You can lock sensitive documents in your library with Password Protection, so you can ensure your privacy and security. This is a great tool to use if you are using a shared iPad, have work documents containing sensitive information, or just want to stop a sibling from reading your journal!
Known limitations
- You use a single password for all your documents.
- You currently can't lock folders.
- You can't share a locked document for collaboration; if you try to, you'll be asked to unlock it first.
Setting up Password Protection
Password Protection uses a universal password, set by you, to lock selected Notebooks. When you Add Lock to a Notebook, no one can read or edit it without your password or Face ID/Touch ID. Before you can lock your Notebooks, you first need to create a password which will be used on every Notebook you lock.
You can set up your password in multiple ways:
- In the Document View: Tap on the '...' menu in the top right corner > Choose Add Lock > Create a password and confirm.
- In the Library View: Tap on the Document Name to bring up more options > Choose Add Lock > Create a password and confirm.
- In Goodnotes Settings: Go to the Gear menu in the top right corner of the Library View > Document Privacy > Setup Password Protection > Create a password.
When setting up your password, you will be asked to input the new password twice to ensure it is input correctly. You can set yourself a password hint here, this will be shown to you if you are struggling to remember your password.
You will also be asked whether you want to use Face ID or Touch ID, depending on what is available on your device.
Password protection uses a universal password, meaning that once set, all locked documents will be opened with the same password. Individual documents are not able to have their own passwords.
Once set, you can change your password at any time in the Password Protection Settings, along with toggling Face ID/Touch ID on or off, or deleting your password.
Please Note: Deleting your password will remove the lock on all your locked documents.
Using Password Protection
Locking a Notebook
Locking a document is simple, and can be done in one of two ways once you have set up your password:
- In the Document View: Tap on the '...' menu in the top right corner > Choose Add Lock > Input your Password
- In the Library View: Tap on the Document Name to bring up more options > Choose Add Lock > Input your Password
Using a locked Notebook
To read and edit Notebooks that have been locked, you will first need to unlock them. This is quick and easy and can be done in the following way:
- Tap to open your document from the Library View.
- You will then be asked for either Face ID/Touch ID if enabled, or your password.
- If your password is incorrectly entered 3 times, you will then be prompted with your hint on the 4th try.
If successful, your document will open as normal and will be locked again 2 minutes after you leave the app or lock your device. When moving between open tabs, your Notebooks will stay unlocked.
Removing Password Protection
Removing Password Protection on a particular Notebook is as easy as adding a lock, and can be done in one of two ways:
- In the Document View: Tap on the '...' menu in the top right corner > Choose Remove Lock > Input your Password
- In the Library View: Tap on the Document Name to bring up more options > Choose Remove Lock > Input your Password
Exporting and Sharing a Locked Notebook
Export
Notebooks with Password Protection will require password input to export. The password lock on your documents is only a feature of Goodnotes 6, and once exported will not be retained in any export format.
Share for Collaboration
To share a Notebook for collaboration, Password Protection must first be removed from the document. If you are sharing a Notebook that is locked, you will be prompted to remove this lock and will need to input your password to do so.
Backing up Notebooks with Password Protection
iCloud
Password Protection will keep your notes locked across all your devices running Goodnotes 6 on iOS when using iCloud Sync. Your universal password will also remain the same on all your devices.
Auto Backup
If you are using Auto Backup to keep your documents safe, please be aware that locked documents will not be backed up, so you will need to use iCloud if you want to keep these documents safe online, or export and save them somewhere safe.
GoodNotes 5, Android, Windows and Web
Password Protection is a feature of Goodnotes 6 on iOS only, meaning documents with Password Protection will not be transferable with their locks to any of these other platforms.
If you are downgrading to GoodNotes 5, you will first be prompted to remove the password lock from your whole library before the downgrade can be achieved.
More questions? See Password Protection - Frequently Asked Questions.