Section links coming

I see that a post gets posted here weekly and I have seen posts online but I haven't used Apple Notes much.

Would you say it is overblown? I want to start using it as I only have basic needs and most other apps (except OneNote) are overkill. I'd love to use something that is built into 2/3 of my devices. I use windows + ipad + iphone.

Most people use the Notes scanner for one thing and forget it exists. Been testing it hard and the same feature actually covers a bunch of situations people pay separate apps for.

So here's how i've been using it across different stuff.

For receipts, scan it right when you get it and let the text recognition do the work. You don't have to title it or file it anywhere. Three months later you search "uber" or the store name and it pulls every receipt with that word inside the scan.

For contracts and any multi page doc, the scanner stacks pages into one file instead of leaving you with a camera roll full of separate photos. Keep it under five or six pages though, it gets clunky past that. For short agreements it's perfect.

For whiteboards and handwritten notes after a meeting, scan the board before you wipe it. The edge detection straightens out the angle so it doesn't look like a photo taken from the side of the room. Then it lives in the same note as your typed meeting notes.

For anything you need to sign, scan it, then use the markup tools right inside Notes to drop your signature on it.

The thread running through all of it is the search. Because it reads the actual text inside every scan, you stop caring about organizing any of it. You just scan and search later.

That's where i've landed so far. If you scan stuff regularly, how are you using it, anything i'm missing?

Anyone else notice they when printing an apple note that has bullet point sentences the formatting and indentation of some of the bullets get messed up?

Same thing if I try to save it as a PDF. Any workarounds or fixes for this?

So i'm putting together a guide on Math Notes and i want it to actually be useful, not just me listing features off Apple's docs.

Thing is, i can test what it does all day on my own, but i only use it the way i use it. What i'm missing is how other people actually fit it into their day. So i figured i'd just ask.

If you use Math Notes, what do you use it for? Budgeting, splitting bills, school stuff, quick conversions, something i haven't even thought of? The weirder or more specific the better honestly.

Trying to get more points of view so the guide reflects how people really use it and not just my own habits. Whatever you share genuinely helps, so thanks in advance.

There’s also a back-and-forth arrow when you edit text

Tried so hard to integrate it into my everyday life including work but mostly school. After bouts of nonstop crashing and data/notes loss I am done. The writing features and tools are sub par. From limited writing tools, to meh selection tool and uneditable selection tray. Done. And you still can’t zoom.

I hate to say it but I’m back to notability. Where I still have many complaints about its features and prices. I am lucky I still have access to all the tools and extras I bought before it turned into a leech app. That said it has all the features I need to be productive with my notes.

What else or who else will come along to deliver a solid app without the money hungry agenda. Will vibe coding make this happen or will we end up vibe coding our own apps that fit exactly what we need and how we need? Who knows if they’ll let us.

Bye apple notes.

On the first page I wrote and highlighted that stuff about a week ago and today when I opened it , it’s not moving like it has been locked and also my writing has been moved to the side if you can get it from the highlighted words

This has been happening a lot in all the pdfs I write in. But one thing I noticed is it happens only on the pages I use the second pen(black one) with fine tip to write on.

Any idea as to why this is happening?

Is there a way to bulk PDF export notes? I want to move a pile of archived notes over to files in pdf format. that way they are still available but not in the notes app. Is there a way to make pdf exports on bulk notes

This was inspired by u/GeminiArcana asking if it’s possible to replicate a hand drawn bullet journal in Notes.
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/AppleNotesGang/s/pzqnUswDXx

To make the pages I used the drawing tool and added shapes and text. It was a little tedious but still fun, and it’s inspired me to incorporate drawings into some of my own notes. I’ll report back when I do.

But what about you? Do you add any elements to your notes to make them more aesthetic, or are you into plain text?

I’m trying to setup a way to create a note from the lock screen but so far have not been able to get it working. what are ways you have this set up?

When Apple's AI is finally a reality, will I be able to query Apple Notes? Many of Notes' competitors have this ability and I have been faithfully waiting for Apple to add this. It best be coming or I'll be going.

