Tag Management Updates in iOS 15 Notes App

With the release of iOS 15, Apple significantly upgraded the Notes app by introducing native tag management, providing users with a flexible alternative to traditional folder hierarchies. This guide details the core tagging features introduced in the update, including inline tag creation, multi-tag filtering through the Tag Browser, and dynamic Smart Folders.

Inline Tag Creation

Users can create tags anywhere within the body of a note simply by typing the hash symbol (#) followed by a word (for example, #finance or #recipes). The system automatically converts the text into an active, clickable tag in real time. Tags can be placed anywhere—within titles, bullet points, or running text—allowing notes to belong to multiple categories simultaneously without duplicating the file.

The Tag Browser

The Tag Browser appears at the bottom of the main Folders view. It lists every tag currently used across all notes. Users can tap any individual tag to view a filtered list of corresponding notes. Crucially, the Tag Browser supports multi-selection: tapping multiple tags narrows down search results to only show notes that contain all of the selected tags, making information retrieval precise and fast.

Dynamic Smart Folders

Alongside manual tags, iOS 15 introduced Smart Folders. Unlike traditional folders where notes must be manually placed, a Smart Folder automatically aggregates notes based on specified tags. When creating a new folder, users can convert it into a Smart Folder and select one or more qualifying tags. Any note created or edited with those tags immediately populates the Smart Folder without leaving its original storage location.

Renaming and Deleting Tags

Management options allow users to maintain their tag taxonomy easily. Long-pressing a tag within the Tag Browser brings up options to rename or delete it. Renaming a tag updates that tag across all notes where it appears, while deleting a tag removes it from the browser and converts the tag text back to plain text across the associated notes.