I really want to improve my mind’s inner storage.I’m solely partially kidding: Just like a tough drive, I’m fairly certain my thoughts reached most capability sooner or later prior to now decade. The solely manner I can bear in mind something as of late is by making and sustaining one million notes, each bodily and digital. (My spouse can verify this: “I told you that a week ago” is an all-too-common phrase ‘spherical these elements.)I’m nonetheless ready for Western Digital to start out promoting SSD implants for the noggin, however within the meantime, Google Keep has turn into my repository for notes of the non-sticky selection. I prefer it as a result of it is easy to make use of and but full of options that make my life simpler on each an expert and a private stage. Plus, it really works as properly on my desktop pc or Chromebook because it does on my Android cellphone — and I can seamlessly transfer from one system to the subsequent and know all my notes will at all times be synced, present, and out there wherever I want ’em.If you, too, depend on Google Keep to complement your grey matter, take a look at these sensible tricks to be sure you’re tapping into all of the methods its Android app can act as your reminiscence extension. I hope it goes with out saying, however be at liberty to jot down notes alongside the way in which.(A fast aspect be aware, by the way in which: My editor, who makes use of an iPhone (gasp!), says all the following pointers work just about the identical within the Keep app for iOS. A couple of menu selections are barely totally different, nevertheless it needs to be straightforward sufficient to determine issues out in case you or anybody you realize prefers that fashion of system.)Part I: Organization1. Label your self organizedJust like Gmail, Keep depends on labels moderately than folders or notebooks to make your memos manageable. You can add a label to a be aware by tapping the three-dot menu icon within the lower-right nook of the app’s modifying display screen and deciding on “Labels” — or by touching and holding a be aware in the primary record view after which tapping the label icon within the upper-right nook of that display screen. (You can choose a number of notes without delay, too: Just contact and maintain any be aware till it turns into outlined, then faucet some other notes so as to add them into the combination.)Faster but, you may really kind a label immediately right into a be aware by prefacing it with a hashtag — “#Personal,” “#Web Projects,” or “#Business Ideas,” for instance. Keep will even pop up options for present labels as quickly as you begin typing, and as soon as you have chosen the label you need, you may both go away your hashtag textual content within the be aware or erase it.JR Raphael/IDG
The Keep app will counsel labels as quickly as you kind a hashtag — and as soon as you have chosen a label, you may see it beneath your textual content.
2. Get colourfulIn addition to labels, Keep allows you to arrange notes by coloration. Maybe your whole work-related notes are inexperienced and your private notes are blue — or possibly pressing notes are pink whereas all others are grey. You can give you any variety of programs to make the colours helpful both on their very own or along with the common textual content labels.To change a be aware’s coloration, faucet the three-dot menu icon within the lower-right nook of the modifying display screen after which contact no matter coloration you need to apply. From the primary record view, you can too choose any be aware (or mixture of notes) after which faucet the palette icon within the upper-right space of that display screen.3. Put a pin in itKeep your most necessary notes simply accessible by embracing Keep’s pin perform: Just faucet the pushpin icon within the upper-right nook whereas modifying a be aware or after deciding on it in your principal be aware record. That be aware will then seem in a particular “Pinned” part above all of your different notes so it is by no means out of attain. (To unpin a be aware at any time, simply faucet its pushpin icon once more.)4. Archive aggressivelyWhen a be aware not wants your quick consideration, get it out of your principal be aware record by swiping it towards the left or the correct from that view — or by tapping the archive icon (a folder with a down-pointing arrow on it) within the upper-right nook when you’re modifying it. Whichever manner you do it, that’ll archive the be aware — and similar to in Gmail, it’s going to then stay simply accessible by way of search or searching however will not command prime actual property and muddle up your “inbox.”5. Search like a proSpeaking of search, Keep’s search perform can do much more than simply search for primary textual content. Tap the search field on the high of the app’s principal display screen after which scroll down a bit. Among different issues, you may see instruments for filtering your notes to point out solely these with reminders, lists, photos, or URLs connected in addition to solely notes assigned to a specific coloration or label.JR Raphael/IDG
Keep’s search perform has ample choices for filtering your notes that can assist you discover what you want.
