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Google Sheets Tips

How to Insert a Note in Google Sheets

In this article, you will learn how to attach a note to a cell in Google Sheets. A note inserted in a cell is helpful to notify your collaborators of what they need to care about when they look at the cell.

How to add a note to a cell in Google Sheets

With shortcut

  1. Select a cell in which you want to insert a note.
  2. Press “Shift”+”F2”, which brings up a text box.
  3. Type texts in the text box.
  4. Click somewhere outside of the text box.’

Without shortcut -1 

  1. Select a cell in which you want to insert a note.
  2. Right-click“Insert note”.
  3. Type texts in the text box.
  4. Click somewhere outside of the text box.
How to insert a note without a shortcut in Google Sheets

Without shortcut - 2

  1. 1. Select a cell in which you want to insert a note.
  2. Navigate to the “Insert” tab → “Note”.
  3. Type texts in the text box.
  4. Click somewhere outside of the text box.
How to add a note without a shortcut in Google Sheets

You see a small black triangle at the top right corner of the cell if the note is inserted successfully.

How do you show a note in Google Sheets?

It is very simple. The note automatically pops up when you hover or put your cursor on a cell containing a note.

How to edit an existing note in Google Sheets

You can edit an existing note by double-clicking the cell containing the current note. If you want to expand the text box, left-click the stripe at the bottom right of the text box and drag it until you get enough space for your texts.

How to expand a text box for a note in Google Sheets

How to delete a note in Google Sheets

Method 1

  1. Double-click the cell including the note you want to remove.
  2. Delete all texts in the text box
  3. Click somewhere outside of the text box.

Method 2

  1. Right-click on a cell with a note, which brings a pop-up menu.
  2. Select “Delete notes“.
How to delete a note in a cell in Google Sheets

What's the difference between a comment and a note in Google Sheets?

A comment and a note are common because both can leave some texts in a text box. However, a comment is functionally superior to a note. The difference between a comment and a note is as follows: with a comment function, you can 

  1. tag someone;
  2. assign a comment as a task to someone;
  3. tell who left the comment
  4. save a thread in the comment history
  5. re-open a saved conversation if necessary
  6. reply to a comment another collaborator left; and
  7. check previous interaction

In conclusion, you can use the two functions well, depending on your purpose.

How do I add a comment to a cell in Google Docs?

Check this article to learn how to attach a comment to a cell in Google Sheets.

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What are the other basic tips in Google Sheets?

If you don’t get the solution to your question in this article or you are interested in learning more basic tips in Google Sheets, you may find the answers in the following articles.

Move onto the articles below to learn how to use Google Sheets, such as signing in, renaming, saving and printing a file, setting up notifications, and changing themes.

Google Sheets Sign-in: Explained

How to Rename a Google Sheet File

How to Save Google Sheets in Google Drive

How to Set Up Notifications in Google Sheets

How to Set Print Area in Google Sheets

Change Theme in Google Sheets: Explained

Autofill Function in Google Sheets: Explained

Go to the following articles to learn basic operations, such as redo and undo, referencing a cell on another sheet in a formula, inserting a table, and putting an image into a cell.

Redo and Undo in Google Sheets: Explained

How to Reference Another Sheet in Google Sheets

How to Make a Table in Google Sheets

How to Insert an Image into a Cell in Google Sheets

Check the following posts if you want to learn how to insert, modify, and remove comments and note or tag someone in your comment.

How to Add a Comment to a Cell in Google Sheets

How to Tag Someone in Google Sheets

Comment History in Google Sheets: Explained

How to See Edit History in Google Sheets

Read these articles to learn how to show formulas, missing toolbar, or formula bar in Google Sheets.

How to Show Formulas in Google Sheets

How to Show Formula Bar in Google Sheets

How to Show the Toolbar Missing in Google Sheets

Visit these articles to learn how to protect cells and view protected cells or ranges.

How to Lock Cells in Google Sheets

How to View Protected Ranges in Google Sheets

Learn how to do this step-by-step in the video below 👇

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