You can capture, edit, and organize handwritten notes with the Cursive app and a touchscreen Chromebook that works with a stylus. You can also use touchscreen gestures to edit your notes.
Your notes sync to your Google account, so you can find them with your Chrome browser.
Create & edit notes
Important:
- If your Chromebook is for work or school, to sign in to the Cursive app with your Workspace account, you may need to contact your administrator.
- If you’re an administrator, you can enable Cursive for your managed accounts.
- At the bottom left, select the Launcher Cursive .
- Or, in the row of apps at the bottom or side of your touchscreen, tap Stylus Create note .
- In the window that opens, use your stylus to take notes.
- At the top, change the color and size of your lines with the toolbar.
- To move or resize your notes, tap Select , and select the text you want to change with your stylus.
Lock your canvas
If you don't want to scroll or zoom your canvas, for example when resting your palm on the screen, you can turn on the canvas lock.
- At the top right, select More Show Canvas lock.
- At the top right of the canvas, the lock indicator appears in the default state Unlocked .
- To lock the canvas, select Lock . The lock indicator now appears as Locked .
Tip: The canvas lock turns off when you open a new note, or if you hide the "Show Canvas lock" option.
Edit notes with touchscreen gestures
To delete words or phrases in your note:
- Scribble over the word or phrase you want to delete with your stylus.
- Tap the screen with your stylus to delete.
Tip: To delete more text, drag your stylus to get the eraser tool.
To select words or phrases within your note:
- Draw a circle around the word or phrase you want to select with your stylus.
- To move your selection around, tap and drag the circle with your stylus or finger.
To add more room between lines or phrases:
- Draw a line with your stylus where you want to add more space.
- Tap and drag the line down with your stylus or finger.
To copy:
- Select your note text.
- Tap Menu Copy .
To paste:
- Touch and hold anywhere within your note.
- Tap Paste.
Find & open your notes
- In the Cursive app, select Home .
- To find your notes, select a notebook.
- To find notes that aren’t in a notebook, select Unfiled notes.
- To find all of your notes, select All notes.
- Open a note.
Organize your notes
You can organize your notes in notebooks to jump quickly to a specific topic. To put notes together in a notebook:
- In the Cursive app, select Home .
- At the top, select Menu Add to notebook.
- Select your notebook to add the note.
Share & export notes
You can create a shareable image or export your note as a PDF.
To share all or part of your note as an image:
- In the Cursive app, select Home and open your note.
- Tap Select and select the text you want to copy with your stylus.
- Select More Copy .
- Paste your image anywhere.
To share your note as a PDF:
- In the Cursive app, select Home and open your note.
- At the top, select Menu Export as PDF.
- To find your note, in “Files,” open your Downloads folder.
Switch note apps
Open your note in another notes app:
- On your touchscreen, tap Stylus Settings .
- Next to "Note-taking app," tap the Down arrow and select an app.
Tip: Learn how to download other note apps that work with your stylus.
Manage your storage space
Fix problems with Cursive
Sign in & sync
Even if you can't sign in to Cursive, you can still take notes locally. When you sign in later, all of your local notes will sync to your Google Account and will be available on all devices where you're signed in.
If you don't want one or more notes to sync, cancel sign in and delete those notes. If you're in the gallery:
- Select the note's Menu Delete note.
- Select the gallery Menu View Trash Empty Trash to delete the note permanently.
- You can also select the note's Menu Delete note permanently.
Tip: If you use your Chromebook for work or school, you may be unable to sign in to the Cursive app with your Workspace account. For more info, contact your administrator. If you’re an administrator, you can enable Cursive for your managed accounts.