Do you ever find yourself wanting to note down something but don’t want to interrupt your workflow so end up putting it off and then forgetting? Well, enter Quick Notes, a handy new feature on iPadOS 15 and macOS Monterey that makes it easy to take notes without opening the Notes app.
It’s perfect for capturing a fleeting idea, saving something from the web, jotting down a phone number, etc. So let’s learn more and check out how to use Quick Notes on Mac.
- What is a Quick Note on Mac?
- How to use Quick Notes on Mac in macOS Monterey
- How to view and edit Quick Notes in the Notes app
What is a Quick Note on Mac?
Quick Notes is a faster way to take notes without leaving the app you’re using. It makes it easy and convenient to capture thoughts and snippets without necessarily opening the Notes app.
The best part is that it can intelligently detect which app you’re using to give you a customized experience. For instance, if you’re using Safari, you can note a URL or some text from a webpage. Or, if you’re using the Mail app, you can quickly save some content from an email.
Quick Notes can be created only on macOS Monterey and iPadOS 15, but you can view and edit them as usual in the Notes app on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
How to use Quick Notes on Mac in macOS Monterey
There are two easy ways to open Quick Notes on your Mac. You can launch it with the keyboard shortcut “Fn + Q” or set up Hot Corners to access Quick Note when you move your cursor to a specific corner of the screen.
How to set up a Quick Note to appear on Mac with Hot Corners
- Click the Apple icon at the screen’s top and select System Preferences.
- Go to Mission Control.
- Click Hot Corners at the bottom left.
- On the corner of your choice, select Quick Note from the drop-down options.
I chose the bottom-right corner. - Click OK.
How to create a Quick Note on Mac
Now, the Quick Note interface will launch when you move your cursor to the relevant corner. Simply click the prompt to expand it and create a new Quick Note.
How to add smart links to a Quick Note on Mac
One of the handy things about Quick Notes is Smart Links. You can add a Smart Link to a webpage or a specific app section to get back to it quickly.
This appears as a suggestion upfront on iPadOS 15 but on macOS Monterey, there’s an extra step.
- After creating a Quick Note, click the link icon in the toolbar.
- Click Add Link next to the link option available.
- This is how your link will appear in the Quick Note.
These app links work in several apps, including Safari, Photos, Messages, News, Mail, and others.
Quick Note thumbnail
My favorite thing about Quick Note is that when you’re using an app that you saved a link from, a Quick Note thumbnail appears at the bottom right corner of your screen to make it easy to go back to that spot.
This is super convenient, for instance, to return to an exact webpage you were browsing in Safari or a specific email you received in the Mail app.
Here’s what the Quick Notes thumbnail looks like:
How to add text or images from Safari to Quick Notes
Another super-nifty use of Quick Notes is to save text or images from a webpage along with the URL they’re from. Now, when you tap or click the saved snippet, it will take you to that exact spot on the webpage it’s from. Here’s how to use it:
- When browsing in Safari, select the text or image you want to save as a snippet.
- Right-click or Control-click on it and select Add to Quick Note.
Now, whenever you view this snippet in the Notes app on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad, you can click or tap it to go back to the same webpage. Pretty neat!
When I tested this feature, it only worked with Safari, but I’m guessing that it will also support other browsers and apps in the future.
How to view and edit Quick Notes in the Notes app
Quick Notes are saved in a separate folder in the Notes app and can be viewed and edited on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
- Open the Notes app and select the Quick Notes folder
- Click a Quick Note to edit it or take other actions like share or delete.
I hope this comprehensive guide helped you understand how to use Quick Notes on your Mac running macOS Monterey. Personally, I find this feature super convenient and handy. What’s your take on Quick Notes? Share in the comments below!
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