Apple Notes has emerged as one of Apple’s most frequently refreshed apps, and iOS 26 brings a few noteworthy enhancements. Here’s everything new for Apple Notes in iOS 26.
## New Liquid Glass Design
Undoubtedly the most significant change for Notes this year is the completely revamped design featuring Liquid Glass. While the core layout of the app stays intact, the overall aesthetic appears and feels more contemporary due to comprehensive UI updates. Buttons and various UI components have been refreshed, repositioned, and improved. The search function is now prominently located at the bottom of the screen. Line spacing has been adjusted. The Notes toolbar is now horizontally swipeable. There’s also an updated app icon. Overall, Notes’ new appearance is a thorough reconstruction that feels both familiar and renewed.
## Markdown Import and Export
Markdown is now partially supported by Apple Notes. Importing and exporting Markdown has been incorporated into Notes in iOS 26. Although the app does not provide any styling for Markdown syntax, you can create an entire note in Markdown and easily export it using the new share sheet option. Importing Markdown files can also be done through the share sheet (or menu bar on iPad). Copying and pasting Markdown text won’t automatically trigger a conversion in Notes. Markdown allows users to compose in a straightforward, easy-to-read text format, which can then be transformed into structurally valid HTML.
## Notes Comes to Apple Watch
For Apple Watch users, iOS 26 and watchOS 26 bring the Notes app to your wrist for the very first time. You can access all your notes directly from the new Watch app, with pinned notes appearing at the top similar to your iPhone. This new app allows you to create new notes without needing to reach for your iPhone, particularly useful for dictation.
## Reed Pen for Calligraphy
Apple Notes features a tool palette specifically designed for Apple Pencil users, but it’s also available on iPhones. In iOS and iPadOS 26, that palette introduces a new tool option: a reed pen. The reed pen lets you experience a traditional calligraphy style within Apple Notes, complete with stroke-angle presets incorporated into the tool.
## Maybe Coming: Image Playground Additions
Image Playground serves as the hub for Apple Intelligence’s image creation tools and has been integrated into Apple Notes since the launch of iOS 18.2. In iOS 26, Apple introduces capabilities from ChatGPT’s popular image creation trends directly to its own Apple Intelligence feature. This means you’ll be able to create new images utilizing ChatGPT styles like Anime or by entering your preferred description. Presently in the iOS 26 beta, while the new ChatGPT options are part of the dedicated Image Playground app, the Notes app still only displays the existing Animation, Illustration, and Sketch styles from iOS 18. Future updates might bring the new ChatGPT features to image creation within Notes.
Which new Apple Notes features are you most looking forward to in iOS 26?
