You bought a digital planner, downloaded a ZIP, and now you’re looking at a folder of PDFs wondering what happens next. Fair. Nobody explains this part well. This guide shows how to use a digital planner in GoodNotes from the very first import to the habits that keep you using it in month three.
It’s written for beginners, but there are a few tricks near the end (duplicating pages, sticker setup, keeping the file fast) that even regular users miss.
I’ll use two Taskdale planners as examples because they’re built a little differently: one is a two-page spread design, the other a landscape planner with one file per year.
Before you start
You need an iPad (or another device running GoodNotes), the GoodNotes app, and ideally a stylus like the Apple Pencil. You can write with a finger, but it’s harder to keep neat.
Check one thing in your download: the week start. Most planners come in Monday start and Sunday start versions. Pick one. You’ll only use one file, so don’t import the whole folder.
How to use a digital planner in GoodNotes, step by step
Step 1: unzip the files
Save the ZIP to the Files app, then tap it once. iPadOS unzips it into a folder automatically. Inside you’ll find the planner PDFs and usually a stickers folder and a user guide.
Step 2: import the PDF
Open GoodNotes, tap the plus button on the documents screen and choose Import. Find the planner PDF in Files and tap it. Big planners take a few seconds. Alternatively, open the PDF in Files, tap Share and pick GoodNotes.
Rename it straight away. “Planner 2027 Mon” is easier to find than a 60-character file name.
Step 3: learn to tap links without drawing on them
This is the number one beginner frustration. You tap the March tab and get a little blue dot instead of a jump. GoodNotes thinks you’re writing.
Two fixes:
- Turn on read-only mode (the pen icon with a line through it in the toolbar), tap your links, then switch it off to write.
- Or tap links with your finger while using the Pencil to write. Check that finger drawing is turned off in the stylus settings.
Most people settle on the second option within a day. Pencil writes, finger jumps.
Step 4: do a two-minute tour
Tap the index or home page. Tap a month tab. Tap a date on the monthly calendar to open that day. Tap the week number to open the week. Find the templates section. That’s the whole map. Once you know it, you won’t need to scroll ever again.
The All-in-One Digital Planner has top tabs, month tabs on the right edge, Prev and Next buttons, a Home button and an Index on every page, close to 20,000 links in a typical file. Its pages are two-page spreads with a little spiral down the middle, so it feels like flipping a paper planner.
Step 5: set up your first week
Don’t fill in everything. Go to this month’s page and add fixed dates: bills, birthdays, appointments. Then open this week and write three priorities. Then today’s page: top 3 and a rough schedule. Stop there. A planner you use lightly every day beats one you fill perfectly once.
Step 6: add stickers
There are two ways. If the planner includes a sticker page or a sticker book PDF, open it, use the lasso tool to circle a sticker, copy, then paste it onto your page. Or import PNG sticker files through GoodNotes’ image tool or its Elements feature, so they sit in a panel ready to drag.
The All-in-One has six sticker pages inside the planner plus 173 transparent PNGs. Sagebloom goes bigger with 1,204 PNG stickers sorted into 10 folders and a 20-page sticker book for quick lasso copying.
Step 7: duplicate pages when you need more room
A busy Tuesday won’t fit on one page. Open the page thumbnails, tap the little arrow on the page and choose Duplicate (or add a blank page after it). The tabs and links keep working on copies. This is also how you reuse templates, like a meal plan every week.
Step 8: use the outline for quick jumps
Many planners include a PDF outline (bookmarks). In GoodNotes, open the page overview and look for Outlines. It’s a quick list of months and sections, handy when you’re somewhere deep in the templates.
Step 9: back it up
Turn on auto-backup in GoodNotes settings (iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive). Once a month, also export the planner as a PDF and save it somewhere safe. Losing six months of notes to a dropped iPad is a bad afternoon.
Keep the planner fast
Lag is what kills digital planners. Pages that take two seconds to turn feel awful by February. A few habits help:
- Pick light files. Sagebloom splits each year into its own file so it opens quicker and lags less. The All-in-One’s files are about 3.5 to 3.9 MB each.
- Go easy on photos. Big images bloat the file. Resize before pasting.
- Start a new file each year instead of stacking three years in one.
Which planner is easier in GoodNotes?
Both work well. They suit different people.
The All-in-One covers 2027, 2028 and an undated version. It has 365 daily pages with an hourly schedule, about 53 weekly spreads, 36 monthly pages, 48 templates, 12 project pages and 12 notebooks. Pick it if you like the paper-planner spread look and want lots of templates.
Sagebloom covers 2026 and 2027 plus an undated edition, each in Monday and Sunday start. It’s landscape, with 12 colour-coded month tabs, breadcrumbs, a weekly meal plan with grocery list, and a habit tracker, budget and review every month. It also includes 36 covers and 12 matching home screen icons for your iPad. Pick it if you want to start before January or you love stickers.
FAQ
Can I use the same planner on my iPad and my phone?
GoodNotes syncs between your Apple devices through iCloud, so the planner shows up on both. Planner pages are designed for tablet screens, though, so writing on a phone is cramped.
Why are the links not working?
Usually because you’re in a writing tool. Turn on read-only mode or tap with your finger. If a link still does nothing, check you imported the PDF, not a flattened image or screenshot.
Do GoodNotes planners work with a free account?
GoodNotes limits the number of notebooks on its free plan. A planner counts as one notebook, so you can usually start on the free plan and upgrade later if you need more.
Is it hard to learn how to use a digital planner in GoodNotes?
Not really. Most people are comfortable within a day. The only new skill is tapping links without drawing, and once that clicks, the rest feels like a paper planner.