Help › eNotes
A tablet plus a stylus is one of the best study setups there is — but only if you can write on your documents as easily as on paper. Here's how to highlight, underline and hand-write on any PDF for free using HelpingApps eNotes.
What you'll need
- A tablet (iPad or Android) — a stylus helps but a finger works too.
- The HelpingApps app, with a signed-in account so your marked-up PDFs back up.
- The PDF you want to annotate, saved on your device.
Step by step
- Open eNotes and create or open a notebook.
- Choose Import PDF and select your file. It opens full-screen, ready to mark up.
- Highlight key lines by selecting the highlighter and dragging over the text.
- Write with the pen tool — annotate margins, solve problems, or add reminders in your own handwriting.
- Use the page thumbnails to jump between pages quickly during revision.
- Everything saves automatically and syncs to your other devices.
Tips for cleaner notes
- Pick two highlight colours and stick to a meaning for each — e.g. yellow for definitions, pink for "revisit". Consistency makes revision faster.
- Write less, mark more. A short note next to a highlighted line beats re-copying the paragraph.
- Rest your palm — with a stylus you can write naturally; the app distinguishes pen strokes from your hand on supported devices.
Got a PDF to mark up right now? Open eNotes and import it →
Keeping your annotated PDFs safe
As long as you're signed in, your annotated PDFs are backed up to the cloud and available on every device. If you ever switch phones or tablets, just sign in again and your notebooks are waiting for you.