Evernote: Boost Productivity With Shortcuts & Themes

Evernote is a powerful note-taking app. Keyboard shortcuts offer increased productivity. Red color customization enhances user experience. Accessibility options also improve usability.

Evernote. Ah, Evernote! It’s like that trusty backpack we all lug around, stuffed with everything from brilliant ideas to grocery lists, meeting notes to that one amazing recipe for ‘Aunt Mildred’s Mystery Meatloaf’. Millions of people around the globe rely on Evernote to keep their lives, both personal and professional, neatly organized. It’s available on Windows and macOS, making it accessible to just about everyone.

But let’s face it; sometimes, navigating Evernote can feel like rummaging through that backpack blindfolded. That’s where keyboard shortcuts swoop in to save the day! Think of them as your secret weapon, your personal Bat-Signal for instant productivity.

Imagine this: You’re in a meeting, and inspiration strikes! Instead of fumbling for your mouse and clicking through menus, you simply tap a few keys and BAM! A brand-new note appears, ready to capture your genius. No more missed opportunities, no more frantic scrambling.

Mastering these shortcuts is like shedding the shackles of the mouse and embracing a world of lightning-fast note-taking. It’s about saving those precious seconds that add up to minutes, and those minutes that transform into hours of productive time. Plus, let’s be honest, it just feels cool to zip around Evernote like a keyboard ninja!

So, buckle up, fellow note-takers! This article is your treasure map to unlocking the full potential of Evernote through the power of keyboard shortcuts. We’re here to equip you with the knowledge to become an Evernote power user, one keystroke at a time. Get ready to say goodbye to mouse dependence and hello to a world of unparalleled efficiency!

Core Evernote Functionality Shortcuts: A Comprehensive Guide

Alright, buckle up, Evernote enthusiasts! This is where we ditch the mouse and unleash the keyboard ninja within. We’re diving headfirst into the shortcuts that will transform you from a casual note-taker into an Evernote power user. Forget those endless clicks and menus – we’re about to make things seriously snappy.

Creating and Managing Notes

Ever felt the urge to jot something down immediately? Well, Evernote’s got your back.

• Creating New Notes: On Windows, Ctrl + N is your best friend. Mac users, it’s Cmd + N. Think of it as your digital brain-dump button!

Now, what about when your notes start to resemble digital hoarding? Time for some note management!

• Note Management:
  • Deleting Notes: Wave goodbye to clutter with Delete (Windows) or Cmd + Delete (Mac).
  • Merging Notes: Got similar notes scattered around? Select them, right-click, and merge (sadly, no dedicated shortcut here, but you’re still saving time!).
  • Moving Notes Between Notebooks: Again, a right-click is your friend. While there isn’t a single shortcut, using tags (see below) and search can help you locate and move similar notes quickly.
  • Archiving/Trashing Notes: Same as deleting – Delete (Windows) or Cmd + Delete (Mac) sends those notes packing!
  • Copying and Pasting Notes: The classic Ctrl + C (Windows) / Cmd + C (Mac) to copy, and Ctrl + V (Windows) / Cmd + V (Mac) to paste. Timeless.

Formatting Text: Style at Your Fingertips

Let’s face it, a wall of plain text is nobody’s friend. Time to spice things up!

• Bold, Italics, Underline, and Strikethrough:
  • Bold: Ctrl + B (Windows) / Cmd + B (Mac) – emphasize the important stuff!
  • Italics: Ctrl + I (Windows) / Cmd + I (Mac) – add a touch of elegance (or sarcasm).
  • Underline: Ctrl + U (Windows) / Cmd + U (Mac) – underline important information!
  • Strikethrough: Sadly, there’s no universal shortcut for strikethrough. You’ll have to access it via the formatting menu. But hey, three out of four ain’t bad!
• Applying Formatting: Simply select the text and hit your chosen shortcut. Boom! Instant style.
• Clearing Formatting: If you ever get a bit formatting-happy (we’ve all been there), Ctrl + Spacebar (Windows) / Cmd + \ (Mac) will bring you back to the good old standard.

