Gmail has a note-taking app hiding in plain sight — and now I use it daily
by Anu Joy · Android PoliceI open Gmail dozens of times a day. It was where messages landed, and occasionally got starred or archived. I never expected it to be useful beyond email.
However, tucked away in the sidebar is a note-taking app I’d overlooked, even though I use Gmail every single day.
After I started using Google Keep directly inside Gmail, it changed how I handle notes, ideas, and tasks during the workday.
Instead of context-switching or letting thoughts slip away, I now capture them alongside my messages.
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The Gmail sidebar I kept ignoring
If you use Gmail on desktop, you’ve probably noticed the slim sidebar on the right. It holds Google Calendar, Google Tasks, Google Keep, and Contacts.
I’d always dismissed it as clutter, thinking of it as something Google added to push its ecosystem.
Out of curiosity (and mild frustration with my inbox), I clicked the Keep icon one day. A familiar panel slid open, showing my notes exactly as they appear on my phone.
By keeping tools like Google Keep just a click away, Gmail offered a lightweight way to capture notes without switching tabs.
How I use Google Keep alongside Gmail
Using Google Keep in Gmail serves as a holding space for my thoughts and ideas while I manage my inbox.
If an email triggers an idea, a follow-up question, or something I want to think about later, I jot it down in Keep instead of leaving the message unread or starred.
That keeps my inbox focused on communication.
I also use Keep to extract context out of long email threads.
I’ll copy key details, such as dates, decisions, or action items, into a note so I don’t have to re-scan the entire conversation later.
It is beneficial for ongoing projects, where information often gets buried across multiple replies.
One limitation is that you can’t directly move an email into Google Keep. There’s no “send to Keep” button, which initially felt like a missed opportunity.
My workaround is simple: I open the email, copy its URL, and paste that link into a Keep note. That way, I can jump straight back to the original message whenever I need context.
This approach works well for ongoing threads. I’ll summarize the key points of the email in my own words, drop the Gmail link underneath, and move on.
It keeps my notes clean while still giving me a direct path back to the entire conversation.
Why this works better than copying emails elsewhere
Before I started using Keep inside Gmail, my default move was to copy email content into another app, whether it’s a note-taking app, a task manager, or a document.
However, every extra step made it less likely I’d capture the information in the first place.
Using Keep directly in Gmail is convenient. I don’t have to decide where something belongs or interrupt my flow by switching apps.
If a thought comes up while I’m reading an email, I capture it immediately.
There’s also less duplication and cleanup involved.
When I copy emails into other tools, I tend to over-save by copying entire threads or unnecessary details. With Keep, I’m more selective.
That makes the notes easier to scan and far more useful later.
Throughout the day, Keep becomes a lightweight scratchpad.
Drafting a reply, outlining a meeting agenda, or capturing something I want to revisit later all happen there, without ever leaving Gmail.
And because it syncs automatically, those notes are automatically updated on the mobile app.
The limitations of using Google Keep inside Gmail
As convenient as this setup is, it isn’t perfect.
Google Keep in Gmail is intentionally lightweight, and that simplicity means it won’t suit every workflow or every type of note.
The most significant limitation is structure. Keep doesn’t offer folders, nested notes, or advanced organization tools.
When your notes start piling up, relying on labels and search can feel a bit limiting compared to other note-taking apps.
It’s great for quick capture, but it’s not designed for managing large, long-term projects.
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There’s also the lack of deeper email integration.
Since you can’t directly attach or move an email into Keep, referencing messages requires manual steps, such as copying links or summarizing content yourself.
Finally, the sidebar itself can feel cramped.
Writing longer notes or thinking through complex ideas in a narrow panel isn’t always comfortable.
When a note starts growing beyond a few lines, I often open Keep in a new tab.
Despite these limitations, I’ve stuck with this system because I’m not asking it to do too much.
Google Keep in Gmail doesn’t replace a full note-taking app; it’s there to catch thoughts before they disappear.
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The Gmail feature that earned a permanent spot in my workflow
What surprised me most about using Google Keep inside Gmail is how little effort it takes. There’s no setup process or system to maintain.
By keeping note-taking right beside my inbox, I no longer have to trust my memory or let emails pile up as reminders.
It’s worth noting that this setup won’t replace a dedicated note-taking app. For me, its value lies in how seamlessly it fits into the day.
What once felt like a useless sidebar has transformed into one of the most consistently handy parts of Gmail, and now, I can’t imagine working without it.