Sticky Notes is a free, built-in application in Windows that allows you to create virtual sticky notes on your desktop. It’s like an alternative to the old approach of using physical sticky notes we use to scribble down quick reminders and paste them on our work table or computer screen.
Sticky Notes on Windows is the perfect tool for jotting down quick thoughts, and reminders and creating to-do lists on your computer that are easy to edit, resize, and move around. Plus, it is integrated with other Microsoft tools like Microsoft OneNote, so you can access your notes anywhere.
Key Features of Sticky Notes
Sticky Notes on Windows is packed with great features to help you improve your workflow and enhance productivity. Here are the key features that make it a great tool for everyday use:
Simple and Intuitive Interface
Sticky Notes features a straightforward, easy-to-navigate interface. You can open it by simply searching it using the search bar or using the Shortcut key: Windows key + Alt + S.
After opening the app, sticky notes will be opened on the right side of the window screen with options to create new notes and capture a screenshot. Also, there are no typical sign-ups required, just click on the + Note option, type and that’s all.
Customizable Note Colors
Sticky Notes on Windows allows you to change the color of your sticky notes to help you organize them efficiently. For instance, you can use one color for to-do lists, another for reminders, and another for work notes.
To customize note colors, you can simply tap on the three dots and select the color from the given options.
Resizable Notes
You can easily resize Sticky Notes by simply dragging the edges of the note to make it larger or smaller depending on your preferences or the amount of information added to your notes. However, you can only use this feature when you have popped out your note.
To do this, open the note you want to resize and click on the arrow icon located in the corner of the note. This action will pop out of the note and display it as a separate pop-up window. Once the note is in this format, you can hover over the edges, click, and drag to resize it accordingly.
Text Formatting Options
You can format the text within your Sticky Notes using basic formatting options like bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, and bullet points to highlight important parts of your Notes.
Cross-Device Synchronization
The sticky notes app supports cross-device synchronization to ensure that your notes are always accessible. For example, if you made a note or to-do list on your Windows PC, it will automatically appear on the Microsoft OneNote app or the Sticky Note mobile app on your smartphone. And the same applies to note deletion.
Furthermore, it offers a QR code scanning feature for quick setup on your mobile device. Simply scan the QR code displayed in the Sticky Notes app on your PC to instantly link your account and sync your notes with your phone. This eliminates the need for manual logins or complex settings, making the process fast and effortless.
Pin to Desktop
You can pin any particular Sticky Notes to the top of your screen so that it remains visible even when you switch between other apps. This feature helps keep reminders or to-do lists in view at all times.
Integration with Microsoft OneNote
Sticky Notes can be integrated with Microsoft OneNote which allows you to transfer your Sticky Notes to OneNote for more advanced organization and editing options.
Easy Deletion and Editing
With Sticky Notes, you can easily delete or edit notes by clicking on the note. Once edited, tap on the tick right option to save it. On the other hand, if you want to delete it, you can tap on three dots and then select the delete option.
Voice Typing
While Sticky Notes doesn’t have a built-in voice typing feature, you can use Window’s Speech Recognition feature for voice typing. For this, open your Sticky Note, press the Windows key + H, and then start speaking. Later, you can use its formatting options to format it well.
Support for Multiple Notes
The sticky notes app allows you to create multiple Sticky Notes that can be opened at the same time, allowing you to keep track of different reminders, tasks, or to-do lists simultaneously.
Quick Search
Sticky Notes includes a search feature using you can easily find specific notes by typing keywords. So, if you have so many notes lined up, you can easily locate them quickly.
Capture Links Automatically
Sticky Notes has a convenient feature that automatically captures the hyperlink of the current working tab when you create a new note. The captured link appears as a clickable hyperlink on the top of the note under the source heading. Therefore, you can easily navigate back to the webpage without having to manually save or copy the URL.
Built-in Screenshot Tool
In addition to its feature to capture the source of your information automatically by saving the website URL for quick navigation, Sticky Notes also lets you capture a screenshot of the webpage you’re working on with just a single click.
You can use this feature when you need to visually reference specific content from a website such as graphs, images, etc.
Additionally, if you want to see the complete screenshot, simply hover on the note and click on the double-headed arrow. Now, when it opens on a bigger screen, it provides you with the option to copy the text, download the image on your device, copy text from the image, delete the image, and open the image in photos.
How to Use Sticky Notes on Windows?
Using Stick Notes on Windows is quite simple as you don’t need to download anything. Following is a step-by-step guide to get you started:
Opening Sticky Notes
Using Start Menu:
- Tap on the Start Menu or Window icon at the bottom left of the menu bar on your screen.
- Type Sticky Notes in the search bar.
- Now, click on the Open option or select the Sticky Notes app from the search results.
Using Shortcut Keys:
- Press the Windows key + Alt + S to directly open the Sticky Notes. If not working, press the Windows key + S, and then type Sticky Notes to open the app.
Creating and Managing Sticky Notes
Create a New Note:
- After opening the Sticky Notes, click on the + icon in the app window. This will create a blank note on the screen to write down your ideas.
Edit Text:
Now, type your content in the newly created note. You can use text formatting options to edit the text and organize it in a better way. You can also use the following shortcuts to edit your text:
- Ctrl + B: Make text bold.
- Ctrl + I: Italicize text.
- Ctrl + U: Underline text.
Capture Screenshot:
Now, to capture a screenshot within your notes, tap on the Screenshot option and that’s it. But, you can add only one screenshot for a particular note in Sticky Notes.
Change Note Color:
You can even change note colors by clicking on the three-dot menu on the note. Simply choose your preferred color and it will be changed in real time.
Delete Notes:
To delete a note, click on the three dots icon and press on the delete option.
Why Use Sticky Notes on Windows?
Sticky Notes is a simple, effective, and free-to-use tool that enhances productivity and organization. The following are the pros of using Sticky Notes:
- Quick and easy note-taking.
- Cross-device synchronization via Microsoft OneNote and Sticky Notes app.
- Customizable note colors and formatting.
- Pin important notes to the desktop.
- Automatically captures website URLs and allows screenshots.
- Simple, user-friendly interface with shortcuts.
- Best for personal and professional use.
Examples of Using Sticky Notes
While it completely depends on how you want to use it, there are a few practical examples of using Sticky Notes on your Windows PC:
- Create a quick to-do list for the day. You can even color-code your notes for different types of tasks such as work, personal, shopping, etc.
- Note down key points during virtual meetings for easy recall later.
- Save links and screenshots while researching online for seamless access later.
- Write down creative ideas for projects or content planning.
- Display inspirational quotes or affirmations on your desktop to stay motivated.
Cons of Sticky Notes
While Sticky Note is a great tool for quick note-taking, it does have some limitations including:
- Limited advanced features like markdown formatting, multimedia integration, etc.
- Don’t organize notes into folders or categories.
- Lack of collaboration tools.
- Basic text formatting options.
- No Built-in reminder or notification feature for tasks.
- Synchronization requires a Microsoft account.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sticky Notes is a simple yet powerful tool for quickly jotting down ideas, to-lists, and note-taking.
Its simple interface, cross-device synchronization, features like customizable colors, and the ability to capture links and screenshots make it convenient for managing tasks.
However, it lacks more advanced features including in-built reminders, easy sharing, and more found in other note-taking apps such as Evernote, Notion, Bear, etc.
Despite this, it remains an effective and accessible option for those looking for an easy way to stay organized.
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