You also can flick through your notes by label by tapping the three-line menu icon within the app’s upper-left nook after which deciding on whichever label you need to view.6. Check the trashMake a psychological be aware: If you ever cannot discover a latest be aware, take a peek in Keep’s Trash part to see if it may need gotten deleted accidentally. Just faucet the three-line menu icon within the app’s upper-left nook after which choose Trash from the panel that seems.That’ll allow you to see each deleted be aware from the previous seven days and optionally restore any merchandise into energetic standing, in case you’re so inclined. You also can empty your trash manually when you’re there, in case you ever delete one thing delicate and need to be sure that it is utterly gone.7. Remember to set remindersOne of Keep’s strongest options is its native integration with Google’s cross-platform reminder system. When you want to bear in mind to take a look at a be aware at a specific time and even place — like your house, your workplace, an airport, or the grocery — simply faucet the bell icon within the upper-right nook of the note-editing display screen.That’ll mean you can set no matter situation you need for when the be aware ought to pop up as a notification in your cellphone. The reminder will even seem in Google Calendar in addition to within the “Updates” tab of the Google Android app (and thus additionally within the Google panel that lives to the left of the primary residence display screen on sure Android units). In all of these locations, you may see your Keep reminder grouped along with reminders set from the Google app, the Google Calendar app and web site, any Google Home units, and any Google search prompts.8. Find your remindersCan’t bear in mind what reminders you might have pending? What a predicament! The easy answer: Tap the three-line menu icon in Keep’s upper-left nook and choose “Reminders.” There, you may see an inventory of each be aware to which you have connected a reminder and precisely when or the place it is set to provide you with a warning. You’ll additionally see notes for which reminders have been already despatched however by no means marked as “done.”Part II: Note-taking9. Collect your spoken ideasTake a be aware on the go by talking it into Keep and letting the app transcribe your phrases. You can begin recording in considered one of 3 ways: faucet the microphone icon in Keep’s backside toolbar, faucet the plus icon within the lower-left nook after which choose “Recording” whereas modifying a be aware, or faucet the microphone icon in Keep’s residence display screen widget. Then, simply yammer away. When you are completed, Keep will place its transcription within the physique of the be aware and likewise connect an audio recording of your voice for good measure (and/or mortification — sure, that basically is what you sound like).JR Raphael/IDG
When you report a voice memo, Keep provides you each a transcription and an audio recording of your phrases.
10. Embrace Keep’s image-saving smartsGot a doc or different visible you need to grasp onto for future reference? While modifying a be aware, faucet the plus icon within the lower-left nook of the display screen and choose “Take photo.” You can then snap a fast photograph to connect to the be aware. If you’d moderately use an present picture out of your cellphone’s gallery, choose “Add image” as a substitute.Either manner, what’s particularly helpful is the truth that Keep can seize phrases out of the picture and switch them into common textual content — and you’ll then seek for these phrases to search out the data later. To make that occur, simply faucet on a picture inside any be aware, then faucet the three-dot menu icon within the lower-right nook of the display screen and choose “Grab image text” from the menu that seems. You also can edit, spotlight, or draw on a picture by deciding on the paintbrush icon from that very same menu.11. Transform your scribbles into phrasesIf you ever have a visible concept you need to jot down, contact the paintbrush icon in Keep’s toolbar or widget (or in case you’re already modifying a be aware, faucet the plus icon after which choose “Drawing”). You can sketch or write away in your display screen — with a stylus and even simply your finger — after which retailer your consequence together with some other be aware parts.The coolest half: Just like with the camera-captured photos, you may have Keep seize any phrases out of your drawing after which flip them into searchable and copy-ready textual content. Select the drawing, then look in that very same three-dot menu icon within the upper-right nook of the display screen to search out the command.12. Turn any be aware into an inventoryYou most likely know you can begin a brand new record by tapping the checkmark icon in Keep’s toolbar or widget — however do you know you can too convert any present be aware into an inventory