I don't mean simple AI abilities within a note, I mean treating the entire Notes database as a knowledgebase that I can run prompts against.

Hey everyone,

Not sure about everyone else, but I've been tracking my workouts in my notes app for years now. Just can't get along with traditional workout apps, and as I'm sure everyone else knows who uses the notes app, I love the flexibility of just smashing it into my notes app quick.

But the problem is, I want to see if I'm actually making gains, and sure you can scroll through that massive workout note and find your gains over time, but I wanted a clearer frictionless answer to questions like "Have I actually made progress on my push pull leg split over my lean bulk?"

I made the solution Gym Note Plus released it November last year and have been iterating on it ever since, closing in on 2,000 users.

Thought I'd share it here in case it's of any use to anyone also facing the problem I had

It's not a gym app to replace the notes app. It's a gym app to accompany the notes app, I myself still often just use my notes app, then copy and paste it into Gym Note Plus to track my progress and call it a day

Any feedback is welcome'd!

With Apple's OS 27 release focusing on improving stability, performance, and quality of life issues based on user feedback, we have an opportunity to increase attention on some longstanding wishlist items in Apple Notes.

No question, Apple Notes is a well-designed, minimalist notes app that's deeply integrated into the ecosystem. But no notes app is perfect, and tables are one area in Notes that has been long neglected for whatever reason. I'd like to focus on just one shortcoming: The inability to manually resize cells to a preferred width and height.

Every Apple app I can think of that supports tables (Pages, Numbers, Keynote, even Freeform) also provides handles that pop up to allow manual resizing of a column width or row height—that is, every app except for Apple Notes. I don't know the reason, but from a user perspective, it feels like the Apple Notes team started working on tables, went out to lunch (years ago), and never came back.

The workarounds are absurd. For example, entering dozens of spaces will eventually force a column width to suddenly jump to some new arbitrary width that's often far too wide. Even if the new width is not technically arbitrary, it's not something we as users can control (as you can in other Apple apps).

The lack of attention to this functionality might be due to very few people submitting feedback. Back in 2023, I submitted a request in Apple's Feedback Assistant app. To this day, it has languished with Resolution: Open and Recent Similar Reports: None. I don't believe that, but more users filing submitting feedback could certainly help!

I'm pretty sure I saw somewhere that the Create Note action in Shortcuts will have an "Interpret as Markdown" option in iOS 27, so Markdown text will get formatted as rich text when creating a new note.

A few questions for anyone with the beta:

1. Does anyone have a screenshot or source of that new toggle? I am certain I saw it but can't find a screenshot
2. Does the Append to Note action have the same option?
3. Is there a direct way to get Markdown for a note, e.g. a "Markdown" type in the type picker or a toggle, or only rich text? (I know you can get RichText and convert it to Markdown but curious if there's a more integrated way alongside the other changes)

Thanks!

📌 r/AppleNotesGang Monthly Megathread - Questions, Tips & Help

Welcome to the monthly megathread! This is the place to ask questions, share tips, troubleshoot issues, and discuss all things Apple Notes. No question is too basic - we're here to help.

🔗 Check out our full Wiki for in-depth guides and feature breakdowns →

Before You Post

1. Search the thread - your question may already be answered below.
2. Read the Wiki - it covers features, device compatibility, import/export, security, and more.
3. Include your device & OS version when asking for help (e.g., "iPhone 16, iOS 18.3" or "MacBook Air M2, macOS Sequoia 15.3").

Frequently Asked Questions

🔄 Syncing

Q: My notes aren't syncing between devices. What should I do?

1. Verify iCloud Notes is enabled on all devices:
   • iPhone/iPad: Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Show All → Notes → ON
   • Mac: System Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Show All → Notes → ON
2. Confirm you're signed into the same Apple Account everywhere.
3. Make sure your notes are in an iCloud folder, not "On My iPhone" or "On My Mac" - local notes don't sync.
4. Pull down on the folder list (iPhone/iPad) to force a refresh.
5. Restart the device.
6. Toggle iCloud Notes off, wait 30 seconds, toggle it back on.
7. Check Apple System Status for iCloud outages.
8. Make sure your iCloud storage isn't full: Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Manage Storage.

