How to take quick notes in Chrome without switching tabs
You're on a call, reading an email or filling in a form, and you need to write something down right now. Here are your options and which one is fastest.
An order number, the name of the person who just called, an idea for tomorrow's meeting. It always shows up while you're busy with something else, and opening a notes app, finding where to put it and getting back to your tab is often enough to make you skip it.
Chrome doesn't come with its own notepad, but there are ways to take notes without leaving the browser. We explain three tricks that need no install and how to do it with NexoPad, which puts your notes one keyboard shortcut away from any page.
Does Chrome have a built-in notepad?
No. A few years ago Google tested a way to add notes to a page from the right-click menu, but it stayed in test builds and never reached regular Chrome. Today, to take notes in the browser you need a website, like Google Keep, or an extension.
The good news is that a couple of tricks give you somewhere to type in seconds. Pick one based on what you need: jotting down something temporary, keeping it for good, or having it in view while you work.
1. A Google Keep note with keep.new
Type keep.new in the address bar and press Enter. If you're signed in to Google, a new Google Keep note opens, ready to type. note.new and notes.new work too.
It's the fastest way to create a note that's saved to your account and also shows up on your phone. The downside is that it opens a new tab: it takes you away from the page you were on, and you have to go back to it.
2. A blank page to type on
Copy this into the address bar and press Enter: data:text/html,<html contenteditable>. Chrome opens a blank page where you can type, paste and delete like a notepad.
It's perfect for something temporary, like a number you'll copy a minute later. But it saves nothing: close the tab and what you wrote is gone. If you use it often, bookmark it so it's one click away.
3. Your notes in their own window
If you use a notes website, like Google Keep, you can open it in a separate window with no tabs or address bar. Open the site, go to ⋮ > Cast, save, and share > Create shortcut, check Open as window and click Create.
You'll get a desktop icon that opens your notes as if they were an app, and you can keep it on one side of the screen while you work in Chrome. It's still another window, though: to write something down you have to switch to it.
4. Notes one keyboard shortcut away with NexoPad
Open your notes with Alt+S
From any page, press Alt+S and the NexoPad popup opens with your notes. Click the new note button, type and save. When you close the popup, you're still on the same page, right where you left off.
Jot something down from the side panel
If you work with the side panel open, the Notes tab has a quick note button (the blue lightning bolt). Type a title and a couple of lines, click Save and carry on. It's ideal for short notes during a call.
Keep it in view as a Post-it
Open a note and click Open as floating Post-it. It opens in a small window you can leave in a corner of the screen while you work. What you type is saved automatically.
Write at length in the Notebook
For longer notes, press Alt+Q to open the Notebook: a full page with bold, lists and folders, where all your notes are organized.
Two things that save you time
Reminders. Add a reminder to a note with the bell and NexoPad alerts you at the time you choose, once or every day, week or month. We cover it in our guide to setting reminders in Chrome.
Clips. If what you want to note is on the page itself, select the text and press Alt+C. It's saved as a note in the Clips folder, with the name and link of the site it came from. More ideas in how to save text from a website.
Which option should you choose?
| Is it saved? | Do you leave the page? | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|
| keep.new | Yes, in your Google account | Yes, it opens another tab | Notes you also want on your phone |
| Blank page | No | Yes, it opens another tab | Something temporary |
| Shortcut as a window | Yes, in the site you use | Yes, you switch windows | Keeping your notes open on the side |
| NexoPad | Yes, in your account | No, it opens on top or alongside | Noting something down without stopping what you're doing |
FAQ
Does Chrome have a built-in notepad?
No. To take notes in Chrome you need a website, like Google Keep, or an extension. For something quick you don't need to keep, you can use the blank page data:text/html,<html contenteditable>.
How do I open a new Google Keep note quickly?
Type keep.new in the address bar and press Enter. You need to be signed in to Google.
Can I keep a note in view while I work?
Yes. With NexoPad, open the note and click Open as floating Post-it. It stays in a small window you can place wherever you like.
Is NexoPad free for taking notes?
Yes. The free plan includes up to 15 notes. If you need more, the Pro plan goes up to 1,000. We compare the options in the best note-taking extensions for Chrome.
Are my notes saved if I close Chrome?
In NexoPad, yes: they're saved to your account and you'll see them when you reopen the browser. The blank page from trick 2 saves nothing.
Published on October 20, 20266 min read
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