There's a little app built into Windows 10 that you might not know is there, or have just skipped over without more than a passing glance: Sticky Notes. But, this simple app can be a powerful reminder tool to help you plan your day.
If you are a Windows 7 or Windows 8 user and planning to move to Windows 10, you may want to migrate or import your classic Sticky Notes from Windows 7 to Windows 10. The classic Sticky Notes. Thank you for downloading Simple Sticky Notes. Updated: Aug 18, 2019 Version: 4.7 Size: 1.80 MB.
Imagine your monitor filled with Post-It notes and you're about understanding Sticky Notes.
Here's what you need to know.
Using the app on a regular PC
If you're on a regular Windows 10 PC, then the steps below will detail your Sticky Notes experience. If your PC supports digital inking, there's another section further down dedicated to this.
1. Launching the app
The first part of using Sticky Notes is knowing where to find it. The quickest way to do this is to use Cortana and just type 'Sticky Notes' into the search box or to use voice commands to launch it by saying 'Hey Cortana, launch Sticky Notes.'
If you want to find it in the Start Menu, it no longer lives in the accessories folder. It's now a standalone app updated through the Store and you'll find it listed under S.
2. Adding new notes
When you launch the app for the first time it'll present you with a square resembling the popular sticky notes. These aren't designed for detailed note taking, you're better off with something like OneNote for that still. These are quick reminders you need throughout out the day, so keep them concise.
Once you've left one note, adding another is easy. Hit the small '+' in the top left and another square will appear. Just keep repeating until you've got enough. Or you can right click on the icon in the taskbar and then 'add note,' or use the keyboard shortcut 'Ctrl + N.'
You need to keep the app open for your notes to remain on the screen.
3. Placement
As with traditional sticky notes you can put these little guys all over the place. You can pick them up and move them around the full expanse of your display. Just drag, and drop. Click on the slightly darker yellow strip and the top and go sticking them wherever you want them.
4. Customize
Click the three-dots menu icon on any of your notes and you can change the color to a variety of presets. This is particularly handy if you want to make certain notes stand out or just group like topics by color.
5. Cleaning up the mess
Once you're done with a note, getting rid of it is easy. You can either just click the small trash can icon or use the keyboard shortcut 'Ctrl + D.' You'll get a dialog message to check you're sure you want to delete, but otherwise, your screen will start to empty.
Windows Ink
With the arrival of Windows Ink, Sticky Notes became a super useful app for folks using devices with digital pens like the Surface Pro. The app is mostly the same in this scenario, but how you interact with it is a little different.
Fortunately, we have a complete guide to doing just that.
How to use Sticky Notes for reminders
A neat extra feature with Windows Ink and Sticky Notes is writing reminders with dates that Windows automatically recognizes. It'll then add a reminder to Cortana with a screen grab of the note you wrote!
Check out the link below for more.
Sticky Notes is a very simple application that is easily overlooked. But if you just want to keep a quick reminder close at hand, why not give it a try.
Updated May 3, 2018: We've refreshed this guide to ensure it reflects the latest April 2018 Update to Windows 10.
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Microsoft transformed the Sticky Notes app in with Windows 10’s Anniversary Update. The new Sticky Notes app supports pen input and offers reminders and other “insights”, thanks to Cortana. It’s a convenient, lightweight alternative to OneNote for taking quick notes.
How to Launch Sticky Notes
The Sticky Notes app is like any other application included with Windows 10. You can launch it by opening the Start menu, searching for “Sticky Notes”, and clicking the shortcut. Once launched, you can right-click the Sticky Notes icon and select “Pin to Taskbar” if you plan to use it frequently.
RELATED:How to Use (or Disable) the Windows Ink Workspace on Windows 10
Sticky Notes can also be launched from the Windows Ink Workspace, if you have a Windows device with a pen. Click or tap the ink icon on your taskbar and select “Sticky Notes”. To show the Windows Ink Workspace button if you can’t see it, right-click your taskbar and select “Show Windows Ink Workspace Button”.
