Can I turn off auto-straighten in Notes?

Question

Level 1

15 points

Can I turn off auto-straighten in Notes?

I am trying to use Apple Notes for handwritten notes, but I find that the auto-correcting/straightening feature makes my notes illegible. Can this be turned off? Thanks.

iPad mini 4 Wi-Fi, iOS 9.3.5

Posted on Sep 4, 2016 8:30 PM

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Answer 1

Struebe Author

Level 1

15 points

Sep 5, 2016 9:59 AM in response to bobseufert

Yes, I am taking handwritten notes in the sketch feature, because research shows that handwriting notes is more effective for retention of material. The Notes sketch feature is great because it auto-saves (unlike Evernote - if I close the ipad without closing the sketch in Evernote, it deletes the note. But, I want to turn off the way it changes my handwriting, which looks like it's snapping it.

Does that help clarify? There already is an auto-straighten feature and I want to turn it off in Notes.

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Answer 2

Struebe Author

Level 1

15 points

Sep 5, 2016 2:25 PM in response to Rysz

I am using the notes app; it syncs with my computer. I have horrible handwriting and I write very quickly, so if I scribble, it "cleans up" what it thinks are stray marks and removes them, which makes my writing look not like my handwriting. "Straighten" might be the wrong word, but that's what it does in particular for T's and I's, and other straight-line letters.

It sounds like no one else has even noticed the way Notes cleans up your handwriting, so maybe it's like parallax for me - something that is really irritating, but that most people seem to like.

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Answer 3

rizzay

Level 1

12 points

Oct 12, 2017 5:31 AM in response to Struebe

I have the same issue! I can’t write in Apple’s notes with my Apple Pencil as it changes all my letters into shapes and makes it look weird.

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Answer 4

Rysz

Level 8

44,449 points

Sep 5, 2016 2:04 PM in response to bobseufert

FWIW, I do not have a straighten option or behavior in my Notes app either.

Struebe, please confirm if you are using the built in Apple Notes app, or perhaps another note-taking app.

Otherwise, try these troubleshooting steps, since your Notes is not behaving the way it should.

Reset: hold down the Home and Power buttons until you see the Apple logo (10-15 seconds).

Restore your iDevice: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204184

If your backup is to iTunes, make sure it's encrypted.

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Answer 5

bobseufert

Level 6

15,904 points

Sep 4, 2016 9:54 PM in response to Struebe

Where in Notes are you making hand written Notes, in the sketch freature ? I check the User Guide and can't find a auto-staighten feature.

I did a Google search and Evernote has such a feature. It's called "snap to shape" in the pen menu.

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Answer 6

bobseufert

Level 6

15,904 points

Sep 5, 2016 1:53 PM in response to Struebe

Thank you, it helps but only to a point. My iPad 4 doesn't seem to have this auto-straighten feature so I wanted to make sure I was on the same page as you. I can write almost sidewards in the sketch feature and it's saved as written. Sorry I can't be more helpful. Please let me know if you find a solution. Thank you.

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