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Quick-start guides
Open a guide for complete, step-by-step instructions.
Create your first video note
Start a note, add a video, and write while watching.
Use the new-note form when you want to set up the note and its video before entering the editor. You can choose a video from Photos, Files, or another source currently offered by StoneNote.
Steps
Open the new-note form. From the note library, tap the + button. Under Create, choose Create New Note.
Name the note. Enter a name that will be easy to find later. If you leave the field empty, StoneNote uses its default unnamed-note title.
Choose a video. Tap Select Video, then choose an available source. For a video already on the device, use From Photo Album or From File Browser and select one video. Allow access if iOS asks for permission.
Choose the paper. Select the paper style you want to write on, or keep the current selection if you do not need a different background.
Create the note and begin. Tap Done. StoneNote creates the note and opens the editor. Use the play control to start the video, select the pen tool, and write on the page beside it.
Import a video or PDF
Bring course materials into StoneNote from Files or another app.
The Import section of the note-library + menu provides separate paths for PDFs and videos. This guide covers importing from the library, where the selected material becomes a new note.
Steps
Make the material available. Save a PDF in Files, or make sure the video is available in Photos or Files on the device.
Open the Import menu. From the note library, tap + and find the Import section.
Choose the matching import action. For a PDF, choose Import Document. For a video, choose Import Video, then select From Photo Album or From File Browser.
Select one file. Use the iOS picker to choose the PDF or video. Grant access if requested, then allow StoneNote to read and import the material.
Review the new note. When the import finishes, StoneNote creates and opens a new note. Confirm that the PDF pages or video are present before you start annotating.
Write with Apple Pencil
Choose a pen, adjust color and width, and start handwriting.
StoneNote's writing tools are in the note editor toolbar. The selected tool, color, and width apply to the strokes you create next.
Steps
Prepare Apple Pencil. Pair Apple Pencil with the iPad, then open the note you want to edit.
Select the pen tool. Tap the pen icon in the editor toolbar. If the toolbar is collapsed, open the tool picker first and choose the pen.
Choose a color. Tap one of the color swatches shown for the pen. To choose a custom color, tap the currently selected swatch again and use the color picker.
Set the stroke width. Tap a width preset. To fine-tune it, tap the selected width again and adjust the value in the width control.
Write on the page. Draw with Apple Pencil on the note canvas. Switch to the marker, eraser, or lasso tool when you need to highlight, remove, or select content.
Turn on iCloud sync
Keep notes available across your iPhone and iPad.
iCloud sync is controlled inside StoneNote. Before you begin, make sure StoneNote Pro is active, the device is signed in to iCloud, the network is available, and iCloud has enough storage.
Steps
Check the prerequisites. Confirm that StoneNote Pro is active, the device is signed in to iCloud, and the device has a working network connection and enough iCloud storage.
Open StoneNote settings. From the note library, open Setting using the settings control.
Open Sync. In StoneNote settings, choose Sync.
Enable iCloud sync. Turn on Sync Notes In iCloud. If StoneNote finds existing local notes or folders, review the prompt and choose Merge to combine the device's content with the content already in iCloud.
Check the account status. Review iCloud Status. Normal means StoneNote can use the current iCloud account; it does not by itself prove that every note and resource has finished syncing.
Verify on the other device. On the second iPhone or iPad, sign in to the same iCloud account, enable the same StoneNote sync setting, and allow time for data to arrive. Open an expected note to confirm its content before relying on the second copy.
StoneNote guides
Explore practical guidance for StoneNote’s tools, settings, sync, purchases, and privacy.
Getting started
Create notes, navigate StoneNote, and learn the basics.
StoneNote brings a note page, optional video, and imported documents into one workspace. Start with a blank note, attach a video while creating it, or turn an existing video or PDF into a new note.
Choose how to begin
The add menu in the note library offers several starting points. Quick Note creates a blank note immediately. Create New Note lets you set a name, choose a video if needed, and choose the paper before saving. Import Document and Import Video begin with material you already have.
Open the note library and select the add button.
Choose Quick Note for an immediate blank page, or Create New Note to configure the note first.
Choose Import Document for a PDF, or Import Video for a movie offered by Photos or Files.
Complete the picker or creation sheet, then open the new note from the library.
Create your first video note
A video is optional when you create a note. The sources shown by the video selector can vary with the device, permissions, connected services, and app version, so use one of the sources currently offered in StoneNote.
