Notes

With math in the Notes app, you can draw diagrams, solve equations, assign variables, and plot graphs. Mathematical expressions are solved inline when you write or type an equal sign.

You can type a math expression and include an equal sign, or write one with Markup. You can even write a stack of numbers and draw a horizontal line below them to add them, and you can create a graph.

Note: The Notes app handles math written using Western Arabic numerals and common mathematical symbols, as well as math typed using Arabic (Eastern & Western) and Devanagari numerals with common mathematical symbols.

Add mathematical expressions to a note

1. Start the Notes app on your iPad.
2. Open a note, or tap the New Note button to start a new note.
3. Do any of the following:
   • Type a math expression, then include an equal sign.
   • Tap the Markup button, write a math expression horizontally, then include an equal sign.
   • Tap the Markup button, write a stack of numbers, then draw a horizontal line below the numbers to add the numbers in the stack. Write a different symbol to the left of each digit if you want a different operation.
4. Tap the equal sign to see what Notes understood in what you wrote. To correct mistakes, you can fix any of the following:
   • Unrecognized math and unsolvable expressions: Tap any dotted red lines to see details about the error.
   • Ambiguous characters: Tap any dotted blue lines to clarify what you wrote.

Create a graph

1. Start the Notes app on your iPad.
2. Open a note, or tap the New Note button to start a new note.
3. Type or write an equation with x and y variables, with the y variable on the left side of the equation. For example, y = 5x + 3.

   You can also tap the equal sign in an equation you already wrote.

4. When you finish the equation, a menu appears. Tap Insert Graph.

   The y variable is represented on the vertical axis, and the x variable is represented on the horizontal axis.

To add another equation to the same graph, type or write a new equation, then tap Add to Existing Graph.

See also Work with graphs in Math Notes in Calculator on iPad.

Access Math Notes created in the Calculator app

1. Start the Notes app on your iPad.
2. In the Folders list, tap Math Notes.

For math in Calculator, see our guide, Solve math with Math Notes in Calculator.

See also

• Add drawings and handwriting in Notes on iPad
• Add photos, video, and more to notes on iPad

You can change how your notes appear in the Notes app. Add lines or grids to your notes, view your notes as a list or a gallery, and see all the attachments in one place.

You can view a note in full screen, or see your accounts, notes list, and selected note all at once with the sidebar. Lines and grids can go in an existing note or in all new notes.

Change the Notes display on your iPad

• View a note in full-screen: Tap the Enter Full Screen button.
• See your accounts, notes list, and selected note all at once: Tap the Toggle Sidebar button.

  You may need to tap the Close Full Screen button first.

Show lines or grids in notes

• In an existing note: Tap the Note Actions button, tap Lines & Grids, then choose a style.
• In all new notes: Go to Settings > Apps > Notes, tap Lines & Grids, then choose a style.

View notes as a list or gallery

In the notes list, tap the Folder Actions button, then tap View as List or View as Gallery.

View all attachments

In the notes list, tap the Folder Actions button, then tap View Attachments.

See also

• Add drawings and handwriting in Notes on iPad
• Change your Notes settings on iPad

Use the Notes app to add drawings and handwriting: draw a sketch or jot a handwritten note with Apple Pencil (on supported models) or your finger. Choose from a variety of Markup tools and colors, and draw straight lines with the ruler.

As you write with Apple Pencil, your handwriting can be automatically refined in real time to be more legible while keeping your own style. You can also transcribe handwriting to typed text with the Scribble tool, as long as you’re writing in a supported language.

Use drawing and handwriting tools

1. Open the Notes app on your iPad.
2. In a note, start drawing or writing with Apple Pencil. Or to draw or write with your finger, tap the Handwriting Tools button.
3. Do any of the following:
   • Change color or tools: Use the Markup tools.
   • Adjust the handwriting area: Drag the resize handle (on the left) up or down.
   • Transcribe your handwriting to typed text as you write with Apple Pencil: Tap the Scribble tool (to the left of the pen). Start writing.

     Note: Scribble is available in supported languages. To learn more about writing notes with Apple Pencil, see Enter text with Scribble.

Quick tip: You can search handwritten text (in supported languages) in Notes. If the note doesn’t have a title, the first line of handwritten text becomes the suggested title. To edit the title, scroll to the top of the note, then tap Edit.

