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Samsung Notes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Samsung Galaxy Note series.
Samsung Notes
DeveloperSamsung Electronics
Initial releaseAugust 19, 2016 (2016-08-19)
Stable release
4.4.30.81[1] Edit this on Wikidata / 29 September 2025
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows, Android
TypeNote-taking software, integrated software
Websitewww.samsung.com/ae/apps/samsung-notes/
As ofNovember 4, 2025
Samsung Notes File Format
Filename extension
.snb
Developed bySamsung
Initial release2011; 14 years ago (2011)
Type of formatNotetaking file format
Extended toDOC, WordProcessingML, PPT, TXT

Samsung Notes (Korean: 삼성 노트) is a note-taking application for Android and Microsoft Windows developed by South Korean company Samsung Electronics. It allows the writing of digital and handwritten notes with embedded photos and audio, sketching and drawing, and also functions as a PDF document reader and annotater.

Samsung Notes is offered freely and is distributed on the Galaxy Store, Google Play Store and Microsoft Store. It is officially only supported on Samsung's own Android devices, but on Windows PCs is no longer restricted to Samsung's devices since 2025.[2]

History

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Samsung Notes was launched in 2016 as a single replacement of several older memo and illustration apps on Galaxy Note devices: namely S Note, Scrapbook, Memo, and Action Memo.[3]

On October 3, 2023, it was revealed that Samsung Notes will forcibly stop working on Windows devices unless it is a Galaxy Book.[4] In May 2025, it was reported that Samsung now allows the software to run on all Windows computers, although the Samsung Account app from the Microsoft Store is required for the backend to function.[2]

Samsung also offered Samsung Notes Viewer, a tool specifically for viewing Notes files and until One UI 6 an app called Write on PDF for annotating PDF documents.[5]

Features

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Samsung Notes features handwriting to text conversion, note tagging, and sharing in PDF, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint and image files.[6] PDF importing and annotating, as well as importing sound recordings (Audio Bookmark) were introduced with the One UI 2.5 update.[7]

Shared Notebooks in Samsung Notes can be shared with others in a user's contactbook or using a direct URL; the recipients are also able to modify and collaborate on a Shared Notebook.[8] Live collaboration between multiple users was added in One UI 5.1.[9] The software also allows securing a note or document using a password or fingerprint.[10]

Using the screen off memo feature, users can write using an S Pen without turning the device screen on, which is then saved onto Samsung Notes.[11]

Google Gemini integration with Samsung Notes was introduced in 2025.[12][13] With the One UI 8 update in 2025, Samsung Notes was updated to support the ability to create notes in landscape mode.[14]

Galaxy AI Features

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Samsung Notes includes a set of Galaxy AI–based functions on supported Galaxy devices, such as the Galaxy S25 series, Galaxy Z Fold 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7, and recent Galaxy Tab models. These tools provide automated text processing, summarization, formatting, and drawing-related capabilities within the application.

  • Gemini Live: A voice-interaction tool on supported Galaxy devices that can send basic commands to Samsung Notes, such as creating a note or inserting generated text.[15]
  • Note Assist: Provides two tools for managing long notes. Auto Format reorganizes unstructured text into more structured layouts, while Summarize generates a shorter version of the content with key points.[16]
  • Transcript Assist: Converts voice recordings inserted into Samsung Notes into text, which can be summarized, translated, or reorganized. Transcripts created in the Voice Recorder app can also be sent to Samsung Notes, and the feature supports speaker separation and editable text output.
  • Writing Assist: Provides real-time tools for rewriting, translating, and editing text while typing in a note. It operates as an inline assist panel, similar to chat-based assistants, and complements Note Assist, which handles longer-form tasks such as formatting or summarizing full notes.
  • Drawing Assist:Converts user sketches into generated images by selecting an area and choosing a style such as watercolor, illustration, or cartoon. The resulting images can be inserted, copied, or used to replace the original sketch, and can be moved or resized within the note.[17]