with a pair fast faucets?While modifying a be aware, contact the plus icon within the lower-left nook of the display screen after which faucet “Checkboxes.” Keep will add a checkbox to the beginning of each new line, and you’ll then acquire the geeky satisfaction of checking gadgets off as you full them.13. Copy notes as neededEver want you may deal with a be aware as a template or start line and work on it with out affecting your authentic copy? Keep has an simply neglected possibility for doing simply that: Open a be aware, then faucet the three-dot menu icon within the lower-right nook and choose “Make a copy.” You’ll then be taken to an actual duplicate of the be aware whereas your authentic model stays untouched.14. Undo when you want toFor far too lengthy, Keep lacked some of the treasured instructions of any textual content editor: the sacred “Undo” button. Thankfully, that is not the case: The subsequent time you unintentionally delete a complete part of textual content or make some other ill-advised adjustments, search for the arrow that circles round to the left within the bottom-center space of the display screen. Once you have undone one thing, you may additionally see an arrow that circles round to the correct; that one can redo what you undid as wanted.Part III: Customization15. Find your favourite viewKeep might present your notes in a number of columns by default, however you do not have to maintain it that manner. See that icon with two thick horizontal strains towards the highest of the app’s search bar? Tap it, and the app will swap from its customary multicolumn view (a.ok.a. Grid View) right into a much less dense single-column configuration (List View).JR Raphael/IDG
Keep’s multicolumn view, at left, and single-column view, at proper.
16. Take a shortcutKeep’s widget is not your solely possibility for retaining time-saving note-taking capabilities on your house display screen. The app additionally has some helpful hidden shortcuts that’ll allow you to leap on to a few of its mostly used capabilities.To discover them, press and maintain your finger to the Keep icon (both on your house display screen or in your app drawer). That’ll pop up a collection of shortcuts for creating a brand new textual content be aware, audio be aware, photograph be aware, or record be aware. And a bonus tip: In addition to accessing them there, you may press and maintain any of these shortcuts after which drag ’em onto your house display screen for even simpler one-tap entry.17. Give your eyes a break at eveningIf you are working in a dim surroundings, be aware that Keep will robotically match your system’s Dark Theme setting, offered that you simply’re utilizing Android 10 or greater. But in case you’re utilizing an older Android model and/or simply need Keep to get darker with out the remainder of your cellphone being affected, take a peek within the app’s settings.There, you may see an possibility referred to as “Theme.” And it doesn’t matter what kind of system you are utilizing, you may alter it in order that Keep will at all times default to a darker motif for much less glary viewing.18. Eliminate pointless partsWhenever you embody URLs in a be aware, Keep usually tacks a collection of preview bins onto the be aware’s backside edge with hyperlinks to these web sites. Those bins could be a handy solution to get to your hyperlinks shortly, however they will additionally create lots of pointless muddle each inside the notes and in your principal be aware record — and particularly in case you have a tendency to incorporate a lot of URLs in your memos, they will shortly get uncontrolled.If, like me, you discover these bins to be extra distracting than helpful, faucet Keep’s three-line menu icon within the upper-left nook, choose “Settings,” and deactivate the toggle subsequent to “Display rich link previews.” Your be aware record will look meaningfully neater because of this.19. Take management of Keep’s record behaviorsBy default, Keep provides new gadgets to the tip of an inventory and sends checked-off gadgets to the underside of a be aware, beneath all the energetic gadgets. But guess what? You can change both of these behaviors: Just faucet Keep’s three-line menu icon, choose Settings, after which deactivate the toggles subsequent to “Add new items to bottom” and/or “Move checked items to bottom.” That’ll trigger new gadgets and checked-off gadgets, respectively, to point out up on the high of an inventory as a substitute of the underside.20. Customize Keep’s reminder instancesWhen you set a brand new be aware reminder, Keep presents a collection of one-tap presets — however the app’s default settings for morning, afternoon, and night won’t be best for you. You can customise these instances to fit your personal schedule by tapping the app’s three-line menu icon, deciding on “Settings,” after which adjusting the instances for every daypart beneath the “Reminder Defaults” heading. Just