# GoodNotes Handwriting Recognition: What It Converts

- Author: Schema Law (https://www.schemalaw.com/)
- Published: 2021-12-03T16:51:49Z
- Updated: 2026-10-11T19:22:20Z
- Category: OCR in everyday software
- Canonical: https://www.schemalaw.com/blog/goodnotes-handwriting-recognition

> GoodNotes handwriting recognition explained from Goodnotes' support pages: search, lasso conversion to typed text, languages, export and where notes are stored.

GoodNotes handwriting recognition does two things with notes you write in the app. It indexes your handwriting so you can search it, and it converts a selection of handwriting into typed text when you circle it with the Lasso Tool. It does not add a text layer to a scanned PDF you import.

The company now writes its name as Goodnotes, and this post uses that spelling from here on. Everything said about the app below comes from Goodnotes' own support pages, which were opened and read for this post. Nothing here rates how well the app reads anyone's handwriting. That depends on the hand, and you should test it on your own.

## What does GoodNotes handwriting recognition do?

Goodnotes recognizes handwriting written inside the app, for two purposes: search and conversion. Its support page on [how to search your notes](https://support.goodnotes.com/hc/en-us/articles/7353743594127-How-to-Search-Your-Notes) lists handwriting among the content it indexes, and its page on [converting handwriting to text](https://support.goodnotes.com/hc/en-us/articles/7353695997199-Convert-handwriting-to-text) describes turning a selection into typed text.

A third use appears at export. Goodnotes' page on [choosing between editable and flattened PDF export](https://support.goodnotes.com/hc/en-us/articles/8537070839183-Choose-Between-Editable-and-Flattened-PDF-Export) says a flattened PDF can include searchable handwriting when an option named Enable Handwriting Recognition is switched on.

In one table:

| What you want | What Goodnotes documents |
| --- | --- |
| Find a word in your handwritten notes | Search indexes handwriting, across the library or within one document |
| Turn a handwritten passage into typed text | Lasso the handwriting, then Convert > Text |
| Hand someone a PDF whose handwriting can be searched | Export as Flattened PDF with Enable Handwriting Recognition on |
| Search a scanned PDF you imported | Only if the PDF already had a text layer |

The last row is the limit that matters most in a law office. The search page states that only PDFs that already contain an OCR layer are searchable, and that Goodnotes does not subsequently add OCR to imported PDFs. So the app recognizes the ink you write in it. The search page does list text in documents created with the app's own Scan Documents feature among the content it indexes, but it does not say that handwriting on a scanned page is recognized. A client's handwritten statement, scanned elsewhere and imported as a PDF with no text layer, is not something Goodnotes says it will read.

For a wider view of what software can and cannot do with handwriting, see the post on [OCR for handwritten notes](https://www.schemalaw.com/blog/ocr-handwritten-notes).

## Converting handwriting to typed text with the GoodNotes lasso tool

To convert handwriting, select the Lasso Tool, circle the writing, tap Resize, open the (...) menu and choose Convert > Text, then tap Convert. Goodnotes' support page says this swaps the handwriting for typed text. The page says conversion is available on iPad, iPhone, Mac, Android and Web, and not on Windows.

The steps, as Goodnotes gives them:

1. Tap the **Lasso Tool** in the toolbar.
2. Circle the handwriting you want to convert.
3. Tap **Resize**, select the **(...)** menu, then choose **Convert > Text**.
4. Tap **Convert** to swap your handwriting for typed text.

Goodnotes' page on [the Lasso Tool](https://support.goodnotes.com/hc/en-us/articles/7353695644175-Select-Move-and-Edit-Content-With-the-Lasso-Tool) adds some detail. The lasso draws a freehand loop by default, and you can switch to a rectangular one. Selecting content opens an Object Menu, and for handwriting that menu offers to convert to text or math, or to edit as text. A filter named Included in Selection controls which kinds of content the lasso picks up, which helps when handwriting sits on top of an imported PDF.

