How to Use a Planner in Goodnotes: Beginner Setup Guide

A digital planner is most useful when it is easy to find, quick to open, and simple to update. Goodnotes can import PDF files for marking up and annotating, so a PDF planner can become a practical workspace for daily, weekly, and monthly planning.

What you need before starting

Before opening Goodnotes, make sure you know where your planner PDF is saved. On an iPhone or iPad, downloaded files are commonly found in the Files app, including the Downloads folder in iCloud Drive. You can also check On My iPad or On My iPhone if the file was saved locally.

For more details about locating files, read Apple’s guide to finding files on an iPhone or iPad.

• A planner PDF saved on your device or in a connected cloud location
• Goodnotes installed on the device where you want to plan
• A short list of priorities for the day or week

How to import a planner into Goodnotes

1. Open Goodnotes and go to the Documents tab in the Library view.
2. Tap the + New icon and choose Import.
3. Select the planner PDF from Files, iCloud Drive, Downloads, or another available location.
4. Open the imported document and check that the pages appear in the expected order.

Goodnotes documents can be imported from within the app or from an external app, and PDF is one of the supported file formats. The official Goodnotes import guide also explains other import methods and supported formats.

For the complete file, Files app, import, hyperlink testing and troubleshooting workflow, use our step-by-step guide to importing a digital planner into Goodnotes.

Set up your planner for everyday use

Start with the current page

Open the page that matches your current planning period instead of filling in every page at once. For example, begin with today’s page or the current week. This keeps your first session focused and gives you a clear place to return to.

Add only the information you need

Use the planner for concrete items such as appointments, deadlines, study blocks, errands, and personal priorities. If a page includes space for notes, use it for short reminders rather than copying information you already keep somewhere else.

Choose a consistent writing system

Keep your system simple. You might use one color for appointments, another for tasks, and a third for notes. You can also use symbols such as a checkbox for tasks or a star for an important deadline. The goal is to make your pages easier to scan, not to create extra work.

How to annotate a PDF planner

Goodnotes supports marking up and annotating PDF files. Use the writing and annotation tools to enter plans directly on the relevant page. You can write by hand, add typed notes where appropriate, or mark completed tasks as your day progresses.

Try this basic routine:

1. Write the day’s fixed commitments first.
2. Add two or three priorities.
3. Break large tasks into smaller next actions.
4. Review the page at the end of the day.
5. Move unfinished items to a later date only if they are still important.

Keep your digital planner organized

Use one main planner document for the planning period you are actively managing. Avoid importing multiple copies unless you have a clear reason, such as keeping a separate archive or creating a fresh version for a new period.

If you want to compare formats before choosing a planner, see this guide to what to check before importing a free digital planner for Goodnotes. For another useful Goodnotes workflow, read how to duplicate a page in Goodnotes.

A simple weekly Goodnotes planning workflow

1. At the beginning of the week, review the weekly page and add fixed commitments.
2. Choose the most important outcomes for the week.
3. Assign tasks to specific days when that helps you follow through.
4. Use daily pages for details, notes, and changes.
5. At the end of the week, review completed items and carry forward only what still matters.

This workflow keeps the planner useful without requiring a complicated setup. Start with the pages you need, then add more structure only when you notice a recurring problem.

Common beginner problems

The planner file is difficult to find

Open the Files app and check Downloads, iCloud Drive, and the local storage locations listed under Browse. If you use another cloud service connected to Files, check that service’s folder as well.

The imported document does not look right

Review the source file before importing it again. Goodnotes notes that some supported document formats may not preserve the original layout perfectly during conversion; using a PDF version can help avoid that conversion step.

The planner feels too complicated

Return to the basics: one current page, a short priority list, and a brief review. A planner should support your routine rather than become another task to manage.

Choose a planner you can actually use

The best setup is one you will return to consistently. Once you know how to find, import, annotate, and review a PDF planner in Goodnotes, you can choose a layout that fits the way you plan.

Explore the digital planner collection when you are ready to choose your next planner.