App intro

The Story Behind Hi Sticky

Hi Sticky began as a lightweight place for quick notes, temporary thoughts, useful links, and small pieces of writing that should follow you across Apple devices.

Desk setup that inspired Hi Sticky
Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash

Why it exists

Sometimes a full writing app is more than the moment needs. Hi Sticky was made for the small notes that sit between ideas and action: a scratchpad sentence, a link to come back to, a temporary list, or text you want to keep nearby without managing files.

The goal was simple: keep the note plain, keep the interface calm, and make sure the text is available on every Apple device you use.

TextEdit window used as early inspiration

Built from the Mac outward

The original idea came from the simplicity of a Mac text window. A note can live in its own small window, stay out of the way, or float above other apps when you need it close. The visual initial page makes notes searchable and sortable, while Favorites remain at the top. Keyboard shortcuts make it easy to open, switch, format, and return.

TextEdit and Hi Sticky on Mac
TextEdit and Hi Sticky
Keyboard navigation in the Mac version
Keyboard-first navigation on Mac.
Multiple sticky note windows floating on Mac
Notes can stay close as floating windows.

A window-like feel on iPhone and iPad

On iPhone and iPad, notes behave like small windows in a row. Open a note, create another, swipe between them, and close one when you are done. A long press can clear the open set so you can start fresh without deleting the notes themselves.

New notes are designed to be fast. Tap the compose button and the keyboard is ready, so the app gets out of the way as soon as the thought appears. A compact formatting bar adds emphasis, bullets, numbered steps, and tappable checkboxes when you need them.

The visual note list shows fonts and backgrounds before you open anything. Search, choose a sort order, and long-press a note to mark it as a Favorite so it remains at the top.

Window-like note design on iOS
Opening, navigating, and closing notes on iOS
Open, navigate, close one note, or close all.
Adding a new note on iOS
New notes open with the keyboard ready.

What Hi Sticky can do

The app stays quick at its core while adding a little more structure for notes that need to remain useful.

Find important notes first

Search the visual note list, sort it your way, and keep Favorites above everything else.

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Add just enough structure

Use emphasis, bullets, numbered lists, and interactive checkboxes without entering a separate editing mode.

Keep notes available

iCloud, widgets, Shortcuts, and Apple Watch keep recent and selected notes close across your devices.

Hi Sticky widgets
Widgets can show a recent or selected note.
Hi Sticky on Apple Watch
Apple Watch support keeps notes glanceable.
Hi Sticky Shortcuts actions
Shortcuts can create, open, and manage notes.
Links highlighted in Hi Sticky
Links stay useful without turning notes into heavy documents.

Trash without drama

Hi Sticky is meant for everyday notes, not heavy document management. Deleting is intentionally simple, while a local trash area gives you a small safety net in case you need to recover something later.

Trash inside Hi Sticky settings
Trash can be found inside Settings.

From Notes SE to Hi Sticky

The app was first introduced as Notes SE, a lighter and simpler take on note taking. It later became Hi Sticky, a name that better fits its character: small notes that stay close, sync everywhere, and feel ready whenever you need them.

Hi Sticky identity with green cursor and red icon dot

Keep a simple note close.

Hi Sticky is available on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro.

Download on the App Store