Do you wish you were a spy? Take a look at your phone. It can be used to read and write hidden messages, did you know that? No, downloading an app like Signal is not necessary. If you have an iPhone, all you have to do is launch the Notes app. Prepare yourself to write some witty texts to your closest friends without anyone snooping around.
Whatever the subject of your private discussion, you have many choices. WhatsApp and Signal are well-known for emphasizing privacy. When it’s not necessary, why make things more complicated?
An iOS secret weapon for private chats is the built-in Notes app. Discovering ways to utilize a software beyond its intended purpose is always entertaining. The components are all in place to make this a straightforward method of having private discussions with someone, but it almost feels like you’re using it in a sneaky way that you shouldn’t be. Below, we’ll explain everything to you.
See the new features in iOS 17.5 and how to quickly examine and copy Wi-Fi passwords on your iPhone or iPad for additional iOS advice.
Use the Notes app to create a note.
To create a new note on your iPhone, open the Notes app and tap the Compose button in the lower right corner. After that, you can type anything you want to keep in the note; otherwise, it will be immediately erased when you close it. Although it’s preferable to start over with a new note, you can also simply enter an existing one.
iPhone Notes app
Start by writing a new note or entering an existing one.
Aguilar Nelson/CNET
To add collaborators, change the share options in your note.
You can start the process of adding someone as a collaborator once your note is complete and ready to go. This allows them to read and amend any content in the note. To begin, select Share Note after tapping the More icon in the upper right corner.
Make sure the Can make changes option is ticked under Permission by tapping Share Options now. If you wish to be the only person who can add collaborators to your note, you should also turn off the “Anyone can add people” option. Once you have completed configuring these settings, return to the previous page.
iPhone Notes app
Second, control the abilities of your partners.
Aguilar Nelson/CNET
Share the link and invite others.
Next, decide how to distribute the note: It can be shared by social media, email, text message, and more. The note link can be copied to your clipboard and pasted anywhere you choose by choosing Copy Link when you swipe through the sharing choices.
In this case, I’ll distribute the note using the Copy Link option.
Enter the recipient’s phone number or email address at the top of the Copy Link page so they can view the note. Additionally, you can search through your contacts by tapping the Add symbol. It is necessary to provide a contact in the note. Even with the link, the recipient won’t be able to view or change the note if you share it without adding a contact.
Finally, click Copy Link to share the note link with your colleague by copying it to your clipboard.
iPhone Notes app
Add your partner or collaborators next.
Aguilar Nelson/CNET
Use Notes to send confidential messages.
It is now necessary for the recipient to click on the note link and accept the invitation. They will be taken to the collaborative note you just generated in the Notes app if they agree.
Simply enter something into the message to communicate; the recipient will see it instantly without you needing to press the send button. Additionally, they will be alerted whenever the note is changed.
To let everyone else know who typed what, each individual in the note will have a corresponding color appear (only for a little moment). Additionally, you can swipe right from the center of the note to view the name of the sender, the time stamp for the message’s creation, and any associated colors.
iPhone Notes app
You can now speak with your loved ones in secret.
Aguilar Nelson/CNET
Toggle on Highlight All Changes after selecting Manage Shared Note by tapping the Share Note button (which has a checkmark icon). In this manner, it will be easier to read the conversation because every message will remain continuously highlighted in the appropriate color.
Remove your message or the other person’s message from the note if you want to communicate in a more subdued manner. In this manner, your communication will resemble that of Snapchat more, with brief or ephemeral messages that are hidden from prying eyes. Any text in the notes, together with any images, videos, links, drawings, or other assets you include, can be used in this way.
Permanently delete your private chat.
It’s time to conclude the private chat because not all of them can continue indefinitely.
You can easily maintain the note intact for everyone while preventing them from modifying it if you are the note’s owner. Tap the View Participants icon in the upper right corner, and then select Manage Shared Note. You can either tap on a participant’s name and select Remove Access, or you can swipe left on their name and select Remove.
iPhone Notes app
Stop sharing the note or remove any contributors to put an end to the discussion.
Aguilar Nelson/CNET
You can also select the Stop Sharing option, which will erase the note from all of the participants’ devices in addition to removing them from it.
You can simply remove the note from the Notes app if you are not the note’s owner.
- For other tech advice, check out how to save money by borrowing an Airtag for vacation and the two iPhone settings you can adjust to fall asleep more quickly.