### Before you convert

- **Check the language.** The conversion page says recognition applies only to supported languages. If the document's recognition language is wrong, set it first: open the document, select its title, and select Recognition Language.
- **Duplicate the page first.** The word Goodnotes uses is "swap": the typed text takes the place of the handwriting. If the original ink matters, as it would for notes taken during a client interview, convert a copy and keep the page as you wrote it.
- **Convert in small pieces.** Circle a paragraph, not a page. Shorter selections are easier to check against the original.

### Sending handwriting straight to another app

On iPhone and iPad there is a shortcut. The conversion page says you can drag and drop handwriting to an external app, and that it converts to typed text if the other app supports it. Goodnotes gives the example of dragging tasks from meeting notes into a to-do app.

### What conversion is not

Conversion gives you typed text in place of ink. Goodnotes' page describes no check of the result and no marking of doubtful words. Read the converted text against what you wrote before you rely on it.

## Can GoodNotes search handwritten notes without converting them?

Yes. Goodnotes indexes handwriting, so search can find words in handwritten notes that were never converted. The support page lists what is indexed: handwriting, typed text, text in PDF documents, text in documents created with Scan Documents, document and folder titles, and document outlines.

You can search in two places, according to the same page:

- **Across all notes.** Open Search in the Library view, enter a keyword, and tap a result to open the matching location.
- **Within an open document.** Tap the magnifying-glass icon in the navigation bar, enter a keyword, and tap a result.

### When search finds nothing

Goodnotes has a troubleshooting page titled [I can't search my notes](https://support.goodnotes.com/hc/en-us/articles/7353695209743-I-can-t-search-my-notes). Its advice, which it labels as applying to iOS:

1. Check that indexing is on: Goodnotes menu, Settings, Handwriting Recognition, and make sure Index PDF and Handwritten Notes is enabled. Turn it off and on again.
2. Wait for indexing. If the Search view shows a message that pages are being indexed, wait until it clears. The page says this can take quite some time for a long document, and that you might not find all text until it finishes.
3. Re-index the document by changing its recognition language to another language and back, or by writing a stroke and undoing it.
4. Duplicate the document and search the duplicate after it has been indexed.

The second point deserves attention before a hearing. If you import a large notebook the night before and search it the next morning, confirm indexing has finished before you conclude that a word is not there.

Once the handwriting is typed, scan the result for the hearing date in the margin, the claim the client described, and the party name as you spelled it. When the notes mention a notice or an affidavit from the meeting, find that date too. Compare the typed lines with the handwriting before you copy them into the matter file.

### Imported PDFs

The same page explains why a PDF may not search. It separates text-based PDFs made from a word processor, image-based PDFs made by a scanner, and PDFs that have been through OCR and carry an invisible text layer. Image-based PDFs are not searchable in Goodnotes, and the page says you need a third-party program to make them searchable.

It adds a warning: when a PDF that has an OCR layer is exported from Goodnotes, the layer might be stripped, so the exported PDF is no longer searchable. Goodnotes attributes this to how the original PDF was encoded. If you annotate a searchable deposition transcript in Goodnotes and export it, test the exported file before you circulate it. The post on [how to make a scanned PDF searchable](https://www.schemalaw.com/blog/how-to-make-a-scanned-pdf-searchable) explains what that text layer is and how to add one.

## Which languages does GoodNotes say it recognizes?

On Apple devices, Goodnotes lists thirteen language groups for handwriting recognition and search: Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), Dutch, English (US and UK), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Portugal and Brazil), Russian, Spanish, Thai and Turkish. The list is on its [languages support page](https://support.goodnotes.com/hc/en-us/articles/7353727932047-Handwriting-Recognition-and-Search-Languages-in-Goodnotes).

That page says twice that the list applies to Apple devices only, and that handwriting features on Android, Windows and Web are covered on a separate page. If your office uses Goodnotes on a Windows laptop or an Android tablet, do not assume the Apple list applies.

