The 10 best Goodnotes tips for your iPad

Goodnotes 6—also often incorrectly spelled Good Notes 6 or GoodNotes 6—has become one of the most popular digital note-taking apps: And for good reason! As the successor to GoodNotes 5, it offers numerous features that not only make your everyday life easier, but also more efficient! Whether you use a digital planner , teacher calendar , or recipe book : Goodnotes offers various features that will revolutionize your workflow! But with so many functions, it's easy to lose track. In this post, I'll show you the 10 best Goodnotes 6 hacks that will not only make your everyday work easier, but also ensure greater efficiency in your digital planner! ✨

1.Handwriting recognition and conversion ✍🏼⚡

The biggest advantage of Goodnotes? For me, it's the perfect combination of digital convenience and handwriting. It combines the best of both worlds. Especially when combined with a digital planner, Goodnotes is the ultimate tool for me—the best thing that's happened to me since I started using note-taking apps.

Do you also enjoy writing by hand but still want to plan digitally? No problem! With handwriting recognition, you can convert your handwriting directly in Goodnotes and turn it into typed text. This turns every handwritten entry into editable, digital text that you can directly import into your planner or other documents! This feature is perfect for anyone who loves the handwritten style but doesn't want to miss out on the digital benefits!

2. The practical search function 🔎💡

No more flipping through countless pages! The Goodnotes search function, which you can find in the top right corner of the toolbar via the magnifying glass icon, searches not only typed text but also handwritten notes . This way, you can quickly find exactly the information you're looking for—whether it's a recipe page, your to-do list, or lesson preparation! 😍

Application : You enter the word "pumpkin" in the Goodnotes search function (because you feel like a delicious pumpkin recipe today 🤤) and all the pumpkin recipes are displayed in the list!

3. Clickable links in edit mode 🔗🚀

How often do you click a hyperlink in edit mode and just scribble on the page instead? The new Goodnotes feature allows you to click hyperlinks in pen mode! Simply tap the hyperlink with your finger instead of the pen—saving you the hassle of switching back and forth between the two modes!

Application: You've linked the relevant page of your lesson planner in your teacher 's calendar . Thanks to Goodnotes' hyperlink feature, you can tap the link with your finger and open the materials immediately without leaving pen mode.

4. Lasso tool for moving content ✂️📃 

This feature is definitely one of my favorites! Whether it's sketches, text, images, or stickers—with the Goodnotes Lasso tool, you can quickly and easily select content in your document and move it to another location. This is super handy if you want to reorganize your notes or rearrange certain elements. It feels like digital cutting and pasting, only much more intuitive! 😌

To use the Lasso tool , tap the lasso icon in the toolbar at the top (it looks like a dashed line). Now all you have to do is draw a circle around or on the desired content with your Apple Pencil or your finger and select it. You can then easily move, copy, cut, or even delete the selected area! You don't have to circle the entire sticker; it's enough if the lasso circle just touches the sticker in one place. With the Goodnotes 6 Lasso, you can also specify whether it should be a free-form shape or a rectangle – then the lasso will always be drawn as a rectangle, and you don't have to draw a circle yourself.

Application: Didn't get your task done yesterday? No problem, just mark the appointment in your calendar with the lasso tool and move it forward a day. But beware—procrastination has never been easier than with the Goodnotes Lasso! 😅

5. Zoom function for precise writing and drawing ✨🔍

For those who appreciate the small details: Goodnotes' zoom feature lets you write or draw with millimeter precision. Use both fingers to do this: Place them on the screen and pinch them apart to zoom in , or pinch them together to zoom out . This is especially useful when sketching or writing with extra care.

Application: When you're coloring in the coloring book , you can simply zoom in with two fingers and color in the areas very precisely – this way you won't overpaint the outline and you'll get a beautiful mandala! 😍

6. Password protect your notes 🔒✍🏼

Want to keep your notes private ? No problem! With password protection in Goodnotes, you can ensure that only you can access your notes. This is especially useful for teachers who store confidential student data, but also for private diaries or sensitive documents.

To set a password for a notebook, go to the Library view in Goodnotes 6 and tap the three-dot menu for the notebook you want to protect. Then select "Set Password" and enter your desired password. From now on, this notebook will only be accessible after entering the password, ensuring your information stored there is securely protected. Important : It's essential that you remember the password or write it down somewhere else, as Goodnotes cannot recover it if it's lost, making your document unopenable.

Use: You store sensitive student data or confidential project information in your teacher planner . With the Goodnotes password, you can ensure that these notes remain safe and secure.

7. Create templates and save them in the Elements Tool 📑⚡

Goodnotes offers a variety of templates, but did you know you can also create your own templates in Goodnotes ? To do so, go to the app's settings, select "Template Library," and tap "Add New Template." Upload your file (PDF or image), and you can select it anytime when creating new notebooks or pages! Whether it's the perfect weekly planner or the ideal note sheet for your lectures, you can save your templates and use them again and again. This not only saves time but also ensures consistent note-taking! 🎉

9. Erasing is a thing of the past: The practical scribble function ✍️

10. Import or export pages and documents ✨📂

You know that feeling when you want to quickly add or send a file? Luckily, Goodnotes makes it incredibly easy to import individual pages or entire documents and edit them directly in the app. Simply tap the "+" icon in the top right corner of the Library view and select "Import" to select the desired file from your device or cloud services like iCloud or Dropbox.

Exporting individual pages or entire documents is also super quick and easy! To do so, click the three-dot menu (•••) and select "Export." Here you can select the desired pages and specify the format and save location. This is especially useful for anyone who regularly works with PDFs, such as when grading term papers or editing worksheets.

Application: You receive homework from your students in PDF format and would like to comment on it digitally: Simply import it into Goodnotes, edit it directly in the app, and export the finished documents again as PDFs.

A real game changer for your digital planning ⚡

Goodnotes is more than just a digital note-taking app – it's a versatile tool that helps you make your everyday life more efficient!

✍🏼 Why Goodnotes is worth it for you too:

1. Quickly convert handwritten notes – Turn your handwritten notes into editable digital text in a flash - ideal for minutes or to-do lists!
2. Intelligent search function – No more long searches! Find any information instantly – whether handwritten or typed!
3. Clickable links in edit mode – Open web pages and documents directly without having to switch between pen and finger controls.
4. Easy moving with the lasso tool – Revise your notes in no time, whether text, images or sketches – this way everything stays clear and flexible!
5. Precise work with the zoom function – perfect for detailed drawing or particularly neat handwriting.
6. Secure password protection – Keep confidential information safely locked away: ideal for private or professional documents.
7. Save your own templates – Create and save personalized lists, stickers, or templates for repeated use - depending on your needs.
8. Internal links – Link different pages or sections in your planner for seamless navigation and avoid annoying scrolling.
9. Scribble feature – correct mistakes in an instant – simply scribble over them and Goodnotes will automatically delete what you've written, without the need for an eraser.
10. Import and export PDFs – Edit documents directly in Goodnotes and export them again when needed, ideal for PDF proofreading or worksheets.

Conclusion: Your path to more efficiency with Goodnotes 🚀

As you can see, whether you want to digitize handwritten notes, work precisely, or store your documents securely – Goodnotes has the right solution for every need. With all its practical features, the app easily outshines the traditional notepad! Try these features and you'll see how much time you save and how much fun working with digital notebooks can be! 💡