watchOS 26 added Notes app to Apple Watch, here’s how I’m using it

Apple Watch users got a brand new app in watchOS 26, with Apple Notes now available on your wrist. Here’s how I’ve been using the app.

Apple Notes in watchOS 26: What it can do and how I’m using it

Apple Notes is one of my most-used apps across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, so I was excited when it came to the Apple Watch in watchOS 26.

At its core, the app does two basic things: let you view existing notes, and create new ones.

Understandably, you can’t edit existing notes aside from completing checklist items. But that hasn’t proven a big limitation for me.

When creating notes, you can use dictation, the onscreen keyboard, or—perhaps most conveniently—you can invoke Siri. I suspect the ability to use Siri on Apple Watch for note creation is a big part of why this new app exists.

My main use of the Notes app has revolved around two things:

1. Creating new notes via Siri
2. Referencing information when my iPhone isn’t nearby

For those times when I want to create a new note on the go, Siri is a great option to have. I like using Siri on my Apple Watch whenever I’m not wearing AirPods or I’m away from a HomePod. Being able to raise my wrist and quickly say “Note to self” to create a note is extremely convenient.

As for referencing notes, the Notes app automatically puts all pinned notes at the top, followed by a list of your most recent notes. I have over 2,600 notes in iCloud, including many pinned notes. So having pinned notes first was a potential problem.

Fortunately, Apple has a down-facing arrow in the app’s top-right corner that you can tap to collapse the list of pinned notes. This makes it easy to get to recently edited notes, which is what I usually want anyways.

Inside the Watch’s Settings app ⇾ Notes, you can also choose whether notes are sorted by Date Edited, Date Created, or Title. Grouping notes by date can also be enabled or disabled.

Overall, I haven’t found myself using watchOS 26’s Notes app as much as I expected. But there have definitely been those key moments when it was convenient being able to create or reference a new note right from my wrist.

Have you used the Notes app much in watchOS 26? Let us know in the comments.

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