Mac App To Draw Notes Over Screen

Being able to draw on PDF Mac is a huge benefit that not all PDF editors provide. Most PDF tools will allow you to add basic shapes like stars, rectangles, and arrows. But tools like PDFelement makes drawing on PDF an even easier task. Though the Preview app is Mac's default image and PDF viewer, you might want to use a more professional PDF editing and annotating tool.
Use your Apple Pencil and iPad to draw, sketch, or mark up documents in any Mac app. Just mirror your Mac’s screen on your iPad by choosing Mirror from your Mac’s AirPlay menu. All Mac apps work with Sidecar, but some offer specific features and Apple Pencil support. Here are a few to take for a spin.

Best Drawing Apps For Mac
Notes For Mac
Mac App To Draw On Screen

The first reliable note-taking application for Mac is Apple Notes. Since Apple Notes is a part of Apple’s productivity suite it comes pre-installed on every modern-day mac computer. You can attach all sorts of media files like photos, videos, documents scanned from your iPhone, hand-drawn sketches, audio recordings, and much more to your notes. May 15, 2020 To mirror your Mac display so that both screens show the same content, return to the AirPlay menu, which is a blue rectangle while using Sidecar. Choose the option to mirror your display. This is a great way to share your Mac screen with others. To end your Sidecar session, return to the AirPlay menu and choose the option to disconnect.

Extend or mirror your Mac desktop with Sidecar

Make sure that your Mac and iPad meet the Sidecar system requirements.
You can use Sidecar wirelessly, but to keep your iPad charged during use, connect it directly to your Mac with the USB charge cable that came with your iPad.
Click the AirPlay icon in the menu bar on your Mac, then choose the option to connect to your iPad. Or use Sidecar preferences to connect.
If you don't see the AirPlay icon, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, click Displays, then make sure that ”Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available” is selected.
Your iPad should now show an extension of your Mac desktop. You can move windows to it and use it like any other display.
To mirror your Mac display so that both screens show the same content, return to the AirPlay menu, which is a blue rectangle while using Sidecar. Choose the option to mirror your display. This is a great way to share your Mac screen with others.
To end your Sidecar session, return to the AirPlay menu and choose the option to disconnect. Or click the Disconnect button in the sidebar on your iPad.

Learn more about using external displays. For example, you can use Displays preferences to arrange displays so that your iPad extends the left, right, top, or bottom of your desktop.

Move a window to your iPad display

If you hover your pointer over the full-screen button of a window, you can choose to move that window to or from your iPad display. It's faster than dragging the window, and the window is perfectly resized for your display.

The sidebar puts commonly used controls on the side of your iPad screen. It includes Command, Shift, and other modifier keys, so you can choose essential commands with your finger or Apple Pencil instead of a keyboard.

Use Sidecar preferences to turn off the sidebar or change its position.

Tap to show or hide the menu bar when viewing a window in full screen on iPad.

Command. Touch and hold to set the Command key. Double-tap to lock the key.

Option. Touch and hold to set the Option key. Double-tap to lock the key.

Control. Touch and hold to set the Control key. Double-tap to lock the key.

Shift. Touch and hold to set the Shift key. Double-tap to lock the key.

Undo the last action. Some apps support multiple undos.

Use the Touch Bar

Many apps on Mac have Touch Bar controls that make common actions even easier. With Sidecar, you get a Touch Bar on your iPad screen even if your Mac doesn’t have a Touch Bar. It works just like the Touch Bar on Mac, and you can tap its controls with either your finger or Apple Pencil.

Use Sidecar preferences to turn off the Touch Bar or change its position.

If the Touch Bar doesn't appear when using an app that offers Touch Bar controls, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, click Mission Control, then make sure that “Displays have separate Spaces” is selected.

Use gestures for scrolling and other actions

Multi-Touch gestures on iPad remain available when using Sidecar. These gestures are particularly useful with Sidecar:

Scroll: Swipe with two fingers.
Copy: Pinch in with three fingers.
Cut: Pinch in with three fingers twice.
Paste: Pinch out with three fingers.
Undo: Swipe left with three fingers, or double-tap with three fingers.
Redo: Swipe right with three fingers.