Select and edit drawings and handwriting

Smart Selection works on drawings and handwriting with the same gestures you use to select typed text. Within the note, you can move, copy, or delete what you’ve selected, and it can even go into another note or app as typed text.

Note: Smart Selection and handwriting transcription work if the system language of your iPad is set to a supported language in Settings > General > Language & Region > iPad Language.

1. Open the Notes app on your iPad.
2. In a note, select drawings and handwriting with your finger using any of the following methods:
   • With the Lasso tool: Tap the Handwriting Tools button, tap the Lasso tool (between the eraser and Image Wand in the tool palette), and then use your finger to outline the objects you want to select.
   • With gestures:
     • Touch and hold, then drag to expand the selection.
     • Double-tap to select a word.
     • Triple-tap to select a sentence.
     • Drag the handles to adjust the selection as needed.
3. Tap the selection and choose an option.

Work with handwritten text

iPad can refine your handwriting so it’s smoother, straighter, and more legible. On top of that, you can move or delete handwriting, correct spelling inline, and paste or convert typed text in your handwriting.

1. Open the Notes app on your iPad.
2. In a note, select the handwriting.
3. Do any of the following:
   • Refine: To make your writing smoother, straighter, and more legible, tap Refine1.

     To automatically refine your handwriting, tap the Handwriting Tools button, tap the More button, then turn on Auto-refine Handwriting.

   • Make your writing more level: Tap Straighten.
   • Correct spelling: Tap an underlined word and choose how you want to correct it. The fix appears in your own writing style.
   • Move handwriting: Touch and hold the selected text and then drag it to a new position.
   • Convert a text object to handwriting: Tap a text object in the drawing area and tap the More button. Tap Convert to Handwriting. (This feature2 requires previously saved notes in your handwriting with at least 10 unique lowercase characters.)
   • Paste typed text in your handwriting: Select and copy text from a webpage, document, or email; in a handwriting area in Notes and tap Paste. (This feature2 requires previously saved notes in your handwriting with at least 10 unique lowercase characters.)
4. To erase text, scratch out the writing. Hold down your writing instrument (such as Apple Pencil or your finger) on iPad. (Supported when using a markup tool such as Pen, Mono line, or Marker.)

Drag images from other apps

You can drag images from other apps to a note and combine them with handwritten and drawn content. After you add an image to the drawing area, you can reposition and resize the image.

Use Image Wand

With Apple Intelligence turned on, Image Wand in Notes can turn your rough sketches into generated images. Select empty space, and it can also create an image from words and images in the surrounding area. For more, read our article, Use Image Wand with Apple Intelligence.

Note: Apple Intelligence on iPadOS 27 or later is available on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPad mini (A17 Pro) and iPad models with M1 or later. Apple Intelligence is not available in all languages or regions. Usage limits may apply.*

1. Handwriting refinement is available on iPad Pro (M4 and M5), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th generation and later), iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation and later), iPad Air (M2, M3, and M4), iPad Air 10.9-inch (4th generation and later), iPad (10th generation and later), iPad mini (6th generation), and iPad mini (A17 Pro); supported for English (Australia), English (Canada), English (India), English (Ireland), English (New Zealand), English (Singapore), English (South Africa), English (UK), English (US), French (Belgium), French (Canada), French (France), French (Switzerland), German (Austria), German (Germany), German (Switzerland), Italian (Italy), Italian (Switzerland), Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Spanish (Latin America), Spanish (Mexico), and Spanish (Spain).

2. Handwriting reflow is supported for Cantonese (Traditional), Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), English (Australia), English (Canada), English (India), English (Ireland), English (New Zealand), English (Singapore), English (South Africa), English (UK), English (US), French (Belgium), French (Canada), French (France), French (Switzerland), German (Austria), German (Germany), German (Switzerland), Italian (Italy), Italian (Switzerland), Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Spanish (Latin America), Spanish (Mexico), Spanish (Spain), Thai (Thailand), Ukrainian, and Vietnamese.

*Apple Intelligence is available with Siri and device language set to Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, or Vietnamese. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Some devices may not be available in all regions. Siri AI is available in beta in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 and requires an Apple Intelligence–enabled device set to a supported language. Available in English to start. Siri AI will not be initially available in the EU on iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Certain Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-side models are subject to daily usage limits, including but not limited to Siri AI, Intelligent Photo Editing Tools, Image Playground, and AFM 3 Cloud models in Shortcuts. Daily limits may vary by feature, request complexity, system demand, system policies, and other factors. Expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future. Use of these features is subject to the Apple Intelligence Terms and Conditions.

