How to use Notes on Mac

Want to start taking control of the Notes app on your Mac? Learn how right here!

Notes is a versatile way to save information, from a quick thought to a shopping list. You can also keep those notes secure, locking the ones you select behind a password so that only you can see them. And thanks to iCloud and other services, you can keep your notes in sync between your Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

Here's how to use Notes for Mac!

• How to start a new note
• How to make a checklist
• How to make a bulleted, dashed, or numbered list and headings
• How to view note attachments
• How to set a password for locked notes
• How to lock a note
• How to sign into iCloud
• How to invite others to collaborate on a note
• How to send a note to another person or app

How to start a new note

1. Launch Notes from your Dock or Finder.

2. Click the New Note button (looks like a pencil on a square). Alternatively, click File in the menu bar at the top of your screen and select New Note.

   

3. Write your note.

   

How to make a checklist

1. Launch Notes from your Dock or Finder.

2. Click the New Note button (looks like a pencil on a square). Alternatively, click File in the menu bar and select New Note.

   

3. Click the checklist button (looks like a checkmark in a circle).

4. Enter your first item.

   

5. Hit Return on your keyboard to automatically begin a new checklist item.

   

How to make a bulleted, dashed, or numbered list and headings

1. Launch Notes from your Dock or Finder.

2. Click the New Note button (looks like a pencil on a square). Alternatively, click File in the menu bar at the top of your screen and select New Note.

   

3. Click Format in the menu bar.

4. Click Heading to turn your next line in the note into a heading.

   

5. Click Bulleted List, Dashed List, or Numbered List to choose which of the list types you'd like to create.

6. Hit Return while on a blank list item to stop writing in a list.

   

How to view note attachments

1. Launch Notes from your Dock or Finder.

2. Click the Attachments button in the toolbar (looks like four squares).

   

3. Click on the different tabs, like Photos & Videos, Sketches, and Audio to view your attachments.

   

How to set a password for locked notes

1. Launch Notes from your Dock or Finder.

2. Click Notes in the menu bar at the top of your screen and select Preferences.

   

3. Click Set Password.

4. Enter a new password.

   

5. Enter your new password again under Verify.

6. Optionally, leave a password hint for yourself.

   

7. Click Set Password.

   

How to lock a note

1. Launch Notes from your Dock or Finder.

2. Click on the Note you want to lock.

   

3. Click the Lock icon in the toolbar (looks like a padlock).

   

How to sign into iCloud

1. Launch System Preferences from the Dock or by clicking the  menu button on the top left of your screen and clicking System Preferences.

2. Click iCloud.

   

3. Sign in with your iCloud credentials.

4. Make sure that the checkbox next to Notes is checked in the iCloud menu after you've signed in.

   

And don't forget to follow the steps here to sign into iCloud on your iPhone or iPad so that your notes sync across all of your devices.

How to invite others to collaborate on a note

In order to collaborate on a note, the people that you invited need to be using a Mac, iPhone, or iPad.

1. Launch Notes from your Dock or the Finder.

2. Click the Add People button in the toolbar (looks like a silhouette with a "+" button).

   

3. Click a sharing method (Mail, Message, a link, etc.).

4. Enter the email address or phone number of the person or people you'd like to share the note with.

   

5. Click Share.

   

How to send a note to another person or app

1. Lqunch Notes from your Dock or the Finder.

2. Click on the note you want to share.

   

3. Click the share button on the toolbar (looks like a square with an arrow pointing out of it).

4. Click the app you'd like to use to share your note.

   

Questions?

Let us know in the comments below!