How to Get Sticky Notes on Mac (3 Methods)

Quick answer

You can get sticky notes on Mac through three channels: the built-in Stickies app (already on your Mac, no download needed), the Mac App Store (free and paid options), or third-party apps distributed directly by developers (the most capable option).

The fastest path is Apple Stickies. Press Cmd+Space, type "Stickies," hit Enter. You have sticky notes in under five seconds.

But Stickies is a legacy app frozen in time. No iCloud Sync, no Markdown, no global hotkey, and notes vanish the moment you enter fullscreen. If you need notes that actually stay visible while you work, a third-party app like Noticky gives you floating notes that persist above every window, including fullscreen apps.

This guide walks through all three methods, explains what each one can and cannot do, and helps you pick the right option for your workflow.

Method 1: Find the built-in Stickies app

Every Mac ships with a sticky notes app called Stickies. It has been part of macOS since the classic Mac OS era. Apple does not promote it, does not put it in the Dock, and does not list it in the App Store. But it is there.

Where to find Stickies on your Mac

There are four ways to open it:

1. Spotlight Search (fastest): Press Cmd+Space, type "Stickies," press Enter.
2. Applications folder: Open Finder, go to /Applications/Stickies.app.
3. Launchpad: Click the Launchpad icon in the Dock, then type "Stickies" in the search bar at the top.
4. Siri: Say "Open Stickies" and macOS will launch the app.

Once Stickies opens, a yellow note appears on your desktop. The app icon shows in the Dock while running. To keep it accessible long-term, right-click the Dock icon and select Options > Keep in Dock.

Why people can't find Stickies

The number one reason users search "how to get sticky notes on Mac" is that they cannot find an app they already have. This happens because:

• No Dock presence by default. Unlike Notes or Reminders, Stickies does not appear in the Dock unless you manually pin it.
• No App Store listing. You cannot search the App Store for Stickies. It is a system utility, not a Store app.
• Wrong name assumption. Windows users search for "Sticky Notes" (the Microsoft app name). macOS calls it "Stickies." Spotlight won't match if you type the wrong name.
• Apple never mentions it. There is no Apple marketing page, no "Tips" notification, and no onboarding flow that tells new Mac users about Stickies.

What Stickies gives you

Apple Stickies is extremely basic:

• Six color options (yellow, blue, green, pink, purple, gray)
• Resizable, repositionable notes on your desktop
• Basic text formatting (bold, italic, underline, lists)
• Translucent mode (semi-transparent backgrounds)
• A "Float on Top" per-note option (does not work in fullscreen)
• Notes persist between restarts (stored locally in ~/Library/StickiesDatabase)
• Spell check via macOS system services

What Stickies does not give you

This list is longer:

• No iCloud Sync. Notes are locked to one machine.
• No Markdown or rich formatting beyond basic font changes.
• No global keyboard shortcut. You must switch to the app, then press Cmd+N.
• No fullscreen visibility. Enter fullscreen on any app and your notes disappear. If you work in fullscreen regularly, this is a dealbreaker. Learn more about how to keep windows on top on Mac.
• No tags, folders, or any organization beyond manual positioning.
• No search across notes.
• No export to PDF, Markdown, or any portable format.
• No password protection or Touch ID.
• No menu bar access.

Stickies is adequate if you need a temporary note on a desktop you rarely leave. For anything more, you need one of the next two methods.

Method 2: Download from the Mac App Store

The Mac App Store is the second place to look for sticky note apps. It hosts free and paid alternatives that improve on Stickies in various ways.

How to install a sticky notes app from the App Store

1. Open the App Store from your Dock or via Spotlight (Cmd+Space, type "App Store").
2. Click the search field in the top-left corner.
3. Search for "sticky notes" or "desktop notes."
4. Browse results. Pay attention to ratings, review count, and the "Last Updated" date.
5. Click Get (free) or the price button to install.
6. The app downloads and appears in your Applications folder and Launchpad.

Notable App Store options

Free options:

• Sticky Notes by mProgress: Simple desktop sticky notes with color options. Basic but functional.
• Quick Note (Apple): Not a sticky note app, but a system feature. Swipe from the bottom-right corner of your trackpad (or press Fn+Q on macOS Ventura+) to create a Quick Note. Notes are saved in Apple Notes, not as floating windows.
• Memo Widget: A Notification Center widget for quick text. Limited to the Today View panel.

Paid options:

• SideNotes ($19.99): Notes in a slide-out panel on the screen edge. Good for reference material, but notes do not float above other windows.
• Tot (free on Mac with limits): Seven color-coded scratchpads. Elegant and minimal, but you get exactly seven slots.
• Unclutter ($24.99): A drop-down panel from the top of the screen with notes, clipboard history, and file storage. Not visible in fullscreen.

The App Store sandbox limitation

There is a fundamental technical constraint with App Store apps. Apple requires all apps distributed through the Mac App Store to run inside a sandbox, a security container that restricts system-level access.

For sticky notes, this matters enormously:

• No floating above fullscreen apps. The sandbox prevents apps from using the macOS window levels required to appear above fullscreen Spaces.
• Limited background persistence. Sandboxed apps can be suspended by the system when not in focus.
• Restricted global keyboard shortcuts. Registering system-wide hotkeys is harder inside the sandbox.

This is not a bug in any particular app. It is a platform restriction. If you need sticky notes that stay visible in fullscreen, the App Store cannot deliver that. You need Method 3.

For a full breakdown of which apps can and cannot float above fullscreen, see our guide to always-on-top apps on macOS.

Method 3: Third-party apps (direct download)

Apps distributed outside the Mac App Store have access to the full macOS API surface. They can use higher window levels, register global hotkeys, run as menu bar utilities, and access system features that sandboxed apps cannot.