### Setting the language

Goodnotes documents two settings, on the languages page and on its page about [fixing the wrong recognition language](https://support.goodnotes.com/hc/en-us/articles/360001460275-Fix-the-Wrong-Handwriting-Recognition-Language):

| Setting | Where | What it affects |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Default Language for New Documents | Goodnotes menu > Settings > Document Language | New documents only, on Apple devices |
| Recognition Language | Open the document, select its title, select Recognition Language | That one existing document |

The practical point is that changing the default does not fix a notebook you already have. Open the notebook and set its own language.

### Notes in two languages

Recognition Language is set per document, and Goodnotes tells you to select the language used in the handwriting. A bilingual lawyer who takes notes in Spanish with a client and in English with co-counsel may find it simpler to keep two notebooks, one per language, than one notebook that mixes both. If your language is not on the list, Goodnotes directs you to request it through its feedback forum.

After changing a document's language, the troubleshooting page says to allow time for Goodnotes to index the document again before you search.

## Getting converted GoodNotes text into Word or a matter file

Goodnotes does not export to Word. Its support page on [exporting documents or pages](https://support.goodnotes.com/hc/en-us/articles/7353742824975-Export-documents-or-pages) lists three export formats on iOS: Goodnotes document, PDF (editable or flattened) and image. To get converted text into Word you copy it across, or you export a PDF and take the text from that.

Goodnotes' page on [the Text Tool](https://support.goodnotes.com/hc/en-us/articles/7353727615375-Type-text-with-the-Text-Tool) says the same thing from the other direction: among the limits of full-page text, it lists that notes can be exported only as PDF, Goodnotes or JPG files, not Word or TXT.

That leaves three routes.

### Route 1: convert, then copy

Convert the handwriting with the lasso, which leaves typed text on the page. The Text Tool page lists copy among the actions available for a text box. Copy the typed text, switch to Word, and paste. This suits a paragraph or a page.

### Route 2: drag and drop on iPhone or iPad

With Word open beside Goodnotes on an iPad, drag the lassoed handwriting across. Goodnotes says the handwriting converts to typed text if the receiving app supports it. Try it once with your own setup before you count on it.

### Route 3: export a flattened PDF with recognition

For a whole notebook, export it. Goodnotes' page on PDF export describes the two choices:

| Export type | Handwriting | Other effects Goodnotes lists |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Editable PDF | Not searchable | Outlines and original PDF hyperlinks are preserved; objects can be moved in another PDF viewer |
| Flattened PDF, with Enable Handwriting Recognition on | Can be searched, selected and copied | Outlines and original hyperlinks are not preserved; recommended for broad viewer compatibility |

The page adds that copying recognized handwriting from a flattened PDF copies the recognized characters. So you can open the exported PDF, select a passage and paste it into Word. You also end up with a PDF for the matter file in which your notes are searchable.

On Android, Windows and Web, the export page describes a single option, Export as PDF, and does not mention the flattened and editable choice.

### A worked example

Associate Priya Raman takes four pages of handwritten notes on her iPad during a meeting with a client, Mr. Okafor, about a boundary dispute.

- That evening she duplicates the notebook, so one copy stays as written.
- In the copy, she lassos each paragraph and converts it to text.
- She reads every converted paragraph against the original copy. She corrects a surname and a lot number that the conversion got wrong.
- She copies the text into a Word file note and saves it to the matter.
- She exports the untouched notebook as a flattened PDF with handwriting recognition on, and files that PDF next to the Word note.

The third step is the one that protects her. A converted note with a wrong lot number is worse than no note. The section on [proofreading OCR output against the original](https://www.schemalaw.com/blog/why-is-ocr-output-full-of-errors#proofreading-ocr-output-against-the-original) gives a method for checking names, numbers and dates that works equally well here.

### When the handwriting is on paper

None of these routes helps with a handwritten page that began on paper, because Goodnotes does not add text to an imported scan. That is a job for an OCR tool. Schema Law accepts a PDF, PNG or JPEG and exports Word among other formats, and its homepage says plainly, under [questions partners ask first](https://www.schemalaw.com/#questions), that recognition is weaker on handwriting than on clean print. Test a real page before you depend on any tool for handwritten material.

