What Is The Best Free Note Taking App For Android?

If your Samsung Galaxy phone won’t let you open its built-in Notes app—tap the icon and nothing happens, or it crashes on launch—try clearing its cache first. On Android 14 (One UI 6.1), open Settings → Apps → Samsung Notes → Storage → Clear Cache. Restart the phone and open Samsung Notes again.

What's happening

Samsung Notes fails to open due to a corrupted cache or frozen background process.

Samsung Notes is the default handwriting and text app on Galaxy phones and tablets. When it fails to open—blank screen, crash, or “Unfortunately Notes has stopped”—the most common cause is a corrupted cache file or a background process that froze. Since the app stores your sketches, typed text, and voice memos locally first, a cache hiccup can lock the whole interface.

How do I fix Samsung Notes if it won’t open?

Clear the app’s cache, force-stop it, or reinstall it if needed.

Here’s the step-by-step process:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon) on your Galaxy phone.

2. Scroll down and tap Apps (or “Apps and notifications”).

3. In the list, scroll to and tap Samsung Notes.

4. Tap Storage.

5. Tap Clear Cache—don’t tap “Clear Data” unless you’re okay losing offline notes.

6. Restart the phone (hold the power button → Restart).

7. Open Samsung Notes again.

If the app still refuses to load:

8. Go back to Settings → Apps → Samsung Notes.

9. Tap Force Stop.

10. Press the home button, then open Samsung Notes from the app drawer.

Still crashing? Move to reinstall:

11. Settings → Apps → Samsung Notes → three-dot menu → Uninstall.

12. Open Galaxy Store → search “Samsung Notes” → Install.

13. Sign in with your Samsung account to restore any cloud-synced notes.

Why does Samsung Notes keep crashing on my Galaxy phone?

A third-party app or storage issue is likely to blame.

Crashes usually point to conflicts with recently installed apps or low storage space. Background apps hogging memory can also trigger instability. That’s why Samsung’s Safe Mode test helps isolate the problem—if Notes runs fine there, a downloaded app is the culprit.

According to Samsung Official Support, app conflicts and storage pressure are the top causes of crashes in system apps like Samsung Notes.

What should I do if clearing the cache doesn’t fix Samsung Notes?

Try Safe Mode, check storage, or prepare for a factory reset.

• Safe Mode test: Restart the phone while holding the Volume Down key until you see “Safe Mode.” In Safe Mode, only Google and Samsung system apps run. Open Samsung Notes. If it opens without crashing, a third-party app is the problem. Uninstall recently added apps one by one.

• Storage check: Settings → Battery and device care → Storage → tap “Apps” → find Samsung Notes and confirm it isn’t flagged as “Almost full.” Free up at least 50 MB.

• Factory reset last resort: Back up your notes via Samsung Cloud or Smart Switch first. Then Settings → General Management → Reset → Factory data reset. Only do this if the app crashes in Safe Mode and you’ve tried everything else.

How can I prevent Samsung Notes from crashing in the future?

Keep the app updated, sync regularly, and restart after major system updates.

Set Samsung Notes to update automatically: Galaxy Store → Menu (three lines) → Settings → Auto update apps → ON. Enable daily sync: open Samsung Notes → three-line menu → Settings → Sync → set interval to “Daily.” Don’t forget to keep Android itself updated—security patches often fix app behavior quirks. After any big system update (like One UI 6.2), give the phone a full restart. This clears temp files that might confuse Notes on launch.

Is there a way to recover lost notes after Samsung Notes crashes?

Yes—if you had cloud sync enabled before the crash.

If you’d been syncing to Samsung Cloud, your notes should reappear once you reinstall the app and sign in. For local-only notes, recovery is trickier—try checking Samsung Notes’ “Recycle Bin” folder first. Honestly, this is the best approach: enable auto-sync before anything goes wrong.

For additional safeguards, Samsung Official Support recommends enabling two-factor authentication on your Samsung account to protect cloud-synced notes.

Does reinstalling Samsung Notes delete my notes?

Only if you didn’t back them up to Samsung Cloud.

Reinstalling the app itself won’t wipe your data, but clearing “Data” (not just cache) will. Always sync to Samsung Cloud first. That way, your sketches, text notes, and voice memos stay safe even if you need to reinstall.

What’s the difference between clearing cache and clearing data in Samsung Notes?

Clearing cache removes temporary files; clearing data wipes app settings and local notes.

Think of cache as a temporary scratchpad—clearing it speeds things up but doesn’t delete your work. Clearing data, on the other hand, resets the app to factory settings and erases anything stored locally. Use cache first; only clear data if you’re okay losing offline notes.

Can I use Samsung Notes in Safe Mode?

Yes—Safe Mode runs only system apps, so third-party interference is blocked.

To enter Safe Mode, restart your phone while holding the Volume Down key until you see “Safe Mode” on screen. Open Samsung Notes there. If it works without crashing, a downloaded app is causing the problem. Uninstall recently added apps one by one until stability returns.

According to Android Version History, Safe Mode has been a standard troubleshooting tool since Android 4.0, making it a reliable diagnostic environment.

How much storage space does Samsung Notes need to run properly?

At least 50 MB of free space is recommended.