See also

• Enter formulas and equations in Notes on iPad
• Add photos, video, and more to notes on iPad

In the Notes app, you can use tags as a fast and flexible way to categorize and organize your notes. You can add one or more tags to a note, such as #shopping and #work, and easily search and filter your notes across folders using the Tag Browser or Smart Folders. You can rename or delete a tag later, too. Tags must be one word, though you can use dashes and underscores, and active tags turn yellow.

Add tags to notes

To add a tag to a note, type # followed by the tag name, then add a space after the tag to activate it. Active tags turn yellow. You can also choose an existing tag from the menu above the keyboard. Tags must be one word, but you can use dashes and underscores to combine words. If you save a note without activating your tag, it won’t be saved as a tag. You can add multiple tags to a note.

Quick tip: With Apple Pencil or your finger, you can handwrite a tag in a note. Then tap the underlined tag and tap Convert to tag.

View notes with tags

Below the Tags section at the bottom of the folders list (if necessary, tap the Toggle Sidebar button to show the tags list), do any of the following:

• View all notes with tags: Tap All Tags.
• View notes with specific tags: Tap one or more tags. To exclude a tag, tap the tag until the name has a line through it.

Rename or delete a tag

You can rename or delete a tag in any of these ways:

• Below the Tags section at the bottom of the folders list, touch and hold a tag, then tap Rename Tag or Delete Tag.

  You may need to tap the Toggle Sidebar button to show the tags list.

• Tap Edit (at the top of the folders list), tap a tag to rename it or tap the Delete button, then tap the Done button.

Deleting a tag also removes it from all Smart Folders that use it.

See also

• Organize your notes with Smart Folders on iPad

In the Notes app, you can easily search and filter your notes across folders using Smart Folders. A Smart Folder can be created when viewing a list of tagged notes, or you can convert a folder, and its notes move to the Notes folder, tagged with the name of the Smart Folder.

Create a Smart Folder

1. Start the Notes app on your iPad.
2. Tap the New Folder button, choose an account (if you have more than one) and enter a name. Tap Make Into Smart Folder.
3. Choose one or more filters. Then choose to include notes matching any or all of the selected filters. You can filter by tags, dates, mentions, and more.

You can also create a Smart Folder when viewing a list of tagged notes. Tap the Folder Actions button, then tap Create Smart Folder.

Convert a folder to a Smart Folder

When viewing the folder you want to convert, tap the Folder Actions button, then tap Convert to Smart Folder.

When you convert a folder, its notes move to the Notes folder and get tagged with the name of the Smart Folder.

Note: You can’t convert a shared folder, a folder that has a subfolder, or one that contains locked notes.

Edit or delete a Smart Folder

You have two options for editing or deleting a Smart Folder:

• In the folders list, tap Edit, tap the Folder Actions button, then choose an option. Tap the Done button.
• Touch and hold a Smart Folder, then tap Edit Smart Folder or Delete.

  When editing a Smart Folder, you can change the name or filters.

See also

• Organize your notes with tags on iPad

In the Notes app, you can search through all your notes for typed and handwritten text, objects in images, and text in scanned documents. You can also search for text within a note.

You can search for tags, too, and handwritten text works in supported languages. A locked note shows only its title in search results, and you can search inside an attachment, too.

Here’s how to search through your notes on iPad.

Search for text, objects, and more in all your notes

Search covers tags, objects that appear in images, text in scanned documents, and typed and handwritten text in supported languages.

Note: For a locked note, the search results show only its title.

1. Open the Notes app on your iPad.
2. Tap the Search button, then enter what you’re looking for. You can also choose a suggested search, such as “Notes with Drawings” and then enter additional text to refine your search.

   If a note is locked, only its title appears in the search results. The search includes handwritten text (in supported languages), photos, and scanned documents.

Search within a note or attachment for typed and handwritten text

1. Open the Notes app on your iPad.
2. Open the note you want to search.
3. Tap the Note Actions button and then tap Find in Note.
4. Tap the Search button and select any of the options. To search PDFs and other attachments, select Include Attachments.
5. Enter the text you’re looking for in the search field.