These apps still go through Apple's notarization process. Apple scans the binary for malware and issues a ticket confirming the app is safe. You get security verification without the sandbox restrictions.

Noticky: the modern sticky notes app for macOS

Noticky is a macOS 15+ menu bar app built to fill every gap Apple Stickies leaves open.

Core capabilities:

• Always on Top: Notes float above all windows, including fullscreen apps and fullscreen Spaces. This uses a macOS window level above the compositing layer that fullscreen apps occupy. No App Store sticky note app can do this. Learn how this works technically.
• Menu bar app: Lives in your menu bar, not the Dock. Zero desktop clutter. Click the menu bar icon or press Cmd+Shift+N from anywhere in macOS to create a note instantly.
• Markdown WYSIWYG: Write in Markdown, see the formatted output live. Code blocks, headings, lists, bold, italic, links.
• iCloud Sync: Notes sync automatically across all your Macs.
• Touch ID Lock: Protect sensitive notes with biometric authentication. No one sees your notes without your fingerprint.
• Smart Tags: Organize notes with tags instead of rigid folder hierarchies. Filter by tag to find what you need.
• Export: Save notes as .txt, .md, or .pdf.
• Templates and Reminders: Create note templates for recurring formats. Set reminders on individual notes.
• Trash with 30-day retention: Deleted notes go to trash, not into the void.
• RTL support: Right-to-left language support for Arabic, Hebrew, and other RTL scripts.

Price: $6, one-time. No subscription. No ads. No data collection.

System requirement: macOS 15 Sequoia or later.

Other third-party options worth knowing

• Typora ($14.99): A Markdown editor, not a sticky notes app per se. But some power users combine it with a window-pinning utility to create a floating scratchpad.
• Hammerspoon (free, open-source): A Lua-scriptable automation tool for macOS. You can write a script that pins any window on top, but you need to build the notes functionality yourself.
• BetterTouchTool ($22): Primarily a gesture/shortcut tool, but includes a "pin window" action. Useful as a companion to a separate notes app.

How to install a third-party app safely

If this is your first time installing an app from outside the App Store:

1. Download only from the developer's official website. For Noticky: noticky.app. Never download from third-party mirror sites.
2. Verify notarization. When you first open the app, macOS Gatekeeper checks Apple's notarization ticket. If valid, the app opens normally.
3. Handle the first-launch dialog. On some macOS versions, you may see "This app was downloaded from the Internet." Click Open to proceed.
4. If blocked: Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security, scroll to the Security section, and click Open Anyway. This happens once per app.
5. Grant permissions if requested. Apps that register global hotkeys (like Cmd+Shift+N) may ask for Accessibility access. Grant it in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility.

Comparison: 3 ways to get sticky notes on Mac

Which method is right for you?

Choose Apple Stickies if:

• You need a note right now, this second, with zero setup
• You never work in fullscreen mode
• You use a single Mac and don't need sync
• Temporary desktop reminders are all you need

Choose an App Store app if:

• You want more polish than Stickies without leaving Apple's ecosystem
• You do not need notes visible in fullscreen
• You prefer automatic updates through the App Store
• A specific App Store app has a feature you care about (like SideNotes' slide-out panel)

Choose a third-party app (Noticky) if:

• You work in fullscreen and need notes to stay visible above everything
• You want a global shortcut to capture notes instantly from any app
• You need Markdown, tags, sync, export, or security
• You want a menu bar utility that does not add clutter to your Dock or desktop
• You use multiple Macs and need iCloud Sync

FAQ

Can I get Windows Sticky Notes on Mac?

No. Microsoft Sticky Notes is Windows-only with no macOS version. The closest macOS equivalent is Apple Stickies (basic) or Noticky (full-featured). If you are switching from Windows, the best sticky note apps for Mac guide covers your options in detail.

Why don't sticky notes show in fullscreen on Mac?

macOS isolates each fullscreen app into its own virtual desktop (a fullscreen Space). Standard windows, including Stickies notes, cannot cross Space boundaries. Only apps that use elevated macOS window levels can render above the fullscreen compositing layer. App Store sandboxing prevents most apps from accessing these levels. This is why third-party apps distributed outside the App Store are the only reliable solution for floating notes on Mac.

Are there any completely free sticky note apps for Mac?

Yes. Apple Stickies is free and pre-installed with no feature gating. On the App Store, several apps offer free tiers, though most limit note count, formatting, or features. For free, feature-rich note-taking, Apple Notes (also pre-installed) is more capable than Stickies, but it is a full note-taking app rather than sticky notes that float on your desktop.

Why can't I find Stickies on my Mac?

Stickies is installed on every Mac by default, but it is hidden. It does not appear in the Dock, the App Store, or any onboarding tutorial. Use Spotlight (Cmd+Space, type "Stickies") to find it. If Spotlight returns nothing, check /Applications/Stickies.app directly in Finder. On managed Macs (MDM-enrolled), IT administrators can remove or hide system apps.

Does Noticky work on older macOS versions?

No. Noticky requires macOS 15 Sequoia or later. It uses modern window-level APIs introduced in recent macOS versions to achieve reliable Always on Top behavior across all Spaces and fullscreen apps. If you are on an older macOS version, Apple Stickies or an App Store alternative is your best option until you upgrade.

Can I sync sticky notes between my Mac and iPhone?

Apple Stickies does not sync to any device. Apple Notes syncs via iCloud between Mac, iPhone, and iPad, but it is not a sticky notes app. Noticky syncs sticky notes across all Macs running macOS 15+ via iCloud. There is no iOS version of Noticky at this time.