Notability UPDATE: version 14 | what's new?

[@sarapenn5474]

I had a meltdown at a loss of the favorites......I had built a whole template set around having those pen colors and highlight colors and their quick use in note taking 😭

[@PaperlessX]

😭😭😭😭😭

[@lazyonigiri5665]

me too

[@Moon_Crescent2341OO]

I made every episode revieweds on it audio

[@Moon_Crescent2341OO]

Jirkean senr me

[@JasonWD]

Aaaaah; I thought I was going mad. I _knew_ there was a favourite before but just assumed I was being a bit thick in not finding it.

[@jazzgtrfan]

The lack of the favorites tool bar is a DISAPPOINTMENT. As a math teacher, having the ability to quickly switch between colors and line styles (solid vs. dashed) was huge. With the favorites tool bar I could save a color pallet and have solid, dashed lines and highlighter for each color in one click. Notability... please bring back the favorites tool bar and remove the heavy two tiered floating tool bar.

[@barca0929]

Thank you for this honest review. This update forced me to switch from Notability. Update is terrible, and unfortunately the developers don't seem interested in actually correcting what the subscribers are complaining about.

[@PaperlessX]

Notability and GoodNotes developers don’t listen to anyone. Before we would try to reach out but now, we don’t bother.

[@tushar3299]

@@PaperlessX that’s why goodnotes also following the foot print of Notability

[@chinwilliam427]

@@tushar3299hahaha very expensive for gn6

[@SeWi2221]

Yes, it’s called Apple dogma.

[@Samy-sx6kn]

Switch to what?

[@user-dj6cm8wy5h]

TOTALLY AGREE. HOPE NOTABILITY turns back to the former version which was much better!

[@amitbenjam]

"Yet, that is the main theme for almost every feature in Notability v.14 - it looks better while ruining our experience in the app" - Could not have been stated more accurately.

[@trevorlujan]

You nailed the review. The new floating toolbar is awful and I'm now looking for a different app. Notability - Please bring back the favorites toolbar, it was highly functional and made teaching a breeze.

[@seele5450]

Haven't used notability in the past, so as a new user I am really loving it. Coming from goodnotes, it fixes a lot of the things that bothered me and just works a lot better. Tried noteful, but didn't find it that appealing. I just wish notability had layers like it did.

[@vespucciph5975]

Thank you. My thoughts exactly. A useless update that ruined one of the best apps for notetaking on the ipad.

[@bernardhenusse216]

I opened Notability to work as usual in front of my new student and felt completely lost. I really hate all the changes and above all the new toolbar! Time to look at another app?

[@texxtilerdjpinnyc138]

EVERYTHING about the new toolbar is problematic. A) no more favorites. While I teach, I need to be able to grab a dotted green line or a thick blue line or make a thin pink highlighter line. Now I have to reset every pen every time??? B) the icons look too much alike. C) the toolbar is so squished, why not allow for the user to customize its size and shape? Finally, D) no matter where I put the toolbar, it is always in the way! I can’t write on the top of my page, and when I scroll along, my students can’t see what’s already written at the top of the page. So many WTFs!!!!! Did the developers even consult with Notability users?

[@FrancescoM-]

Noteful seems much better, the UI looks a bit old and almost all settings are paid. but it's great that we have a one time payment!

[@drewbt5113]

I don’t remember if you mentioned it, but I noticed they removed the option of editing the date and time of the notes, it was useful for me when I just needed to put under a note i already worked on. A simple function like that and they just remove it :(. Not to mention that importing documents now take a lot of time and freeze the app when you go back to it

[@PaperlessX]

No, that feature we hadn’t noticed it’s gone. We will probably pick up more issues when we start doing comparisons with other apps. It’s very sad

[@pedromherrera]

Thank you for your excellent review. You explain sincerely what has possibly got wrong and a couple of details that are better. At the same time, different users may have a variety of perspectives. Personally, I really appreciate the new interface.

[@PaperlessX]

It’s important we all share our experiences because we all have different workflows.

