The fastest way to add a sticky note on Mac

Open Sticky Notes from your Applications folder or by pressing Spotlight (Command + Space) and typing "Sticky Notes". When the app opens, press Command + N to create a new note, or click the File menu and select New Note. A blank yellow note appears on your screen ready for typing. Type what you need to remember, then click anywhere outside the note or press Command + W to close it — the note stays on your desktop.

If you want a note to appear every time you start your Mac, keep it open when you shut down. Sticky Notes remembers which notes were visible and reopens them automatically. You can also pin a note to stay on top of other windows by clicking the pin icon in the top-right corner of the note.

Key Takeaways

  • Create a new sticky note by pressing Command + N inside the Sticky Notes app, or open the app from Applications and click File > New Note.
  • Change a note's color by right-clicking it and selecting a color from the menu, which helps organize notes by category or priority.
  • Pin a note to keep it visible on top of other windows by clicking the pin icon, useful for reminders you need to see constantly.
  • Delete a note by right-clicking it and selecting Delete, or by selecting the note and pressing Delete or Command + Delete.
  • Notes sync across your Mac devices if you are signed into the same iCloud account, but they do not sync to iPhone or iPad.

Changing note colors to organize by category

Each sticky note can be a different color, which makes it easy to group notes by type or priority. Right-click any note on your desktop and a menu appears with seven color choices: yellow, blue, green, pink, purple, gray, and white. Click the color you want and the note changes instantly.

A common system is to use one color for work reminders, another for personal tasks, and a third for shopping lists. You can change a note's color as many times as you want — there is no limit. If you want to see all your notes at once, open the Sticky Notes app window (not just the notes on your desktop) and they appear in a list on the left side, color-coded and organized by the date you created them.

Pinning notes so they stay visible

By default, sticky notes can be hidden behind other windows when you open other apps. If you have a note you need to see constantly — like a password reminder or a daily task list — pin it to keep it on top. Click the small pin icon in the top-right corner of the note. The pin icon fills in, and the note now stays visible even when you switch to other apps.

Pinned notes are useful for reminders you check throughout the day. You can pin multiple notes at once, and they will all stay visible. To unpin a note, click the pin icon again and it returns to normal behavior, hiding behind other windows like before.

Searching and finding old notes

If you have created many notes over time, finding a specific one can be slow if you only look at your desktop. Open the Sticky Notes app window by clicking the Sticky Notes icon in your Dock or Applications folder. All your notes appear in a list on the left side, newest first. Scroll through the list to find the note you want, or use the search box at the top to type a word or phrase.

The search looks inside the text of every note, so if you remember even part of what you wrote, you can find it. Click a note in the list to open it on your desktop. This view also shows you how many notes you have created and makes it easy to delete old notes you no longer need.

Syncing notes across your Mac devices

If you own more than one Mac and are signed into the same iCloud account on both, your sticky notes sync automatically between them. A note you create on your MacBook appears on your iMac within a few seconds, and changes you make to a note on one device update on the other. This works in the background — you do not need to do anything to turn it on.

Sticky Notes do not sync to iPhone or iPad, even if you are using the same iCloud account. If you need notes on your phone, you will need to use a different app like Apple Notes or a third-party note-taking app. To check that syncing is working, go to System Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and make sure Sticky Notes has a checkmark next to it.

Deleting notes you no longer need

Delete a note by right-clicking it and selecting Delete from the menu, or by clicking the note once and pressing the Delete key. The note disappears immediately — there is no trash or recovery option, so make sure you do not need it before deleting. If you delete a note by accident, undo the action immediately by pressing Command + Z while the Sticky Notes app is still active.

You can also delete notes from inside the Sticky Notes app window. Open the app, find the note in the list on the left, right-click it, and select Delete. This method is useful if you want to clean up many old notes at once without hunting for them on your desktop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I format text in a sticky note, like make it bold or change the font?

No. Sticky Notes on Mac does not support bold, italic, font changes, or any other formatting. The app is designed to be simple and fast — you type plain text only. If you need formatted notes with colors, fonts, and images, Apple Notes or a third-party app like Notion or OneNote will give you more options.

What happens to my sticky notes if I sign out of iCloud?

Your notes stay on your Mac and remain visible. If you sign back into the same iCloud account later, they sync again with your other devices. If you sign into a different iCloud account, your old notes stay on the Mac but do not sync to the new account.

Can I export or print my sticky notes?

Sticky Notes does not have a built-in export or print feature. To save a note, you can copy the text (Command + A to select all, then Command + C to copy) and paste it into a document or email. Some users take screenshots of notes they want to keep as images.

Why did my sticky notes disappear?

Notes do not disappear unless you delete them. If you cannot see them on your desktop, they may be hidden behind other windows. Open the Sticky Notes app to see a list of all your notes. If a note truly is gone and you did not delete it, try restarting your Mac — sometimes notes fail to display until you restart.

Can I set a reminder or alarm on a sticky note?

Sticky Notes does not have built-in reminders or alarms. If you need a notification at a specific time, use Apple's Reminders app or Calendar app instead. You can create a reminder that opens a note you have written, combining both tools.