You’re using Google Keep wrong; Here’s how to do it right

Other than Evernote, the other most popular note-taking application for Android devices is Google Keep. Part of this is due to the fact that the app is pre-installed on many devices, while another reason is that the app comes directly from Google.

Today, we’re going to take a look at some of the best tips & tricks to fully maximize your experience and take full advantage of Google Keep. Chances are you’ve already spent some time with the app, having at least looked around. We’re here to show you ways to get more from the app.

Color Code

Starting us off with these tips & tricks for Google Keep is the ability to color code your notes. If you’re like me and take notes that fall into different categories, color coding can make your life much easier.

The best part is that color-coding these notes is extremely simple, and organization of these notes is much simpler. In order to color code one of your notes, you’ll need to follow these steps:

1. Open your note
2. Tap the overflow button in the bottom right-hand corner
3. Select a color of your choice

Labels

When it comes organization, color-coding can only go so far. That’s where labels come into play. You can add and create labels by simply using #hashtags when creating each note.

Then, once you need to go back and find a specific note, you can simply search for the label name that you used, and it will appear. This is extremely helpful if you end up taking a lot of notes and need to find something from a specific category.

Set reminders

In addition to just taking notes, Google Keep also acts as a traditional to-do list. You can create checklists within notes, and you can even add reminders to said notes.

The best part about these reminders is that you can go the traditional route of choosing a date and time, but you can also opt to use location-based reminders. This will ensure that you never forget to take the trash out once you get home as Keep will remind you.

Additionally, when these reminders have been set, you will see the notification appear on any device that your Google account is logged into. This will ensure that the task gets completed and that you can knock another to-do off the list.

Here are the steps to set a reminder:

1. Open your note
2. Tap the ‘Finger with twine’ icon in the top left-hand corner
3. Select ‘Time’ or ‘Place’
4. Save
5. Profit!

Use Images as notes

This next feature is something that I didn’t realize was so useful until I started getting older and my memory started getting worse. If you are using Google Keep for just about everything, you can also “take notes” using pictures.

This may come in handy if you want to check out a specific product later on for price-matching purposes, or if you need to remind yourself to pick something up from the store. There are two methods in which you can use Keep to save pictures as notes/reminders.

The first of which requires you creating a new note in Keep, tapping the ‘+’ icon next to the text input, and selecting “Take Photo”. The next method comes after you’ve already taken the picture.

Once you have taken the picture that you want to add to Keep, open your Gallery, tap the ‘share’ button, and scroll until you see Keep. Then, you will be taken to Keep where you can add a title, label, or description before saving.

Collaborate

Google has really made life easy for those who work remotely and need to be able to collaborate with others that aren’t in the office. As is the case with Google Drive, you can share your notes with others, making collaboration extremely simple.

Once a note has been created, you’ll want to follow these steps to share it:

1. Open your note
2. Tap the overflow button in the bottom right-hand corner
3. Select ‘Collaborator’
4. Enter the email for the contact to share the note with

After the note has been shared, the other party will then be able to see what you are working on. This feature would also be useful for partners who want to quickly and easily share or edit grocery/shopping lists.

Audio Notes

I don’t know about you, but from time to time, I get tired of typing on my devices. This is where voice dictation comes into play.

Voice dictation has been a live-saver on multiple occasions, and it’s built right into Google Keep. As is the case with taking pictures as notes, there are actually two methods to activate dictation in Keep.

The first is found when tapping the ‘+’ icon in your note. When tapping the icon, you’ll see a section called ‘Recording’ which will allow you to quickly dictate your notes.

The second option comes from your keyboard. Yup, simply open up your note of choice (or create a new one) and tap the microphone icon. Then you’ll be able to talk until you’re blue in the face, or at least until you get the point across.

Bookmark tool

This next feature is the ability to use Google Keep as a way to keep track of your favorite bookmarks. You can think of this as another alternative to Pocket or Instapaper, and even works with your desktop browser.

Your mileage may vary depending on which browser you use on your smartphone, but the steps to save a webpage for reading later is easy. Simply open the link you want to share in your browser, tap the overflow menu button (in Chrome), select ‘Share’.

From there you’ll need to select Keep, and you will be able to add labels or add more notes to the listing.

Export to Google Docs

It comes as no surprise that Google makes all of its productivity apps able to work together and talk to each other. The same rings true for Google Keep and the Google Drive suite of services.

If you start working on a project and want to move things to a more open service like Docs, Google makes things simple. Simply open up the note of your choice, tap the three dot overflow button, and select “Send”.

Read more: Top 7 Android writing apps for students

From there, you are presented with two options – “Copy to Google Docs” and “Send via other apps”. Obviously, you will want to select “Copy to Google Docs” and then you will see a notification at the bottom of the screen when the note has been moved to Docs.

Recover archived notes

The final tip that we’re going to share today is for those who want to drudge up the past. We kid, but there are times when you accidentally archive notes and you need to get them back into the list.

Here are the steps you need to take to unarchive a Google Keep note:

1. Go to the main screen for Keep
2. Tap the hamburger menu button in the top left-hand corner
3. Scroll down and select “Archive”
4. Open the note that you want to be unarchived
5. Tap the ‘archive’ button in the top right-hand corner
6. Profit!

Conclusion

Of course, these are just a few of our favorite tips & tricks for Google Keep, so we’ll be turning it to you. Let us know some of your favorite tips and how they may have helped you to become a more productive person!