How to use a digital planner in GoodNotes (step by step)
Updated 2026-11-06
A digital planner is simply a PDF with clickable tabs and links, designed to be written on with a stylus. You open it in a note-taking app such as GoodNotes, tap a month or a day to jump there, and write just like on paper — without carrying a notebook around.
This guide walks you through the whole process: importing the file, moving around with the links, writing and decorating, and a few habits that keep a digital planner useful for the whole year.
What you need before you start
- A tablet: an iPad works best with GoodNotes; Android tablets work with apps such as Samsung Notes, Xodo or Noteshelf.
- A stylus: an Apple Pencil or any compatible pen. You can write with a finger, but a stylus feels much closer to paper.
- The planner PDF: download it to your tablet, to the Files app, or to a cloud folder such as iCloud Drive, Google Drive or Dropbox.
If you bought a planner as a ZIP file, open it first (on iPad, tap the ZIP in the Files app and it unpacks itself) so you can see the PDF inside.
Step 1: Import the PDF into GoodNotes
- Open GoodNotes and go to the Documents screen.
- Tap the + button (New) and choose Import.
- Find the planner PDF in Files or your cloud folder and tap it.
GoodNotes creates a new notebook from the PDF. Give it a clear name, for example “Planner 2027”, and pick a cover if you like. Another quick way: open the PDF in the Files app, tap the share button and choose Open in GoodNotes.
Step 2: Move around with the clickable tabs
The magic of a digital planner is the links. Tabs on the side jump to each month, dates on the year page jump to that week, and small buttons bring you back to the index.
In GoodNotes, links respond best when you are not in writing mode. If tapping a tab draws a line instead of jumping, switch to read-only mode (the pen icon with a line through it at the top of the screen) or select a tool that does not write, then tap the link. Switch back to the pen to write. After a few days this becomes automatic.
Tip: use GoodNotes’ outline or bookmarks for pages you visit often, such as your goals page or budget page.
Step 3: Write, highlight and fix mistakes
Choose a pen, a colour and a thickness, and write directly on the page. A few tools make planning easier:
- Highlighter for deadlines, birthdays and anything important.
- Lasso tool to move a task to another day — circle it, then drag it. No crossing out and rewriting.
- Eraser set to erase whole strokes, which is faster for lists.
- Text tool if you prefer typing some items, for example repeating tasks.
Keep one colour per area of life (work, home, health, money). After a month you can see at a glance where your time went.
Step 4: Add stickers and images (optional)
Many people enjoy decorating their planner. In GoodNotes you can save stickers in the Elements panel and drop them onto any page. You can also paste photos, screenshots of a recipe, or a ticket you need to remember. Keep decoration light on weekly pages so there is still room to write.
Step 5: Build a simple weekly routine
A planner only helps if you open it. A routine of ten minutes a week is enough:
- Sunday or Monday: open the week, copy appointments from your calendar, choose your three priorities.
- Each morning: look at today, move anything that will not happen.
- End of the month: open the monthly page, note wins, check your habits and budget, and set the focus for next month.
Our 2027 planner follows this rhythm, with a year overview, goal pages, monthly focus pages with a habit tracker and budget, and Monday-start weekly pages — all linked so you never scroll through hundreds of pages.
Keep your planner safe
Turn on GoodNotes backup (Settings, then Backup) to iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive, so a lost or broken tablet does not mean a lost year. Every few months you can also export the notebook as a PDF and keep a copy. Remember that if you delete the notebook, your handwriting goes with it — the original PDF in your files stays blank.
Questions people ask
Can I use the same planner on my phone?
Yes. GoodNotes syncs through iCloud, so the notebook appears on your iPhone too. Writing is easier on a tablet, but checking your day on the phone works well.
Do the links work in other apps?
Yes. Most PDF note apps such as Notability, Noteshelf, Xodo and Samsung Notes support hyperlinked PDFs. The exact button for read-only or link mode differs from app to app.
Can I print a digital planner?
Yes. A good planner PDF prints on normal paper. You can print only the pages you need, such as a month or a week.
What if I make a mistake on a page?
Use the eraser or the lasso tool. If you want a fresh page, duplicate a blank page from the same section and move it into place.