Getting Started with Notes on the iPhone

The Notes app is a powerful tool that comes built into every iPhone, making it easy to capture thoughts, lists, and reminders anytime. Whether you’re writing a quick grocery list or organizing important information, Notes offers simple yet effective tools to help keep everything in one place. Let’s walk through how to get started with the basics.

Creating a New Note

To begin, open the Notes app and tap the New Note button in the lower right. This brings up a blank note, ready for you to type into. It’s designed to be simple and accessible—just tap and begin writing. If you’re using iCloud, your notes will automatically sync across your other Apple devices, like an iPad or Mac.

Title and Body of a Note

When you first start typing in a new note, the app will automatically treat your first line as the title. This helps you quickly recognize the note later in your list. Everything you write after that becomes the body of the note. You don’t need to manually set a title—it’s a simple but helpful shortcut that makes organizing easier.

Deleting a Note

If you no longer need a note, deleting it is just as easy. From the list view, swipe left on the note and tap the trash icon. This sends it to the Recently Deleted folder, where it will stay for 30 days before being permanently erased—giving you time to recover it if you change your mind.

Sorting and Grouping Your Notes

You can control how your notes are displayed and sorted. Go to the More Options (the three-dot icon), and from there, you can sort notes by date created, date edited, or title. You can also group notes by folders, which helps keep related notes together—for example, you might have a folder for work notes and another for personal reminders.

Pinning Important Notes

Have a note you refer to often? You can pin it to the top of your list. Just swipe right on the note and tap the pin icon. Pinned notes stay at the top, no matter how old they are, making it easy to keep important information front and center.

Locking a Note for Privacy

If you have sensitive information in a note, like passwords or private thoughts, you can lock it with Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode. Tap the More Options icon in the note, choose Lock Note, and follow the prompts. Once locked, the content is hidden until unlocked again—great for peace of mind.

Wrap Up

The Notes app may seem simple at first, but it’s packed with thoughtful features that help you stay organized and secure. From creating quick notes to sorting, pinning, and locking them, you now have the basics to make Notes a helpful part of your daily routine.