The Notes app on your iPhone is one of the most powerful — and most underrated — tools you carry every day.
Yet, 99% of people never realize its true potential.
If you’re only using Notes to jot down grocery lists, you’re missing out.
Here are 15 amazing features that can completely change how you use your iPhone Notes app:
1. Scan Documents Like a Pro
Forget clunky scanner machines — your Notes app lets you scan documents instantly. Just open a new note, tap the camera icon, and select Scan Documents.
2. Lock Notes for Extra Privacy
Protect sensitive information by locking notes with Face ID, Touch ID, or a password. Perfect for private journals, financial details, or confidential plans.
- Open your note, tap the “…” menu, and choose “Lock.”
- Decide whether to use your iPhone’s code or create a custom one (note: forgotten manual codes can’t be recovered).
- Now, Face ID or a code is required to access this note.
3. Share Notes for Real-Time Collaboration
Need to brainstorm with a team? You can share any note and collaborate with others in real time — like a mini Google Docs right in your phone.
4. Create To-Do Lists with Checkboxes
Tap the checklist icon to create interactive to-do lists. Check items off as you complete them — ideal for groceries, tasks, or project planning.
- Create a checklist.
- Tap the share icon and select “Collaborate.”
- Share the link with others to collaborate on the list.
5. Pin Important Notes to the Top
Swipe right on a note and tap the pin icon. This way, your most important notes never get lost in the shuffle.
- Swipe right on the note
- Tap the pin icon
- To unpin, just swipe right again
6. Save Web Pages into Notes
While browsing Safari, share a webpage directly into Notes. You can even add your own comments and organize it into folders later.
7. Use Siri to Instantly Create Notes
Simply say, “Hey Siri, create a note,” and dictate your thought immediately. Perfect for those moments of sudden inspiration.
8. Sketch and Draw
Tap the pencil icon inside a note to open the sketch pad. Whether it’s diagrams, quick doodles, or mind maps, Notes lets you visualize your ideas easily.
9. Add Tables
Need to organize information neatly? Insert a table into your note for quick, clean data management without opening Excel.
- Open your note, tap the “…” menu, and choose “Lines & Grids.”
- Choose the line or grid style you want.
10. Quick Notes for Instant Ideas
On iPad (and now on newer iPhones), swiping up with your Apple Pencil or finger can open Quick Notes. Instantly jot down an idea without leaving your current app.
- Go to Settings > Control Center > Quick Note.
- Swipe down from Control Center, tap the Quick Note button, and start writing instantly over any app.
11. Search Everything, Instantly
Can’t remember where you saved something? The Notes app’s powerful search can find text within notes, scanned documents, and even handwritten notes.
12. Attach Photos, Videos, and Files
Make your notes richer by attaching photos, videos, or documents — perfect for research projects, design inspiration, or trip planning.
13. Organize with Folders and Tags
Create folders for different areas of your life: work, personal, fitness, etc. Add hashtags inside notes (#goals, #ideas) to find related notes quickly.
- Type a hashtag (#) in your note to create a tag.
- When it turns yellow, the tag is active.
- Go to Folders and swipe down to see all your tags in one place.
14. Scan Text from Photos and Documents
iOS now lets you lift text straight from images inside Notes. Snap a picture of a page, then copy and paste the text — no manual typing needed.
Long-press the Notes app, select “Scan Documents,” and save high-quality scans directly into your notes. No extra apps needed.
15. Turn Notes into PDFs
Easily share your notes by exporting them as PDFs. Great for sending meeting summaries, project plans, or professional documents on the go.
- Open the note, tap the share icon, and select “Collaborate.”
- Choose “Send a Copy,” swipe up, and select “Markup” for a PDF preview.
- Tap “Done” and then “Save File.”
16. Quickie dev
Build Web Apps in Minutes – No Code Needed Just type your idea, and Quickie dev does the rest:
- AI generates the code
- Instant live deployment
- Full source code access
- Easy refinements with text prompts
17. Boost your productivity: Add Notes to your Control Center
- Head to Settings
- Tap Control Center
- Pick Quick Note
18. Linking Notes
Simply type >> in a note to instantly connect it with any other note.
Conclusion
The Notes app isn’t just a simple note-taker.
It’s a full productivity suite hidden in plain sight on your iPhone.
Master these features, and you’ll turn your phone into a personal command center for creativity, organization, and efficiency.
