Battery use depends on your device, screen brightness, active features, connected accessories, and background processes such as sync, search indexing, and Auto Backup. Use the checks below to determine whether Goodnotes is using more power than expected.
Important: In iPhone and iPad Battery settings, an app’s percentage is its share of the battery used during the selected period. It is not the percentage of the device’s full charge consumed by that app.
Check battery usage on iPhone or iPad
- Open the device Settings app and select Battery.
- Choose Last 24 Hours or Last 10 Days.
- Select Show Activity to compare time spent in Goodnotes with its share of battery use.
- Note the device’s total battery decrease during the same period.
For example, suppose the battery level falls from 100% to 90%, so the device used 10 percentage points. If Goodnotes accounts for 75% of the battery used during that period, its estimated contribution is 7.5 percentage points: 75% × 10 = 7.5.
A high share can be normal if Goodnotes was the main app used. Compare the battery decrease with the time spent actively using the app and the work being performed.
Check energy use on Mac
- Open Activity Monitor.
- Select the Energy tab.
- Use Goodnotes as usual, then review its Energy Impact.
Energy Impact is a relative measure, so compare Goodnotes with other apps performing similar work rather than treating it as a battery percentage.
Factors that can increase battery use
- High display brightness.
- Long writing or editing sessions, especially with Apple Pencil.
- iCloud Sync, Auto Backup, handwriting recognition, and search indexing.
- Weak or changing Wi-Fi or mobile-data connections.
- Bluetooth devices, external displays, keyboards, or Universal Control.
- Multiple Goodnotes tabs, windows, or other apps open at the same time.
- The device model, operating-system version, battery age, and battery health.
Apple provides additional guidance in Maximizing Battery Life and Lifespan.
Reduce battery use
- Update the device software and update Goodnotes.
- Lower the display brightness.
- Use a stable Wi-Fi connection when Goodnotes is syncing or backing up.
- Disconnect external displays and accessories you do not need.
- Close unused Goodnotes tabs. While viewing a document, select its title at the top, then select Close Other Tabs.
- Close unused Goodnotes windows. From the device Home Screen, touch and hold the Goodnotes icon, select Show All Windows, then swipe up on each window you do not need.
Temporarily reduce on-device processing
If battery use remains high, temporarily turn off one feature at a time and compare another session of similar length. Turning off these features reduces their functionality, so turn them on again after testing.
- Search indexing: Open Goodnotes menu > Settings > Handwriting Recognition, then turn off “Index PDF and Handwritten Notes”.
- Math Assist: Select the Pen tool twice, select Math Assist, then turn off Suggestions.
- Spellcheck for the current document: Select the Pen tool twice, select Writing Aids, then turn off Check Spelling.
- Spellcheck for new documents: Select the Pen tool twice, select Writing Aids > Advanced Settings, then turn off “Enable Spellcheck for new Documents”.
If Goodnotes still uses more battery than expected
If the issue continues after updating and testing the steps above, report the problem. Include:
- Your device model and operating-system version.
- Your Goodnotes version.
- The selected Battery settings period and screenshots showing battery level, app usage, and activity.
- What you were doing in Goodnotes and how long you used it.
- Whether sync, Auto Backup, external displays, or other accessories were active.
- Your Diagnostic Data.
To export Diagnostic Data:
- If you are signed in: Open Goodnotes menu > View Account > Account Settings > Export Diagnostic Data.
- If you are on the sign-in screen: Select the ? icon in the top-right corner, then select “Download diagnostics file to device”.