[@winwinwin282828]

I don't like the new interface. They removed alot of useful features

[@NimbusWizard]

Hey guys i have been using the latest notability version for the past few days after 6 mnths of its release. I refrained from updating the app because many ppl were not happy with the update. Bt the update completely killed it for me. I am completely in love with it !! Regret not updating sooner. Anyways thanks for the video 😊. Edit : Also about having to scroll all the way upto the top to view the name of the note, is not really needed. Just tap the 3 dots on the right hand side top corner, u can see the name of the note along with share options. This is the best update ever, and it completely works for me !

[@PaperlessX]

Glad you like the new update! And thanks for the tip! 😃

[@peterprice3805]

I agree with the shortcomings in version 14. Thanks for your review. But, I still like it better than Noteful, but I will keep trying to like Norteful.

[@hogleripley]

Thank you for this review. I don’t have the patience to do these kinds of side-by-side comparisons, but benefit from them. You made so many good points re: the increase in the number of taps and overall effort needed to accomplish in v14 what we used to accomplish before the update. But the absolute _gem_ insight of your review (for me) is that the developers copied elements from Apple Notes and GoodNotes that are bad ideas in those apps. It stopped me in my tracks bc those are the very things (among a few others) that prevent me from using those apps for more than a very limited number of tasks. Much of my enthusiasm for Notability stemmed from it having a more logical and efficient way of doing things. It is a shame that it has lost some of its uniqueness that made it stand out from other note-taking apps.

[@PaperlessX]

Yeah, Notability shined through its unique approach to doing everything. We’re very sad that it’s gone ☹️

[@cherridays]

the minute noteful adds handwriting search, i’m switching

[@khadijachaudry3329]

Used notability for the first year of my a levels and it really helped! Now ive switched to noteful as its similar to notabilities previous interface, plus its a one off payment. Notabilities update is absolutely terrible. If ur a student and struggling with the new update, switch to noteful

[@tushar3299]

please make a video on good notes 6 :)

[@francodigitalphotography3227]

Goodnotes and Apple Notes is really the way to go. Notability is getting greedy with its subscription B.S.

[@Mike-hu8yz]

Goodnotes is also now subscription

[@PaperlessX]

GoodNotes has become greedier though. Since their GoodNotes 6 update

[@francodigitalphotography3227]

@@PaperlessX In what way?

[@twilight7457]

Goodnotes starts to follow Notability by charging subscription fee.

[@alondracruz2853]

Thank you for this!! I was struggling to find the zoom window and found it thanks to this video 😂

[@I-llCheck]

I would like the toolbar to be customizable in size and options order for less scrolling between color options and pen size. There is plenty of space for toolbar size expansion for less scrolling between options. Although I wouldn't mind the scrolling if i meant having more presets for colors on the bar. There seems to be a lot of extra steps to reach specific functions in many areas from the previous update that makes it usability feel not so great...

[@PaperlessX]

There is really plenty of space to make the toolbar longer.

[@Jlexerama]

Definitely. It seems like Notability is getting paid to make us click more often

[@Mr.C0ffee]

The update was so bad I had to downgrade to pre v14. What a horrible update. I’m just waiting for Noteful to add the favorites tools bar and I’m gone. 😂

[@PaperlessX]

At the moment, the favourites toolbar in Noteful only accommodates pen tools only. No other tools yet.

[@Mr.C0ffee]

@@PaperlessX yup. Just waiting for the combined pen and highlighter toolbar and I’m gone. +8 years in notability. And it only took 1 update to fk everything up 😂

[@PaperlessX]

Sadly 😔

[@MikeJustice1993]

How do you downgrade to v12?! I can't stand the hovering toolbar! It's in the way in every spot you put it!

[@sunsean3426]

why do you want to downgrade? The function of page view is what i expect permanently.

[@rolfmay5154]

Well I like the colors of the folders and the file list - but that‘s it, largely. You now have to switch tools to highlight which in my opinion is a no-go when I try to work through large files. I agree with your verdict. Thanks again! One more thing: I very much appreciate the true dark mode as I frequently have to use the app in the evening - this feature as far as I can see is unique compared to the so-called dark mode in other apps.

