Samsung Notes is the note-taking app that comes with Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets. It works well with the S Pen on Galaxy Note and some Galaxy Tab devices, but you can also use it with your finger. The app is more than a simple text notepad — it supports handwriting, voice recordings, image inserts, PDF markup, cloud sync, and more. Below I explain its main features, how to use them, and some tips so you can get the most from Samsung Notes. (Sources used for facts are official Samsung pages and app stores.)
What Samsung Notes can do (easy list)
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Handwritten notes: Write on the screen with S Pen or finger. Handwriting can be edited, moved, or converted to typed text.
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Add photos and drawings: Insert images, crop them, and draw on top of photos.
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Voice recordings: Record audio while taking notes so you don’t miss anything important.
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PDF annotation and export: Open PDFs, annotate with the S Pen, and export your notes as PDF files.
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Sync and share: Sync notes across Galaxy devices and back up to Samsung Cloud so your notes are safe. (Samsung au)
Who should use Samsung Notes?
Samsung Notes is best for people who use Galaxy phones or tablets, especially if they have an S Pen. Students, professionals, and anyone who likes a mix of typed and handwritten notes will find it useful. The app is also handy if you often annotate PDFs (for work or school) or like to combine voice and written notes.
Getting started — the basics
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Open Samsung Notes (it usually comes pre-installed on Samsung devices). If you don’t see it, you can download it from Google Play or Galaxy Store. (Google Play)
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Tap the plus (+) button to create a new note. Choose whether you want a blank page, a lined page, or a template. (Samsung au)
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Use the toolbar to switch between typing, handwriting, inserting images, or recording voice. The toolbar icons are simple and self-explanatory. (Google Play)
Writing and drawing — make it neat
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If you have an S Pen, set it to low latency and try the handwriting mode. The S Pen gives you finer control than your finger, and the app responds fast so writing feels natural. (Samsung au)
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Use the handwriting-to-text feature to convert messy writing into typed text. This is helpful when you want clean notes to share or export. (Samsung au)
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Choose pens, highlighters, and erasers from the toolbar. You can change stroke width and pressure sensitivity to get the look you want. (Google Play)
Work with PDFs and documents
One strong point of Samsung Notes is PDF handling. You can import a PDF, write or highlight directly on the pages, and then save your changes. This turns your phone or tablet into a lightweight document editor — useful for reviewing reports, signing forms, or filling out worksheets. When you finish, export the annotated file as a PDF and share it by email or cloud link. (Google Play)
Organizing notes — folders, tags, and search
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Create folders to keep notes grouped by topic (work, study, personal). Recent updates have made folder management easier. (SamMobile)
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Use tags to label notes and find them quickly. The search function can look through text and (on supported devices) convert and search handwriting. (Samsung au)
Extra features you might like
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Screen Off Memo: With S Pen, you can write quick memos even when the screen is off. Save them directly to Samsung Notes. This is great for quick shopping lists or phone numbers. (Samsung au)
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Audio sync: Record a voice note while you write to capture more context — ideal for lectures or meetings. Later you can play the recording to recall details you missed. (Google Play)
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Templates and layouts: Samsung periodically adds new paper styles and templates, like grid or planner pages, so you can pick a layout that fits your work. Recent updates introduced new paper layouts in One UI 8 devices. (SamMobile)
Tips to use Samsung Notes better
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Back up to Samsung Cloud so you don’t lose notes when you change devices. (Samsung au)
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Use styles and templates for repeat tasks (class notes, meeting minutes, recipes). Templates save time and keep things consistent. (Samsung au)
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If your handwriting conversion isn’t perfect, slow down your strokes or improve contrast (write darker). The app learns patterns and usually improves with practice. (Samsung au)
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Combine media: a photo of a whiteboard + handwritten notes + voice recording makes a rich, searchable record of a meeting or lecture. (Google Play)
Recent changes and updates
Samsung updates the app regularly. In recent months Samsung Notes received updates that improve folder organization, add templates and layouts, and fix bugs for better stability across One UI versions. New features sometimes arrive first on the latest Galaxy devices or beta One UI releases. If you want the newest tools, keep the app updated from Galaxy Store or Google Play. (SamMobile)
Where to get Samsung Notes
The app is available from the Galaxy Store (for many Samsung devices) and Google Play. On Samsung devices it often comes pre-installed. If you use multiple Galaxy devices, enable sync in the settings so your notes appear on all devices connected to your Samsung account. (Galaxy Store)
Quick pros and cons
Pros:
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Excellent S Pen support and handwriting features. (Samsung au)
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PDF annotation and export. (Google Play)
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Cloud sync across Galaxy devices. (Samsung au)
Cons:
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Best experience needs an S Pen or a Galaxy device; features may be limited on other Android phones. (Samsung au)
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Some new features roll out slowly and may arrive first on the latest One UI beta builds. (SamMobile)
Final word — is Samsung Notes for you?
If you own a Samsung Galaxy phone or tablet and like mixing handwritten and typed notes, Samsung Notes is worth trying. It is especially useful for students, creative people, and professionals who annotate documents. The app keeps improving, and its blend of handwriting, images, voice, and PDF tools makes it a powerful all-in-one note solution. Try it out for a week — use the S Pen if you have one — and you’ll likely find it becomes part of your daily routine.