be aware that the instances you set in Keep will even carry over to Gmail and be used for the default snooze instances there.Part IV: Collaboration and integration21. Team up with a colleagueWant to brainstorm concepts or sort out a to-do record with a co-worker? Or possibly even keep an evolving purchasing record together with your vital different — one that you simply each can replace anytime, wherever? Easy peasy: Open up a be aware, then faucet the three-dot menu icon within the lower-right nook and choose “Collaborator.” Start typing the particular person’s title or Gmail tackle, and Keep will present you an inventory of options out of your contacts as you kind; you may both faucet considered one of its options or proceed coming into an e mail tackle manually. And if you wish to add extra collaborators past that, simply hold coming into names or Gmail addresses as wanted.Once your note-making companions are linked, you may all be capable to edit the be aware by yourself respective units — whether or not they’re Android, iOS, or any desktop platform — and you will all see any adjustments and additions as they’re made.22. Switch accounts with easeIf you utilize a number of Google accounts — like one for work and one for private functions — Keep makes it tremendous easy to modify between totally different personalities from proper inside the app. Tap the round profile icon within the app’s upper-right nook (the one which exhibits both your private profile photograph or the primary letter of your title), and you can toggle to some other account related together with your cellphone. You may even add a brand new account onto your cellphone from that very same spot, if you want to.For a fair faster account-switching shortcut, swipe your finger up or down on the profile icon as a substitute of tapping it. That’ll cycle you thru all of the accounts related together with your cellphone in ahead or backward order.23. Let different apps feed KeepDon’t overlook you can share stuff from some other app in your cellphone immediately into your Keep notes — whether or not it is a net URL, a photograph, a screenshot, or perhaps a snippet of highlighted textual content. Just search for the “Share” command or icon wherever you might be after which choose Keep from the record of selections. The content material you are viewing will beam proper into a brand new be aware to your viewing and discovering pleasure.JR Raphael/IDG
Select textual content wherever in Android, then faucet “Share” and choose Google Keep — and it can save you that textual content into a brand new be aware proper then and there.
24. Don’t be afraid to name in a DocLet’s face it: While Keep excels in a lot of primary note-taking areas, the app undoubtedly has its limits. Once a be aware turns into extra of a doc — with tons of textual content and the necessity for superior modifying instruments — Keep most likely is not the place you need to be working.Luckily, there’s a superb manner round that: When a be aware exceeds Keep’s capabilities, simply faucet the three-dot menu icon within the lower-right nook of the modifying display screen, choose “Send,” after which choose “Copy to Google Docs.” That’ll dump your total be aware into a brand new Docs doc, the place you may edit away to your coronary heart’s content material.If Docs is not your cup of tea, you should utilize the “Send via other apps” possibility in that very same menu to ship the total textual content of your be aware into some other app that may deal with it — whether or not it is one other Android phrase processor, an e mail or texting app, or a collaboration device like Trello or Slack.25. Access Keep from different Google appsWhen you are engaged on a pc and wishing you may entry all these good ideas you collected in your Android cellphone, fake a tiny genie popped up and granted your want — as a result of right here it’s: You can really get to your Keep notes from the desktop variations of Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Docs. And all the pieces you saved out of your cellphone can be proper there and ready.Just search for the correct aspect panel in any of these apps — or if the panel is not seen, search for a small white tab with a left-facing arrow within the lower-right nook of the display screen. Once the panel’s open, you may click on the Keep icon inside it and consider, search, and even edit your notes in that exact same browser tab.In Docs, any new notes you’re taking will robotically include a hyperlink to the doc you have been engaged on on the time. And maybe most helpful of all: From the Keep panel, you may click on the three-dot menu icon inside any be aware to repeat its total contents immediately into your doc.With capabilities like these, who wants inner mind storage, anyway?This article was initially printed in May 2016 and most just lately up to date in August 2020.

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