How to Get Started with Evernote on Windows and Mac

Edited 2 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Welcome to this detailed guide on how to get started with Evernote on Windows and Mac. Evernote is a powerful tool that helps you organize your notes and ideas, making it easy to access your information anytime and anywhere. Whether you're a student, a professional, or just someone who likes to keep things organized, Evernote can be a game-changer for you.

What is Evernote?

Evernote is a note-taking application designed for collecting, organizing, and sharing notes and information. It allows you to write detailed notes, include images, audio, and attachments, and then organize them in an intuitive and highly efficient way. Evernote can be used for simple tasks like writing down an idea or for complex project management.

Installing Evernote on Windows and Mac

Windows installation

To install Evernote on Windows, follow these steps:

1. Visit the official Evernote website.
2. Click on the 'Download' button and select 'Windows'.
3. Once the installer is downloaded, open the file to begin the installation process.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
5. After installation, open Evernote and create an account if you don't have one. If you already have an account, just log in.

Mac installation

Here are the steps to install Evernote on Mac:

1. Go to the Evernote website.
2. Click on 'Download' and select 'Mac'.
3. Once the download is complete, open the installer file.
4. Drag the Evernote icon to your Applications folder to install the software.
5. Open Evernote from your Applications folder, then create a new account or log in with your existing account details.

Setting up Evernote

After you install and open Evernote, follow these simple steps to set up your account:

1. Log into Evernote or create a new account using your email address or with an existing Google account.
2. Once logged in, you will be directed to the main dashboard where you can create notes and notebooks.
3. Familiarize yourself with the user interface. The main sections include the sidebar (for navigation), the note list (shows notes for the selected notebook) and the note editor (where you write and edit your notes).

Create your first note

Creating notes in Evernote is simple and intuitive. Here's how you can create your first note:

1. To create a new note, click the '+' button labeled 'New Note' or press Ctrl + N (Windows) or Command + N (Mac).
2. As soon as the note editor opens, enter a title for your note.
3. Add text, images, attachments, or even audio recordings to the body to enrich your note.
4. You can use various formatting tools to customize the look of your text, such as bold, italics, bullet points, etc.
5. Your changes are automatically saved by Evernote, so you can switch to other projects without worrying about losing data.

Organizing notes with notebooks

To keep your notes organized, Evernote uses a system of notebooks. Here's how you manage them:

1. Create a notebook by clicking 'Notebooks' in the sidebar and then selecting 'New Notebook.'
2. Name your new notebook based on the category or type of notes you want to store, such as 'Work', 'Travel', or 'Recipes'.
3. Drag and drop notes into these notebooks or select a notebook when you're creating new notes.
4. You can create a stack to group related notebooks together by dragging one notebook on top of another.

Tags for better organization

In addition to notebooks, Evernote allows you to use tags for better organization:

1. To add a tag to a note, type the name of the tag in the 'Add tag' section of the note editor.
2. Use meaningful tags to categorize your notes. For example, use '2023' for notes taken in 2023, or 'Urgent' for tasks that require immediate attention.
3. Tags make it easier to find notes with the same theme across different notebooks, such as 'Project A'.

Searching for notes

Evernote's powerful search function allows you to quickly find specific notes or content within notes:

1. Click on the 'Search' bar at the top of the app screen.
2. Type the keyword or phrase you're looking for. Evernote will instantly display all related notes.
3. For advanced searching, use filters like date, notebook, or tags to narrow your results.

Sharing and collaboration

Evernote makes it easy to share notes and collaborate with others:

1. Open the note you want to share.
2. Click the 'Share' button and enter the email address of the person you want to share the note with.
3. Set permissions to control who your collaborators can view or edit notes.
4. Shared notes will appear in the collaborator's account, making collaboration seamless and efficient.

Integrating Evernote with other apps

Evernote integrates with many other applications, allowing you to simplify your workflow:

1. Chrome Extension: Use the Evernote Web Clipper to save interesting web content directly to your Evernote.
2. Email: Forward important emails to your Evernote account using your unique Evernote email address.
3. Calendar: Sync your Evernote with Google Calendar to automatically add notes to meetings or events.
4. Apps: Connect Evernote to productivity tools like Slack, Trello, and Microsoft Teams for seamless project management.

Security and backup

Evernote takes security seriously. Here are some tips to make sure your notes stay safe:

1. Enable two-factor authentication for an extra layer of security on your account.
2. Back up your notes regularly by exporting them from Evernote, especially the important stuff.
3. Be cautious about sharing notes with sensitive content. Review shared content and permissions regularly.

Maximizing productivity with Evernote

Here are additional tips for maximizing your productivity using Evernote:

1. Use Evernote templates to quickly create notes for specific purposes, like meeting agendas or project trackers.
2. Set reminders on your notes so you don’t forget important tasks and deadlines.
3. Use the keyboard shortcuts available in Evernote to speed up your workflow.
4. Review your notes and notebooks regularly to remove irrelevant or outdated information.

Conclusion

If you followed this guide, you should now have Evernote setup on your Windows or Mac computer and have a good understanding of how to effectively create, organize, and manage your notes. Evernote is a versatile tool that can greatly boost your productivity by keeping your information organized and easily accessible. Remember, the key to mastering Evernote is regular use and experimentation with its features to find what best suits your personal workflow.

By incorporating Evernote into your daily routine, you'll find it's easy to keep track of everything from meeting notes to vacation plans in one centralized location. Feel happy organizing with Evernote and enjoy a clutter-free digital workspace!

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