## Client meeting notes in GoodNotes: where the notebook is stored and synced

Goodnotes documents three places a notebook can end up besides the device: Apple's iCloud, through iCloud Sync; Goodnotes Cloud, the company's own service; and a storage account you choose for Auto Backup. Which ones apply depends on your settings and your plan. Know which before you write a client's name in a notebook.

This section reports what Goodnotes says. It is not advice on whether the app meets your duties. Confidentiality rules differ by jurisdiction, and your firm's policy and your regulator's guidance decide the question.

| Where | What Goodnotes says |
| --- | --- |
| iCloud Sync | Syncs the library between Apple devices signed in to the same Apple Account; uses your available iCloud storage |
| Goodnotes Cloud | Cross-platform sync tied to your Goodnotes account; included with Goodnotes Pro; powers Goodnotes on Android, Windows and Web |
| Auto Backup | One-way upload of copies to Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive or WebDAV; available on iOS and iPadOS |

The details come from Goodnotes' pages on [iCloud Sync](https://support.goodnotes.com/hc/en-us/articles/7353726793999-Sync-Goodnotes-between-iPhone-iPad-and-Mac-with-iCloud), [Goodnotes Cloud](https://support.goodnotes.com/hc/en-us/articles/10277366719759-Sync-your-Goodnotes-library-across-all-platforms-with-Goodnotes-Cloud) and [Auto Backup](https://support.goodnotes.com/hc/en-us/articles/7352786555279-How-to-Set-Up-Auto-Backup-in-Goodnotes).

### What Goodnotes says about Goodnotes Cloud

The [Goodnotes Cloud FAQ](https://support.goodnotes.com/hc/en-us/articles/10779870669711-Goodnotes-Cloud-FAQs-privacy-storage-and-data) makes these statements:

- Data is stored and encrypted, on infrastructure from third-party cloud providers including Amazon Web Services.
- Data may be transferred to servers outside your country.
- Goodnotes does not access or collect data from notes or documents stored in Goodnotes Cloud unless you give explicit permission.
- Only you can access content in your account unless you choose to share it.
- Data stays while you keep your account and use the service. Deleting a document or the account removes the associated data.
- Goodnotes may delete an account, or data in Goodnotes Cloud, after two years of inactivity without payment, and sends reminder emails first.

### Two statements worth reading in full

Goodnotes' [Privacy FAQ](https://support.goodnotes.com/hc/en-us/articles/7594322128143-Goodnotes-Privacy-FAQ) answers the question "Is Goodnotes HIPAA compliant?" this way:

> Goodnotes is not intended for transmitting Protected Health Information under HIPAA. Do not use Goodnotes to share sensitive health or financial data.

A lawyer whose client notes include medical or financial details should read that sentence, and the full privacy policy the FAQ points to, before choosing the app for interviews.

The same FAQ says diagnostic data that you choose to share while troubleshooting may include document titles, folders and imported files. If you ever send a notebook to Goodnotes support, think first about what is in it.

### Questions to settle before the first client meeting

1. Is iCloud Sync on, and whose Apple Account is the device signed in to: yours or the firm's?
2. Is the account using Goodnotes Cloud? The Goodnotes menu, under Cloud & Backup, shows which.
3. Is Auto Backup on, and to which storage account? Goodnotes notes that Auto Backup does not delete the remote copy when you delete a document in the app.
4. Does your firm's policy allow client notes in a consumer note-taking app at all?
5. When the matter closes, how will the notes get into the firm's file, and how will they be removed from the tablet and every synced copy?

Microsoft's note-taking app raises the same questions. The post on [Microsoft OneNote handwriting to text](https://www.schemalaw.com/blog/microsoft-onenote-handwriting-to-text) covers its ink conversion, and the post on [whether OCR software stores your documents](https://www.schemalaw.com/blog/does-ocr-software-store-my-documents) lists what to ask any service that will hold client material.

## Try it on a real document

Upload a scanned PDF and export it as Word, a searchable PDF or plain text on the free plan. Your documents are never used to train an AI model. [Start free](https://www.schemalaw.com/api/auth/google)