Google Keep is a popular note-taking app that allows you to quickly capture thoughts, ideas, to-do lists, and more. With its simple and intuitive interface, Google Keep makes it easy to organize all your notes in one place.
However, one key feature that has been missing in Google Keep is the ability to format text – specifically to bold, italicize, or underline text within a note. Without text formatting, it can be difficult to emphasize important points or make certain parts of your notes stand out.
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When Text Formatting Arrived in Google Keep
After years of users requesting this feature, Google finally announced in August 2023 that text formatting would be rolling out to Google Keep on Android devices. This includes the ability to:
- Bold text
- Italicize text
- Underline text
- Create headings
The feature first became available only for new notes created in the Android app. Then in October 2023, Google enabled text formatting for existing notes as well.
This was welcome news for Google Keep users who rely on the app to organize notes related to work, school, personal life, and more. The added formatting options allow users to highlight key ideas, differentiate between types of content, and improve overall readability.
How to Bold, Italicize, and Underline Text
Bolding, italicizing, and underlining text in Google Keep is easy:
On Android
- Open the Google Keep app on your Android device
- Tap on an existing note or create a new note
- Select the text you want to format
- Tap the “A” icon next to the color picker
- Choose your desired text formatting option:
- Bold
- Italics
- Underline
You can also remove formatting by selecting the text and tapping “Remove formatting”.
On iOS and Web
Unfortunately, text formatting is currently only available on Android devices. If you open a note with formatting on an iOS device or web browser, you won’t see the text formatting.
Creating Headings in Google Keep
Along with character formatting like bold and italics, the text formatting update also lets you create headings within a Google Keep note. Headings help break up long blocks of text and establish hierarchy, improving readability.
To add a heading on Android:
- Select the text you want to make a heading
- Tap the “A” icon next to the color picker
- Choose H1, H2, or H3 heading formats
Headings will be displayed larger and in bold text, with H1 being the largest.
Formatting Tips for Google Keep Notes
Here are some tips on how to use text formatting effectively within your Google Keep notes:
- Use bold text to emphasize important keywords or high-priority tasks
- Italicize text when citing a book/movie or introducing a new term
- Underline text to indicate key points to review later
- Add H1 headings for the title/main topic of the note
- Use H2 headings for subtopics within a long note
- Avoid overusing multiple formats excessively
Too much bolding, italicizing, and underlining can make notes messy and hard to parse. Use text formatting judiciously to highlight only your most critical text.
Why Text Formatting Matters in Notes
Being able to format text might seem like a minor addition, but it can make a big difference in the usefulness of your notes in Google Keep:
1. Improved Readability
Formatting options like bold and italic text help break up long walls of text, making notes easier to parse at a glance. This is especially true for long notes.
2. Better Note Scanning
When you bold or underline key points, it allows you to scan the note more quickly to extract key ideas, dates, names, etc.
3. Clear Visual Hierarchy
Headings create a visual hierarchy, grouping related ideas together under clear main topics and subtopics.
4. Increased Expressiveness
Formatting like italics allows you to add tone and personality to notes when needed.
Overall, text formatting goes a long way towards making Google Keep an even more versatile tool for organizing your notes and getting the most value out of the app.
Conclusion
The ability to finally bold, italicize, and underline text is a major upgrade for Google Keep, bringing it closer to rival note apps like Evernote and OneNote. Keep has remained popular for its simplicity, but power users have long been requesting richer formatting.
While the features are currently only available on Android, hopefully iOS and web support will arrive soon. In the meantime, Android users can enjoy creating notes with visual emphasis and improved scannability.
Just remember not to go overboard! Use text formatting judiciously to highlight only your most critical text. With great formatting power comes great responsibility.
My Experience and Expertise
I have used Google Keep daily for over 5 years to take notes, organize tasks and projects, and capture ideas. I have extensive experience creating effective notes in Keep and optimizing my workflow.
As a writer and editor by trade, I also have over a decade of expertise in document formatting, style, and visual presentation. I am highly skilled at using text formatting like bolding and headings to optimize readability, highlight key points, and establish hierarchy.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
