There’s nothing to say about it, nowadays thanks to the computer and the Internet it’s possible to do practically everything in a very simple and immediate way but, if there are still things belonging to the “paper world” that, I must admit, I consider unbeatable in terms of usefulness and immediacy, these are the post-it notes. Yes, the mythical colored sheets of paper to stick on the mirror or on the computer monitor to remember the important things to do and take notes in an easy and fast way.
Excuse me? Do you absolutely agree with me, however you are looking for a good compromise that allows you to write notes on your computer desktop without the clutter of flying papers? Do you think that technology can replace the classic paper notes stuck on your PC monitor with ultra-customizable virtual post-it notes that can be hidden whenever you want? Well, if this is indeed the case, then you have landed in the right guide.
In the course of this tutorial I will introduce you to some popular programs that will allow you to take notes on your desktop, all without spending a cent. Are you eager to learn more? Then sit back comfortably and carefully read the following lines. I wish you a pleasant reading.
Sticky Notes & Cortana (Windows)
On Windows computers, there is a free app developed by Microsoft itself that allows you to jot down notes on virtual post-it notes. If you then want to schedule a note at a set time and day so that you are notified, you can use Cortana, which comes pre-installed on your system.
Sticky Notes may already be installed on your Windows 10 computer. You can find it in the list of applications or by typing the search term Sticky Notes in the search box found in the taskbar at the bottom.
In case you don’t find it, it is probably not installed on your operating system. Then reach this link to download it directly from the Microsoft App Store.
After opening the application, you’ll see a yellow post-it note, where you can put all the notes you want inside. However, the application only allows you to enter text, preventing you from attaching multimedia files.
If you want to delete a note, you will have to move the mouse over its upper margin. A toolbar will then appear, with a trash can icon inside.
Also from this toolbar, you can create new notes by clicking on the icon with the [+] symbol, or you can change the color of each note by clicking on the three dots symbol and selecting a color from those available.
Scheduling a note is generally possible directly through Sticky Notes. If you directly write time terms, dates or times, the term will be highlighted by Cortana, which will take care of scheduling the note. Unfortunately, this feature is not available for the Italian language, so you’ll have to rely on Cortana to do it.
All you have to do is enable Cortana on Windows, by entering your Microsoft account, and type in the search bar at the bottom of the taskbar a note of yours, preceded by the word Remind me. Cortana will immediately understand that you want to set a reminder and will suggest how to proceed, setting all the necessary data, including time, date and location.
On the other hand, if you wanted to use Cortana’s built-in functionality within Sticky Notes, you’ll need to set the English language on your Windows 10 device. You’ll then need to head to Windows Settings and select the Date/Time and Language item.
On the Geographic Area and Language screen, you’ll need to set United States as the country and add the English (United States) language pack, to be set as the default. Restarting the computer will apply the new language, so you’ll get Cortana integration in Sticky Notes.
PNotes.NET (Windows)
Another good software for creating virtual notes on Windows is PNotes.NET. This is free software that allows you to create notes and set reminders on your computer. The operation of this app is simple and intuitive with the ability to customize the text and graphics of each note.
If you want to download this program, you will first have to go to the official website and reach the Download section. In the column labeled PNotes.NET, click on the PNotes.NET setup item, so you will be directed to a new page, where the PNotesNETXXXSetup.exe file will start downloading automatically.
After downloading it, double-click on it and then click on the Yes button on the Windows User Control window. The installation window will then open where you should click on the Next button and check the I accept the agreement box. Then click on the Next button four times in a row and then click on Install and finally Finish.
If you kept the box checked on the final screen of the installer, the software will automatically open for you. If not, click on its icon on your desktop. Also, if you check the Windows background programs area, near the clock, you should notice the PNotes.NET icon (a post-it note icon).
Double-click on it, to open a new post-it note, on which you can write your own notes. When you open the program for the first time, you should also see a new welcome note on your desktop, created by the developer. You can decide to edit that one or close it by clicking the X button in the upper right corner of the note and then clicking the Yes button to delete it.
You can use the virtual post-it note to take notes by typing text into it. You can choose to format it using the buttons on the bottom toolbar. You can also move the post-it note to any position on the desktop as well as resize it by dragging the edges.
By right-clicking on a note, you can access numerous settings, such as the ability to change the appearance of a note, schedule it, set an access password, and so much more.
Remember that every note must be saved before exiting the program or shutting down the PC. Then right-click on the note and select Save. You can also right-click directly on the PNote.NET icon, which is located near the clock, and select Save All from the menu. You will then need to set a title for your note, followed by clicking the Ok button.
Memo (macOS)
On computers running macOS, however, there is a native app available as for Windows 10 that allows you to write your notes. The app is already pre-installed on your computer completely free of charge.
To find it, simply open the Launchpad and double-click on its icon. If you can’t find it, then click on the icon with the magnifying glass symbol at the top right (Spotlight) and type the word Memo (with the first letter capitalized). Then select the first result shown.
When you open your notes, you may see some that have already been created by default, briefly showing you the most important features you can use to take your notes.
To create a new note, simply click on the File item from the top menu bar and select New Note. If you want to delete it, click on the small icon in the upper right corner of the note and choose Delete Note.
You can set the size of the note by dragging the borders, or move it anywhere on your Desktop. To change the formatting of the font, you can use the top menu items Font and Color. You can also add images to your notes by dragging and dropping them into the note itself.
All the notes you write will be saved automatically. You won’t need to do any saving. If you close the app or restart your computer, you will find your notes as you left them before closing the app.
Other solutions to write desktop notes for free
There are plenty of other applications that allow you to create your own virtual clipboard. The applications and software that I will recommend in the next few paragraphs will be useful for this purpose and will also be a good alternative to those that I have mentioned in the previous lines.
Sticky Notes (Chrome) – If you need a simple application, you can use this extension for the Google Chrome browser. You can download it from the Chrome Web Store completely free of charge and use it to write your notes. The operation is very similar to the software I told you about in the previous paragraphs, plus I point out the ability to synchronize your notes via Google Drive.
Quick Note (macOS) – Another simple app for writing your own notes on the desktop is Quick Note. This app is available for computers running the macOS operating system, directly via free download from the Mac App Store. However, it does not have advanced features, such as backing up notes to the cloud or scheduling notes. It is, however, a functional and easy-to-use app.
Simple Sticky Notes (Windows) – This Windows software will allow you to create simple sticky notes to write your notes on your desktop. It is simple to use and does not require any configuration. You can also stick each individual note on the screen or set a reminder at the date and time you set. It is available for free via download from the official website.