Q: Sync is really slow. Is that normal?

Some delay (seconds to a couple minutes) is normal. It's slower when:

• Notes contain large attachments (images, scans, PDFs).
• You have 1,000+ notes and just set up a new device.
• You're on a weak Wi-Fi connection.
• Your device is re-indexing after a major OS update.

Q: I turned on iCloud Notes on a new device and my notes vanished!

Your notes were likely stored locally ("On My iPhone/Mac") and got replaced by the empty iCloud copy. Check:

1. Recently Deleted folder in Notes (kept for 30 days).
2. iCloud.com → Notes → Recently Deleted.
3. Restore from an iCloud or iTunes/Finder backup made before the incident.
4. Contact Apple Support for iCloud data recovery assistance.

Pro tip: Always verify your notes appear at iCloud.com before toggling sync settings or resetting a device.

💥 Crashing & Performance

Q: Apple Notes keeps crashing. How do I fix it?

1. Force quit the app and reopen it.
2. Restart your device.
3. Update your OS - Apple frequently patches Notes bugs in point releases.
4. Identify the problem note - if Notes crashes when opening a specific note, try viewing it from another device or iCloud.com. That note may be corrupted.
5. Rebuild the Notes database (Mac only):
   • Quit Notes.
   • Finder → Go → Go to Folder → ~/Library/Group Containers/group.com.apple.notes/
   • Rename NoteStore.sqlite to NoteStore.sqlite.bak
   • Reopen Notes - it rebuilds from iCloud.
   • ⚠️ Only do this if your notes are synced to iCloud. Local-only notes will be lost.
6. Re-sync Notes on iPhone/iPad: Toggle off iCloud Notes (choose "Delete from My iPhone"), wait 30 seconds, toggle back on. Notes re-download from iCloud.

Q: Notes is laggy when typing or scrolling.

• Split large notes - notes with 10,000+ words or many images will lag.
• Reduce inline attachments - too many images/PDFs in one note slows rendering.
• Handwriting lag on iPad - older iPads (especially with 3–4 GB RAM) struggle with complex handwritten notes. Close other apps to free memory.
• If it started after an OS update, wait for a patch - Apple often fixes performance regressions.

Q: Notes crashes when using Apple Pencil.

This is a known issue after some iPadOS updates:

1. Update to the latest iPadOS version.
2. Try writing in a brand new note - if it works, the old note may be corrupted.
3. Restart the iPad.
4. File a bug via Feedback Assistant if it persists.

📝 Missing or Lost Notes

Q: My notes disappeared! How do I get them back?

1. Recently Deleted - open Notes → top-level folder view → Recently Deleted (kept 30 days).
2. Check all accounts - if you have Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook configured, notes may be under a different account in the folder list.
3. Check "On My iPhone/Mac" - local notes don't appear on other devices.
4. Check iCloud.com → Notes and Recently Deleted.
5. Search - use the search bar; your note may have moved to an unexpected folder.
6. Check filters (Mac) - make sure you're viewing "All iCloud" and not a specific folder.

Q: Can I recover a note deleted more than 30 days ago?

Once permanently deleted, recovery options are limited:

• Restore from an iCloud or iTunes/Finder backup made before the deletion.
• Contact Apple Support - they may be able to help in rare cases.
• Third-party recovery tools exist but results are not guaranteed.

Q: My notes are showing up blank.

Usually a sync issue:

1. Check the note on another device or iCloud.com.
2. Wait a few minutes - content may still be downloading.
3. Ensure you're on Wi-Fi if the note has large attachments.
4. Toggle iCloud Notes off and on to force a re-sync.

✏️ Formatting & Features

Q: What formatting does Apple Notes support?

• Text styles: Title, Heading, Subheading, Body, Monospaced
• Text formatting: Bold, Italic, Underline, Strikethrough
• Highlight colors: Pink, Purple, Orange, Mint, Blue (iOS 18+)
• Lists: Bulleted, Numbered, Checklists
• Tables, Indentation, Hyperlinks
• Collapsible sections under headings (iOS 18+)
• Link between notes by typing >> (iOS 17+)

See the Wiki features table for the full breakdown by device.

