Quick Note is a feature in iPadOS that allows you to instantly open a floating note window over any app you are currently using. Instead of switching back and forth between your current task and the Apple Notes app, you can jot down ideas, save links, and drag text into a Quick Note without losing your context.
This is particularly useful when researching in Safari, watching a video lecture, reading a document, or when you simply need to capture a fleeting thought before you forget it.
How to Open a Quick Note
There are multiple ways to summon a Quick Note on your iPad, depending on how you prefer to interact with the device:
Using the Swipe Gesture
The fastest way to open a Quick Note is using the corner swipe gesture:
- Swipe diagonally up from the bottom-right corner of your iPad screen.
- You can use your finger or an Apple Pencil.
- The Quick Note window will instantly slide into view.
Note: If you prefer, you can change this gesture to the bottom-left corner in Settings > Multitasking & Gestures > Corner Gestures.
Using Control Centre
If you prefer not to use gestures, you can add a Quick Note button to your Control Centre:
- Go to Settings > Control Centre.
- Tap the green plus (+) button next to Quick Note to add it to your active controls.
- To use it, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to open Control Centre and tap the Quick Note icon.
Using a Keyboard Shortcut
If you have a Magic Keyboard or another external keyboard attached to your iPad, press Globe key + Q to instantly open a Quick Note.
Adding Content to a Quick Note
Once the Quick Note window is open, it behaves like a standard Apple Note, but with some extra context-aware features.
Contextual Links
If you open a Quick Note while using a supported app (like Safari, Maps, or Mail), you will see an Add Link button at the top of the Quick Note. Tapping this adds a direct link to the exact web page, location, or email you were viewing.
Drag and Drop
You can drag content directly from your active app into the Quick Note. For example, if you are reading an article in Safari, you can highlight a paragraph, tap and hold the text, and drag it into the Quick Note window to save it.
Apple Pencil Support
If you use an Apple Pencil, you can immediately start handwriting or drawing in the Quick Note window just as you would in the full Notes app.
Managing the Quick Note Window
The Quick Note window floats above your current app, but you can move it so it doesn’t block your work:
- Move it: Tap and hold the top bar of the Quick Note and drag it to any corner of the screen.
- Hide it: Swipe the Quick Note off the left or right edge of the screen. A small tab will remain visible on the edge. Tap the tab or swipe it back inward to reveal the note again.
- Resize it: Pinch inwards on the Quick Note with two fingers to make it smaller, or pinch outwards to expand it.
Where Are Quick Notes Saved?
Every Quick Note you create is automatically saved to the Apple Notes app. You do not need to manually save them.
- Open the Notes app on your iPad.
- In the folders list on the left sidebar, tap the folder named Quick Notes.
All your Quick Notes are stored here. They also sync via iCloud, meaning any Quick Note you create on your iPad will be accessible in the Quick Notes folder on your Mac or iPhone.
Resuming the Last Quick Note
By default, when you summon a Quick Note, iPadOS opens the last Quick Note you were working on. This allows you to continuously add information to the same note throughout the day.
To start a fresh note instead, tap the New Note icon (a square with a pencil) in the top-right corner of the Quick Note window.
If you prefer that iPadOS always opens a blank note when you swipe from the corner:
- Go to Settings > Notes.
- Scroll down to the Quick Notes section.
- Toggle off Resume Last Quick Note.
Quick Note transforms the iPad into a more capable research and productivity tool by removing the friction of app switching. Whether you use a finger, an Apple Pencil, or a keyboard, it ensures you always have a notepad ready exactly when you need it.