Preview. Archived from the original on October 2, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2019. ^ "Inside iOS 9: Apple's Notes app is greatly enhanced with drawings, lists, pictures, links & more". AppleInsider. June 12, 2015. Archived from the original on November 16, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2016. ^ a b "Keep your notes secure with password-protection - Apple Support". support.apple.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2022. ^ "How to collaborate on Notes in iOS 10". Macworld. Archived from the original on December 3, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2022. ^ a b Zaib Ali (June 18, 2017). "5 Awesome New Features iOS 11 Brings To The Notes App: Its A Big Plus". Archived from the original on August 25, 2017. Retrieved September 11, 2017. ^ a b c d e "10 New Features in iOS 11 Notes App". iPhone Hacks | #1 iPhone, iPad, iOS Blog. July 5, 2017. Archived from the original on August 30, 2017. Retrieved August 30, 2017. ^ "What's New in Notes for iOS and iPadOS". Apple Support. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023. ^ Adorno, José (September 22, 2021). "iOS 15: Here's everything new with the Notes app". 9to5Mac. Retrieved March 26, 2023. ^ "iOS 16: Everything New With Notes and Reminders". MacRumors. September 12, 2022. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023. ^ Gruber, John. "Mountain Lion". Daring Fireball. Archived from the original on March 6, 2020. Retrieved September 4, 2014. ^ "OS X Mountain Lion - See everything the new OS X can do". Apple. Section "Notes". Archived from the original on June 15, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2012. ^ Titlow, John Paul. "Apple's Convergence of Desktop and Mobile Continues With Mountain Lion". ReadWrite. Archived from the original on April 21, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2012. ^ Breen, Christopher (July 26, 2012). "Up close with Mountain Lion: Notes". Macworld. Mac Publishing. Archived from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2012. ^ "Obsidian Importer now converts Apple Notes to portable, durable files". obsidian.md. Archived from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023. ^ "Hands-on with Notes 4 in El Capitan". Macworld. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2016. ^ "How to use tables in Notes in macOS High Sierra". iMore. Archived from the original on September 11, 2017. Retrieved September 11, 2017. ^ Sharma, Nutan (October 28, 2023). "How to turn notes into reminders on iPhone, iPad, and Mac". thewritingparadigm.com. Retrieved November 7, 2023. ^ Weber, Lindsey (January 12, 2019). "How We Apologize Now". The New York Times. Retrieved May 13, 2020. ^ Ruiz, Michelle (December 31, 2019). "2019 Was the Year of the Celebrity Notes App Statement". Vogue. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020. ^ Way, Katie (April 13, 2018). "A power-ranking of every celebrity iPhone note 'apology,' from Logan Paul to Lena Dunham". Babe. Archived from the original on June 29, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2020. ^ Kesslen, Ben (February 17, 2019). "Why Sarah Sanders used the Notes app, just like many celebrities". NBC News. Archived from the original on September 2, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2020. External links[edit] Wikimedia Commons has media related to Notes (Apple). Use Notes on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch on support.apple.com vteiOS and iOS-based products History iOS iPadOS Issues Outline HardwareiPhone (models) 1st 3G 3GS 4 4s 5 5c 5s 6 & 6 Plus 6s & 6s Plus 7 & 7 Plus 8 & 8 Plus X XR XS & XS Max 11 11 Pro & Pro Max 12 & 12 Mini 12 Pro & Pro Max 13 & 13 Mini 13 Pro & Pro Max 14 & 14 Plus 14 Pro & Pro Max 15 & 15 Plus 15 Pro & Pro Max 16 & 16 Plus 16 Pro & Pro Max 16e 17 17 Pro & Pro Max SE 1st 2nd 3rd Air iPad (models) 1st 2 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th Mini 1st 2 3 4 5th 6th 7th Air 1st 2 