There are so many different note-taking applications on the App Store that you might feel like your head could spin. However, chances are, that you don’t even need to use those apps any longer, as Apple’s own Notes app is finally a formidable competitor in the ever-growing space. There are some quirks here and there, one of which is being able to automatically sort checked items in Notes.
How to Automatically Sort Checked Items in Notes on iPhone and iPad
Any good (or great) note-taking app or service should offer more than just a blank canvas with no additional features. The Apple Notes app for iOS is no exception, regardless of how long it took Apple to bring some rather basic features to the app. In addition to creating notes and having formatting options, Apple also makes it possible to use Notes for your checklists. The problem here is that, by default, whenever you click a checkbox within a note, it just stays right where it was. This might be fine for some, but for others, it can end up just taking up unnecessary space, or distracting you from the remaining items on your list.
Thankfully, in order to move those checked items out of the way, all you have to do is jump into the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. Here’s how to automatically sort checked items in Notes on iPhone and iPad:
Open the Settings app on your iPhone and/or iPad.
Scroll down and tap Notes.
Scroll down until you reach the Viewing section.
Tap Sort Checked Items.
Select one of the following:
Manually
Automatically
Tap the < Notes button in the top left corner to save your changes.
While you’re in the settings for Apple’s Notes app, you might notice that there are some additional sorting options at your disposal. If you want a bit more control over how your notes appear within the app, here’s how you can make the proper adjustments:
Open the Settings app on your iPhone and/or iPad.
Scroll down and tap Notes.
Scroll down until you reach the Viewing section.
Tap Sort Notes By.
Select one of the following:
Date Edited
Date Created
Title
Tap the < Notes button in the top left corner to save your changes.
How to Automatically Sort Checked Items in Notes on Mac
Considering that the Mac, iPhone, and iPad offer pretty much the same features when it comes to specific apps, you also have the ability to automatically sort checked items in Notes on Mac. The biggest difference here is how you access the settings panel for the Notes app, but here’s how you can do so:
Open the Apple Notes app on your Mac.
Click Notes in the top left corner of the Menu Bar.
From the drop-down menu, select Settings…
Click the checkbox next to Automatically sort checked items.
Once this checkbox has been ticked, any checked items that appear in your various Notes will be moved to the bottom of whatever list they are a part of. Then, you can go back into the note you were working on, and only the unchecked items will remain at the top of the list. This also applies to any new Notes or Checklists that you create moving forward. Just keep in mind that the sorting may not properly sync between your devices, unless the proper settings have been applied.
Andrew is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US.
He has written for a variety of sites over the years, including iMore, Android Central, Phandroid, and a few others. Now, he spends his days working for an HVAC company, while moonlighting as a freelance writer at night.
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