Over the years, Apple has spruced up its Notes app to let you add more than just plain old text to a note. You’re able to add photos and images, scanned documents, and even drawings via an Apple Pencil. Now, with iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, you can add links to a note.
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The linking feature plays out in a couple of different ways. You can add a link to a webpage within a note. Clicking that link opens Safari with the resulting page. Even cooler, you can add a link to another note. Clicking that link then opens the other note. Inserting links this way lets you connect different but related notes. Here’s how the linking works.
How to insert clickable links in your Notes app
First, make sure you’ve updated your device to version 17 or higher. Go to Settings, select General, and then tap Software Updates. You’ll be told that the OS is up to date or asked to download and install the latest update.
Update your device. Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
If you know the URL of the webpage that you want to add, just type it in the Link To field at the Add Link screen. Alternatively, open Safari or another browser and browse to the site to which you want to link. Tap in the address field to select the URL. Tap the selected address and tap Copy. Return to your note. Tap in the Link to field and then tap Paste to insert the URL. When finished, tap Done.
Link to a webpage. Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
The link you added in the note is now underlined and clickable. Click the link or linked text, and Safari will open to the associated webpage.
Open the linked webpage. Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
To link to another note, first review your notes to find the one to which you want to link. Remember the name of the note. Open the note in which you want to insert the link.
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Select the text that you want to use for the link or just tap on any empty area. Tap Add Link from the popup menu.
Link to another note. Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
Start typing the name of the note to which you want to link. The app will display names that match what you’re typing. From the list, tap the name of the note to which you want to link. By default, the linked text retains its name. To change its name to the linked note, turn on the switch for Use Note Title as Name. When finished, tap Done.
Add the name of the note. Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
Tap the link and you’re taken to the associated note.
Open the linked note. Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
To work with a linked item, press down on the link. From the menu, you can open the link, copy the link, or share it with someone else or with another app.
Work with a link. Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
Remove the link. Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
