How to use tags in Notes on Mac

By published

Tags In Notes on Mac
Tags In Notes on Mac (Image credit: iMore)

Apple's native Notes app for Mac tends to improve each year. Tags is one of the newest features. The function has two primary purposes: to categorize notes and create custom Smart Folders to organize your content better.

Here's how to use tags in Notes on all the best Macs.

Creating tags

To begin using tags in Notes on Mac:

  1. Open the Notes app on your Mac.
  2. Create a new note or open an existing one.
  3. Type the number sign (#) followed by a word to create a new tag. For example, #cruise or #grocery. Tags can be created anywhere in a note. Once you have tags in Notes, you'll see suggested tags appear. Tags must be a single word, but you can use hyphens and underscores such as #cruise-trip or #grocery-list.

To create a new tag in the Notes app on Mac, open the Notes app, then create a new note or open an existing one. Type the number sign followed by a word. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Click the return key or spacebar to create the tag.
  2. See tags in the Tag Browser in the Notes app sidebar.

Click the return key or spacebar to create the tag. See tags in the Tag Browser in the Notes app sidebar. (Image credit: iMore)

As Apple explains (opens in new tab), if you add a tag to a shared note, it appears as dimmed text to other participants who don't have the tag in their Tag Browser. They can Control-click the tag, then choose to Add to Tags.

To search for which notes contain which tags:

  • Click the tag in the Tag Browser in the sidebar or
  • Select multiple tags at the same time in the Tag Browser.

Renaming tags

You can rename a tag at any time by following these directions:

  1. Open the Notes app on your Mac.
  2. Control-click a tag in the Tag Browser on the sidebar.
  3. Select Rename Tag.

To rename a tag in the Notes app, use Control-click a tag in the Tag Browser on the sidebar. Select Rename Tag. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Rename the tag.
  2. Click Rename to confirm.

Rename the tag, then click Rename to confirm. (Image credit: iMore)

The altered tag is changed everywhere within Notes.

As Apple explains (opens in new tab), if you rename a tag in a shared note, it appears as dimmed text to other participants who don't have the tag in their Tag Browser. They can Control-click the tag, then choose to Add to Tags.

Deleting tags

If you no longer want a tag in Notes, you can delete it by following these directions:

  1. Open the Notes app on your Mac.
  2. Control-click a tag in the Tag Browser on the sidebar.
  3. Select Delete Tag.

To delete a tag in the Notes app, use Control-click a tag in the Tag Browser on the sidebar. Select Delete Tag. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Click Delete to confirm. Your tag has been deleted from the Tag Browser. However, the text will remain in the notes; it just won't serve as a tag any longer.

Click Delete to confirm. (Image credit: iMore)

Creating Smart Folders

Another new option in the Notes app on Mac is Smart Folders. Use these folders to organize your notes with one or more tags. Keep in mind that Smart Folders don't contain notes in this case. Instead, they have references to notes in other folders. Smart Folders can't be locked, turned into subfolders, or shared.

After opening the Notes app, to create a Smart Folder:

  1. Click New Folder in the sidebar.
  2. Choose Smart Folder from the pull-down menu.

To create a Smart Folder, click New Folder in the sidebar. Choose Smart Folder from the pop-up menu. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Change the name of the Smart Folder in the pop-up menu.
  2. Add the tag(s) you wish to include for the Smart Folder. You can create new tags or select from the list of existing ones. More than one tag is allowed. When you have more than one tag, all the tags must be included in a note for it to show up on the Smart Folder.
  3. Click OK.

Change the name of the Smart Folder, then assign tags. Click OK. (Image credit: iMore)

Edit Smart Folders

You can adjust the rules for Smart Folders by opening the Notes app on Mac then:

  1. Right-click on a Smart Folder on the sidebar.
  2. Choose Edit Smart Folder from the pull-down menu.

To edit a Smart Folder, right-click on it from the sidebar, then choose Edit Smart Folder from the pull-down menu. (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Make changes. For example, you can adjust the name or tags included in the Smart Folder.
  2. Click OK.

Make the necessary changes. For example, you can change the name and tags for the Smart Folder. Click OK. (Image credit: iMore)

Delete Smart Folders

If you no longer want a Smart Folder, you can delete it after opening the Notes app on Mac:

  1. Right-click on a Smart Folder on the sidebar.
  2. Choose Delete Smart Folder from the pull-down menu.
  3. Select Delete to confirm.

To delete Smart Folders, right-click on the folder you wish to delete, then choose Delete Smart Folder. Choose Delete to confirm. (Image credit: iMore)

Convert folders to Smart Folders

Folders in the Notes app on Mac can easily be converted into Smart Folders. The notes are moved to the general Notes folder when a folder gets converted and tagged with "#Name." This process can't be undone.

After opening the Notes app:

  1. Right-click on a regular folder in the Notes apps.
  2. Select Convert to Smart Folder from the pull-down menu.

To convert folders to Smart Folders right click on a regular folder in the Notes app. Select Convert to Smart Folder from the pull-down menu. (Image credit: iMoe)

Make your life easier

Though Quick Notes is the primary new Notes feature in macOS Monterey, there's also the addition of tags.

Tags and Smart Folders in the Notes app on Mac make it easier to organize and find your content. The steps involved are intuitive and don't take much time to set up and complete. Use both tools to improve your workflow.

Updated June 2022: With slight changes.

Bryan M Wolfe
Bryan M Wolfe

Bryan M. Wolfe has written about technology for over a decade on various websites, including TechRadar, AppAdvice, and many more. Before this, he worked in the technology field across different industries, including healthcare and education. He’s currently iMore’s lead on all things Mac and macOS, although he also loves covering iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Bryan enjoys watching his favorite sports teams, traveling, and driving around his teenage daughter to her latest stage show, audition, or school event in his spare time. He also keeps busy walking his black and white cocker spaniel, Izzy, and trying new coffees and liquid grapes.