4 lesser-known Evernote mobile features I love 💚
Sept 8 2025 | Issue 60 | Link to this issue | Subscribe
Hi Reader –
As we near the end of this Evernote mobile tips series, I wanted to share a few of my favorite under-the-radar tips and features.
These are the subtle moves that help separate casual users from power users.
Below are 4 mobile features that most users don’t know about. Despite being subtle, they really simplify using Evernote on your phone and tablet.
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1. Swipe Left to Access Note Functions
This might be the most undiscovered feature in all of Evernote mobile — and I'll admit, I only discovered it last year myself!
Here's how it works: In any note list, swipe left on a note to reveal three action buttons:
Gray "More" button: Access all note options (including Pin to Notebook, sharing, moving, etc.) — the fastest way to get to these functions on mobile.
Green "Download" button: Save the note for offline access.
Red "Trash" button: Delete the note.
No need to open the note or hunt through menus. Just swipe and act.
This is especially powerful when processing your inbox or organizing after capturing multiple items. You can swipe through dozens of notes, accessing functions without ever opening the note.
2. Tap to Jump to Top – 2 Options
Here's a tiny detail that saves a surprising amount of time:
When you're deep in a long list — notes, notebooks, tags, whatever — you don't need to scroll all the way back to the top.
Just tap either the navigation button ("Notes," "Notebooks," etc.) or the top of your screen, and you'll instantly jump to the beginning of the list.
This works in any scrollable list view. It's the mobile equivalent of the "Home" key on your computer.
3. Force a Manual Sync
Mobile is the only Evernote client where you can force a manual sync — and many don’t know this exists.
Method 1: Go to Settings → Sync and tap "Sync Now."
Method 2: In any note list, pull down (like you're refreshing) to force a sync.
While sync typically happens automatically on both mobile and desktop, if you have a weak signal or the app is closed, your mobile sync timing can be delayed.
So, if you make a bunch of changes on desktop and then race out the door, you can make sure your mobile account gets updated by forcing a sync. It’s perfect for those moments when you add something on your computer and need to access it immediately on your phone.
For example, I’ll often think through my grocery list while I’m sitting at my computer at home, and log what I need to buy on my errands list that’s in my Evernote shortcuts.
Then, in my car, I’ll open Evernote and force a sync to ensure the items I just added to Evernote on my computer are on my phone when I arrive at the grocery store.
🧠Academy Members: Get the complete breakdown of Evernote's sync process and tips in lesson on Understanding Evernote Sync.
4. Lock Evernote Behind Face ID
If you store sensitive or personal information in Evernote — medical details, journal entries, customer notes— you can add an extra layer of security on iOS.
Enable Face ID (or Touch ID) to lock the entire Evernote app. Every time someone tries to open Evernote on your phone, they'll need to authenticate first.
How to enable: Settings → Privacy & Security → Face ID
This gives you the convenience of having sensitive information accessible on mobile while ensuring it stays private if your phone falls into the wrong hands. It also makes Evernote efficient to open by simply looking at your phone after launching the app.
Speaking of security: Don't forget about two-factor authentication for your Evernote account itself.
2FA adds an additional layer of security to the login process, requiring you to enter a verification code from your phone in addition to your regular username and password. It combines something you know (your password) with something only you have access to (your phone).
🧠Academy Members: Learn all your mobile security options in the lesson on Mobile Passcode Options. And, get full account security guidance with the Two-Factor Authentication Masterclass.
Power User Mindset
What makes these features so valuable isn't just what they do — it's how they eliminate friction.
Each one saves just a few seconds. But when you're using Evernote dozens of times per day on mobile, those micro-efficiencies compound into significant time savings.
More importantly, they make the mobile experience feel fluid and natural instead of clunky and frustrating.
Cheers to your productivity —
Stacey
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