[@PaperlessX]

Anytime!

[@dvdmcd]

Hi. I start to use the notability recently. There's a bug with apple pencil 2. Sometimes the doble click stop to work. Other problem is with pdf imports. I tried to send 8 pdf files to notability and only one arrive there. It's a big bug. So, I will work with GN6 for experience.

[@twilight7457]

Can we find the old version somewhere? I wish I haven't updated it.

[@PaperlessX]

The only way would be to restore your iPad from a backup you made before you updated Notability.

[@twilight7457]

@@PaperlessX No, I don't have a backup. They should make it available in the App store as so many people want the old version back.

[@zuber2368]

​@@twilight7457 i can help you in reverting back to older version

[@IgorTFerreira]

what happend to favorite tool??? they removed it?

[@PaperlessX]

It’s gone

[@rachelrichards5068]

Do you know if it's possible to revert to the previous version? Notability has been my favorite for years, and the updates last year I even liked, but it's so unusable for my go to things in how I navigate and take notes.

[@PaperlessX]

You can do that if you have a backup from before you updated. That should restore your iPad to that moment in time before the update.

[@songyeuwong7013]

Thank you for the review. Notability from one of the best apps to the worst. The latest update never fails to disappoint me. Frequent crashes, and laggings, tons of bugs. So so annoying. emailed them countless of times, however no action taken and no improvement whatsoever.

[@PaperlessX]

It's really sad :(

[@robertocarlos161]

the zoom window is now no longer available on the bottom comer(((((((((((((( so bad feature

[@PaperlessX]

It was so readily available before!

[@aris5703]

I used to be able to write with my Apple Pencil and it turned it into text, I now can’t do that. I go to create a text-box & when the cursor is ready to write I’m not able to start writing. I can only use the marker & highlighter with my own hand writing that is not converted into text. This update was a really big disappointment & notability was the only app I chose to take notes on, because it converted my handwriting into text, now I am unable to do that. I guess I’m more upset at the fact that I paid for the yearly subscription & all of a sudden they updated to something that I don’t even want to take notes on anymore, because that was the whole reason I got the app. It used to be so easy to use & now it’s just another confusing app.

[@PumpUptheJam81]

Back to GoodNotes!

[@frankvet1]

My apologies- maybe having UNRELIABLE recalling of notes when you need them most is a NEW FEATURE! I guess I hadn't considered this possibility

[@karinroten3606]

which note taking app do you recommend for now? thanks for your videos!

[@PaperlessX]

Our team uses Noteful (because we don’t use handwriting search), and we use Nebo when we need handwriting conversion.

[@Target135]

I literally came here to figure out how to get my favorites toolbar back. what the hell Notability?? i HATE the new toolbar. i record in every lecture and they hid away all of the controls i use. and i don’t know what these icons are and have to press them to figure it out half the time. what an awful update… i want version 13 back!!

[@Target135]

Also, used to be able to slide my favorites bar to the bottom left corner, top left corner, anywhere along the side of the screen. This stupid new toolbar can ONLY be in the center of the top, bottom, or the sides. Cant move it out of my freaking way

[@PaperlessX]

Sorry about your experience in Notability. ☹️

[@AirrwgryMayak]

I wish a legacy option to show old toolbar

[@zuber2368]

I can help you out in reverting to old version

[@AirrwgryMayak]

@@zuber2368 and HOW could so!!

[@aria.o6763]

@@zuber2368HOW??? Please bro, I’m so used to the previous toolbar that this new update is really killing the experience. How can I revert to the old one?

[@Kinetic79]

Do you think Notability will move to the same subscription model that Goodnotes has? It had me wondering-should I buy notability now, even though I’m a Goodnotes person, just to get grandfathered or to take advantage of future updates. While we get to keep Goodnotes 5 (post Goodnotes 6 release), I am afraid that bug fixes may not be prioritized and weird behavior may pop up due to changes to iPadOS and the like. I also feel that iCloud syncing between devices is buggy or inconsistent-making you have to turn it off and on again on devices to force syncing. I don’t need immediate syncing like Freeform, but it can be annoying when you switch devices. Sorry this note is primarily about good notes, and not Notability… but can you please opine about the Goodnotes move? Goodnotes is such a central application for most of us, and will continue to house a lot of notebooks we created in the past, even if we were to migrate away from it. Thanks!

