Apple Notes Keyboard Shortcuts: Complete List for Mac, iPhone & iPad
Quick answer: To create a new note in Apple Notes, press Command – N on a Mac or iPad. To create a Quick Note from anywhere on your Mac, press Fn – Q. Apple Notes supports 60+ keyboard shortcuts for creating, formatting, and organizing notes without touching your mouse or trackpad.
Apple Notes is the note-taking app built into macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. If you live in it for meeting notes, checklists, and quick ideas, keyboard shortcuts are the fastest way to work no menu hunting, no trackpad. This guide lists every current Apple Notes shortcut, grouped by task, plus the ones that also work on an iPhone or iPad with an external keyboard. Every shortcut below is verified against Apple’s official documentation for the latest macOS and iPadOS.
You can also download the free Apple Notes shortcuts PDF cheat sheet at the bottom to print or keep on hand.
Most-Used Apple Notes Shortcuts (Quick Reference)
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Create a new note | Command – N |
| Create a Quick Note (from any app) | Fn – Q |
| Duplicate a note | Command – D |
| Create a new folder | Shift – Command – N |
| Search all notes | Option – Command – F |
| Add a checklist | Shift – Command – L |
| Add a link | Command – K |
| Attach a file | Shift – Command – A |
| Insert a table | Option – Command – T |
| Print a note | Command – P |
New Note & Quick Note Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Create a new note | Command – N |
| Create a Quick Note (works from any app on Mac) | Fn – Q |
| Duplicate the current note | Command – D |
| Create a new folder | Shift – Command – N |
| Print the current note | Command – P |
Text Formatting Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Apply Title format | Shift – Command – T |
| Apply Heading format | Shift – Command – H |
| Apply Subheading format | Shift – Command – J |
| Apply Body format | Shift – Command – B |
| Apply Monostyled (monospace) format | Shift – Command – M |
| Apply Block Quote format | Command – ‘ (apostrophe) |
| Increase font size | Command – Plus (+) |
| Decrease font size | Command – Minus (-) |
| Zoom in on note contents | Shift – Command – . (period) |
| Zoom out on note contents | Shift – Command – , (comma) |
| Reset note contents to default size | Shift – Command – 0 (zero) |
List & Checklist Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Apply Checklist format | Shift – Command – L |
| Mark or unmark a checklist item | Shift – Command – U |
| Apply Bulleted List format | Shift – Command – 7 |
| Apply Dashed List format | Shift – Command – 8 |
| Apply Numbered List format | Shift – Command – 9 |
| Increase list level (indent) | Command – ] or Tab |
| Decrease list level (outdent) | Command – [ or Shift – Tab |
| Add a line break within a list item | Shift – Return |
| Insert a tab character in a list item | Option – Tab |
| Move a list/checklist item up | Control – Command – Up Arrow |
| Move a list/checklist item down | Control – Command – Down Arrow |
Table Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Insert a table | Option – Command – T |
| Move down one row / add a new row at the bottom | Return |
| Move up one row (or above the table from row one) | Shift – Return |
| Add a new paragraph inside a cell | Option – Return |
| Add a new row above the current row | Option – Command – Up Arrow |
| Add a new row below the current row | Option – Command – Down Arrow |
| Add a column to the right | Option – Command – Right Arrow |
| Add a column to the left | Option – Command – Left Arrow |
| Move to the next cell (right) | Tab |
| Move to the previous cell (left) | Shift – Tab |
| Add a tab character inside a cell | Option – Tab |
| Select a range of cells in a row | Shift – Left Arrow / Shift – Right Arrow |
| Select a range of cells in a column | Shift – Up Arrow / Shift – Down Arrow |
| Select the current cell’s content | Command – A |
| Select the entire table | Command – A, Command – A (press twice) |
Navigation & Organization Shortcuts
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Show the main Notes window | Command – 0 (zero) |
| Show notes in a list | Command – 1 |
| Show notes in gallery view | Command – 2 |
| Show attachments | Command – 3 |
| Search all notes | Option – Command – F |
| Move between sidebar, notes list, and search field | Tab (when not editing a note) |
| Begin typing in the selected note | Return |
| Go back to the notes list | Command – Return |
| Go forward to a linked note | Option – Command – ] |
| Return to the note containing the link | Option – Command – [ |
| Show or hide highlights in a shared note | Control – Command – I |
| Show or hide the activity list in a shared note | Control – Command – K |
Apple Notes Shortcuts on iPhone & iPad
With an external or Magic Keyboard connected, many Mac shortcuts work the same on iPad and iPhone. Press and hold the Command (⌘) key or the Globe key inside Notes to see the live shortcut list for your device.