Lists: Organize with Ease

Got a shopping list? A to-do list? A list of your favorite cat videos? Evernote’s got you covered.

• Bulleted, Numbered, and To-Do Lists:
  • Bulleted List: Ctrl + Shift + 8 (Windows) / Cmd + Shift + 8 (Mac)
  • Numbered List: Ctrl + Shift + 7 (Windows) / Cmd + Shift + 7 (Mac)
  • To-Do List: Ctrl + Shift + T (Windows) / Cmd + Shift + T (Mac)
• Indenting and Outdenting: Use Tab to indent and Shift + Tab to outdent. Simple as that!

Inserting Elements: Enrich Your Notes

Time to go beyond basic text!

• Links: Ctrl + K (Windows) / Cmd + K (Mac) – link it up!
• Adding Images and Attachments: Drag and drop images and files directly into your note (no shortcut, but still efficient!).
• Table Creation and Manipulation:
  • Create Table: Use the table icon in the formatting toolbar (no dedicated shortcut).
  • Navigate Cells: Use the arrow keys to navigate between cells.
  • Add Rows/Columns: Right-click within the table (no dedicated shortcut).
• Code Block Insertion: Ctrl + Shift + ** (Windows) / **Cmd + Shift + (Mac) – perfect for sharing code snippets. (The ` key is usually located near the 1 key).

Navigation and Organization: Find What You Need, Fast

Stop endlessly scrolling!

• Navigation:
  • Moving Within a Note: Use the arrow keys, Page Up, Page Down, Home, and End keys.
  • Moving Between Notes: Use the arrow keys or Tab to navigate the note list.
  • Navigating Notebooks: Use the arrow keys to select them in the sidebar.
• Note Organization:
  • Adding/Removing Tags: Select the tag icon at the bottom of the note window (no specific shortcut).
  • Moving Notes Between Notebooks: Right-click on a note and choose “Move to Notebook”

Searching: Instant Information Retrieval

• Finding Notes Quickly: Ctrl + Q (Windows) / Cmd + Q (Mac) – boom, search bar!
• Advanced Search Operators: While there aren’t shortcuts for the operators themselves, knowing them can save a ton of time. Use keywords like intitle:, notebook:, or tag: within the search bar to narrow down your results.

Decoding the Keys: Modifier and Essential Keys Explained

Time to unravel the mystery behind those cryptic key combinations! Think of this section as your Rosetta Stone for Evernote keyboard shortcuts. We’re going to break down the roles of those modifier keys and those trusty essential keys, showing you how they team up to make magic happen.

Modifier Keys: The Command Center

These are your key conductors, orchestrating the actions you want Evernote to perform.

• Ctrl (Windows) / Cmd (Mac): This is the big boss, the key that tells your computer, “Hey, I’m about to give you a command!” Almost every shortcut uses this key as a foundation. Think of it as the “control” key.
• Shift: Our trusty sidekick! Shift often plays the role of a modifier, especially when selecting multiple items. It can also “shift” the function of other keys, doing slightly altered versions of the original command.
• Alt (Windows) / Option (Mac): This key opens up hidden worlds of functionality! Alt/Option often accesses extra features or settings you might not even know existed. This is the key for the keyboard adventurers out there!

Essential Keys: The Building Blocks

These are the everyday heroes, the keys you use all the time. But when combined with modifier keys, they become supercharged.

• Tab: Indentation is its bread and butter (great for formatting!), but Tab also navigates tables like a pro and even completes suggestions as you type. So you could say it’s the jack of all trades kind of key.
• Enter/Return: A new line? Confirming an action? Executing a command? Enter/Return does it all. It’s the key that says, “Let’s make it happen!”.
• Backspace/Delete: Gone, but not forgotten! Or actually gone. This dynamic duo deletes characters, words, or anything else you’ve selected. It’s your essential “oops, never mind” key.
• Arrow Keys (Up, Down, Left, Right): Need to navigate around a note, a list, or a table? The arrow keys have your back (and front, and sides!).
• Home/End: Like a teleportation device for your cursor! Home zips you to the beginning of a line, while End whisks you away to the very end of a line.
• Page Up/Page Down: Got a novel-length note? These keys are your best friends for scrolling through it quickly.
• Function Keys (F1-F12): Each key usually has a predetermined job depending on the program. Experiment to see what hidden features Evernote may contain!
• Esc: Abort! Abort! Need to cancel an action or close a window? Esc to the rescue!