See also

• Organize your notes with Smart Folders on iPad

Use the Notes app to jot down quick thoughts or organize detailed information with checklists, images, web links, scanned documents, handwritten notes, and sketches. You can even organize your note with sections and headings.

The first line of a note becomes its title, and you can add formatting, checklists, tables, and divider lines. Sections can collapse and expand, so it’s easy to manage and outline long notes.

Here’s how to create and format notes on iPad.

Create a new note

1. Open the Notes app on your iPad.
2. Tap the New Note button, then enter your text.

   The first line of the note becomes the note’s title.

Add formatting, checklists, tables, and divider lines

1. Open the Notes app on your iPad.
2. When writing a note, do any of the following:
   • Format text: Tap the Format button and choose a style such as Heading, bold or italic font, highlight, and more.
   • Make a checklist: Tap the Checklist button.
   • Add a table: Tap the Add Table button.
   • Add a divider line: Tap to place the insertion point and tap the Expand button. Then choose Insert Divider Line.

Organize a note with sections and headings

Collapsing and expanding sections keeps long notes easy to manage and outline.

1. Open the Notes app on your iPad.
2. In a note, select the text for the heading.
3. Tap the Format button and then tap Heading or Subheading.
4. Add content to the section and then do any of the following:
   • Collapse a section: Tap the Collapse button.
   • Expand a section: Tap the Expand button.

Use Writing Tools in Notes

With Apple Intelligence, you can use Writing Tools to summarize selected text with a tap, proofread your work, and create different versions of the same text to help you find the right wording and tone. See Use Writing Tools to write, improve, and summarize content.

Note: Apple Intelligence on iPadOS 27 or later is available on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPad mini (A17 Pro) and iPad models with M1 or later. Apple Intelligence is not available in all languages or regions. Usage limits may apply.*

*Apple Intelligence is available with Siri and device language set to Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, or Vietnamese. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Some devices may not be available in all regions. Siri AI is available in beta in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 and requires an Apple Intelligence–enabled device set to a supported language. Available in English to start. Siri AI will not be initially available in the EU on iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Certain Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-side models are subject to daily usage limits, including but not limited to Siri AI, Intelligent Photo Editing Tools, Image Playground, and AFM 3 Cloud models in Shortcuts. Daily limits may vary by feature, request complexity, system demand, system policies, and other factors. Expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future. Use of these features is subject to the Apple Intelligence Terms and Conditions.

See also

• Add photos, video, and more to notes on iPad
• Use Quick Notes on iPad
• Use keyboard shortcuts in Notes on iPad

You can use Quick Notes to jot down information over any app or screen on iPad. Add links, images, tags, and mentions to a Quick Note so you can get to important names, numbers, and ideas easily.

When you highlight text in Safari or add a link from an app, you see a Quick Note thumbnail the next time you visit the site, and it takes you right back to what you were viewing. You can access all your Quick Notes in the Notes app, and a Quick Note you make on iPad shows up on your iPhone and Mac, too. You can even make one with Apple Pencil or a keyboard shortcut.

Take a Quick Note

Do any of the following to make a Quick Note:

• From any app or screen: Add the Quick Note button to Control Center, tap the Quick Note button. Tap the Done button when you’re done.
• From supported apps: Tap the Share button, tap More, then tap Add to Quick Note. Tap the Done button when you’re done.
• If your iPad is connected to an Apple external keyboard, use the Globe-Q keyboard shortcut to open Quick Notes. If Quick Notes is already open, you can use Command-N to create a new note.

Take Quick Notes with the corner gesture

Swipe up from the bottom right corner of the display using Apple Pencil.

Quick tip: This gesture works with your finger, too. Go to Settings > Multitasking & Gestures and turn on Swipe Finger from Corner.

Go to Settings > Apps > Notes, tap Corner Gestures, then do any of the following:

• Turn on Allow Finger to Swipe from Corner.
• Tap Left Corner Swipe or Right Corner Swipe, then choose an action.

View and organize Quick Notes

1. Start the Notes app on your iPad.
2. Tap Quick Notes in the folders list.

   You may need to tap the Toggle Sidebar button to show the folders list.

Note: You can’t lock a Quick Note until you move it to a different folder.

Move an individual Quick Note to a different folder, and it turns into a standard note that no longer appears as a Quick Note in other apps.

See also

• Search through your notes on iPad
• Use keyboard shortcuts in Notes on iPad