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How to use Smart Folders in iOS 15 and iPadOS 15

With iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, you can use tags to quickly categorize your notes so you can easily find them later. You can also use tags together with existing folders to search and filter your notes across multiple folders.

Create a Smart Folder

Folders are a great way to organize your notes into categories like work or personal projects. Smart Folders act like filters to gather your tagged notes. When using Smart Folders, your notes also remain in the original folder you created them in. You can use Smart Folders as an easy way to find notes that you want to reference regularly — like journal entries, recipes, or work documents.

To create a Smart Folder:

  1. Tap the New Folder button.
  2. Choose an account, such as On My iPhone or iCloud.
  3. Tap New Smart Folder, enter a name, then select the tags or create some new tags.

You can also create a Smart Folder from the Tags browser. Just tap the tag, then tap the More button, tap Create Smart Folder, add a name, and tap Save.

Convert a folder to a Smart Folder

To convert an existing folder to a Smart Folder:

  1. When viewing the folder you want to convert, tap the More button.
  2. Scroll down and tap Convert to Smart Folder.  

When you convert a folder, its notes are moved to the Notes folder and tagged with the name of the Smart Folder. Keep in mind, you can’t convert shared folders, a folder with a subfolder, or a folder that contains locked notes.

When you convert a folder to a Smart Folder, it can’t be undone. If you no longer want the Smart Folder, you need to delete it.

Edit a Smart Folder

  1. Touch and hold a Smart Folder.
  2. Tap Edit Smart Folder, then change the name or the tags shown.
  3. Tap Done.

(This how-to is based on my experiences and info on Apple’s support pages.)

Dennis Sellers
the authorDennis Sellers
Dennis Sellers is the editor/publisher of Apple World Today. He’s been an “Apple journalist” since 1995 (starting with the first big Apple news site, MacCentral). He loves to read, run, play sports, and watch movies.