Advanced Usage and Tips: Level Up Your Evernote Game

So, you’ve mastered the basics, huh? Think you’re an Evernote ninja already? Well, hold on to your hats, because we’re about to dive into some next-level stuff. We’re talking about turning you from a proficient user into an Evernote power user. Get ready to unlock even more efficiency and streamline your workflow with these advanced tips and tricks.

Customizing Shortcuts: Tailor Evernote to Your Workflow

Ever wish you could bend Evernote to your will? Okay, maybe not literally, but customizing keyboard shortcuts is the closest you’ll get. Does Evernote let you remap keys like a coding wizard tweaking their environment?

Let’s find out:

• Can You Customize?: First things first, does Evernote even allow shortcut customization? Check the settings menu! Look for a section labeled “Shortcuts,” “Keyboard,” or something similar. If you see options to remap keys – bingo!

• How to Customize (If Possible): Found the customization options? Awesome! Now, the exact steps will vary depending on your Evernote version, but generally, you’ll need to:

  1. Navigate to the shortcut settings.
  2. Find the action you want to change.
  3. Click on the current shortcut.
  4. Press the new key combination you want to use.
  5. Save your changes.

• Why Customize? Customizing shortcuts can seriously boost your productivity. Think about the actions you perform most frequently. Reassign those to easy-to-reach key combinations, and watch your workflow fly! For example, remapping a shortcut to insert a checklist can save you valuable seconds many times a day. Those seconds add up. Trust me.

Syncing: Keeping Your Notes Up-to-Date

In today’s multi-device world, syncing is key. Nobody wants to be stuck with outdated notes!

• Manual Sync Shortcut: Is there a secret key combo to force a sync? Some apps have one! Check Evernote’s documentation or settings for a shortcut like Ctrl+Shift+S (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+S (Mac). This is a great way to ensure your changes are immediately reflected across all your devices.

• Automatic Syncing: Even without a manual shortcut, Evernote automatically syncs in the background. It usually happens every few minutes when you’re connected to the internet. Keep an eye on the sync icon (usually in the top right or bottom right corner of the app) to make sure everything’s up-to-date.

Printing/Exporting: Sharing and Archiving

Need to share your brilliant ideas or create a backup of your precious notes? Printing and exporting are your friends.

• Printing Shortcut: The universal printing shortcut Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (Mac) usually works in Evernote. Quick and easy, just like printing should be!

• Exporting Shortcut: Look for a dedicated export shortcut. If there isn’t one, you might need to use the menu (File > Export). Evernote usually supports exporting to formats like PDF, HTML, or ENEX (Evernote’s own format).

• Sharing via Email: Sometimes, the quickest way to share a note is via email. Look for a “Share” option (often with an envelope icon) that might have a keyboard shortcut associated with it. This will usually open your default email client with the note’s content ready to send.

Presentation Mode: Delivering Ideas with Style

Evernote isn’t just for taking notes; it can also help you present them! Presentation mode turns your notes into slides.

• Presentation Mode Shortcut: Check for a shortcut like Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+P (Mac). Alternatively, there might be a “Start Presentation” button in the toolbar.

• Navigation Shortcuts: Once in presentation mode, use these to navigate:

  • Arrow keys (left/right) to move between slides.
  • Spacebar to advance to the next slide.
  • Esc to exit presentation mode.

With these advanced tips, you are well on your way to becoming an Evernote master. Go forth and conquer your notes.

So, there you have it! Mastering these Evernote keyboard shortcuts might seem like a small thing, but trust me, they add up. Give them a shot and see how much faster you can zip around Evernote – happy note-taking!