Getting Started with Notability on Android

Welcome to Notability for Android: powerful, yet wonderfully simple note-taking and PDF annotation. 

Create a New Note   

From the home screen, select “Take Notes” to start a new note.

From Notes, or while inside a folder, select + and Create Note in the bottom-right corner of the library. 

Record, import, or scan, directly from the bottom of the page. 

The Library

The Library is where you access and organize your notes and folders. Here, you can:

  • Create new notes.
  • Create folders, and nest them inside each other to organize your subjects.
  • Search your library to find a note.
  • Adjust your app settings.

The Toolbox

Our Toolbox is fully customizable to suit your specific needs. The style tray gives you one tap access to your favorite tools and every tool has its own customizable presets. 

All tools including Zoom, and Laser Pointer, are grouped in the Toolbox. Don't see a tool? Swipe left to reveal more. 

  • pen.png Tap Pen and start writing with your finger or stylus. Tap Pen again to adjust color, line weight, and style. Tap when using the pen or highlighter to activate pressure sensitivity
  • toolbox-pencil-default-outline.svg Pencil has pressure sensitivity and texture for sketching and shading.
  • highlightergray.png Highlighter is a translucent ink that can emphasize the most important parts of a note.
  • eraser.png Partial Eraser allows you to remove precise details; Whole Eraser erases the entire item. 
  • text tool.png  Tap anywhere in the note to start typing. Make text boxes and move them wherever you'd like on the page.
  • toolbox-selection-freehand-outline.svg toolbox-selection-rectangle-outline.svg Draw selections around ink/sketches to edit; convert handwriting to text. 
  •  toolboxInsertMediaTest-outline (3).svg Use to add media such as: photos from your gallery or camera, files, gifs, or math.
  • toolboxPlay-med-outline.svg Tap Play to listen to audio recordings.
  • mic icon.pngRecord lectures and meetings with Audio Recording.
  • toolbox-viewOnly-outline.svg Use the hand tool to navigate through a note.
  • zoom view.jpeg Use Zoom View for detailed work. 
  • toolbox-laser-outline.svgUse Laser Pointer to direct your audience’s attention to specific parts of the page during presentations.  
  • menuSettings-outline.svg Use Settings to customize your toolbox and to choose which tools appear in it.

Inside a Note: Learn, the Content Manager, Undo/Redo, Share, Options Menu

Tap quizzesStudy-outline.svg to open up the Learn panel.

  • At the top of the Learn panel, Chat with your Notes to ask a question and get instant answers from the content within your note.
  • Tap Live Transcript to see your audio recording transcribed in real time. (Pro)
  • Tap on the Smart Notes section to get real-time notes from your recordings, imported PDFs, and handwritten notes. (Pro)
  • Transform your notes into practice quiz questions that you can study from. Tap on the Learn section to Memorize, Practice, and Test

Tap page manager icon.png Content Manager to manage and bookmark note pages.

Tap topnavUndo-med.svgtopnavRedo-med.svgto undo or redo your last action. Enable Undo/Redo gestures in your app’s settings.

Tapto share a link, a PDF, a note, or an image. 

Tap for more options to view Template settings, Version history, App Settings, or to disconnect the stylus. 

Sync Your Notes with Notability Cloud

Notability for Android uses Notability Cloud, a different sync system than iCloud sync on iPad, iPhone, and Mac. If you're switching from a device that uses iCloud sync, you'll need to upgrade to Notability Cloud on that device to sync your notes.

  • The upgrade starts on iPad. Update to Notability 15.3.7 or later, then open notability://event/notability-cloud-support-invite on your iPad. 
  • No iPad? You'll receive an in-app invitation to upgrade on iPhone or Mac once your account is eligible.
  • Don't see an invitation yet? Your account may not be eligible yet, or it can take our servers a little time to reach your library.
  • Once the upgrade finishes, sign in to the same account on Android, and your notes will sync.

After that, any notes you create on Android sync automatically to your other devices. 

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