Tags overview

Tags are a powerful way to organize your notes, making it easier to find and manage information. Unlike notebooks, which group notes into distinct collections, tags allow for flexible categorization—perfect for notes that span multiple topics. To see, color, and organize all your tags in one place, use the Tags view (rolling out gradually).

Tags can be used for:

• Personal organization: Add a tag for each family member or based on how often you need to reference a note (e.g., “Daily,” “Weekly,” “Monthly” for to-do lists).
• Project management: Label notes based on their status (e.g., “Active,” “Completed”).
• Prioritization: Use tags like “P1” or “P2” to define priority levels.
• School: Create tags for each subject or semester.
• Research: Assign tags based on themes, companies, or topics.

Create a tag from the navigation menu

You can also create and view tags from the navigation menu.

• Web and Desktop (Mac and Windows)
  • In the sidebar, hover over Tags and click the + sign.
  • From the sidebar, open the Tags section and click the New tag button in the top-right corner (tag icon with + sign).
  • Use the keyboard shortcut Cmd + ‘ or Ctrl + ‘ (desktop app only).
• Mobile (iPhone, Android, iPad and tablets)
  1. If the Tags section is not visible in the navbar, tap the three dots to access more sections.
  2. Tap Tags to open the section.
  3. Tap Create new tag (tag icon with + sign) to add a new tag.

Color your tags

You can color a tag to make it easier to spot in the sidebar, the note footer, note cards, tag pickers, and the Tags view. Right-click a tag (or click the three dots next to it), then choose Change color. To color several tags at once, open the Tags view, select them, and choose Change color from the selection toolbar. All 48 colors work in light and dark mode.

Manage a tag from its actions menu

Right-click a tag (or click the three dots next to it) to open its actions menu. From there you can see its notes, edit the tag, change its color, add a sub-tag, add it to shortcuts, remove it from all notes, or delete it (personal accounts only). On desktop, you can also click a tag chip in the body of a note to open the same menu.

Create and add tags to notes

To add a tag to a note, follow these steps based on your operating system.

• Web and Desktop (Mac and Windows)
  1. At the bottom of the note, click the Add tag button (tag icon with + sign).
  2. Start typing to select an existing tag or create a new one.
• Mobile (iPhone, Android, iPad and tablets)
  1. Tap the three dots in the top-right corner to open the menu.
  2. Tap Add tag to open the Tags view.
  3. Select an existing tag or tap New tag to create one.

To remove existing tags in a note, you can:

• Web and Desktop (Mac and Windows)
  • At the bottom of the note, click the downwards arrow next to a tag, then select Remove tag. 
  • Click on the three dots in the top-right corner to open the menu and select Edit tags.
• Mobile (iPhone, Android, iPad and tablets)
  • Your note's tags appear in a row at the top of the note. Swipe sideways to see them all, then tap any tag to open the tags panel, where you can add or remove tags.

Add a tag inline while writing 

On desktop, web, and mobile, you can also add a tag without leaving the editor — type # anywhere in the body of your note, then pick an existing tag or create a new one as you type. This is the fastest way to tag a note while you write. On desktop, click a tag chip in the note body to open its actions menu.

Delete a tag

To delete a tag, follow these steps based on your operating system.

• Desktop (Mac and Windows)
  1. Open the Tags section from the sidebar.
  2. Hover over a tag, then click the three dots or right-click on it.
  3. Select Delete tag…, then confirm by clicking Delete.
• Mobile (iPhone, Android, iPad and tablets)
  1. Open the Tags section from the navigation menu.
  2. Swipe left on a tag, then tap the three dots.
  3. Select Delete tag, then tap Delete.
• Web
  1. Open the Tags section from the sidebar.
  2. Hover over a tag, then click the three dots.
  3. Select Delete tag…, then confirm by clicking Delete.

With the new Tags view, personal accounts can also select several tags and delete them at once.

Note: For Teams accounts, tags can only be deleted via the Admin Console. Members can rename or recolor tags only if an admin enables Allow members to modify tags. For more information, visit How Tags work in Evernote Teams.

Find tagged notes

Filter your notes by tags and nested tags to find what you need faster. When filtering by tags, you can view all notes associated with a tag and even choose to include or exclude notes with any of its sub-tags.

• Web and Desktop (Mac and Windows)
  1. Click the filter icon at the top right of the notes list, then click the Tags box to view your list of tags.
  2.  Select a tag or click the three dots next to the desired tag, then select either Include sub-tags or Exclude sub-tags.
• Mobile (iPhone, Android, iPad and tablets)
  1. Tap the three dots at the top right of the notes list, then tap Filter notes, then select Tags.
  2. Select a tag or click the three dots next to the desired tag, and select either Include sub-tags or Exclude sub-tags.

Tips for better tag management

• Organize tags in a nested structure by creating sub-tags. More on how to do this here.
• Save frequently used tags as shortcuts for quick access.
• Use consistent names—prefixes like “Project-” or “Client-” improve clarity.
• Review regularly—remove outdated tags to keep your system tidy.

With a smart tagging strategy, Evernote becomes an even more powerful tool for organization and productivity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I share tags?

Sharing tags is only available for Teams accounts. To learn more, visit this page.

Why can’t I add a tag to a note?

If you can't add tags to a note, you should check if the note is shared or if it's located in a shared notebook. Currently, tags cannot be added to shared notes. To learn more, visit this page. 

Can I create a sub-tag/nested tags?

Yes, you can nest tags. To learn how to do it, visit this page. 

How are tag suggestions ordered when I type?

Suggestions are ranked to surface the tags you actually use: recently used tags and most used tags appear first, followed by other matches. Matching text within each tag name is highlighted so you can tell similar tags apart, and you can move through the list with the arrow keys and select with Enter.

Can I undo a tag change?

Yes. Creating, editing, and nesting tags show a confirmation with Undo.

Why are some tag actions greyed out?

In Teams accounts, actions your admin hasn't allowed (such as renaming or recoloring tags) appear greyed out. Ask your admin to enable tag editing.

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Updated November 03, 2026 19:14