This year’s Worldwide Developers Conference saw Apple introduce iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, among other big announcements. While a majority of users are not excited about the OS updates, there is mutual agreement that the new Quick Note is an incredibly useful feature that helps optimize workflow in iPadOS 15. Apple even released Quick Note for macOS 12 Monterey, among other features like Universal Control and Safari Tab Groups. So if you happen to have installed the iPadOS 15 developer beta on your iPad, you can start using Quick Note right away. We have created a list of all the ways you can enable and use Quick Note in iPadOS 15 on an iPad.

Fortunately, you don’t need an Apple Pencil or any other hardware to access Quick Note. Moreover, if you are a keyboard user who wants a quick shortcut, we have covered that too. Use the table below to skip to your desired method.

  • What is Quick Note in iPadOS 15?
  • How to Invoke and Use Quick Note on iPad
  • Using Apple Pencil
  • Using Finger Gesture
  • Using Keyboard Shortcut
  • Using Quick Note Shortcut in Control Center
  • What All Can You Do with Quick Note in iPadOS 15?

What is Quick Note in iPadOS 15?

For the uninitiated, Apple added Quick Note in iPadOS 15 to allow users to take notes in a jiffy without having to switch between apps. The difference between the classic Notes app and Quick Note is that the latter can be used across apps to record your thoughts. Also, you can even use it to create quick links to navigate back to where you were on a web page in Safari.

All the Quick Notes are stored in the Notes app, where you can jump in and access them anytime. This floating editor is lightweight in nature, and you can invoke it with ease. Whether you are using an Apple Pencil, a wireless keyboard, or even your fingers, it’s easy to access. You can even resize the Quick Note to your liking.

Put simply, there are four ways you can access Quick Note on your iPad. However, no matter which method you use, Quick Note will open up all the same.

Apple Pencil users get more freedom when it comes to etching something down compared to finger gestures. You can easily open up a Quick Note with your Apple Pencil. Point the pencil at the lower-right corner of your iPad’s screen and swipe up diagonally. A Quick Note will immediately open up, and you can write in it without a hassle.

The easiest way to invoke a Quick Note for users who don’t have an Apple Pencil (or its alternatives) is by using finger gestures. From the lower-right corner of your iPad, swipe diagonally to open a new Quick Note in iPadOS 15 – either from the home screen or within any app. You can then scribble and type in the note or move it around with your fingers to navigate anywhere.

Method 3: Using a Keyboard Shortcut

iPadOS 15 has a list of new shortcuts, along with a handy way to create a Quick Note using an external keyboard. After connecting an iPad keyboard case, press the Globe key and the Q key simultaneously, and a Quick Note will pop up from the lower right corner. You can then start typing in it or move it around using your finger.

If you don’t want to swipe up to summon a Quick Note every time, there’s an incredibly easy way to add a Quick Note shortcut in the Control Center. Just follow the steps below to enable Quick Note through the control center in iPadOS 15.

What All Can You Do with Quick Note in iPadOS 15?

Besides recording notes, Quick Notes have powerful editing abilities that you can use to elevate your notetaking experience.

One of the most exciting functionalities of Quick Notes is that they are contextually aware. What this means for users is they can create quick links for any app they are on. These links serve as shortcuts to whatever you have linked to them. Even if you are not on the linked app, click the link on Quick Notes, and it will take you to the linked app.

However, what’s even more amazing is how deep this linking goes in iPadOS 15. Quick Note also remembers the text you add to it and highlights it when you revisit a website. Clicking on the text throws the user back to the highlighted paragraph.

Quick Note also brings with it formatting options. Besides creating links that lead users back to an app, you can create and edit lists, add images, construct tables and adjust font size and style for easy reading.

Zoom In/ Out the Quick Note

Adjusting the size of Quick Note is as easy as invoking it. Simply pinch in with two of your fingers to make it smaller or pinch out to make it bigger. Easy, right?

If you don’t have use for an active Quick Note in iPadOS 15, you can slide it over to any edge of the iPad and it will disappear. Moreover, you will see a small handle that you can use to bring it back immediately anytime you need it.