As a long-time Samsung Galaxy user and productivity enthusiast, I've relied on the Samsung Notes app for everything from quick ideas to detailed projects. It's evolved into a powerful tool for note-taking, sketching, and document creation. In this guide, drawn from hands-on experience, I'll share 15 essential tips and tricks to unlock its hidden features and use it like a pro.
Here you'll find expert advice on organizing notes, perfecting handwriting and drawings, smart formatting, and more.
Let's dive in.
The Samsung Notes app provides robust formatting options, including bold, italic, bulleted lists, checklists, alignments, font colors, and header sizing—all accessible via the toolbar above your keyboard.
If you prefer a clean writing space without distractions, disable the toolbar. Open a note, tap the three-dot menu at the top, and select Disable Rich Text.
Note: This won't affect existing formatting in your notes.
While Samsung Notes lacks built-in reminders, you can seamlessly send notes to the Samsung Reminders app.
Select a note (without entering edit mode), tap the three-dot menu, and choose Send to Reminder. Then, open Reminders to customize details.
Frequently accessed notes? Star them for quick access in the Favorites section.
From the home screen, tap a note, then the star icon. View favorites via the three-bar menu > Favorites.
Pro tip: Check the Frequently Used Notes section in the side menu too.
Make favorites even easier: Pin them to the top of your home screen.
Tap the three-dot menu on the home screen > Sort, then enable Pin favorites to top.
Enhance organization with categories and color coding—the note thumbnail on the home screen reflects the category color for instant recognition.
From the sidebar, tap Manage Categories, select a category, and pick a color.
Pro tip: Tap the category name in the note to edit it.
Deleted a note by mistake? Recover it within 15 days from the Trash.
Sidebar > Trash, select notes, and tap Restore. Or empty Trash to free space.
Customize your workflow: Save preferred pens for quick access.
In writing mode, tap the pen icon, choose color/style/size, then star it. Access via the favorites icon; add new ones directly there.
Beyond presets, explore the color spectrum: Tap the palette icon. Add schemes via dots, swipe to browse, or use the eyedropper (swipe right on colors) to pick from your note.
Pro tip: Eyedropper and schemes work in drawing mode too.
Adjust pen size, opacity, and style: Tap the pen, then the arrow for styles.
Pro tip: Pinch to zoom/resize the canvas.
Switch between stroke and area erase: Double-tap eraser in writing mode.
Pro tip: Clear All wipes the canvas instantly.
In drawing mode, tweak eraser size/opacity via the icon.
Layer like a pro: Select handwriting/drawings to reorder (forward/backward), resize, recolor, or reposition via Change Style.
Activate selection tool, lasso/rectangle area, then use menu options or handles.
Pro tip: Double-tap selection icon to toggle lasso/rectangle.
Remove specific sections: Tap the minus (-) icon on handwriting/drawing blocks.
Prefer plain text URLs? Turn off auto-linking.
Sidebar > Settings > Disable Show links in notes.
Annotate images natively: Insert via attachment > Image, then edit directly. Tap Apply to save.
Export as image, PDF, Word, or text: From note list, tap Share > format.
These tips elevate Samsung Notes, though it's Samsung-exclusive. Sync to Windows PC via the app or web.
Not sure which apps suit your Galaxy? Compare Google vs. Samsung apps here.