In the note library, select the add button and choose Create New Note.
Enter a clear note name.
In the video area, choose an available source and select the video. Wait for its preview or loading state to finish.
Choose the paper you want and select Done.
Open the note, start playback, and choose Pen or Marker from the toolbar to begin writing.
Add material to an existing note
You do not have to create a separate note every time you receive another handout. From an open note, importing a document adds its PDF pages to that note. The note’s video can be added, changed, or removed from Video Options.
Open the note you want to update.
Open the note menu and choose Import Document to select a PDF; its pages are added to the note.
To add or change the video, open Video Options and choose one of the sources offered there.
Wait for importing or downloading to finish before relying on the new material offline.
Find your way around a note
When a note contains a video, the player and note pages share the workspace. Playback controls manage the current video, while the note toolbar changes what happens on the page. Available layouts and controls can differ by device and video source.
Use the play button and timeline to play, pause, or move to another moment.
Use the viewing-mode control to choose an available layout, such as top–bottom, left–right, floating, or full screen.
Use Pen, Marker, Eraser, or Lasso for page work; use the hand or navigation tool when you want to move around without drawing.
Open the note menu for document import, video options, paper options, and export.
Video playback & downloads
Supported videos, playback controls, and offline use.
StoneNote can work with videos selected through the sources offered in the current app. Playback features depend on the video source and the tracks contained in that video; download controls appear only for sources that support a local download or cache.
Use playback controls and viewing modes
The player keeps the essential controls close to the note. Use the timeline for precise navigation and change the page and player arrangement when you need more room to watch or write. Some modes are unavailable on certain devices or video sources.
Select play or pause, or drag the timeline to the moment you need.
Open Playback Speed to choose one of the rates currently offered.
If the video contains selectable subtitles or audio languages, choose them from the corresponding player menus.
Choose an available viewing mode: top–bottom, left–right, floating, or full screen.
Add, replace, or remove a video
Video Options shows the sources available for the current installation. You can use it to attach a video to a note, replace the current video, or clear it without deleting the note pages. Markers and screenshots refer to moments in a particular video, so review them after replacing a video because old timestamps may not describe the new recording.
Open the note and open its menu.
Choose Video Options.
Select a video from one of the sources shown, or use the clear action to remove the current video.
Wait for selection, copying, or downloading to complete before testing playback.
Make a video available offline
There is no single download rule for every source. A video imported from Photos or Files is copied into StoneNote as a local resource. For a network source, open Video Options and check whether StoneNote shows a Download control or an active download status. If no Download control is shown, do not assume that source supports offline playback.
Open the note’s Video Options.
If Download is available, start it and keep the network connection active.
Wait until the status reports that downloading is complete.
Test the note without a network connection before depending on it for class or travel.
Troubleshoot a video that will not play
StoneNote uses the source and file choices offered by the current app instead of publishing a fixed format list here. If one video does not open, first determine whether the issue follows the note, the source, or that particular file.
Confirm that the video still opens in its original app or file location.
For a network source, check the connection and any download status in Video Options.
Try a different video through the same StoneNote source. If that works, the original file or link needs closer inspection.
If the problem remains, contact support with the StoneNote version, device, system version, video source, file type when known, and steps to reproduce the issue.
Handwriting, screenshots & markers
Apple Pencil, two-finger capture, and video markers.
Write directly on a note page, capture the current video frame without leaving the workspace, and save important timestamps as video markers. Gesture switches and automatic behavior can be adjusted in StoneNote settings.
Write with Apple Pencil
Choose a drawing tool from the note toolbar before writing. Pen and Marker have separate color and width controls; Eraser removes ink, and Lasso selects existing page content for editing. Finger drawing is optional where supported, so a finger may navigate the page instead of drawing unless that setting is enabled.
Open a note and choose Pen or Marker from the toolbar.
Choose the pen style when offered, then set the color and width.
Write with Apple Pencil on the page.
Use Eraser to remove ink, or Lasso to select and edit existing content.
Pause video automatically while editing
Auto Pause can stop a playing video when StoneNote detects editing actions such as handwriting. This is useful when you want the recording to wait while you finish a note. Turn the option off if you prefer the video to continue while you write.
Open StoneNote settings and find the video settings.
Turn on Auto Pause.
Return to a video note and start playback.
