How to Add Sticky Notes to Your Mac Desktop (2026 Guide)

As of August 2026 — Apple Stickies is still the fastest built-in way to put a simple note on your Mac desktop.

Quick answer

macOS includes a built-in sticky notes app called Stickies. Open it from /Applications/Stickies.app or via Spotlight (Cmd+Space, type "Stickies"). Once open, press Cmd+N to create a new note. That's it.

This page is intentionally narrow: add the note to the desktop first. For the complete Stickies tutorial, including formatting, colors, shortcuts, and export, use How to Use Sticky Notes on Mac. If you are choosing between different apps rather than using Apple Stickies, see How to Get Sticky Notes on Mac.

Source: Apple User Guide: Stickies on Mac

How to open Apple Stickies on macOS

Apple Stickies is pre-installed on every Mac. Here are three ways to launch it:

Method 1: Spotlight Search

1. Press Cmd+Space to open Spotlight
2. Type "Stickies"
3. Press Enter when the app appears

Method 2: Applications folder

1. Open Finder
2. Navigate to Applications in the sidebar
3. Scroll to Stickies and double-click

Method 3: Launchpad

1. Click the Launchpad icon in your Dock (or pinch with four fingers on trackpad)
2. Type "Stickies" in the search field
3. Click the Stickies icon

Once Stickies is running, a yellow note appears on your desktop. The app icon also shows in the Dock while it's active.

Creating and managing sticky notes

Create a new note

Press Cmd+N or go to File > New Note. A fresh yellow sticky appears on your desktop.

Essential keyboard shortcuts

Change note color

Go to Color in the menu bar and pick from six options: Yellow, Blue, Green, Pink, Purple, or Gray. You can also right-click the note's title bar to access colors.

Resize and arrange notes

Drag any edge or corner to resize. Drag the title bar to move. Notes persist between reboots as long as Stickies is set to launch at login.

Import and export

Stickies can import text files via File > Import Text. Export options are limited to File > Export Text, which saves as plain .txt. There's no PDF export, no Markdown, and no batch operations.

Keep the note on the desktop

Once the note exists, drag it to the part of the desktop where you want it to live. Resize it by dragging an edge or corner. If you want it reduced to a small strip, use Stickies' collapse/minimize behavior so it takes less space.

If your goal is specifically a desktop note or widget, continue with How to Put Sticky Notes on Desktop Mac, which compares Stickies with widget-style approaches.

If you need more than a desktop note

Adding a sticky note and choosing a sticky note app are different jobs. This guide covers the first one. If you later need sync, fullscreen visibility, Markdown, tags, or another dedicated workflow, use How to Get Sticky Notes on Mac to compare setup paths rather than expanding this page into another app comparison.

FAQ

Does macOS have built-in sticky notes?

Yes. Apple Stickies comes pre-installed on every Mac. Find it in /Applications/Stickies.app or search for it in Spotlight. It creates simple desktop notes with basic text formatting.

Can I use Stickies with fullscreen apps?

Apple Stickies does not follow you into a fullscreen app's dedicated Space. If that is your actual requirement, use the focused guide on keeping a sticky note visible in fullscreen.

Where are Apple Stickies notes stored?

Stickies notes are stored locally in ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.Stickies/Data/Library/Stickies/. They do not sync via iCloud and are not accessible from other devices.

Is there a keyboard shortcut to create a sticky note on Mac?

In Apple Stickies, press Cmd+N after switching to the Stickies app. For more shortcuts, see the complete Stickies usage guide.

Are sticky notes on Mac free?

Apple Stickies is free and pre-installed. Dedicated third-party apps have their own pricing and distribution models.