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Manage Your Goodnotes Account and Subscription on Apple Devices

Please note: This article is for Goodnotes accounts on Apple devices. For Android, Windows, and Web, see Manage Your Goodnotes Account and Subscription on Android, Windows, and Web.

Important: To use the same Goodnotes account on another device, sign in with the same sign-in provider (Apple, Google, or Microsoft) and the same email address shown in Account Settings. Deleting your account on one platform removes it across every platform where you use that Goodnotes account.

View your account

  1. Open Goodnotes on your Apple device.
  2. Tap the Goodnotes menu in the top-right corner of Library view.
  3. Tap View Account.

You'll see your account details, including the email address and sign-in provider linked to this account.

Change your username

Your username is visible to others when you collaborate or share documents.

  1. Go to Goodnotes menu > your name > Account Settings.
  2. Tap > next to your name.
  3. Enter a new username and save.

View your subscription

  1. Go to Goodnotes menu > View Account > Subscription.

You'll see your active subscription details.

Other subscription(s)

If you scroll down, you'll see Other Subscription(s). This lists additional subscriptions on your account with lower benefits than your active plan. Examples include a previous Goodnotes 5 one-time purchase, a purchased Special Edition plan when you also have active Goodnotes Essential or Goodnotes Pro, or an Essential plan shared through Apple Family Sharing.

Sign out

  1. Go to Goodnotes menu > your name.
  2. Tap Sign Out and confirm.

Delete your account

Important: Before you delete your account:

  • If you use Goodnotes on multiple platforms, deleting your account on one platform deletes it on every platform.
  • If you have locked documents, unlock them first. If you sign in again after deletion, a new Goodnotes account is created and you can lose access to locked documents.
  • If you have Marketplace purchases, redownload each item first. Otherwise, you might not be able to restore them.
iOS Android / Windows / Web

To delete your account on iOS:

  1. Open the Goodnotes menu (top-right corner of Library view) > your profile name > Account Settings.
  2. Tap Delete my account and confirm the next action. If you want a backup first, choose Download documents before you continue.
  3. After you request deletion, your account is scheduled for deletion 21 days later. After 21 days, your account and all its data are permanently deleted.
    • If you sign in during those 21 days, you can recover the account.
    • If you sign in after those 21 days, you'll be signed in as a new user.
    • To delete immediately instead of waiting, tap "Want to permanently delete your account immediately?" and confirm.

This deletes the Goodnotes account, but not your local documents on iOS devices, iCloud-synced documents, or your subscription on the Apple App Store. You can sign in to Goodnotes again, and any existing Apple App Store subscription can migrate to that Goodnotes account.

What happens to your subscription when you delete your account

  • Apple subscriptions: Deleting your Goodnotes account on an iOS device deletes your documents on non-Apple devices, but your Apple App Store subscription remains.
  • Android, Windows, and Web subscriptions: Deleting your Goodnotes account on iOS removes both your documents on non-Apple devices and any subscriptions purchased on those platforms. Removed subscriptions cannot be restored.

Change the email on your Goodnotes account

You can't change the email address or sign-in provider on an existing Goodnotes account in Account Settings.

If you can still sign in to Goodnotes and need to use a different email, follow the steps in Transfer your Apple purchase to another Goodnotes account below. This is the same workflow support uses when you ask to change your email.

Common reasons include:

  • Your school or work email will be deactivated soon and you want to move to a personal email instead.
  • You want to sign in with a different Apple, Google, or Microsoft account.

In these cases, you delete your current Goodnotes account, then sign in with the email or sign-in provider you want to use going forward. If you have an Apple App Store purchase on the account, it can link to the new account after you sign in.

Please note: If your email address has already been deactivated and you cannot sign in to Goodnotes, you can't complete these steps on your own. Contact our Technical Support so we can help you access your account or move your subscription.

Important: These steps delete your Goodnotes account. Read Delete your account first so you understand the impact. Export or download documents first if you need a backup.

Transfer your Apple purchase to another Goodnotes account

Use these steps to move a purchase made on the Apple App Store to a different Goodnotes account. They are the same steps as changing the email on your Goodnotes account.

Choose the tab for your plan:

Transfer Goodnotes Special Edition Transfer Apple Subscription - Goodnotes Essential

To transfer your Goodnotes Special Edition to another Goodnotes account (using a different Apple, Google, or Microsoft account):

  1. Sign in to the Goodnotes account that shows that purchase in Goodnotes menu (top-right corner of Library view) > View Account. The Subscription field should read Special Edition.
  2. Go to Account Settings > Delete my account. Optionally tap Download documents, then tap Delete account without downloading documents > Want to permanently delete your account immediately? and confirm.
  3. Sign in with the email or sign-in provider you want to use (Apple, Google, or Microsoft). This creates or opens the Goodnotes account you want to keep.
  4. Check that the Subscription field on the View Account page reads Special Edition.

Renew your subscription

To make sure subscription renewal is enabled, see Subscription Renewal for Apple Devices.

Cancel your subscription

If you're trialling Goodnotes as a paying Goodnotes 5 user, you'll move to the free plan of Goodnotes when the trial ends. You don't need to cancel the trial to avoid an automatic renewal charge.

If you're trialling Goodnotes as a free user, the trial becomes a subscription when it ends.

Cancel at least one day before the renewal date shown in your subscription details to avoid being charged for the next billing period.

See Cancel a subscription on your iPhone or iPad.

Troubleshooting Goodnotes account issues

  • "It looks like you already have a Goodnotes account" screen: The Goodnotes account you're trying to sign in with doesn't match the one you originally created. When you first sign up to Goodnotes 6, the app links the first Goodnotes account you create to your App Store account. If you then sign in with another Goodnotes account that isn't connected to your Apple ID, this message appears. See Why am I getting "It looks like you already have a Goodnotes account"?
  • "Instead of seeing my email address, I'm seeing a random string of letters and numbers": You likely have Hide My Email enabled. This Apple feature gives apps a proxy email to protect your information. Your app still works normally. To change it, see How do I replace my Hide My Email address shown on Account Info?
  • "I've purchased a subscription but can't see it on my account": If you purchased a subscription but still see the free plan on your account, sign out and sign in again. If your paid entitlements still don't appear, contact our Support Team with your App Store receipt (Order ID) and Diagnostics Data. To export Diagnostics Data, go to Goodnotes menu in Library view > View Account > Account Settings > Export Diagnostic Data.

See also