Apple Notes was a reasonably barebones instrument, finest recognized for being utilized by celebrities to apologize. However a number of years again, Apple began investing closely in making Notes a worthy competitor with third-party alternate options. And in iOS 18, Apple Notes gained an influence person function that’s particularly laborious to search out elsewhere: collapsible sections.
My lengthy seek for a notes app with one key function
I’ve tried a variety of notes apps over time, paying shut consideration to each worthwhile debut on the App Retailer.
And irrespective of how highly effective a few of these third-party apps might be, the overwhelming majority of them lacked a key function I’d at all times wished: collapsible sections.
In prior jobs, I usually wanted to cover or present varied parts of a word, largely as a method to hold longer notes extra organized and simple to skim.
To show simply how determined I obtained, at one level I used to be even utilizing OmniOutliner for this one purpose alone.
I didn’t want an outlining app, however for particular notes, I’d create them in Omni’s app just for the possibility to have collapsible sections.
My work has since modified, and I don’t have the identical makes use of for collapsible sections that I as soon as did.
However I used to be nonetheless delighted to search out that iOS 18 introduced the function to Apple Notes—and I instantly began brainstorming new use instances.
How Apple Notes’ collapsible sections work in iOS 18
In iOS 18, Apple did one thing quite simple with the Notes app: it took an current function, and expanded its usefulness.
Reasonably than including collapsible sections as a complete new formatting sort, Apple baked it into the present help for headings and subheadings.
I take advantage of headings and subheadings on a regular basis in my notes. It’s my most well-liked method to arrange data—usually with a bulleted record beneath.
And in iOS 18, any heading or subheading could be collapsed with a fast faucet, hiding all of the content material it comprises.
All you need to do is faucet on a heading or subheading line, then hit the down-facing arrow that seems.
This arrow then shifts route, and all of your content material is hidden beneath.
What I’m utilizing iOS 18’s new Apple Notes function for
Presently, I’m utilizing this function in two important ways in which each occur to contain well being and health practices.
I take advantage of collapsible sections for:
- Train directions
- Meals macros
For the previous, I’ve completely different notes arrange for every of my weekly train routines.
On ‘Pull’ day, for instance, I hold observe of my reps and weight in a log. However proper on the high of the word, I additionally save data on new or future workout routines so as to add to the exercise.
Because of iOS 18, I can embody detailed, step-by-step walkthroughs for every new train, however hold them hidden more often than not in order that they don’t muddle the word.
I do one thing comparable with monitoring meals macros.
For meals at dwelling, and particularly my go-to eating places, I save data on every meals merchandise’s energy and protein.
Collapsible sections let me disguise this information beneath every restaurant or dish’s heading, solely seeing it once I must. This makes the word a lot simpler to navigate.
There are numerous methods collapsible sections can be utilized, however these are the 2 I’ve been having fun with proper now.
Do you utilize collapsible sections in iOS 18’s Notes app? Tell us within the feedback.
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