Want to attach a note to an email or keep a shared to-do list right in Gmail? Find out here how to keep notes and lists (synchronized with Google Keep) in Gmail.
First, a Philosopher Writes Himself an Antinomic Note
For forty years, Martin Lampe diligently served the German philosopher Immanuel Kant, who very much depended on and cherished him. Then, the trusty servant took more and more to drinking.
Kant felt and followed the imperative to let Lampe go.
That, of course, did not mean his memory was gone. So, Kant wrote a note to himself:
The name “Lampe” must now be thoroughly forgotten.
Now, let’s remember we can take Google Keep notes right in Gmail:
Google Keep Notes in Gmail: How to Add a Google Keep Note
Time needed: 2 minutes
To create a new note that synchronizes to Google Keep in Gmail:
- Click Keep (
) in Gmail’s right side panel. Don’t see Keep: If you do not see the side panel, click the Show side panel button near Gmail’s bottom right corner.
Gmail keyboard shortcut: You can press g k in Gmail to open Tasks in the side panel even if the panel is hidden; then, switch to Keep.
- Now click Take a note….
Notes for Gmail emails: You can also link a note to an email in Gmail. (See below.)
- Type your note’s desired text over Take a note….
Optional: Type over Title to add a title.
- Click Done.
Auto-save: Changes do save automatically, even before you (or even if you do not) click Done.
How to Link a Note to an Email in Gmail Notes
To connect a note in Google Keep to an email in Gmail:
- Open the message you want to link to a note.
- Open Keep in Gmail. (See above.)
- Click Take a note….
- Type the desired note over Take a note… or enter a desired note title over Title.
Important: You can enter both, of course, but you need to type at least one. Keep will not save the note and link without custom text. - Click Done.
Now, you can open the referenced email right from the note in Google Keep, and the connected note will appear under Related in the Keep side panel when you open the email in Gmail.
How to Add a Google Keep List Gmail
To create a Google Keep list with checkboxes in Gmail:
- Open Keep in Gmail. (See above.)
- Click New list (
) in the Keep side panel. - Type the list’s first item over List item.
Hint: Click + List item to add consecutive items. - Click Done.
How to Use Google Keep Notes in Gmail: FAQ
Can I open or create notes with a keyboard shortcut?
No.
Neither Keep nor Gmail keyboard shortcuts work with the Keep pane in Gmail.
To open any note or list in Keep from Gmail Notes:
- Click the note’s menu button (⠇)
- Select Open in Keep.
Can I color-code notes?
No.
While Gmail will show your notes’ colors, you cannot add colors right in Gmail Keep.
Can I add reminders?
No.
Google Keep in Gmail is oblivious to reminders. You cannot add, see, change or delete them.
To edit reminders in notes, open Google Keep in a separate browser window or tab.
Can I turn a note into a list?
No.
While Gmail Notes lets you edit and use lists in notes, you cannot convert a note into a list.
You can create a new list right in Gmail Keep, though.
Can I use Google Keep Notes in the Gmail Apps for Android and iOS or Gmail mobile?
No.
Keep for Gmail is accessible in the desktop version exclusively.
You can try opening the desktop version of Gmail in a mobile browser to access notes or, of course, use Google Keep in any mobile browser or, ideally, turn to the Google Keep apps for iOS and for Android.
Can I use iPhone Notes with Gmail?
You can use Gmail to store notes across Notes on iOS, iPadOS and macOS.
The notes will be kept as emails in the Notes label, though, not as notes inside Google Keep.
(How to use Google Keep notes and lists in Gmail tested in a desktop browser; first published January 2019, last updated March 2025)