by The Notes app built into Apple devices has long offered people a quick and convenient way to save lists, thoughts, and other random items. And while Apple initially shunned the bells and whistles found in the top note-taking apps, it has slowly beefed up Notes over time. For 2025, Apple revised the way you search for notes, added a Reed pen to bring a calligraphic effect to your marking, and expanded the app to the Apple Watch.
In 2024, Apple Intelligence brought AI-powered enhancements that can proofread, rewrite, and summarize your notes. You can also transcribe and summarize recordings of phone conversations, create images from text using Image Playground, or turn your rough sketches into professional images with Image Wand. Apple Intelligence is only available on the iPhone 15 Pro series and newer, so you’ll need a recent phone to take advantage of tips 18 through 25.
1. Add a Quick Note
In a hurry? Start a Note from Control Center. On a device running iOS 18/iPadOS 18 or higher, swipe down from the top right of the screen, tap the + icon, and then tap Add a Control. Swipe down the screen of controls to the Notes section and tap Quick Note to add it to Control Center. You can then swipe up on the screen to leave editing mode.
Now, when you need to create a Quick Note, swipe down from the top-right corner to access Control Center. Tap the Quick Note icon (it looks like a box with a scribble) from the menu and type your note. Tap Save when finished, and that note is automatically saved in the Notes app.