Begin writing or editing the page and confirm that playback pauses.
Capture a frame with two fingers
With Drag to Take Screenshot enabled, place two fingers on the player and drag the current frame toward the note. Release it over a note page to insert the image at that location. You can also use Take Screenshot from the video controls to insert the current frame without the drag gesture.
Pause near the frame you want, or leave the video playing at that moment.
Drag with two fingers from the player toward a visible note page.
Release over the page and wait for the image to appear.
Select the inserted image to move, resize, or edit it with the available image tools.
If the gesture does not respond, check the gesture settings for Drag to Take Screenshot.
Create and revisit video markers
A video marker records the current timestamp so you can return to an important moment later. Create one from the video controls, or enable Quick Video Marker and double-tap the player with two fingers. When screenshot-to-marker linking is enabled, a captured frame can be bound to its video marker and return the video to the linked time.
Play or seek to the moment you want to save.
Choose Create Video Marker, or double-tap the player with two fingers when Quick Video Marker is enabled.
Open the video marker list and edit the marker title or description when needed.
Select a marker to return to its timestamp.
PDF, import & export
Bring in course materials and share completed notes.
Import a PDF as a new note or append it to a note you already use. PDF pages can be annotated with StoneNote’s page tools, and a completed note can be generated as a PDF for viewing, printing, or sharing.
Import a PDF as a new note
Use Import Document from the note library when the PDF should become its own note. StoneNote reads the document pages and prepares them as note pages; the time required depends on the document.
In the note library, select the add button.
Choose Import Document and select a PDF from the system file picker.
Review the document information shown by StoneNote.
Choose the option to create a new note, confirm its name when offered, and wait for importing to complete.
Add a PDF to an existing note
Import Document is also available from an open note. In this path, StoneNote appends the PDF as pages in the current note instead of creating another library item.
Open the destination note.
Open the note menu and choose Import Document.
Select the PDF and allow StoneNote to finish reading it.
Move through the note pages to confirm that the imported document was added.
Annotate PDF pages
Imported PDF pages remain visible as the page background while you add StoneNote content above them. Use the same page tools you use in a regular note; the exact set visible on the toolbar can vary with the device and layout.
Use Pen for handwriting and underlining.
Use Marker to highlight important passages.
Use Text or Shape when typed labels or structured marks are clearer.
Use Eraser or Lasso to remove, select, move, or adjust annotations you added in StoneNote.
Export and share a note as PDF
The Export sheet can generate a PDF from the current note. Before exporting, you can set the file name and decide whether the PDF includes the paper background and StoneNote annotations. After generation, the system share sheet lets you save or send the file using available apps and locations.
Open the note menu and choose Export.
Set Format to PDF and review the file name.
Choose whether to include the paper background and annotations.
Select Export, wait for generation to finish, then choose a destination in the system share sheet.
Open the saved PDF and check several pages before sending or archiving it.
Search, layers & folders
Find handwriting and keep complex work organized.
Search helps you retrieve a note or page, folders organize notes in the library, and layers control groups of content inside one note.
Search across your note library
StoneNote can match note titles and search selected content sources inside note pages. Start from All Notes for the broadest search, or open a folder first to limit the search to that view.
Open All Notes or the folder you want to search, then tap the magnifying-glass control.
Open search options to include or exclude handwriting strokes, text boxes, images, or PDF documents.
Enter a word or phrase and submit the search. Larger libraries can take longer to process.
Select a title match to open the note, or a content match to open the related page and highlighted result.
Search inside a note and rebuild the index
Use Search inside an open note when you already know where the material belongs. StoneNote builds a background index for faster results; recently added content may not appear until indexing finishes.
Open the note, choose Search, and keep at least one source enabled in search options.
Enter the term, submit the search, and select a result to move to that page.
If expected content remains missing, open StoneNote Settings → Search and review the index status.
Use Restart Indexing only after checking the selected sources and allowing current indexing to finish.
Organize notes with folders
Folders can be nested, renamed, moved, reordered, and moved to Trash. They organize notes in the library; they do not replace layers inside a note.
From the note library, tap +, choose Create Folder, and enter a name. Open a folder first to create a folder inside it.
Touch and hold a folder to rename it, move it, or send it to Trash. You can also drag folders in the sidebar to reorder or nest them.
To move notes, use the library's selection mode or the item's context menu, choose Move, then select a destination.
