In recent years, Apple has extensively expanded the Notes app with additional options regarding the formatting of a Note. This way you can bold text, underline it, add bullet points, titles, headers, etc. Since iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS Sequoia, it is also possible to make text stand out with colored highlights.
Do you want to clarify something in a note? Then you can highlight text with color. This way the most important parts are immediately noticeable. We explain how to apply this formatting in Notes for iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Colored markers in notes
- Open Notes on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac
- Edit an existing one or create a new one
- Select the text you want to highlight
- Tap or click the Aa button
- Then choose a color for the pencil
Immediately, Notes will format the selected text with the color you chose. The letters and background of the piece of text are provided with color.
You can choose between purple, pink, orange, mint green and blue. Unfortunately it is not possible to add additional colors.
Formatting doesn’t work
Is it not possible to provide the text of your note with a unique layout? Then you may not be using iCloud. To use these options, iCloud must be linked to Notes. Only iCloud users can use these extras. This is because all changes and extras must be synchronized, something that Gmail, for example, cannot do.