There’s a neat, super simple trick that lets you turn your favorite browser into a minimalist notepad. Instead of reaching for Notepad or any other note-taking app, online or offline, you can jot things down while browsing the web, right inside the browser.
All it takes is typing a short code snippet into the address bar
Done in a jiffy
This “hack” is super simple. All you have to do is open Google Chrome and type or copy the following into the address bar:
data:text/html, <html contenteditable> That’s pretty much it. Now you can use that page as a no-frills word processor. It’s handy to have it when you want to write notes while working, take a phone call, or, in my case, jot down ideas and thoughts while writing.
This trick works in other browsers too
You aren’t limited to Google Chrome
The best thing about this DIY notepad is that it works in most modern browsers. I’ve tested it in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, but it should work in pretty much every browser you might be using, no matter how obscure it is.
You aren’t limited to desktop browsers either. I tried taking notes in the Android versions of Chrome and DuckDuckGo, and I managed to turn them into notepads just by copying the command into their address bar and opening the page.
Why would you use this anyway?
It’s always handy to have a notepad
So why would anyone use this? Well, as I’ve said, it can be handy to have a barebones note-taking page in your browser for times when you want to quickly jot something down without having to open your preferred note-taking app or click through multiple menus to access an online notepad.
You can bookmark the page and open it in a second when you’re working and want to write down something your coworker or boss said, or jot down a quick note or two during a phone or video call. When you’re in an online meeting and get a great idea but have to wait for your turn to speak, you can immediately write it down instead of opening a separate app.
I occasionally use this browser-based notepad when working on an article or doing research. It’s great for capturing fleeting thoughts I might otherwise forget, jotting down subheading ideas, pasting useful links, or using it as a temporary note-taking space I can simply close and forget about once I’m done.
There are “some” limitations
A dearth of features
This browser notepad works great as a dead-simple note-taking app, but the fact that it’s just a tiny code snippet also means you shouldn’t expect a slew of features.
You can’t adjust the font size, spacing, margins, or any of that fancy stuff. Your notes also won’t be saved automatically when you close the browser or reload the page. The only way to save them is by saving the entire page using the “Save page as…” option.
You get the default font, can press Enter to insert line breaks, use basic keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+I, Ctrl+B, Ctrl+U), and copy and paste text—and that’s about it. There’s no support for Markdown or any other advanced feature.
You can create a fancier browser notepad if you want
The wonders of HTML
If this hack sounds intriguing but you find the default version too barebones, check out this Medium article and paste the code shared there into your browser’s address bar. You’ll get a nicer-looking yet still dead-simple note-taking space you can customize to your liking. You can adjust margins, change the background, and more by tweaking the code. The downside is that this version won’t save your work either, but at least it looks much better than the original.
If you want an even more powerful browser notepad that automatically saves what you write, head over to this Reddit post and follow the instructions (the code should work fine in most browsers). In a minute or so, you’ll have your own browser notepad you can bookmark and use whenever you want to jot something down, with the added benefit of everything being saved automatically. You can edit the font size and many other elements directly in the code—just open the .htm file you created with Notepad and go wild.
They’re anything but powerful, but these browser notepads are neat to have
While they’re as simple as possible and will never replace proper, robust note-taking apps, these browser-based notepads are neat to have. Sometimes, we just want to write something down in a hurry, and being able to open one with a single click can be handy.
Also, sometimes I just want to jot something down while working or browsing the web, use that info a few minutes later, and then simply close the page and forget about it. Not every note needs to be formatted or saved.
- OS
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Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, Linux
- Brand
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Obsidian
Obsidian is a note-taking and database creation app that lets you store notes privately, so others can’t see them unless you share them. It also has robust third-party app support, so you can customize everything just the way you want it.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
