How to Use Quick Note on iPad to Capture and Find Notes

Quick Note lets you write or type a note without leaving the webpage, app, or document on your iPad. On a supported iPad running iPadOS 15 or later, swipe diagonally up from the bottom-right corner with a finger or compatible Apple Pencil, or press `Globe-Q` on a connected keyboard. When you close the floating note, it remains in Apple Notes, and Quick Note can attach a link to the Safari page or supported content you were viewing.

What you need before Quick Note will work

Before you try Quick Note, check these requirements:

• Your iPad must run iPadOS 15 or later. Open Settings, tap General, then Software Update to check.
• Your iPad model must support a compatible iPadOS release. Some older iPads cannot update to iPadOS 15 or later.
• You can open Quick Note with a finger, a compatible Apple Pencil, or a connected keyboard.
• For the keyboard method, press the Globe key and Q together. On some keyboards, the Globe key is labeled fn or has a globe symbol.

The bottom-right gesture is enabled by default on supported iPads. Start at the very bottom-right edge of the display and swipe diagonally toward the center. A short swipe that starts inside the screen usually will not trigger Quick Note.

If you use Apple Pencil, it must be compatible with your iPad and paired with it. An Apple Pencil is optional: a finger or the keyboard shortcut works instead.

How to open and write a Quick Note without leaving your app

Open Safari or the app where you want to record something, then follow these steps:

1. Swipe diagonally up from the bottom-right corner with a finger or Apple Pencil. Start at the corner itself and drag toward the middle of the screen. A small Quick Note window appears over the current app.
2. Tap inside the note and type with the onscreen keyboard. The text is added while Safari or the other app remains visible behind the note.
3. Write with Apple Pencil if you prefer handwriting. Use the drawing and writing tools in the note. Handwriting may be converted or searched according to your iPad's language and Apple Notes settings.
4. Resize the note by dragging an edge or corner. The available controls can vary slightly by iPadOS version.
5. Minimize the note by tapping its minimize control or swiping it toward the side of the screen. A minimized Quick Note remains available as a small tab or handle.
6. Tap Done or the close control when you finish. Closing the window saves the note in Apple Notes; it does not erase the text.
7. Reopen the note by tapping its minimized tab if it is still on screen, or by opening the Quick Notes folder in the Notes app.

For example, if Safari is showing a recipe, open Quick Note over the page and type “try this for Sunday.” When available, the note retains a link to that page so you can return to the recipe later.

How to save a webpage or content to the note

Quick Note can remember where a note came from. In Safari, opening Quick Note while a webpage is on screen normally adds a page link to the note. Tap the attached link later to return to the webpage.

To add a link or selected content manually from a supported app:

1. Select the text, image, or other content you want to keep.
2. Tap Share, then choose Add to Quick Note. If the option is not visible, swipe through the share actions or tap Edit Actions to add it when the app provides that choice.
3. Choose an existing Quick Note or create a new one, then add any explanation you need.
4. Tap Done or close the note. The attachment remains with the note in Apple Notes.

Safari and some Apple apps provide richer Quick Note links than other apps. A third-party app may offer only a normal share link, may not support Add to Quick Note, or may attach less context. When available, the attachment appears as a tappable link or content card. Tap it to return to the source. If the source was online, you still need internet access, and the link must remain available.

Where your Quick Notes go after you close them

Quick Notes are stored in the Notes app in a folder named Quick Notes. Closing the floating window dismisses it from the current screen but does not discard the note.

1. Open the Notes app.
2. Tap the back arrow or Folders button until the folder list appears.
3. Tap Quick Notes. The folder shows notes captured through the Quick Note feature.
4. Tap a note to reopen and edit it. You can type more text, add handwriting, insert a checklist, or work with its attached link like any other Apple Note.
5. Move a note by opening it, tapping the More button, choosing Move, and selecting another Notes folder. Depending on your iPadOS version, you can also use the note's context menu in the list.

Deleting a note removes its contents from Notes, subject to the Notes app's Recently Deleted behavior and your account settings. Do not delete a note merely to close the Quick Note window.

6. Delete a note by swiping left on it in the list and tapping the trash control, or by opening it and using the Delete command.

If you use iCloud for Notes, the note can also appear on your other devices signed in to the same Apple Account with Notes enabled in iCloud.

You know the capture worked when the note appears in Quick Notes after you leave the original app.

What to do when the bottom-right swipe does nothing

Check the gesture and input method in this order:

1. Start at the extreme bottom-right corner and swipe diagonally inward. Keep the movement short and deliberate. Starting higher up or swiping horizontally from the edge may invoke a different iPadOS action or do nothing.
2. Check the Quick Note corner-gesture setting. Open Settings and look under Multitasking & Gestures for Corner Gestures. On some iPadOS versions, the path is Settings > General > Gestures > Corner Gestures. Make sure the bottom-right corner is assigned to Quick Note rather than disabled or assigned to another action.
3. Update iPadOS. Open Settings > General > Software Update and install an available update if your iPad supports it. Restart the iPad after updating if the gesture still fails.
4. Test another trigger. Press Globe-Q with a connected keyboard, or try swiping with a finger instead of Apple Pencil. If the keyboard opens Quick Note, the feature works and the problem is limited to the corner gesture or Pencil input.
5. Confirm Apple Pencil compatibility and connection if you are using one. Check Settings > Apple Pencil, make sure Bluetooth is on, and verify that the Pencil is paired and charged. An incompatible or unpaired Pencil will not trigger the gesture.
6. Confirm that the iPad itself supports iPadOS 15 or later. If it cannot run a compatible iPadOS version, Quick Note will not be available.

The corner gesture is a system action, not an onscreen button. Nothing appears in the corner before you swipe.

Conclusion

Open the page or app you want to remember, then swipe up from the bottom-right corner with a finger or Apple Pencil, or press `Globe-Q`. Write or type in the floating note, add source content when available, and close it when you finish. The note remains in Notes > Quick Notes, where you can reopen, edit, move, or delete it. If the swipe fails, try the other input methods and check the Apple Pencil, iPadOS version, and corner-gesture setting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Quick Note without an Apple Pencil?

Yes. Swipe diagonally up from the bottom-right corner with a finger, or press `Globe-Q` on a connected keyboard. Apple Pencil is optional.

Does closing a Quick Note delete it?

No. Closing the floating window saves the note in the Quick Notes folder in Apple Notes. Delete it separately if you no longer want it.

Why did my Quick Note not include a webpage link?

The link is normally added when you open Quick Note over Safari or choose Add to Quick Note from a supported app. Some apps do not provide full Quick Note support, so they may attach only a shared link or no source attachment.