Overview
The note editor in Evernote is the space where you write, format, and organize your ideas. Whether you're capturing quick thoughts, drafting detailed documents, or gathering research, this is where it all comes together. The editing toolbar appears automatically when you're actively editing a note in the note panel. You can also manually show it by clicking or tapping anywhere inside the note.
Editing toolbar
Insert options
Evernote's editor supports a wide variety of content types, so you can build notes that are more than just text. You can add visual and structured elements to bring clarity and organization to your ideas.
Click the Insert menu (the "+" icon) on the far left of the toolbar to access options like:
- Attachments and files, including images, videos, documents, PDFs and audio recordings
- Tables, code blocks, and quotes
- Checkboxes and dividers
- Sketches
- Formulas using LaTeX syntax
In addition, you’ll find:
- Checkmark icon (Insert task): Use this to add individual tasks into your notes. They stay visible inside the note and also appear in the dedicated Tasks view, where you can manage them more easily.
- Calendar icon (Insert calendar event): Add calendar events directly into your notes to link your tasks, meeting notes, or reminders to a real-time schedule.
- Comment icon (Mobile only): Select some text and tap the comment icon to leave a comment in the note.
Formatting and text styles
Evernote's editor includes familiar formatting tools so you can structure your note clearly and fully customize your content.
- Undo/redo: Use the arrows to reverse your last action, or restore an action that was just undone.
- Text styles (Aa icon): Use semantic headers (Header 1, 2, 3) to organize your note's structure and make it easier to scan or navigate. You can also set a default font and styling for all new notes.
- Formatting tools: Highlight important sections with bold, italics, underline, or text colors and highlighters. This helps call attention to what's most important in your note.
- More options: Under the “More” menu, you'll find alignment controls, indentation, strikethrough, subscript, and superscript. On mobile, some of these are found in the Formatting (Aa) menu.
Lists
Use bulleted lists, numbered lists, or checklists to create clear outlines, to keep track of important action items, start a grocery list, or even illustrate a step-by-step process. These options are available in the formatting toolbar as well.
If you want to learn more about how lists work, visit this page.
Links
You can add hyperlinks to other websites or documents to give your notes extra context. Just copy a URL, highlight some text, paste, and it'll automatically convert to a clickable link. You can also insert links to other notes in your Evernote account, and quickly navigate from one to another using backlinks.
To dive deeper into how linking works, see this page.
AI-powered editing
Evernote offers powerful AI tools to help you improve and manage your note content.
- On desktop and web, the AI Edit option lets you rewrite or clean up text, fix grammar, summarize information, translate content, or even adjust tone.
- On mobile, the AI Cleanup tool helps tidy up scattered notes while keeping the original intent and tone intact. It's great for turning messy thoughts into clear, polished text.
Tips and tricks
Draggable blocks and collapsible sections
Evernote makes it easy to restructure your notes with drag-and-drop functionality. Click or tap and drag text blocks, lists, or entire sections beneath headers to reorganize your content. If you're using headers, you can also collapse those sections to keep long notes more readable. Learn more.
Personalize attachment views
You can customize how attachments, images, and links appear in your notes. Whether you prefer a simple text link, a title preview, or a full image or file preview, Evernote lets you choose what works best for you. To do so, follow the instructions below.
- Desktop/Web (Windows and Mac): Click your name or email in the top left > Settings > Preferences > Notes > Links and attachments.
- Mobile (Android and iOS): Tap your profile picture > Settings > Notes > Links and attachments.
Use keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts can speed up your workflow significantly, especially if you use Evernote often. Whether you're inserting headers, jumping between notes, or toggling views, shortcuts make navigation seamless.
Check out all available shortcuts for the desktop app and for the mobile app.
Create a table of contents
When working on long, structured notes, a table of contents can help you and your readers navigate between sections. Evernote lets you generate a list of clickable links to all the headers in your note with just a couple of clicks, and it stays updated as your content changes.
Use AI transcription
Evernote AI Transcribe helps you turn audio, video, or image content into editable text. It's ideal for capturing meeting recordings, voice memos, or even handwritten notes as digital content. Explore it in detail.
Use slash (/) and @ commands
Typing "/" on a new line gives you a quick way to insert tasks, headers, dividers, and more, without having to click through the toolbar. Similarly, typing "@" lets you link to another note in your account, which is great for referencing related material.
To learn more about these time-saving shortcuts, visit this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the default font size and style?
Yes, you can personalize your default font, size, and style so new notes always match your preferences. This helps maintain consistency across your workspace. To learn how to set it up, visit this page.
What's the difference between checkboxes and checklists?
Although they might look similar, checkboxes and checklists serve different purposes. A checkbox is a static symbol you can add anywhere within a note, and, when checked, places an X in the box. A checklist, on the other hand, is a type of list, and when checked, places a strikethrough on the entire line. Learn more.
Can I increase the text size of notes on my phone?
Yes. In the mobile app, you can go to your profile > Settings > Notes > Note content size. From there, you can either match your phone's system settings or manually choose between Normal, Large, and Extra Large. This helps make content easier to read without affecting the formatting of your notes.
Is there a way to avoid accidentally editing my notes?
While there's no full "lock" mode yet, you can enable edit protection on mobile. This means notes open in read-only mode, and you'll need to tap twice to begin editing. It's a great way to avoid unintentional changes, especially when reviewing important notes.
Can I change the width of my note?
Yes. In the desktop app, you can adjust how wide the note body appears on your screen. Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of a note, then select Note width to choose between different viewing options. This makes it easier to read long-form content or to work across different screen sizes.
Updated