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iOS Notes - Duplicating vs Moving Checklist Items

I need info on the "new" iOS Notes feature which duplicates a checklist item when trying to drag/move it.


Specifically: what the difference is, how to control it, and most of all, how to turn it off.


It's been a maddening few months with this "new feature" suddenly in effect.

iPhone 14 Pro

Posted on May 15, 2023 7:20 AM

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Question marked as Best answer

What a frustrating "feature". I can't find any information at all, or pattern or at least a way to cancel the "green plus" icon when it's in duplication mode.


I never needed any checklist item to duplicate. Never. This should be exclusively a toolbar option.

Posted on Jun 15, 2023 10:13 AM

13 replies
Question marked as Helpful

Jun 8, 2023 5:32 PM in response to Mrgordo

Why is there NO information on this feature anywhere (& why can’t anyone here reply)?

Clearly, it’s a feature created by Apple to allow either MOVING or DUPLICATING an item in a checklist, and I’m finding it very useful. But the performance is very subtle and unpredictable; it appears to be related to haptic touches, where either different pressures OR different lengths of touching before moving, determine which action is performed.


Can anyone please provide some absolute clarity?

Jun 15, 2023 10:58 AM in response to ShannonM1

ShannonM1, there is a "new" iOS Notes feature which, when inside a note, sometimes duplicates a checklist item when trying to drag/move it.


Like, if you create a grocery list and milk is below eggs in the list then you want to move milk above eggs, you'd normally tap and drag milk, but now a green plus sign seemingly randomly shows up and milk gets duplicated, instead.


Nowhere in the link you sent or any other resource online or via chat mentions this "feature", or how to control it, and most of all, how to turn it off. Please advise.


This makes a previously very easy-to-use app, incredibly not easy to use and not functional for many of us.

Jul 13, 2023 10:40 PM in response to artee127

Brilliant artee127!

I can not believe I’ve been struggling with this essential feature for so long and hadn’t picked that up!

It certainly illustrates how non-intuitive the feature is, and underscores Apple’s neglect to educate us. But more importantly, who in their right mind determined that you’d only want to MOVE an item when you WEREN’T editing the text? Surely, you’re either ‘working with your checklist’ or not.


PLEASE Apple, amend this essential feature so that it functions intuitively (haptic OR length of press) whatever mode you’re in…

iOS Notes - Duplicating vs Moving Checklist Items

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