If an item was moved to Trash by mistake, restore it before permanently deleting it.
Separate note content with layers
Layers group content inside one note. New content goes to the current layer; hidden layers remain in the note but are not shown on the page.
Open a note, open its note menu, choose Layer, then tap + to create and name a layer.
Select a layer or use Set To Current Layer before adding content to it.
Hide a layer when you only want to remove it from view. Use the lasso tool’s Layer action to move selected content.
If you delete a custom layer, confirm the prompt. StoneNote moves its content to the default layer.
iCloud & backup
Sync status, storage, and troubleshooting across devices.
iCloud sync keeps changes aligned between devices using the same iCloud account. Automatic backup exports a separate, one-way copy to a cloud-storage provider you choose.
Understand sync and backup
Changes and deletions can be reflected across devices through iCloud sync, so sync is not an independent historical copy. Automatic backup is a separate one-way export; PDF is mainly for viewing and sharing, while the native StoneNote format is intended to preserve StoneNote data for later import or recovery.
Use iCloud sync when you want to continue editing across iPhone and iPad.
Use a native StoneNote backup when later StoneNote import or recovery matters.
Use PDF when you need a broadly readable snapshot of the note.
Keep an independent backup before changing accounts, removing the app, or making large deletions.
Enable and verify iCloud sync
iCloud sync requires StoneNote Pro, a usable iCloud account, network access, and available iCloud storage. Enabling sync when local content already exists can show a merge confirmation.
Confirm that the device uses the intended iCloud account and that StoneNote Pro is active.
Open StoneNote Settings → Sync and enable Sync Notes In iCloud.
If a merge prompt appears, choose Merge only when you intend to combine this device's content with that iCloud account.
Check iCloud Status. Normal confirms account availability, not that every item has finished transferring.
On another device using the same account, enable sync and open an expected note to verify its pages and resources.
Troubleshoot iCloud sync
StoneNote can report no account, an account change, full storage, an unavailable service, or a status that is still loading. StoneNote turns sync off after detecting an iCloud account change.
Review Sync and iCloud Status on every affected device and confirm that each uses the intended iCloud account.
Check network access and available iCloud storage, then resolve any account or storage warning.
After an account change, confirm which account contains the expected notes before enabling sync again.
Update StoneNote, allow time for processing, then verify a specific note. Contact support with app, device, system, and status details if the issue remains.
Configure a separate automatic backup
Automatic backup is a Pro feature that can send a one-way copy to OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, or Baidu Drive. A saved note is queued for backup when it is closed.
Open StoneNote Settings → Backup and choose a provider, or leave the feature Off to prevent automatic uploads.
Sign in to the provider, choose Native StoneNote or PDF, and select a destination when that option is shown.
Edit and close a note so StoneNote can save it and add the task to the backup queue.
Review Auto Backup Queue and confirm that the file appears in the selected cloud account before relying on it.
StoneNote Pro & purchases
One-time purchase, restore purchase, and family sharing.
StoneNote Pro is a one-time, non-consumable in-app purchase rather than a recurring subscription. The App Store supplies the local price and manages the transaction and entitlement.
Understand StoneNote Pro
A non-consumable purchase unlocks Pro without a recurring StoneNote subscription charge. Review the Pro screen in the current StoneNote app for the exact features included with your version.
StoneNote Pro is not a monthly or annual subscription.
The entitlement remains associated with the purchasing Apple Account, subject to Apple’s rules.
Use the price loaded by the App Store; website copy should not publish a fixed regional price.
Review the current Pro screen before purchasing so you know which features are included.
Buy StoneNote Pro
Purchases are completed through Apple’s App Store purchase sheet. StoneNote support does not need your Apple Account password.
Connect to the internet and sign in to the App Store with the Apple Account that should own the purchase.
Open StoneNote settings and select the Pro card or upgrade prompt.
Wait for the App Store price to load, review the price and purchase type, then confirm with Apple’s requested authentication.
Wait for StoneNote to update its Pro status. If the transaction is pending or cancelled, review its App Store status before trying again.
Restore a previous purchase
Restore Purchase asks the App Store to refresh StoneNote’s current entitlement. It does not create a second charge when the same non-consumable entitlement is already owned by that Apple Account.
Use the Apple Account that completed the original StoneNote Pro purchase, update StoneNote, and connect to the internet.
Open the Pro purchase screen from StoneNote settings and choose Restore Purchase.