Sticky Notes 101
Find Sticky Notes On My Computer
The app is simple to use. By default, you’ll see a yellow sticky note. You can type whatever you want into the note and Windows will save your note for later.
To create a new note, click the “+” button. To delete the current note, click the trash can button. To change the color of a note, click the “…” menu button and select one of the color circles.
These windows can be moved or resized as normal. Just click-and-drag or touch-and-drag the title bar to move them, or click-and-drag or touch-and-drag a corner of the window to resize them.
Move note windows around on your desktop by clicking and dragging (or touching and dragging) the title bar. You can also resize notes by clicking and dragging or touching and dragging at a corner, making them as small or large as you like.
Writing With a Pen
If your Windows device has a pen or stylus, you can draw or write notes directly in a sticky note. You just have to start with an empty note—every note can either contain typed text or something drawn with the stylus, but not both.
Getting Insights
RELATED:15 Things You Can Do With Cortana on Windows 10
Sticky Notes works along with Cortana, Windows 10’s integrated virtual assistant, to provide more information.
This feature is called “Insights”, and it’s enabled by default. To check if Insights are enabled, click the “…” menu icon in a note and click the gear-shaped settings icon at the bottom left corner of the note. Ensure “Enable Insights” is set to “On” if you want to use this feature.
When you type or write something like a flight number—for example, “AA1234”— it will turn blue. This works both for typed text and for handwritten text you wrote with a pen. Click or tap the blue text to see more information.
For example, you could write a flight number and then click or tap it in the note to view up-to-date flight tracking information. Free estimating software.
Sticky Notes are also integrated with Cortana for reminders. This is just another type of “insight”. When you type something with a time or date, the time or date will turn blue and you can click or tap it to set a reminder.
For example, let’s say you type or write “Lunch at 12:30” or “Go shopping tomorrow” in a note. “12:30” or “tomorrow” will turn blue. Click or tap it and Sticky Notes will ask if you want to create a reminder. Select “Add Reminder” and it will create a Cortana reminder about this event.
You can even get these reminders on your phone if you install the Cortana app for iPhone or Android phone and sign in with the same Microsoft account you use on your PC.
Sticky Notes offers other insights, too. It will automatically detect the following things, whether you type them with your keyboard or write them with a pen:
- Phone numbers: Call phone numbers like “1-800-123-4567” using Skype.
- Email addresses: Compose emails to email addreses like “[email protected]”.
- Web addresses: Open web addresses like “www.howtogeek.com” with your web browser.
- Physical addresses: View the location of a street address like “123 Fake Street, California 12345” and you can view its location and get directions via the Maps app.
- Stock symbols: View the performance of stock symbols like “$MSFT”.
Some of these features may only work in certain countries at the moment, but Microsoft is extending them to new languages and countries with the Creators Update. Expect Microsoft to continue adding Insights and continue expanding the available Insights to more people in the future.
Windows Doesn’t Sync Your Sticky Notes, But You Can Back Them Up
RELATED:How to Back Up and Restore Sticky Notes in Windows
Sticky Notes Windows 8 Change Font
As of Windows 10’s Anniversary Update, Sticky Notes don’t sync between your different Windows 10 devices. They’re stored on your computer in a local database for the Sticky Notes app. You can back up your Sticky Notes and restore them on a different PC, but you have to do that yourself.
Sticky Notes are ideal for quick, transient notes you don’t want to keep for a while. For more complex notes, notes you want to keep for a long time, and notes you just want to sync between your devices, you’ll want to use a more full-featured note-taking app.
RELATED:The Beginner’s Guide to OneNote in Windows 10
For example, Microsoft’s own OneNote is included with Windows 10 and is very capable. But Sticky Notes is a convenient, lightweight alternative if you just want to jot down a phone number without going into your OneNote notebook.
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