Google has announced a smart new organizational feature for its note-taking and to-do list app, Google Keep.

The app can now intelligently categorize users' notes by topic, such as food, books, and travel, and entries can be searched by keyword using topic shortcuts which appear in the search bar.

Google Keep

Google Keep, which also offers a web interface, includes other features like list support, label and color organization tools, note reminders based on time or place, voice memos with automatic transcription, collaborative note-taking, and more.


The feature update for the note-taking service comes just a day after Evernote hiked its paid plan prices and announced it would be imposing a two-device limit on its free plan account holders.

Some MacRumors forum members have since been discussing moving over to the native iOS Notes app. To migrate Evernote notes to Apple Notes, follow these simple steps:

  1. Download and install the Evernote Mac app, launch it, and click Edit -> Select All in the menu bar.
  2. Next, click File -> Export Notes..., select the Evernote XML format, and save the file in a convenient location.
  3. Open Apple Notes, click File -> Import Notes... in the Apple Notes menu bar and select the exported Evernote XML file to import.

iOS 9.3 added support for importing Evernote XML data into Notes, so alternatively you could save the exported file you created in step 3 to your iCloud drive. Then simply locate the file on your iOS device and long-press it to import the note data.

Google Keep is a free download for iPad and iPhone available on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

bgro Avatar
101 months ago
Wow this is great! Ever since Evernote announced that they don't want me to keep using their software, I have been looking for a tool which puts my most sensitive and personal data directly into the hands of Google so that they can deliver better advertisements to me. Thanks Google!
Why is this such an issue? It's a "free" service that Google provides in exchange for access to info that will help them better target advertisements to you. Is that really different than cookies on a computer? But the best part about it is that if you don't feel comfortable providing Google this level of access to your information, then you don't have to use the service. There is a price for everything, Evernote is monetary, Apple is functionality (compared to competitor options), and Google's is privacy. Which price do you want to pay?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bommai Avatar
101 months ago
Except Google gets to "keep" your notes
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
philosoraptor1 Avatar
101 months ago
Has Google cancelled this product yet?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kdarling Avatar
101 months ago
These are the same people that used Google search for years as it was 'free’. They didn’t have the foresight, (in fact they did - they just ignored it), to stop using the services then as it suited them and helped them get work done. Much easier to do a google search than some proper hard reading after all.
Many also blithely ignore the fact that Apple itself uses our location, iTunes data and purchases for targeting iAds.

And that Apple sells Google access to Apple user's searches as a default, in return for getting billions of dollars a year in targeted ad kickbacks. Talk about "people being the product!"

Exactly!! I think it's great that Google has found this great new way to show me targeted advertisements.
It's a desirable service provided in return for seeing ads... just like how this forum is supported. People don't have to use such services, but virtually everyone does.

As far as Google goes, anyone can go to their Google "Ad Settings" in their Google control panel, and turn off targeted ads, delete and review other info: https://privacy.google.com/take-control.html

Has Google cancelled this product yet?
That worry can be a valid reason to avoid getting used to using a non-primary Google tool. Although when they've previously shelved products, they've given ways to transfer our data, so it's not the end of the world.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Glassed Silver Avatar
101 months ago
Godly timing! :D

Glassed Silver:mac
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thisisnotmyname Avatar
101 months ago
The migration steps from Evernote to Apple Notes deserve their own post.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 16 Camera Lozenge 2 Perspective Gray

Five Key Upgrades Coming to iPhone 16

Friday March 15, 2024 1:45 pm PDT by
The iPhone is Apple's top-selling product, and it gets an update every year. In 2024, we're expecting the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro lineup, with an arguably more interesting feature set than we got with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Capture Button All four iPhone 16 models are set to get a whole new button, which will be...
When To Expect New iPads Feature 1

Apple to Announce New iPads on March 26, Rumors Claim

Monday March 18, 2024 4:02 am PDT by
Apple is widely expected to release new iPad Air and OLED iPad Pro models in the next few weeks. According to new rumors coming out of Asia, the company will announce its new iPads on Tuesday, March 26. Chinese leaker Instant Digital on Weibo this morning 日发布%23">claimed that the date will see some sort of announcement from Apple related to new iPads, but stopped short of calling it an...
airpods 3 orange

Two New AirPods 4 Models Expected to Launch in September or October

Sunday March 17, 2024 7:56 am PDT by
Apple suppliers will begin production of two new fourth-generation AirPods models in May, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Based on this production timeframe, he expects the headphones to be released in September or October. Gurman expects both fourth-generation AirPods models to feature a new design with better fit, improved sound quality, and an updated charging case with a USB-C...
iphone se 4 modified flag edges

iPhone SE 4 Expected to Depreciate Heavily

Tuesday March 12, 2024 9:04 am PDT by
Resale value trends suggest the iPhone SE 4 may not hold its value as well as Apple's flagship models, according to SellCell. According to the report, Apple's iPhone SE models have historically depreciated much more rapidly than the company's more premium offerings. The third-generation iPhone SE, which launched in March 2022, experienced a significant drop in resale value, losing 42.6%...
iOS 17 Passkey With Apple ACCOUNT Feature

'Apple ID' Expected to Change to 'Apple Account' Starting With iOS 18

Sunday March 17, 2024 7:13 am PDT by
MacRumors was first to report that Apple was planning to rebrand "Apple ID" to "Apple Account" across its software platforms and websites like iCloud.com as early as this year, and now Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has corroborated this change. A mockup of the new Apple Account branding In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the new "Apple Account" branding will start to be used later this...
General iOS 17 Feature Orange Purple

iOS 17.4.1 Update for iPhone is Imminent

Monday March 18, 2024 5:27 am PDT by
iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 should be released within the next few days, with a build number of 21E235, according to a source with a proven track record. MacRumors previously reported that Apple was internally testing iOS 17.4.1. As a minor update for the iPhone, it will likely address software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities. It is unclear if the update will include any other changes. ...