Google Keep working on new ‘handwritten notes’ type/format

While we wait for Android 15’s note-taking feature/shortcut to launch, Google Keep is readying “handwritten notes.” 

Version 5.24.422.02.90 of Google Keep contains strings about how you can “use handwriting, images, and text to sketch, doodle, brainstorm, and capture all your ideas. Works great with a stylus or touch.”

There are also introductory prompts for:

• Welcome to Keep floating notes: “Click the stylus to capture ideas from anywhere. Collect information with the screenshot tool.”

• Welcome to Keep lock screen notes: “Capture thoughts straight from your lock screen. Keep will save them for you. By default we make a new note each time. If you want to have the same note appear each time, go to settings in the Keep app.”

Android Authority enabled the UI for handwritten notes, which looks to be separate from the existing drawing format in Google Keep. Those drawings are added to text notes, but this new format appears to stands alone (in the grid).

The pen and highlight tool are unchanged, though there’s a new Material 3 slider to adjust stroke width and an updated color picker. A “plus” menu lets you add an image (complete with cropping) or text (with bold/italics/underlining formatting supported) box, as well as take a photo. The cursor lets you move what you’ve added on the canvas.

There are more possible Lines and Grids, including: dots small/large, grid small/large, ruled narrow/wide, or none. You can also adjust the background color. There many Material 3 flourishes in this layout, which is clearly meant for tablets and foldables. Once done, handwritten notes can be exported as PDFs.

More broadly, Google Keep is working on a redesign of its homescreen, which has yet to launch.