Allow the App Store check to finish, then confirm that the Pro status has changed.
If restoration fails, check Apple’s purchase history and contact support with the app version, device, system version, and exact error. Never send passwords or full payment-card details.
Family Sharing and refunds
Family Sharing availability is controlled by the App Store and can depend on the product, region, and Apple Account setup. Apple also receives refund requests and decides eligibility and outcomes; StoneNote cannot approve or guarantee a refund.
Before using Family Sharing, confirm that StoneNote Pro is shown as shareable and that both people are in the same Apple Family Sharing group.
On the family member’s device, use Apple’s required purchase-sharing setup, then try Restore Purchase in StoneNote.
For refunds, use Apple’s official Report a Problem or Apple Support purchase flow with the purchasing Apple Account.
Never share an Apple Account password, verification code, or complete payment-card number with StoneNote support.
Privacy & permissions
Camera, photos, speech recognition, and your data.
StoneNote requests device access in the context of a feature, such as selecting a video, taking a photo, or transcribing video speech. Turning a permission off can make the related feature unavailable.
Manage StoneNote permissions in iOS
StoneNote may request Camera, Photos, Add to Photos, and Speech Recognition access when a related feature needs it. The list shown on a device depends on the StoneNote version, iOS version, device capabilities, and features already used.
Open iOS Settings → Apps → StoneNote. On older systems, StoneNote may appear directly in the main Settings list.
You can also open Privacy & Security and review Photos, Camera, or Speech Recognition by category.
Enable only the access needed for the feature, then return to StoneNote and try the action again.
If a permission is missing, use the related feature once so iOS can present the request, or confirm that the feature is available on that device and StoneNote version.
Use Photos and Camera access
StoneNote uses photo-library selection for a video or image chosen by the user, and Camera access when the user chooses to capture a photo for a note. Depending on iOS, limited Photos access may be available.
Start the import or insert action inside StoneNote before granting access so the requested purpose is clear.
With limited Photos access, include the specific video or images you want StoneNote to use.
If an item is missing later, update StoneNote’s selected photos or Photos access in iOS Settings.
Use the file or document picker for material already in Files instead of expanding Photos access.
Use video speech recognition
On supported systems, video transcription uses on-device speech recognition. Availability depends on the device, system, and language; newer systems can require a language asset download. This permission affects transcription, not ordinary playback or note editing.
Open a note with a local video and start the video speech-recognition feature.
If iOS requests Speech Recognition access, allow it only if you want to use transcription.
Choose a supported language and allow any required on-device asset to finish downloading.
If the app reports that the device or language is unsupported, ordinary note editing remains available.
Understand where note content can go
StoneNote stores its note database and resources locally. Optional iCloud sync reads and writes StoneNote resources through your iCloud container; optional automatic backup uploads a native file or PDF to the third-party provider you select.
Leave iCloud sync off if you do not want StoneNote content synchronized through iCloud.
Leave automatic backup off if you do not want backup files uploaded to a third-party cloud account.
Review the selected account and destination before enabling either feature, then verify important files after transfer.
Remove or redact private notes, personal names, account identifiers, and unrelated media before sending diagnostics to support.
Popular questions
Answers to the questions users ask most often.
What devices and operating systems are supported?
StoneNote supports iPhone and iPad running iOS or iPadOS 16.0 or later.
What types of videos can StoneNote play?
Use the sources and import options offered by the current public StoneNote app. If a particular file does not open, send its source and format to support so the case can be checked accurately.
How does the two-finger screenshot gesture work?
While a video is open, use the two-finger capture gesture. The captured frame can then be dragged into your note and resized in place.
How do I enable or troubleshoot iCloud sync?
Confirm that iCloud is available on the device, that StoneNote sync is enabled, and that both devices use the same iCloud account. Include the app and system versions when contacting support.
Is StoneNote Pro a subscription?
No. StoneNote Pro is a one-time purchase rather than a recurring subscription.
How do I restore my StoneNote Pro purchase?
Use the restore-purchase action in StoneNote while signed in to the Apple account used for the original purchase. If it still does not restore, email support with the app version, device, and system version.
System requirements
iPhone and iPad
iOS / iPadOS 16.0 or later
An iCloud account for sync
Still need help?
Email support@stone-note.com. Include your StoneNote version, device model, system version, and steps to reproduce the issue.