Synchronisation

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Notes content are synchronised automatically with the cloud, i.e. Samsung Cloud.[18] Since 2020, Samsung Notes can also be synchronised with Microsoft OneNote so that they can be viewed on PCs.[19][20]

Reception

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Lifewire called Samsung Notes "a repository for all notes, in any form", and listed its synchronisation as a positive point. It listed the lack of home screen shortcuts as a disadvantage, as well as the fact access to secured notes are denied temporarily when inputting a wrong password. The website MakeUseOf commented that it "stands out among Android note-taking apps, and its Windows version is equally impressive". However it criticised the fact it is only available for Samsung Windows devices.[6]

TechRadar's Brian Turner felt that Samsung Notes was "as much as an all-purpose sketchbook as a notepad." depending on purpose.[21] In a 2020 review of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, David Phelan of Forbes magazine commented that "in Samsung Notes it has the best app the company has built."[22]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Stable release".
  2. ^ a b "Samsung Notes finally lets you use the app on any Windows device". Android Authority. 2025-05-20. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  3. ^ T, Nick (2016-08-02). "Samsung Notes app on the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is a hub for all your notes". PhoneArena. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  4. ^ Schoon, Ben (2023-10-03). "Samsung Notes for Windows is shutting down for anyone not using a Galaxy Book". 9to5Google. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  5. ^ "Frequently asked questions about Samsung Notes". Samsung Electronics America. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  6. ^ a b Chauhan, Rishabh (2023-06-20). "The 7 Best Note-Taking Apps for Windows Pen Tablet Users". MUO. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  7. ^ Petrov, Daniel (2020-08-27). "How to add Audio Bookmarks in the new Samsung Notes 2020 app on the Galaxy Note 20 5G". PhoneArena. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  8. ^ SamMobile; Matei, Mihai (2023-04-26). "Shared Notebook is a brilliant Samsung Notes collaborative feature". SamMobile. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  9. ^ Davies, Chris (2023-07-26). "Samsung's Galaxy Tab S9 Could Be The Best Android iPad Pro Alternative So Far". SlashGear. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  10. ^ SamMobile; Matei, Mihai (2022-11-11). "Secure your Samsung Notes documents with a fingerprint or password". SamMobile. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
  11. ^ Foster, Camila (2020-10-20). "Samsung Notes: Become creative with S pen, write screen off memo, sync online, and more". Sammy Fans. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  12. ^ Schoon, Ben (January 17, 2025). "Gemini may soon be able to tap into Samsung Notes, Calendar, and Reminders".
  13. ^ Forristal, Lauren (2025-01-22). "Samsung Unpacked: Samsung's Galaxy S25 arrives with a better Google Gemini". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  14. ^ Peter. "Samsung Notes updated with landscape support, other improvements". GSMArena.com. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  15. ^ Dobbie, Thomas (2025-02-07). "Gemini Live can now interact directly with Samsung Notes, Calendar, and Reminders". Android Authority. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  16. ^ Dobbie, Thomas (2025-02-07). "Samsung Galaxy S24 – How to use Note Assist (video)". Verizon Support. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  17. ^ Snyder, Brady (2025-02-17). "How to use AI Drawing Assist on the Samsung Galaxy S25". Android Central. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  18. ^ "Connected Experience | Apps". The Official Samsung Galaxy Site. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  19. ^ "Samsung's Notes app will soon sync with Microsoft OneNote". Engadget. 2020-08-05. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  20. ^ Peters, Jay (2020-08-05). "Samsung and Microsoft will let you run Galaxy Note 20 apps on your Windows 10 PC". The Verge. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  21. ^ Turner, Brian (2025-08-29). "Best note-taking app for Android of 2025". TechRadar. Archived from the original on 2025-10-12. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
  22. ^ Phelan, David. "Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G Review: The Ultimate Samsung, But Is That Enough?". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-10-05.
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