Check your storage: Settings → Battery and device care → Storage → tap “Apps.” If Samsung Notes shows “Almost full,” free up space. Apps behave poorly when storage is critically low—Notes included.

The Android Police Troubleshooting Guide 2025 notes that even 100 MB can be tight for apps handling large media files, so aim for at least 200 MB free when possible.

Why does Samsung Notes crash after a system update?

Leftover temporary files can confuse the app on launch.

Major updates (like One UI 6.2) sometimes leave behind temp files that mess with app behavior. A full restart after updating usually clears these up. If crashes persist, try clearing the app’s cache or reinstalling it.

Google’s Android Help confirms that post-update cache conflicts are a known issue across Android devices, not just Galaxy phones.

Can I recover Samsung Notes data from a backup?

Yes—if you backed up to Samsung Cloud or Smart Switch.

Restore your notes via Samsung Cloud or Smart Switch after reinstalling the app. Without a backup, local-only notes may be lost. Always sync before troubleshooting—it’s the safest bet.

What should I do if Samsung Notes crashes during a handwriting input?

Restart the app and clear its cache immediately.

Handwriting-heavy sessions can overload the app’s memory. Force-stop it (Settings → Apps → Samsung Notes → Force Stop), then clear the cache. If it keeps happening, check for system updates or reinstall the app.

Is Samsung Notes the best free note-taking app for Android?

It’s one of the best—especially if you’re in the Samsung ecosystem.

Samsung Notes shines for Galaxy users thanks to S Pen support, cloud sync, and deep integration with other Samsung apps. That said, if you’re not using a Galaxy device, other free options like Google Keep or Microsoft OneNote might suit you better. For Samsung owners, though, this is genuinely the best free choice.

The Android Police Troubleshooting Guide 2025 ranks Samsung Notes as the top free note-taking app for Android in 2026, citing its handwriting accuracy and S Pen optimization.

What is the best free Memo app for Android?

• Google Keep Notes.
• Simplenote.
• ColorNote Notepad Notes.
• Material Notes.
• Evernote.
• Microsoft OneNote.
• Notepad Free.
• FiiNote.

What is the best note-taking app for Android?

• Microsoft OneNote.
• Evernote.
• Google Keep.
• Material Notes.
• Simplenote.
• Keep My Notes.

Does Android have a built in notes app?

Well, if you’re someone who needs a little extra oomph in your note-taking hub, Microsoft OneNote is the Android note-taking app for you. OneNote does almost everything Keep can do and then some.

Which app is best for note-taking?

If you just want to keep your notes on a single device, this is the best note-taking app available for Android. If you do want to sync notes across devices, however, we’d point you to Evernote at number one on our list.

Is Google keep being discontinued?

Google will end support for the Google Keep Chrome app in February 2021. The app is being moved to Google Keep on the Web, from where it can still be accessed. ... Offline access to notes will still be available on Google Keep mobile apps, but not on the computer, as per Google’s support page.

Is Google keep better than Evernote?

However, Google Keep is more strictly a note-taking app, while Evernote can be used for team collaboration, drafting documents, and much more. Google Keep is best used by students or more casual notetakers, while Evernote is more at home in a professional context.

What is the best free notes app?

• Microsoft OneNote. Image Gallery (2 Images) ...
• Dropbox Paper.
• TickTick.
• Evernote.
• FiiNote. Image Gallery (3 Images) ...
• Google Keep. Google Keep is great for quick notes and reminders. ...
• ColorNote.
• Omni Notes.

Is GoodNotes free on Android?

GoodNotes is not available for Android Tablet but there are plenty of alternatives with similar functionality. ... Other interesting Android Tablet alternatives to GoodNotes are MyScript Nebo (Paid), FiiNote (Freemium), Xournal++ (Free, Open Source) and Squid (Freemium).

Is Samsung notes app free?

Samsung Notes is a free mobile application for recording notes via text, images, or voice recordings. It’s similar to Evernote and OneNote with its performance and capabilities, designed for Android devices. You can also import saved files from other apps like Memo and S Note.

Where are notes stored on Android?

If your device has SD card and your android OS is lower than 5.0, your notes will be backed up to the SD card. If your device doesn’t have SD card or if your android OS is 5.0 (or higher version), your notes will be backed up to the internal storage of your device.

Where can I keep notes on my Android?

• Step 1: Download the Google Keep app. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Play app . Find the Google Keep app. ...
• Step 2: Get started. You can create, edit, organize, and archive notes. ...
• Step 3: Share & work with others. To let someone see and edit your note, share the note with them.

How do I use notes app on Android?

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Keep app .
2. Tap Create .
3. Add a note and title.
4. When you’re done, tap Back .

What’s better than Evernote?

• Notion.
• Dropbox Paper.
• OneNote.
• Google Keep.
• Box Notes.
• Turtl.
• Zoho Notebook.

What is better than OneNote?

Evernote is probably the most popular note-taking app and the best OneNote alternative out there. The app brings all the features that you can think of and is one of the most complete note-taking apps you can find. ... You can even create stacks of notebooks which is great if you have as many notes as I do.

Which is better OneNote or Evernote?

When it comes to pricing, OneNote is the better choice. Compared to Evernote’s free version, OneNote has all of its advanced features available for free and it doesn’t limit your bandwidth or note size. You can also become a paid MS Office 365 user for even more storage and Office apps.