# How to use Quick Note on a Mac > Start a Quick Note with Fn or Globe and Q, or the bottom right hot corner. Where the notes are saved, how to start a fresh one, and how to add from Safari. Canonical: https://www.notchstar.com/tips/how-to-use-quick-notes-on-mac/ Last updated: 2026-11-04 Published 2026-11-04. Quick Note is a feature of the Notes app. Press and hold the Fn or Globe key and press Q, or move the pointer to the bottom right corner of the screen and click the small note that appears. Either one opens a small note window over whatever you are doing, so you can type and get back to work. ## Open a Quick Note - **Keyboard.** Hold Fn or the Globe key, then press Q. - **Hot corner.** Move the pointer to the bottom right corner, which is the default hot corner for Quick Note, then click the note thumbnail that appears. ## Where the notes go Quick Notes appear in the Quick Notes folder in the Notes app. Open Notes and look in the sidebar. See [where Quick Notes are saved](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/where-are-quick-notes-saved-on-mac/). ## Start a new one each time By default, the shortcut reopens your last Quick Note. To always start a new one, open Notes, choose Settings, and deselect Always resume to last Quick Note. In Apple's page the path is Notes, then Settings. ## Add from Safari - **A link.** Open the webpage, click the Share button, choose Add to Quick Note. When you return to the page, a Quick Note thumbnail appears in the bottom right corner. - **Selected text.** Select the text, Control click it and choose Add to Quick Note. A link appears in the note, and the text stays highlighted when you revisit the page. To remove the highlight, delete the Safari link from the note. ## Limits You cannot lock a Quick Note. Apple's page also does not describe how to change the keyboard shortcut. ## If it keeps popping up The corner trigger catches people by accident. See [turn off the Quick Note hot corner](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/turn-off-quick-note-hot-corner-mac/). ## A different kind of quick note If you only need a scrap of text, NotchStar's [Quick Notes](https://www.notchstar.com/features/quick-notes/) is a single plain text scratchpad in the notch. It saves as you type, stays on your Mac, has no formatting and does not sync. It is a different tool from the Notes app feature above, and the Apple steps need no app. ## Quick answers. ### Can I lock a Quick Note? No. Apple's page says you cannot lock a Quick Note. ## Keep reading. - [How to turn off the Quick Note hot corner on a Mac](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/turn-off-quick-note-hot-corner-mac/): The bottom right corner opens Quick Note by default. Change it in System Settings under Desktop and Dock, then Hot Corners, by picking another action. - [Quick Note keyboard shortcut on a Mac](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/quick-notes-shortcut-mac/): The Quick Note shortcut on a Mac is Fn or Globe plus Q. What it does, how it differs from the hot corner, and what Apple says about changing it. - [Where are Quick Notes saved on a Mac?](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/where-are-quick-notes-saved-on-mac/): Apple Quick Notes are saved in the Quick Notes folder inside the Notes app. How to open it, and how that differs from a scratchpad in the notch. - [A scratchpad that is always one hover away](https://www.notchstar.com/features/quick-notes/): A plain text scratchpad in the notch that saves as you type. Jot down a number, a name or a to do without opening another app. ## More in Notes. - [How to turn off the Quick Note hot corner on a Mac](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/turn-off-quick-note-hot-corner-mac/): The bottom right corner opens Quick Note by default. Change it in System Settings under Desktop and Dock, then Hot Corners, by picking another action. - [Quick Note keyboard shortcut on a Mac](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/quick-notes-shortcut-mac/): The Quick Note shortcut on a Mac is Fn or Globe plus Q. What it does, how it differs from the hot corner, and what Apple says about changing it. - [Where are Quick Notes saved on a Mac?](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/where-are-quick-notes-saved-on-mac/): Apple Quick Notes are saved in the Quick Notes folder inside the Notes app. How to open it, and how that differs from a scratchpad in the notch. - [How to use sticky notes on a Mac](https://www.notchstar.com/tips/sticky-notes-on-mac/): A Mac has a built in sticky notes app called Stickies. How to make a note, change its color, make it float on top, and what happens when you close the app.