Have Questions? Start a Chat (Make sure to include your Email)
GoodNotes 5 Tutorial: Basic Tips for Note-Taking on iPad
Quick Answer
GoodNotes 5 is a PDF annotation and note-taking app for iPad that syncs via iCloud. This GoodNotes 5 tutorial covers the core tools -- handwriting, highlight, lasso, eraser, pen settings, typing, copying notes between pages, side-by-side mode, and adding images and shapes. All the basics in under 12 minutes.
GoodNotes 5 is one of the most popular note-taking apps on iPad, and this basics tutorial covers everything you need to get started with GoodNotes 5 for note-taking, journaling, or digital planning. Branden walks through each core tool so you know exactly what it does and when to use it, without spending an hour figuring it out yourself.
Branden recorded this walkthrough in December 2020, covering the GoodNotes 5 interface at the version most users were running. He demonstrates handwriting with the pen tool, using the highlighter for marking key points, the lasso tool for selecting and moving handwritten content, eraser settings, and how to adjust pen thickness and color. He also covers typing text on a page, copying notes from one day to the next, working in side-by-side mode for dual-page planning, and inserting photos and drawing shapes.
After watching, you will be comfortable using all the core GoodNotes 5 tools in daily practice. For a complete digital planner built for GoodNotes, the GoodNotes Planner Shop has ready-made templates. For a written reference, check out Branden's full GoodNotes iPad guide.
Video Transcript
This video is a GoodNotes 5 basics tutorial published in December 2020. Branden introduces GoodNotes 5 as a PDF annotation app for all Apple devices that syncs via iCloud. The tutorial covers the main writing tools: pen with pressure sensitivity, highlighter for marking content, eraser with pixel and stroke modes, and lasso for selecting and moving handwritten content between pages.
The typing section covers GoodNotes' text box tool for adding typed content anywhere on a page. Side-by-side mode shows how to view two pages simultaneously for journaling or planning. The video closes with how to insert photos and use the shapes tool to draw clean geometric shapes with Apple Pencil.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you use GoodNotes 5 for note-taking on iPad?
Open GoodNotes 5, create a new notebook, and use Apple Pencil to handwrite directly on the page. Switch between pen, highlighter, eraser, and lasso tools in the toolbar. GoodNotes syncs via iCloud across all your Apple devices automatically.
What is the lasso tool in GoodNotes?
The lasso tool lets you draw a selection around handwritten content to select it. Once selected, you can move, resize, copy, or delete the content. It is the key tool for rearranging notes and copying content between pages in your planner.
Can you type in GoodNotes 5?
Yes. GoodNotes 5 includes a text tool that lets you type on any page using the iPad keyboard. You can place typed text boxes anywhere on the page alongside your handwritten notes.
How do you do side-by-side note-taking in GoodNotes?
GoodNotes supports iPad split-screen mode to open two notebooks side by side. You can also use GoodNotes' own split-page view to show two pages from the same notebook simultaneously -- useful for planning while referencing another section.
Does GoodNotes 5 sync across devices?
Yes. GoodNotes 5 syncs via iCloud across all your Apple devices -- iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Notes you create on one device appear on all your others automatically.
Can you add images and shapes in GoodNotes 5?
Yes. GoodNotes lets you insert photos from your camera roll or take new photos in the app. The shapes tool lets you draw clean geometric shapes that snap to perfect geometry with Apple Pencil.
Get Started with GoodNotes 5: Your Action List
- Open GoodNotes 5 and create your first notebook.
- Practice handwriting with Apple Pencil and try adjusting pen thickness and color.
- Use the lasso tool to select a section of handwritten text and move it to a different spot.
- Try side-by-side mode to view two pages at once -- useful for copying notes between planner days.
- Insert a photo onto a page and use the shapes tool to draw a clean box or circle.
- Load a digital planner template to see what GoodNotes can do with a structured layout.
Ready to Plan in GoodNotes?
The Key2Success Digital Planner for GoodNotes -- structured daily, weekly, and monthly pages with hyperlinked navigation. One-time purchase.
Shop GoodNotes Planners
