How to Use a Digital Planner in GoodNotes (Beginner's Guide)

If you just bought or downloaded a digital planner and you're staring at a PDF wondering what to do, this is the whole workflow. It takes about five minutes.

Step 1: Import the PDF

In GoodNotes, tap + → Import and select the planner PDF (from Files, iCloud, or wherever you saved it). It becomes a notebook you can write in with your Apple Pencil or stylus.

Tip: keep the original PDF somewhere safe. If you ever want a fresh copy, you re-import it — your written-on version stays separate.

Step 2: Use the hyperlinks

A good planner is hyperlinked. Make sure you're in reading/viewing mode (not just zoomed in) and tap a date or tab — GoodNotes jumps you straight there. This is the whole point: no scrolling through hundreds of pages. If tapping doesn't jump, you're probably in a mode that treats taps as ink; toggle the pointer/hand tool.

Step 3: Write, don't type (mostly)

The value of a digital planner is handwriting with the flexibility of digital. Use the pen for daily planning, the highlighter for priorities, and the lasso tool to move or resize anything you wrote. Mistakes erase cleanly — no scribbles.

Step 4: Add pages when you need them

Need an extra note page for a lecture? Tap the + in GoodNotes to add a blank or lined page anywhere. Your planner grows with you instead of running out of room.

Step 5: Make it yours (optional)

Digital stickers are just images — drag them in via Elements or copy/paste from a sticker book. Fun, but optional; a planner you actually fill in beats a beautifully decorated empty one.

The planner used in this guide

The walkthrough above works with any PDF planner, but it's smoothest with one that's properly hyperlinked and laid out for students. The one below is built exactly for this GoodNotes workflow — import it and you're planning in minutes.