NEW WAY

UPDATE 2024-10-01: in iOS 18 Apple has added a proper way to convert URLs to thumbnails.

Here is how to do it:

• long press the URL
• select “show link preview”
• optionally: switch mode small/large

if you don’t see the “show link preview” option:

• tap “edit link” first → done → try again

video demonstration on 𝕏

I post things like this on 𝕏 first, so if you want to see them as soon as they are out, consider following me there.

｢ turn on link thumbnail preview ｣
on apple notes

- long press url
- select “show link preview”
- optionally: switch mode small/large

if you don’t see the “show link preview” option:
- tap “edit link” first → done → try again pic.twitter.com/ykvdokV0mG

— Pavel Larionov (@pa1ar) September 26, 2024

video demonstration on YouTube

YOU CAN CONTINUE READING, IF YOU WANT, BUT THE BACKFLIPS DESCRIBED BELOW ARE NO LONGER NEEDED. WILL KEEP THEM HERE FOR HISTORICAL REASONS.

OLD WAYS

Apple Notes creates beautiful thumbnails for URLs, when you share a URL to the note. Unfortunately, there is no straightforward way to create a thumbnail on demand while you are writing the note, e.g. I’d expect smth like long tap → create thumbnail or smth.

Maybe someday we will have an easier way, but for now there is a workaround. It works for both iOS and MacOS.

How to create a thumbnail preview for a URL from within the Apple Notes on iOS (iPhone/iPad)

The trick is to simulate drag-and-drop while inside of the app.
In other words, we need force the green + sign to appear.

Method 1, easy

This method was proposed by @soundsgoodtome on YouTube in comments under the first video I have published on this topic with (Method 2). Since then I am only using Method 1.

1. create/open a note
2. paste/type textual URL to the note
3. tap and hold on the URL
4. tap with another finger on the UNDO button

• green plus should appear near the plate with the URL as drag-and-drop mode activates at that moment

5. tap REDO to preserve the state of the note after pressing UNDO
6. remove finger from the screen to paste the thumbnail

Method 2, original

This method is somewhat tricky, hence not recommended.

1. create/open a note
2. paste/type textual URL to the note
3. dismiss keyboard (swipe down outside of the keyboard)
4. tap and hold on the URL
5. move it out of the way so that you can see the body of the note
6. tap with another finger on the body of the note (goal is to call the keyboard again)

• at that point, green plus should appear near the plate with the URL you should still be holding with your finger

8. point with the cursor where you would like to place the thumbnail
9. remove finger from the screen to paste the thumbnail

For some really weird reason, sometimes this plus appears later, so occasionally the process needs to be repeated.

How to create a thumbnail preview for a URL from within the Apple Notes on MacOS (Macbook)

You can do the same on MacOS, but the process is a bit different and even more weird. The principle remains the same - we need to drag-and-drop the URL to the body of the note.

You must have a trackpad for this to work, as you will need forcetouch to open the quick preview of the URL.

1. create/open a note
2. paste/type textual URL to the note
3. use trackpad to click and hold on the URL
4. the preview will open (you can release the trackpad)
5. click and drag the URL from the preview; you need to select URL which will lead to the page you want to create a thumbnail for.
6. drag the URL-plate to the body of the note
7. release the trackpad to paste the thumbnail
8. repeat if needed, as you can drop as many thumbnails as you want from this preview (it won’t close until you click outside of it)

Here is a video to demonstrate the process on macos:

I hope it helps and would be happy if you could let me know if you can reproduce this. Feel free drop a comment here, tag/DM me on 𝕏 or drop a comment on YouTube/TikTok.