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Instead of having to open the Notes app, now you can swiftly take a note down through Quick Notes.

The Quick Notes function was launched as part of macOS Monterey 12 and it allows you jot down a note on your Macbook regardless of what application you're in. You no longer have to go through the hassle of opening the Notes app. Once you have added something to a Quick Note it will automatically save and be found in your Notes app.

Total Time
  • 5 min
What You Need
  • Apple Device

Step 1:Step 1

Drag your mouse to the lower right hand corner of your screen. When you drag your mouse to the lower right hand corner of your screen a small white box will appear.

screenshot of small white box on mac screenCredit: Screenshot: Apple

Step 2:Step 2

Drag your mouse over the small white box and it will become a bigger white box.

screenshot of a bigger white box on mac screenCredit: Screenshot: Apple

Step 3:Step 3

Click the bigger white box and a new note will appear at the center of your screen.

What a Quick Note looks like on macos. small white box in the center of a computer screen. Credit: Screenshot: Apple SEE ALSO:7 tips and tricks to better organize your Notes app
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How to use Quick Notes:

Here we will walk you through the three different ways you can open Quick Notes.

Quick Notes Keyboard shortcuts

The easiest way to open Quick Notes is by pressing the "Q" and "fn" keys at the same time.This shortcut will pull up a new note to the center of your screen. Alternatively you can also press the "Globe Key" and it have the same effect. Remember, you must have macOS Monterey installed. If you don't know what operating system your Mac is running, click here for a tutorial.

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Quick Notes Hot Corners

Another way to pull up Quick Notes is by using what Apple calls "Hot Corners."

1. Drag your mouse to the lower right hand corner of your screen.

When you drag your mouse to the lower right hand corner of your screen a small white box will appear.

screenshot of small white box on mac screenSee the small white box?Credit: Screenshot: Apple

2. Drag your mouse over the small white box and it will become a bigger white box.

screenshot of a bigger white box on mac screenA bigger white box will appear. Credit: Screenshot: Apple

3. Click the bigger white box and a new note will appear at the center of your screen.

What a Quick Note looks like on macos. small white box in the center of a computer screen. Credit: Screenshot: Apple

How to share an article link to a Quick Note in Safari

In Safari you can quickly link and add text from an article to a Quick Note.

1. Click the square with an arrow in it in the upper right hand corner of your screen

screenshot of mashable article with john krasinski looking off camera arrow pointing to the share feature in safari appSelect the share button in the upper right hand corner. Credit: Screenshot: Apple

2. Select "New Quick Note"

screenshot of article and share menu open. arrow pointing to "new quick note"Credit: Screenshot: Apple

Your Quick Note will appear in the center of the screen.

screenshot of Linked Quick Note. the link is john krasinski looking off cameraThis is what your linked Quick Note will look like. Credit: Screenshot: Apple

How to copy a quote to a Quick Note in Safari

1. Highlight the quote you want to copy

2. Click the square with an arrow in it in the upper right hand

corner of your screen

3. Select "New Quick Note"

Your quick note will appear in the center of the screen with the quote and source of quote linked.

screenshot of a quote in Quick Notes. This is what a quote looks like in Quick Notes. Credit: Screenshot: Apple

TopicsMacBook