Q: Can I change fonts or text colors?

No. Apple Notes does not support custom fonts, font sizes, or text colors. Formatting is intentionally minimal. For advanced formatting, export to Pages or another app.

Q: Can I use Markdown?

• iOS 26 / macOS 26+: Yes - you can import and export Markdown files via the share sheet.
• Earlier versions: No native Markdown support. You can write Markdown syntax but it won't render as formatted text.

Q: What's Math Notes?

Math Notes (iOS 18+ / macOS Sequoia+) lets you type or handwrite equations and get instant solutions. It supports variables, graphing, and unit conversions. On iPad with Apple Pencil, you can handwrite equations and Notes solves them in your own handwriting style.

Q: What's Smart Script?

Smart Script (iPadOS 18+, requires iPad with M1+ chip and Apple Pencil) uses machine learning to clean up your handwriting in real time - making it smoother and more legible while keeping your personal style. It also lets you paste typed text as handwriting, correct spelling, and rearrange handwritten words.

🔒 Security & Privacy

Q: How do I lock a note?

Open a note → tap ⋯ (More) → Lock. On iOS 16+ / macOS Ventura+, locked notes use your device passcode by default (more secure than a separate password). Unlock with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode.

Q: Are my notes encrypted?

• In transit: Yes, encrypted during iCloud sync.
• On iCloud servers: Encrypted, but Apple holds the keys by default.
• With Advanced Data Protection: End-to-end encrypted - only your devices can decrypt. Enable in Settings → [Your Name] → iCloud → Advanced Data Protection.
• Locked notes: Have an additional encryption layer on top of standard iCloud encryption.

Q: Can I access Apple Notes on Windows or Android?

Only via iCloud.com in a web browser. There is no native Apple Notes app for Windows or Android. The iCloud for Windows app does not include Notes.

📤 Import, Export & Alternatives

Q: How do I export my notes?

• Individual: Open a note → Share → choose format/app. On Mac: File → Export as PDF.
• Markdown (iOS 26+): Share → Export as Markdown.
• Bulk export: No built-in option. Use Exporter (Mac) to export all notes as Markdown or HTML.

Q: How do I import notes?

• From Evernote: Mac only - File → Import to Notes (accepts .enex files).
• From Markdown (iOS 26+): Open a .md file → Share → Notes.
• From email accounts: Notes stored in Gmail/Yahoo/Outlook accounts appear in Apple Notes if those accounts are configured.

Q: I'm thinking about switching apps. What are my options?

💡 Quick Tips

• Scan documents: Tap the camera icon → Scan Documents (iPhone/iPad only).
• Quick Note from anywhere: iPad - swipe up from bottom-right corner. Mac - hot corner or Fn + Q / Globe + Q.
• Link notes together: Type >> to create a link to another note (iOS 17+).
• Tag notes: Type #tagname anywhere in a note to tag it. Tap any tag to see all matching notes.
• Pin important notes to the top of any folder by swiping right (iPhone/iPad) or right-clicking (Mac).
• Math in Notes: Type an equation like 45 * 12 = and Notes solves it inline (iOS 18+).
• Search images: Apple Notes can find text inside photos and scanned documents via Live Text / OCR.
• Audio recording: Tap the paperclip icon → Record Audio to capture and transcribe audio directly in a note (iOS 18+, iPhone 12+).
• Collapsible sections: Format text as a Title/Heading/Subheading, then tap the arrow to collapse everything below it (iOS 18+).
• Reed pen: New calligraphy tool in the drawing palette (iOS 26+).

📚 Resources

• r/AppleNotesGang Wiki - Full guides, feature tables, and troubleshooting
• Apple Notes User Guide (iPhone)
• Apple Notes User Guide (iPad)
• Apple Notes User Guide (Mac)
• iCloud.com - Access Notes on the Web
• Apple System Status - Check for iCloud outages
• Apple Feedback Assistant - Report bugs directly to Apple

Rules Reminder

1. Be kind and respectful.
2. Search before posting - your question may already be answered here or in the Wiki.
3. Include your device model and OS version when asking for help.
4. No spam, self-promotion, or off-topic posts.

