OpenTube

How to Use Templates in Apple Notes

brooke tierney

15,363 views

✨ If you’ve ever wished Apple Notes had built-in templates… you’re not alone 😅

In this video, I’m sharing simple workarounds to create your own templates inside Apple Notes—even though the feature doesn’t officially exist (yet?). These methods are easy, practical, and actually work day-to-day.

What you’ll learn:
• How to duplicate notes to reuse templates quickly
• Organizing templates with folders, tags, and smart folders
• Pinning templates for quick access
• How the Shortcuts app can automate templates (with some limitations)

Plus, I’ll be making a future video going deeper into Shortcuts automation, so stay tuned 👀

🍿🎥 WATCH NEXT:
8 AWESOME Apple Reminders Features!
how the Apple Pencil Pro makes your iPad 1...

📍🫶🏻 MEMBERSHIP:
please consider joining the channel membership here: @brooketierney

👋🏻📱 SOCIALS:
subscribe: @brooketierney
instagram: Instagram: _brooketierney_
X (twitter): Twitter: _brooketierney_

👉🏻🤩 MY FAVOURITES:
🇺🇸 https://www.amazon.com/shop/brooketie...
🇨🇦 https://www.amazon.ca/shop/brooketierney

🤓🎥 VIDEO GEAR:
🇺🇸 https://www.amazon.com/shop/brooketie...
🇨🇦 https://www.amazon.ca/shop/brooketier...

🎵 MUSIC (free trial): https://share.epidemicsound.com/4kp4cq

0:00 intro
0:30 method 1: duplicate
2:00 tags
2:41 smart folders
3:12 templates folder
3:36 method 2: shortcuts app
8:17 method 3: shortcut w/ checklist
11:32 running shortcuts
13:03 other ways?

DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links provided, I may receive a small commission at NO additional charge to you. Thank you so much for supporting my channel!

20 Comments

@brooketierney Creator 5 months ago Pinned

📍👋🏻 what's another apple notes feature that is still missing? 👀

@lofigueroa 2 months ago

This video is excellent. You explain the steps in a very clear and easy-to-understand manner. It’s a great resource for anyone looking to learn more about this topic.❤

@BretSnyder 5 months ago

You can retain all the formatting in Shortcuts using Markdown (as mentioned in another comment). For Headers, just place ## before the Header text. It is easier if you paste your note initially into a Text action box instead of the Create Note action. That way you can split your Shortcut and place Check offs further up in your notes. Just use multiple Text actions and Append To Notes actions. The only formatting I have not been able to retain is the text colors.

@timmarsh4029 3 months ago

I've really enjoyed finding your channel. Genuinely useful. You are a great writer and performer

@christophertyler1882 5 months ago

Thanks for the video. 🎉 There are some ways to retain some formatting when using Shortcuts but it is a bit of a pain. You can either have your text in Markdown or HTML and then use “Make rich text from” command. I use this for creating daily notes for the day (appointments, tasks, etc).

@olivia8979 5 months ago

For me, the only viable option is the duplicate note option. The trade offs for the shortcut options would be more annoying than the tradeoffs for duplicating the note.

I stopped using the Journal app because I couldn't use templates. I used Text Replacements for a while, but I wanted to retain the formatting so I moved to Day One.

@fourex59 5 months ago (edited)

This has been a very informative video and I can definitely use the tips here to increase my own workflow. I very much appreciate your time in providing this information.

@bsschrenk 5 months ago

Nice job from a notes user

@AntonioTylerDraws 5 months ago

I made a shortcut to do this awhile ago, accidentally. I realize I could copy the body of a note and apend another. I thought I would be using it more for new notes but I honestly use it mostly for automated tasks. Like creating a weekly note

@MicrobyteAlan 5 months ago

hi Brooke good stuff, thx

@raymonddimuzio5115 5 months ago

Brooke, another great video. You may have explained this before, but i am surprised you do not use the template function in Pages or another word processor. Also, i do wonder why there is not a “Duplicate Note” in Shortcuts. Seems like a logical choice. Keep up the awesome work! Looking forward to you take on Shortcust. I use it for a lot of tasks, but wish it was more powerful especially in Apple’s native apps!

@gbsailing9436 5 months ago

Hi Brooke, great video again this week, thank you. I do think you could use an existing shortcut, namely the "Remember This" shortcut. I think it is included for all apple users in the 'Gallery'. You would have to paste in the "TEXT" that you would want your 'note' to have in it - as you did above - and with the appropriate destination folder of course. And, yes you would need to duplicate the "Remember This" shortcut with different names for remembering different things/purposes as it was originally designed to remember multiple items, including: text, video, photo, voice recordings, etc. So duplicating it would be necessary. I noticed your last work around didn't bring in the 'tag' enabled, but I forgave you for not enabling it! LOL. Well done, love your work!

@stevemayers6194 5 months ago

Good work around Brooke 👍🏽Thank you for this. 😊

@Camop27 5 months ago

The feature missing in Apple Notes is the ending of the "Wife's To Do List" This must be a missing feature. No end in years in this list. LOL. Thanks for the work you do in these videos. I always learn something new.

@deborra-marceau-6109 5 months ago

Hello Brooke! I truly enjoyed your talk on Notes Templates. And I must say, I’m so looking forward to your Shortcuts app video! Keep up the good work. Until next time. Bye!

@jamesashby4334 5 months ago (edited)

I don’t use folders anymore, just tags and links. So for templates, tag every template with #template, set up a template Smart Folder, and when using a template, duplicate and delete the template tag for the live note. Use a widget for quick access to the smart list.

@TheMacalorian 5 months ago

Intrestingly although I DO have #-Tags in my notes, when I try to make an intelligent folder NONE of the hashtags appear.

@accordingtochristine 5 months ago

To get around the checklist being at the bottom, could you paste the first section of the template, append the checklist, and then append the rest of the template?

@808ExpeditionsAdventureTravel 5 months ago

Thank you. This makes organizing my nursing school info easier since Notion confuses me.

Can you make Free Form video’s and how to use it - or Notability videos?

@rsuninv 5 months ago

Apple needs to allow handwriting on lines that are typed. Example - What Type of Property? I would like to hand write Owner or Tenant or Commercial with out typing since it’s field notes.