| Action | Shortcut (iPad / iPhone with keyboard) |
|---|---|
| Start a new note | Command – N |
| Add a checklist | Shift – Command – L |
| Create a bulleted list | Shift – Command – 7 |
| Add a link | Command – K |
| Hide the sidebar | Control – Command – S |
| Bold / Italic / Underline | Command – B / Command – I / Command – U |
| Search | Command – F |
| Select all | Command – A |
How to Create a Custom Apple Notes Shortcut
You can reassign or add shortcuts to almost any Notes menu command on a Mac:
- Open the Apple menu → System Settings → Keyboard.
- Click Keyboard Shortcuts…, then select App Shortcuts in the sidebar.
- Click the + button.
- Choose Notes under “Application.”
- Type the exact menu command name (for example, Lock All Notes).
- Click in the keyboard shortcut field, press your desired key combo, and click Done.
The new shortcut appears next to that command in the Notes menu bar immediately. Use this to add keys for actions Apple doesn’t ship a default shortcut for, like locking notes.
Apple Notes Shortcuts Not Working? Quick Fixes
If a shortcut does nothing, run through these:
- Make sure the Notes window is active. Click into Notes first shortcuts won’t fire if another app has focus.
- Some shortcuts only work while editing. Formatting keys like Shift – Command – T work inside a note, not while browsing the list.
- Check for a macOS override. Go to System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts and confirm macOS or another app hasn’t claimed the same combo.
- Keyboard layout matters. Shortcuts can differ on non-US layouts (Dvorak, AZERTY, etc.). Open the Notes menu bar to see the correct keys for your layout.
- Restart Notes. Quit with Command – Q and reopen if shortcuts stop responding entirely.
Download the Apple Notes Shortcuts PDF Cheat Sheet
Want all of these in one printable page? Download the Apple Notes Shortcuts PDF cheat sheet keep it on your desk or save it to your own Notes for quick reference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the keyboard shortcut to create a new note in Apple Notes?
Press Command – N while the Notes app is open on a Mac or iPad. To capture a note from any other app on a Mac, use Fn – Q to create a Quick Note instead.
What is the shortcut for a checklist in Apple Notes?
Press Shift – Command – L to apply checklist format. Press Shift – Command – U to mark or unmark a checklist item.
How do I create a Quick Note?
On a Mac, press Fn – Q from any app. The note is saved to the Quick Notes folder in Apple Notes and syncs across your devices via iCloud.
Do Apple Notes shortcuts work on iPhone and iPad?
Yes, when an external or Magic Keyboard is connected. Core shortcuts like Command – N (new note), Shift – Command – L (checklist), and Command – K (link) work the same. Press and hold the Command or Globe key inside Notes to see the full list for your device.
Why aren’t my Apple Notes shortcuts working?
The most common reasons are that the Notes window isn’t active, the shortcut only works while editing a note, or macOS has reassigned the key combo. Check System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts and confirm the keys in the Notes menu bar for your keyboard layout.
How do I add a custom keyboard shortcut for Apple Notes?
Go to System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → App Shortcuts, click +, choose Notes, type the exact menu command name, and assign your key combination.
Can I change the size of text in a note with a shortcut?
Yes. Use Shift – Command – . to zoom in, Shift – Command – , to zoom out, and Shift – Command – 0 to reset to the default size.
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