Deep linking Apple notes - macOS and iOS

Asaf · January 28, 2022, 7:48am

I found an interesting article How to Create Deep Links to Specific Apple Notes on iOS.
Is there an option to make a shortcut that works both in iOS and macOS?
Thanks

anon41602260 · January 28, 2022, 11:34am

You can download the shortcut, using the link provided in the article – being beware of links to some random person’s iCloud account. The shortcut you download can be installed in Shortcuts on macOS. Running that shortcut on macOS is not a pleasant experience – it is kludgy and you have to scroll around inside the Content Item Graph to search for the link for the selected note, which is not at all easy on a Mac. It’s more of a because-I-can shortcut than something useful.

Bmosbacker · January 28, 2022, 11:42am

I was thinking the same thing after reading that article. On iOS with three clicks I can copy a Note’s URL without difficulty in Apple Notes. That may not be as convenient as a single click on a shortcut but it’s certainly not difficult. And, with a shortcut that complicated I would be concerned that an update with iOS or macOS would break the shortcut.

That said, I hope Apple adds a seamless backlinking capability to Apple Notes. Craft and Obsidian are much easier when it comes to linking notes.

Andreas · February 10, 2022, 6:42pm

Can you please specify how you copy the url to an Apple Note?

Bmosbacker · February 11, 2022, 1:25pm

I will be happy to but the process is different on MacOS versus iOS/iPadOS. In which OS or platform are you wanting to copy the AN URL?

Andreas · February 12, 2022, 8:17am

Thank you, i would be interested in the solution for both platform, but mainly iOS.
This is actually what makes me looking for alternatives, although I really like the integration and simplicity of the built in apps.

Bmosbacker · February 12, 2022, 5:36pm

On the Mac, this support article will be helpful: Share notes and folders on Mac - Apple Support

On iOS it is even easier because you don’t have to add an email address. Follow these steps:

Click the circle at the top right with the the ellipsis

Sharing and Apple note from Mac

Select Share Note
Scroll to the right and select Copy Link

Select Copy Link on the top right, NOTE: you do NOT need to add an email address)

I hope the helps.

Andreas · February 12, 2022, 9:12pm

Thank you, it does indeed help a lot. I have no idea, how I could overlook the copy link command
But I found it with your help and added it to favorites.
Thanks again, also for the link, I will try the Mac workflow tomorrow.

andy4222 · August 21, 2022, 8:18am

Thanks for sharing. How can this be accomplished on macOS?

Also, there should be an easier way supported by the app, Bear and Obsidian have this already.

Bmosbacker · August 21, 2022, 12:28pm

I agree! The way this is handled in AN is one of my complaints about the app, but the advantages, for me, outweigh this inconvenience.

As to how on the Mac, it is easy but weird. You select share from the toolbar, put in an email address and click share but you don’t actually send it. I use my email address. Once you click share, the URL is placed in the clipboard from where you can then paste it.

Screen Shot 2022-08-21 at 7.17.18 AM

andy4222 · August 21, 2022, 5:46pm

Thank you . My Notes app did not have that icon in the toolbar for some reason and I had to add it there to use this feature. I was trying to use the “Send a Copy” button earlier. Thanks again.

I really wish Drafts adds support for images and that would be the perfect quick notes app for me.