Use Apple Pencil

To point, click, select, and perform tasks such as drawing, editing photos, and manipulating objects on your iPad while it's extending or mirroring your Mac display, you can use your Apple Pencil instead of the mouse or trackpad connected to your Mac. You can also use it to write, sketch, and mark up documents while seeing the updates live on your Mac.

Best Drawing Apps For Mac

Sidecar also supports double-tap, which you can turn on in Sidecar preferences. Double-tap enables apps that support this feature to perform custom actions when you double-tap on the side of your Apple Pencil (2nd generation).

Use a keyboard, mouse, or trackpad

During your Sidecar session, you can type using a keyboard connected to either your Mac or iPad, including the Smart Keyboard or Magic Keyboard for iPad.

To point, click, or select with a mouse or trackpad, use the mouse or trackpad connected to your Mac, or use an Apple Pencil on your iPad.

Use iPad apps

While using Sidecar, you can switch to an iPad app, then interact with that app on your iPad as you normally would. This suspends your Sidecar session until you switch back to the Sidecar app or disconnect Sidecar. The Sidecar app appears on your home screen only while using Sidecar.

Use Sidecar preferences

Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Sidecar. These preferences are available only on computers that support Sidecar.

Show Sidebar: Show the sidebar on the left or right side of your iPad screen, or turn it off.
Show Touch Bar: Show the Touch Bar on the bottom or top of your iPad screen, or turn it off.
Enable double tap on Apple Pencil: Allow apps that support this feature to perform custom actions when you double-tap on the side of your Apple Pencil (2nd generation).
Connect to: Choose an iPad to connect to, or click Disconnect to stop using Sidecar.

Sidecar system requirements

Sidecar requires a compatible Mac using macOS Catalina and a compatible iPad using iPadOS 13:

Mac using macOS Catalina

MacBook Pro introduced in 2016 or later
MacBook introduced in 2016 or later
MacBook Air introduced in 2018 or later
iMac introduced in 2017 or later, plus iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2015)
iMac Pro
Mac mini introduced in 2018 or later
Mac Pro introduced in 2019

iPad using iPadOS 13

iPad Pro: all models
iPad (6th generation) or later
iPad mini (5th generation)
iPad Air (3rd generation)

Additional requirements

Both devices must be signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID using two-factor authentication.
To use Sidecar wirelessly, both devices must be within 10 meters (30 feet) of each other and have Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Handoff turned on. Also make sure that the iPad is not sharing its cellular connection and the Mac is not sharing its Internet connection.
To use Sidecar over USB, make sure that your iPad is set to trust your Mac.

Learn more

Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference, which can affect Sidecar performance when using Sidecar wirelessly.

Notes is a versatile way to save information, from a quick thought to a shopping list. You can also keep those notes secure, locking the ones you select behind a password so that only you can see them. And thanks to iCloud and other services, you can keep your notes in sync between your Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

Here's how to use Notes for Mac!

How to start a new note

Launch Notes from your Dock or Finder.
Click the New Note button (looks like a pencil on a square). Alternatively, click File in the menu bar at the top of your screen and select New Note.
Write your note.

How to make a checklist

Launch Notes from your Dock or Finder.
Click the New Note button (looks like a pencil on a square). Alternatively, click File in the menu bar and select New Note.
Click the checklist button (looks like a checkmark in a circle).
Enter your first item.
Hit Return on your keyboard to automatically begin a new checklist item.

How to make a bulleted, dashed, or numbered list and headings

Launch Notes from your Dock or Finder.
Click the New Note button (looks like a pencil on a square). Alternatively, click File in the menu bar at the top of your screen and select New Note.
Click Format in the menu bar.
Click Heading to turn your next line in the note into a heading.
Click Bulleted List, Dashed List, or Numbered List to choose which of the list types you'd like to create.
Hit Return while on a blank list item to stop writing in a list.

