How to Pin Important Notes to the Top in Apple Notes on iPhone

As you use the Apple Notes app on your iPhone for daily tasks, meeting agendas, shopping lists, and quick ideas, your note library can rapidly expand into hundreds of entries. By default, Apple Notes sorts documents chronologically by “Date Edited” or “Date Created”, which means frequently referenced notes—such as Wi-Fi passwords, weekly grocery checklists, or project reference sheets—get pushed down the list every time you jot down a new thought.

To keep your most critical information permanently accessible without searching, Apple Notes includes a native “Pin Note” feature. Pinning moves selected notes into a dedicated, persistent “Pinned” section at the very top of your notes list.

Method 1: Pin a Note with a Quick Swipe Gesture (Fastest)

The quickest way to pin an item directly from your notes overview list is using a swipe gesture:

1. Open the Notes app on your iPhone.
2. Navigate to the folder containing your note (e.g., Notes, iCloud, or a custom folder).
3. Locate the note you wish to pin in the list.
4. Swipe firmly from left to right across the note entry.
5. A bright orange Pin icon will appear. Release your finger (or swipe all the way across).

The note will immediately jump to the top of your screen under a newly created Pinned header, separated from your remaining notes by a subtle divider line.

Method 2: Pin a Note from the Long-Press Context Menu

If you prefer using haptic touch menus:

1. In the Notes list, touch and hold (long-press) on the note thumbnail or title.
2. In the contextual popup menu that appears, tap Pin Note.

Method 3: Pin a Note While Editing Inside the Note

If you are actively typing inside a document and decide you want to keep it pinned:

1. While inside the note, tap the More button (the circle with three horizontal dots ...) located in the top-right corner.
2. At the top of the action sheet, tap Pin (represented by a pushpin icon).
3. A subtle confirmation message will flash, confirming the note is now pinned.

How to Reorder Multiple Pinned Notes

You can pin multiple notes simultaneously (e.g., your daily to-do list, a monthly budget, and personal reference codes). When you have several pinned documents, Apple Notes allows you to rearrange their hierarchy:

1. Touch and hold any note within the Pinned section.
2. Drag the note upward or downward within the Pinned group.
3. Release your finger when the note is in your preferred priority order.

How to Unpin a Note When Finished

Once a project finishes or a checklist is no longer relevant, unpinning it returns the document to your chronological notes list:

• Swipe left to right across the pinned note and release when the grey Unpin icon appears.
• Alternatively, long-press the note in the list and select Unpin Note.

Pinning notes on your iPhone provides an effortless, one-tap organisation system that keeps your most urgent data front and centre throughout your daily workflow.