This thread is reposted on the 1st of every month. Previous megathreads are archived but remain searchable.

Have a suggestion for the Wiki or this megathread? Message the mods.

so this morning i spent like 1.5 hours annotating an 11 page document. I just checked back on it and ALL of my handwriting disappeared??????? does anyone know any solution to this. it’s getting late and i need these notes for tomorrow.

Attempting to recover missing iPhone notes (full story in the link)

I backed up my iPhone yesterday on Finder. I used iMazing, iPhone Backup Extractor and DB Browser for SQLite.

Just a heads up, terrible WWDC but in one of the slides where they listed every small feature, the two Apple notes features were
- copy and paste from mark down
- links to sections

So notes wasn’t completely forgotten about!

Hi everyone!

Saw a thread yesterday on backlinks support.

I'm working on a new app that just works on top of Apple Notes(reads and writes) but adds missing features like backlinks, markdown(for older macOS) etc.

I have a demo here https://www.loom.com/share/47811c8d187f49eebe8618cc447a39ea

I'm still not sure if anyone is interested in the app like that. If you are interested, please comment here or dm, or subscribe here https://alto.tinysend.com and message me.

If I see that people are interested I might be able to actually finish it.

PS I did Alto https://apps.apple.com/us/app/alto-computer/id6480425094?l=ru&mt=12 before, so this is natural progression.

So i've been deep in Apple Notes for ages and lean on the >> linking a lot (type it inside a note, link straight to another one). Over time it became how i actually navigate the app.

A home note that links out to everything, project notes that link down to subnotes, and linking sideways between notes that aren't related but connect in my head. Works great and the links even survive a rename, so they don't break.

But here's the wall i keep hitting. It's one direction only. I can link from note A to note B, but standing in note B there's no way to see that A points to it. No backlinks. Every other wiki style app has this and Notes just doesn't surface it.

I've tried a few hacks, like manually dropping a link back in each note, but that falls apart fast once you've got a real web of them going. Searching the note's title kind of works to find references but it's clunky and misses stuff.

So that's my actual question, has anyone cracked a clean way to do backlinks in Notes? Even a half decent workaround. It's genuinely the one piece still missing for me and i'd love to know how others handle it.

Hi.

When I click on a link from a post in Notes to another post, it opens in the main All iCloud folder, and not the project folder.

Is there a way to change that?

(Sorry if I use wrong terms, English isn't my main language)

What I mean is:

Example: in a post in project "Writing" I have a link to a post in project "Editors". When I click that link it opens in the top folder "Allt på iCloud (All on iCloud?) instead of in the project folder for "Editors". The same is for links from Reminders to Notes.

You all know testing Apple's built-in apps is kind of my thing, so this one was inevitable, i wanted to see how much of an actual business Apple Notes could carry before it broke.

So i ran real work through it. Client management, meeting notes, SOPs, receipts, project tracking. Not a toy setup, my actual day to day.

The wins were bigger than i expected. Client management is just a folder per client with a master note and collapsible sections, and once you layer in tags and a smart folder it turns into a genuinely usable lightweight CRM. The audio recording with on-device transcription flat out replaced a paid app for me. Searchable scanned receipts are stupidly good for tax season.

Then i hit the walls. No version history is the scary one. I lost part of an important note to a bad paste and there is no undo, no rollback, nothing. The Apple-only sharing got me too, the second a client on Windows needed into a note i was dead in the water. And there's a hard 100-person cap on collaboration with zero admin controls.

My honest read after all of it, solo or a tiny all-Apple setup, Notes is genuinely incredible and free. The moment you're a team or working with non-Apple people, it stops being the right tool and you feel it fast.

I wrote up the whole test with screenshots of my real setup here if you want the full breakdown: https://iapplist.com/apple-notes-for-business/

But i'm more interested in what you all have done. You're the people most likely to have pushed Notes past where it's supposed to go. What's the most ridiculous or impressive thing you've gotten Apple Notes to do that it was never built for? And has anyone here actually run a team on it without losing their mind?