[@PaperlessX]

Notability went subscription first, way before GoodNotes did. We generally don’t have a functional relationship with either team (Notability or GoodNotes) so we can’t say for sure what they’ll do in the future.

[@nickygm3429]

hello. This video is helpful. I was wondering if you know how to import multiple documents at the same time. The previous update is was more easier. Now I dont know where to do that. I will appreciate a video. thanks.

[@PaperlessX]

We’re still to cover all the how-tos of the new update

[@kevinmix1111]

Do you happen to have any idea why I can no longer change file names on exiting notes? GREAT review by the way!

[@PaperlessX]

It's probably a bug

[@krazikrafts2236]

PLEASE READ* Does anyone else have a small notability plus plus ad in the left hand corner of their screen when they open the app? I can’t get rid of mine and it’s thoroughly annoying

[@PaperlessX]

No, we don't have that. Maybe it's a bug?

[@krazikrafts2236]

oh ok maybe thanks for replying i appreciate it!!

[@WarriorOfTruth]

Whatever it is, man I like notability!!

[@MrCabimero]

I absolutely hate the new user interface. Goodnotes here I come! Can you transfer notes from one to the other?

[@PaperlessX]

Curious to know how you found GoodNotes. Coz, the GoodNotes 6 update was worse, in our opinion.

[@TheStoicWarrior-bo3sf]

@@PaperlessX I thought it was equally as bad! I am not using it. Very disappointing.

[@HN-vu8pp]

I don’t care of anything else but the zoom window. It wasn’t broken why try to fix it?

[@PaperlessX]

They fixed a lot of unbroken features

[@uricohen5463]

the update is super bad !!!! as a student now everything takes 5 times more time , you cant add several pen styles with different settings and color . ehen you cant to add a photo with the camera you cant understand if its a document of a photo , why use icons instead of sentence . pen graphics is gone , you have to move back and forth to use dot pen or regular pen , where is all the graphical pen go ? a loooooot of taping , toolbar is super small , whoooo need that scroling toolbar , what is that some sort of a game ? i am on ipad pro and the toolbar is super small , i cant imagine what the other users with smaller ipad is feeling . as a student i cant keep up with the lecture any more !!! , i cant keep up with the pace !!!! obviously the developers is not a student or someone how use the app for 10 HR every day . because of this update i am searching for alternative option , if there was a software that can transfer the note , and not the pdf , this was my last day with notability

[@PaperlessX]

Unfortunately there is no way to transfer the notes in a non-pdf format. And we agree! The developers don’t use their own app! To switch apps, you’ll have to covert the notes. We would suggest switching but keeping your old notes in Notability a while and gradually move them.

[@RajaKrishnasamy]

Moving off notability! Too cumbersome now !

[@ParthGandhi]

Plz scrap the new version and bring the older version back. That would be great for users as well as developers.

[@fluffypiranha77]

I love the new toolbar

[@sebaszwarc]

This notetaking apps becoming more and more shit, adding unnecessary features, switching to subscription models and causing concerns over privacy

[@nuskinlim]

I would appreciate any change that saves time. This new version Does the OPPOSITE. 😡 I hate the fact that if I want to change the name of my note …. I have to do something on the note itself otherwise it jumps back to the old name. ⏰Is💰

[@twilight7457]

Hi, did you notice the sticky notes are not transparent? Is it possible to change it back to opaque? How can one write on it while seeing what's underneath?

[@PaperlessX]

Just choose a colour for it to make it opaque

[@TANUSHKUMAR]

Please makef a video on good notes update to good notes 6, I just bought good notes 5 less than a month ago and I don’t wanna, pay for new update, how can I still keep the previous version,

[@Mike-hu8yz]

Don't upgrade

[@PaperlessX]

Yeah, you don’t have to upgrade.

