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How to Use Samsung Notes for Note-Taking and Digital Planning
Quick Answer
How to use Samsung Notes: open the app on any Galaxy device, create a new note, and use S Pen or your finger to write, draw, or type. You can add PDFs as backgrounds, bookmark pages, convert handwriting to text, and sync notes across your Samsung phone and tablet using the built-in companion feature.
How to use Samsung Notes is one of those questions that sounds simple until you realize the app does a lot more than basic note-taking. Samsung Notes comes pre-installed on Galaxy phones and tablets, supports S Pen, handles PDF imports, converts handwriting to typed text, and connects across multiple Samsung devices through a companion feature. This 25-minute tutorial walks through all of it.
Branden recorded this walkthrough in March 2022 using three devices: the Samsung S22, Z Fold 3, and Tab S8 Ultra. He goes through every major feature in sequence -- creating notes, adding PDF backgrounds, bookmarking and page settings, full-screen mode, drawing with a finger vs. S Pen, scanning documents, text conversion on individual words and full pages, shape tools, and the multi-device companion setup. If you have ever wondered what Samsung Notes can actually do, this is the full picture.
After watching, you will be able to run Samsung Notes as a real planning tool rather than just a scratch pad. For a ready-made planner template built specifically for Samsung Notes, the Samsung Notes Planner Shop has everything pre-built and ready to drop in. For device-specific S Pen features, Samsung's official Galaxy documentation is a reliable reference.
What's Covered in This Video
- 0:00 Intro
- 1:47 Create a note
- 2:40 Add a PDF file
- 4:42 Add pages
- 6:00 Bookmark pages
- 7:00 Adjust page settings
- 7:40 Enter full-screen mode
- 8:09 Draw with your finger
- 8:24 Type in Samsung Notes
- 9:12 Scan and mark up a document
- 9:55 S Pen tools
- 15:42 Convert handwriting to text
- 16:35 Convert a full page to text
- 18:27 Create shapes
- 19:34 Companion feature (multiple devices)
- 20:40 Import images
- 21:12 Share a page
Video Transcript
This video is a full tutorial on how to use Samsung Notes for note-taking and digital planning. Branden Bodendorfer opens the tutorial by introducing Samsung Notes as a capable free app that comes built into Samsung Galaxy devices, including the Galaxy S series, Z Fold series, and Tab S series tablets.
The first section covers how to create a note in Samsung Notes and how the app's interface is organized. Branden then walks through how to import a PDF file into a note so it can be used as a background page for writing and annotation. This is a popular workflow for digital planners who want a structured template to write over with their S Pen.
The tutorial continues with how to add additional pages to a note, how to bookmark specific pages for quick access, and how to adjust page settings like paper size and line style. Branden shows how to activate full-screen mode to eliminate distractions while writing, and demonstrates both finger drawing and S Pen writing side by side.
A significant portion of the video covers the S Pen tools in detail, including the different pen types, pressure sensitivity, eraser modes, and lasso selection. Branden also shows how to scan a physical document directly into a note and mark it up using S Pen. The handwriting-to-text conversion section demonstrates both word-level and full-page conversion, which is useful for anyone who writes by hand but needs typed output.
The companion feature section explains how to use Samsung Notes across multiple Samsung devices simultaneously. Branden demonstrates syncing between a Galaxy phone and a Tab S8 Ultra through a Samsung account, showing how notes update across devices in real time. The video closes with how to import images into a note and how to share individual pages with others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Samsung Notes free?
Yes, Samsung Notes is free and comes pre-installed on Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets. There is no subscription required to access its full feature set, including S Pen support, PDF import, and handwriting-to-text conversion.
Can you use Samsung Notes on multiple devices?
Yes, Samsung Notes includes a companion feature that lets you sync and work across multiple Samsung devices. Start a note on your Galaxy phone and continue it on your Galaxy Tab, with everything staying in sync through your Samsung account.
How do you add a PDF to Samsung Notes?
To add a PDF to Samsung Notes, open a note, tap the insert menu, and choose to import a PDF file. The PDF loads as a background you can write and annotate directly over using your S Pen or finger.
Can Samsung Notes convert handwriting to text?
Yes, Samsung Notes has a built-in handwriting-to-text conversion feature. You can convert individual handwritten words or an entire page of written notes into typed text with a single tap.
Does Samsung Notes work with S Pen?
Samsung Notes is built around S Pen use. It supports pressure-sensitive writing, multiple pen types and colors, shape recognition, and a full S Pen toolbar with lasso selection, eraser modes, and more.
How do I sync Samsung Notes across devices?
Samsung Notes syncs through your Samsung account. Sign in with the same account on each device, enable sync in Samsung Notes settings, and your notes stay updated across your Galaxy phone and tablet automatically.
Get Started with Samsung Notes: Your Action List
- Open Samsung Notes and create your first note using S Pen or your finger.
- Import a PDF as a background page and practice writing over it.
- Bookmark a page you will want to return to quickly.
- Select a paragraph of handwritten notes and use the text conversion feature to turn it into typed text.
- Set up the companion feature between your Samsung phone and tablet so notes sync across both.
- Browse the Samsung Notes Planner Shop for a pre-built template to load into your setup.
Take Your Samsung Notes Setup Further
Pre-built digital planner templates designed specifically for Samsung Notes. Drop one in and your planning system is ready to go.
Shop Samsung Notes Planners