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th Pro 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th DiscontinuediPod Touch 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th Other Apple TV Apple Watch HomePod Mini SoftwareOS versions 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 26 Derived from iOS watchOS tvOS iPadOS 13 14 15 16 17 18 26 Features AirDrop AirPlay AirPrint CarPlay Control Center Crash Detection iTunes Night Shift Notification Center Shazam Siri Spotlight SpringBoard VoiceOver SDK & API SDK Foundation UIKit Core Animation HomeKit Inter-App Audio Liquid Glass WebKit GymKit HealthKit SwiftUI Bundled apps Books Calculator Calendar Clock Contacts FaceTime Freeform Files Find My Fitness Workouts Games Health Mindfulness Home Journal Mail Maps Measure Messages Music News Notes Passwords Photos Podcasts Preview Reminders Safari Shortcuts Stocks Translate TV Voice Memos Wallet Weather Watch Discontinued Newsstand Apple apps Classroom GarageBand iMovie iWork Keynote Numbers Pages Invites Discontinued Beats Music Clips iPhoto Nike+iPod iTunes Remote Services Arcade Card App Store Music FaceTime Family Sharing Game Center iCloud iMessage iTunes Connect iTunes Store News + One Pay Push Notifications TestFlight TV+ Wallet Discontinued iAd iLife iTunes Radio MobileMe Other Apple silicon Controversies 300-page bill Antennagate Batterygate Bendgate Jailbreaking Free and open-source apps Games iFund iPhone history iPhone hardware Metal Swift Category vtemacOS History Architecture Built-in apps Server Software VersionsMac OS X Server 1.0 Public Beta 10.0 Cheetah 10.1 Puma 10.2 Jaguar 10.3 Panther 10.4 Tiger 10.5 Leopard 10.6 Snow Leopard OS X 10.7 Lion 10.8 Mountain Lion 10.9 Mericks 10.10 Yosemite 10.11 El Capitan macOS 10.12 Sierra 10.13 High Sierra 10.14 Moje 10.15 Catalina 11 Big Sur 12 Monterey 13 Ventura 14 Sonoma 15 Sequoia 26 Tahoe Predecessors Classic Mac OS NeXTSTEP Rhapsody ApplicationsCoreapplications App Store Automator Calculator Calendar Chess Contacts Control Center Dictionary DVD Player FaceTime Finder Game Center Grapher Home Launchpad Mail Messages News Music Notes Notification Center Podcasts Photo Booth Photos Preview QuickTime Player Reminders Safari version history Shortcuts Siri Stickies TextEdit Time Machine DeveloperToolsXcode Instruments FileMerge Former Interface Builder Dashcode Quartz Composer Former Dashboard Front Row iChat iPhoto iSync iTunes history Sherlock Utilities Activity Monitor AirPort Utility Archive Utility Audio MIDI Setup Bluetooth File Exchange Boot Camp ColorSync Configurator Console Crash Reporter Digital Color Meter Directory Utility DiskImageMounter Disk Utility Font Book Help Viewer Image Capture Installer Keychain Access Migration Assistant Script Editor System Settings System Information Terminal Universal Access VoiceOver Discontinued Grab Network Utility ODBC Administrator Remote Install Mac OS X Software Update Technologies,user interface AirDrop AppKit Apple File System Apple menu Apple Push Notification service AppleScript Aqua Audio Units Foundation Bonjour Bundle CloudKit Cocoa ColorSync Command key Core Animation Core Audio Core Data Core Foundation Core Image Core OpenGL Core Text Core Video CUPS Cover Flow Darwin Dock FileVault Fonts Foundation Gatekeeper Grand Central Dispatch icns iCloud Kernel panic Keychain launchd Liquid Glass Mach-O Menu extra Metal Mission Control Night Shift OpenCL Option key Preference Pane Property list Quartz Quick Look Rosetta Smart Folders Speakable items Spotlight Stacks System Integrity Protection Uniform Type Identifier Universal binary WebKit XNU XQuartz Deprecated HFS+ Discontinued ATSUI BootX Brushed metal Carbon Classic Environment Inkwell QuickTime Spaces Xgrid Italics denote upcoming products. Category vteNote-taking/outliner software (comparison) AllMyNotes Organizer A.nnotate Evernote Gnote Google Notebook/Keep Joplin Keynote MyInfo Obsidian (software) Notes Notion OneNote Personal Knowbase Samsung Notes TiddlyWiki Tomboy Windows Journal Whizfolders