[@mike_qbik]

Hmmm, interesting but underwhelmed. Not big fan of the full screen canvas and icons. Sometimes improvements do kill the experience of known enviroment. Now when can we expect GoodNotes 6 review / first look? Thats the elephant in the room ;-)

[@PaperlessX]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 yeah, GoodNotes is in the works. Another very interesting update 🤣

[@subhayandas6122]

The most annoying feature of the older version was its text box bug😢😢 If you were trying to modify any text box in any page,then all the text boxes were modified.Horrible experience 😢.Though writing was smooth.Dont know about the newer version.

[@PaperlessX]

We haven’t seen that bug. Must be annoying

[@ParthGandhi]

This is crazy! now they have a new privacy policy on top of bad update

[@cward2986]

What current application is closest in functionality to the “old design” Notability

[@alanjojo]

This version is simply disastrous. From otherwise a good competitive provider in the market to an undeveloped idiotic self-complacent childish toys. I can’t understand why the developer did not spend some time upgrading the stickers database but making things more complicated losing most of the customer-friendly features

[@frankvet1]

I've had it with NB! I need the app to do what it's supposed to do. That happens "sometimes"! Just recently, I put all my trip information into the app... tried to open it on my iphone, clicking on each of the "notes" to open the IMPORTANT RESERVATION INFORMATION- sh$t that I would need AT MY FINGERTIPS when traveling and tapping on each/any of the notes does NOTHING. I'm done! The software is forever in BETA (feels like) and I can't afford it to fail me when I need it MOST! G-bye! Here I come Good Notes!

[@uricohen5463]

trow it to the trash , my studies crashed i am not keeping up , toooooooo much clicks , put back the favorite pencils

[@Ke6cctrs2]

I really don’t mind the Gallery..i actually enjoy going through it. I am not a joiner in terms of adding my stuff but I have used templates etc from there…so it being located where it is in the app does not bother me.

[@PaperlessX]

😃 aah!

[@Moon_Crescent2341OO]

How much percentage do you think notability deproved

[@PaperlessX]

Sorry, what do you mean?

[@Moon_Crescent2341OO]

@@PaperlessX idk anymore, I don’t even know who I am!

[@shplss]

Hi, could you tell me what size ipad you are using in this video? thanks.

[@PaperlessX]

12.9 inch

[@sahandehteshami7404]

Regret paying, thinking ill go for goodnotes 6 when my subscription expires

[@PaperlessX]

GoodNotes 6 is probably worse

[@kathrynfrenken4834]

I used plain white sticky notes to cover up things on a document. I am frustrated that, not only did they make it more difficult to get to the sticky notes, the sticky notes are not available in white anymore. Any idea for a workaround?

[@PaperlessX]

Have you tried creating a white colour?

[@twilight7457]

Hi, do you know how to export a single page from Notability? There is no export option when I select a single page, and whenever I try export, it would export the whole file.

[@PaperlessX]

This is probably a bug because the option to export one page is available.

[@tolgaokumus61]

how can i make a search in a ceratain subject? i just can do it in all notes and their number is like 1500

[@PaperlessX]

We’re still to write a user guide for Notability 14, so not sure. Selecting the folder isn’t working?

[@amtulfarrukh8206]

How to get full color bar on subject after recent changes?

[@PaperlessX]

that option hasn't changed, I think. We're still working on the Notability 14 user guide so not really sure.

[@ziggy8757]

this update is a downgrade to me.....

[@Ke6cctrs2]

At firtst I didn’t like the tool box but I am used to it and kinda like photos/stickers etc in one space. I just leave the tool box at the top and doesn’t bother me.

[@Ke6cctrs2]

I would agree on the “new” page template deal..it is a little more confusing.

[@1965startrek]

Hate new stuff that wastes so much time. Is there app that is similar to the Classic Notability. Just want to get work done. Not waste hours trying to figure out how to do thing that were once simple & fast.

[@PaperlessX]

Noteful and Noteshelf can be great alternatives.