How to view note attachments

Launch Notes from your Dock or Finder.
Click the Attachments button in the toolbar (looks like four squares).
Click on the different tabs, like Photos & Videos, Sketches, and Audio to view your attachments.

How to set a password for locked notes

Launch Notes from your Dock or Finder.
Click Notes in the menu bar at the top of your screen and select Preferences.
Click Set Password.
Enter a new password.
Enter your new password again under Verify.
Optionally, leave a password hint for yourself.
Click Set Password.

How to lock a note

Launch Notes from your Dock or Finder.
Click on the Note you want to lock.
Click the Lock icon in the toolbar (looks like a padlock).

How to sign in to iCloud

Launch System Preferences from the Dock or by clicking the  menu button on the top left of your screen and clicking System Preferences.
Click iCloud.
Sign in with your iCloud credentials.
Make sure that the checkbox next to Notes is checked in the iCloud menu after you've signed in.

And don't forget to follow the steps here to sign into iCloud on your iPhone or iPad so that your notes sync across all of your devices.

How to invite others to collaborate on a note

In order to collaborate on a note, the people that you invited need to be using a Mac, iPhone, or iPad.

Launch Notes from your Dock or the Finder.
Click the Add People button in the toolbar (looks like a silhouette with a '+' button).
Click a sharing method (Mail, Message, a link, etc.).
Enter the email address or phone number of the person or people you'd like to share the note with.
Click Share.

How to send a note to another person or app

Launch Notes from your Dock or the Finder.
Click on the note you want to share.
Click the share button on the toolbar (looks like a square with an arrow pointing out of it).
Click the app you'd like to use to share your note.

Notes in macOS Catalina

There aren't a lot of updates coming to Notes in macOS Catalina. Most of them are small interface tweaks (the attachment button, for instance, now resembles an object with a paper clip attached to it). But there are a couple of new ways of doing things.

How to sync notes to iCloud in macOS Catalina

Launch System Preferences from the Dock or by clicking the Apple menu button on the top left of your screen and clicking System Preferences.
Click Apple Account.
Sign in to your iCloud account if you need to.
Click iCloud.
Click the checkbox next to Notes if it's unchecked. If the box is already checked, leave it alone because you're good to go.

How to invite others to collaborate on a note or folder in macOS Catalina

In macOS Catalina, not only can you invite people to collaborate on notes, but you can also invite them to collaborate on entire folders within the Notes app.

Launch Notes from your Dock or Applications folder.
Open the Note to which you'd like to add people.
Click the Add People button in the toolbar (looks like a silhouette with a '+' button).
Click either Note '[note name] or Folder '[folder name] to share the note or folder.
Click a sharing method (Mail, Message, a link, etc.).
Click the permission drop-down to decide what people you invite can do with the note, either read or make changes.
Click Share.
Enter the email address, or phone number of the person with whom you wish to share the note or folder.
Click Send.

How to view notes in a gallery

macOS Catalina adds a gallery view to Notes, which lets you view your notes in a more visually dynamic fashion.

Launch Notes from your Dock or your Applications folder.
Open the folder you'd like to set to Gallery view.
Click the gallery button in the top-left of the toolbar.
Click the list button to change the folder back to a list view.

How to reorder checklist notes in macOS Catalina

Launch Notes from your Dock or your Applications folder.
Open the checklist you want to re-order.
Click and hold on the checkbox of a checklist item that you want to move.
Drag the checklist item to its new position. Repeat as many times as necessary until the list is ordered to your liking.' />

Questions?

Let us know in the comments below!

Updated June 2019: Added information about notes in macOS Catalina.

macOS Catalina

Main

Notes For Mac

We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.

We are open

Mac App To Draw On Screen

Apple Sanlitun, Apple's newest store in China, is opening today

Apple has announced that its newest retail store, Apple Sanlitun in Bejing, is opening to customers in the area later today.