There are various file types and methods with which you can import to GoodNotes 5. Whether you are looking to annotate lecture slides, markup an image or drag and drop content, this article will look to address such questions. Ranging from supported formats all the way through to how to import notes from another app.
Supported formats
GoodNotes supports importing files of the following formats for annotating:
- Image
- Word (.doc, .docx) and PowerPoint (.ppt, .pptx) (currently supported on iPadOS/iOS only)
- GoodNotes (.goodnotes)
- GoodNotes backup (.goodnotes.zip)
You can easily import a supported file with one of the following methods.
Importing from within GoodNotes
Tap the New... icon (large plus icon) in the Documents tab and choose Import, then:
- To import one file, tap on it.
- To import multiple files, tap Select in the upper right of the Files interface, select those files, and tap Open. (Tip: You can swipe across a row of files to select them.)
Connecting your cloud storage with the Files app
The Files app conveniently keeps all cloud storages (like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Box, and more) in one interface, and you can always add another cloud storage to Files.
Importing from an external app
You can send files from other apps, for example an email attachment, to GoodNotes. To do that, open or select the file in the other app and tap the Share icon (or a similar function). Next, select either "Copy to GoodNotes" at the top row of apps, or "Open in GoodNotes" in the list of apps. GoodNotes should then open automatically and ask how you want the file imported.
The following options are available:
- Import the file as a completely new document (available when you don't have any document visible in GoodNotes)
- Add the file before/after the page being viewed in GoodNotes
- Append the file to the document being viewed in GoodNotes. Choose the "Last Page" option as pictured below.
Drag & Drop
Drag & Drop is a very convenient way to add documents and other files, like images, to GoodNotes. If you don't know how Drag & Drop works, start off reading this article. Drag & Drop can be a really powerful way to organize and work with your documents in GoodNotes. We have some tips and tricks on how to do this:
Import a folder of files from the Files app
1. Please compress that folder into a .zip file.
2. Import that .zip file into GoodNotes.
Import notes from another app into GoodNotes
Unfortunately, as each app typically has its own proprietary native format, there isn't an easy way to import notes from one app to any other. Therefore, you will need to export all the notes in that app as PDFs to the Files app, from which you will import them all at once into GoodNotes, even if that means you'll lose the ability to edit them.
If that other app supports folders, they need to be re-created in GoodNotes.
See also: How to import files from a computer into GoodNotes 5