[@straightrope1217]

Dam I used to love this app, I remember when i first bought it I thought it was the best thing ever. Years later I neeeded it again for schoolwork and low and behold they ruined it… just why, if it’s not broken then don’t fix it! Great video, thanks for uploading this!

[@khalidkk5272]

how do u make multitasking pages on top of each other rather than side by side

[@kevin_segura]

I think it’s the same as the previous version. You swipe from the left side of the screen, grab the thumbnail, and drag it to your desired location on the screen. Hope this helps. I haven’t updated the v14 though and I’m also trying to avoid it 🥲

[@PaperlessX]

Long-press to notebook and choose to open at the bottom instead of right.

[@Moon_Crescent2341OO]

16:16 bruh notabillity has disabling features

[@PaperlessX]

Thos are new... a very recent update

[@mariaerdgzn]

So now both notability and GoodNotes are terrible, great

[@fp8252]

Actually, I like the new update. Everything you mentioned that the app does worse than the previous version, for me it's look exactly the same. For the toolbar, I am a person who haven't changed the pen tip or color when taking notes, I just choose one pen tip I like and stay with one color. So, I don't have any problems with the new toolbar, basically I like it more because the old version of toolbar is too large. For notebook creation, I always setup the normal paper template as a plain paper, so I have never faced with the problem you shown in the video when change or import any templates.

[@PaperlessX]

Your simple workflow sounds perfect for the new Notability user interface! That’s awesome!

[@garyjsimm]

is it possible to just password protect individual notes?

[@PaperlessX]

No, it protects folders.

[@sandipIND]

Nowadays I am not using Notability much. I won't update to this version. Worst update ever. Never thought Notability will do this. I think the core development team and designers have changed.

[@PaperlessX]

What are you using?

[@sandipIND]

@@PaperlessX I used to do only hand written note taking earlier. So using Notability. Now not much. So occasionally using Notability. Now I am doing only typed note taking. Using Obsidian. You must have known it. Best. For personal knowledge management.

[@PaperlessX]

We should make time for Obsidian, it’s been on our to-do list for long.

[@ParthGandhi]

Whoever had the idea of making such stupid changes in the app is not the user of this app.

[@PaperlessX]

Totally agree!!!

[@ohanabergerdesouza4742]

seems like notability has a hater

[@KatzeMelli]

can we please all agree that this update was a big mistake and just revert? This is a disaster.

[@rodrigo5213]

Sua dinâmica da sono....E muda o titulo, não é um tutorial, é a sua opinião.

[@petculescudiana9625]

Hi. The gallery is phenomenal. I use it a lot! Don't take it out, but because you don't like it.

[@tommyboyindy1157]

This was a hatchet piece. I find the upgrade to notability a big plus.

[@PaperlessX]

Really?

[@tommyboyindy1157]

@@PaperlessX : yes . I do. And I’m not being paid to say that.

[@Mike-hu8yz]

Yup, I like it too. They actually released this too early, before squishing all the bugs. I think 2 or is it 3 bug fix updates already.

[@uricohen5463]

you are not working with is just playing with it , we need something that works not look pretty

[@tommyboyindy1157]

@@uricohen5463 : Works fine for me. Better than GoodNotes 6.

[@Hart-en-Ziel]

This isn’t actually a review, it’s a rant. Very disappointing. I don’t expect everyone to be happy with an app or an update. But this video is just complaining.

[@gr8dvd]

aka a negative review with every "complaint" valid and clearly explained.

[@DocRJK]

The gallery is useless.

[@PaperlessX]

Right!

[@dvdmcd]

This app have a lot of bugs. Why is so bad and so much people like it?

[@PaperlessX]

Version 14 has been buggier than usual. But, generally speaking Notability has been the most stable note-taking app on the market for years. Besides, with time, bugs get resolved.

[@RasTona_]

@@PaperlessX I disagree, it’s a big let down. They are deliberately forcing ppl to adapt to mediocrity just bc they want to expand their appeal. We are rewarding them by using this app. Grind video btw.

[@osassamutema]

Bad update

[@user-rq2ky6vf4h]

Super disappointed in this review. I feel like it was really just a bitch session and not really an update. She seems a bit adverse to change