In a recent Popular Science article, contributor David Nield walks readers through seventeen lesser-known features of Apple Notes, the note-taking app that ships with every iPhone, iPad, and Mac and also runs in a web browser. He points out that Notes has been around since the original 2007 iPhone and has quietly grown into one of Apple’s most versatile apps, with capabilities that go well beyond simple lists and reminders.

Below are the Nield’s 17 Apple Notes tips:

• Collaborate on notes. Open a note, tap the share button, and choose Collaborate to send a link through iCloud, which suits families and work teams.
• Attach tags to notes. Type a hashtag like #work anywhere in a note to create a tag, then tap it on the main screen to jump to every note that uses it.
• Add lines and grids. While drawing or handwriting in a note, tap the three dots and pick Lines & Grids to add a backdrop guide.
• Drop tables into notes. In edit mode, tap the table icon on the toolbar to insert a table, and use the handles to add or remove columns and rows.
• Quickly get to attachments. From the main notes list, tap the three dots and pick View Attachments to see every photo, file, and link in one place.
• Change the layout. Under Settings, Apps, Notes, the New Notes Start With option lets you swap the default heading for Title, Subheading, or Body.
• Proofread notes with AI. Tap the Apple Intelligence button on the toolbar and choose Proofread to have it check spelling, grammar, and sentence structure.
• Solve equations. Type a calculation followed by an equals sign and Notes works it out, including unit conversions like centimeters to inches.
• Link notes together. Select some text, choose Add Link from the pop-up menu, and type the name of the note you want to connect to, Wikipedia style.
• Add scans to notes. Tap the three dots, pick Scan, and point the camera at a document or piece of artwork. Scans can be annotated afterward.
• Put your notes into subfolders. Tap the back arrow to view folders, use the new folder icon to create one, and use the Edit button to nest subfolders.
• Create smart folders. When making a new folder, choose the smart folder option to auto-fill it based on tags, contents, edit date, or lock status.
• Switch to gallery view. Tap the three dots on the main screen and pick View as Gallery to see notes as thumbnails in reverse chronological order.
• Record voice notes. Tap the paperclip icon on the floating toolbar, choose Record Audio, and hit the red button to attach a voice clip to a note.
• Highlight text in a note. Double tap to select text, then tap the pen icon on the floating toolbar. A second tap opens five colors: purple, pink, orange, mint, and blue.
• Make quick notes from anywhere. The quick note shortcut lives in the share menu and can be added to Control Center. Anything you jot down lands inside the Notes app.
• Lock a note. From inside a note, tap the three dots and choose the Lock icon to protect it with a passcode, Touch ID, or Face ID.

Finally, Nield notes that Apple Notes looks plain on the surface but hides a deep set of tools for collaboration, organization, capture, and privacy. Even regular users are likely to find a feature or two here that quietly makes daily note-taking faster and tidier.

Acknowledgement: This summary was generated using AI writing tools as part of my AI Explorations process. For more information, please refer to the original article listed below.

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• 17 clever Apple Notes tips you might not know | Popular Science