Understand the different input modes

Goodnotes has three main input modes to help you create handwritten, typed, or audio notes, or a mix of them on the same page.

You can start taking notes as soon as you pick the input mode that suits your main note-taking style:

• Choose Handwriting Mode if you want to handwrite and highlight your notes most of the time and occasionally insert images and other types of content.
• Choose Typing Mode if you want to type your notes on the full page.
• Choose Recording Mode if you want to record audio.

<aside> 💡 If you tap the currently active input mode icon again, you’ll enter read-only mode, which hides the toolbar to give you more viewing space. You can finger-tap on the page to toggle fullscreen, or tap an input mode to exit read-only mode.

To visit a hyperlink in an imported PDF, you can either long-press the link and choose Open Link, or enter read-only mode and tap the link directly.

</aside>

Handwrite notes

Start by switching to the Handwriting mode. You can then use several note-taking tools on the toolbar at your disposal to add different types of content to your notes:

Write

• Just select the Pen Tool and write or draw your notes! The app is designed to make handwriting notes a breeze, so you’ll probably find yourself using this tool a lot.

<aside> ➡️ Learn more: Pen Tool

</aside>

Highlight

• To emphasize your notes, select the Highlighter Tool from the toolbar and swipe over the content you want to stand out.

<aside> ➡️ Learn more: Highlighter Tool

</aside>

Highlight / Strike out PDF text

If you're working on an imported PDF document, you can easily highlight or strike out its text with just a few steps:

1. Long-press the text you wish to modify.