How to Import a Digital Planner to Notability

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Notability is one of the BEST apps you can possibly use for digital planning and note-taking. With its wide range of annotation tools and user-friendly interface, Notability is a fantastic home for your digital planner.

But the question is — how do you import a digital planner to Notability?

While it might seem confusing at first, Notability actually provides a few different (and easy!) ways to get your planner or digital notebook up and running in no time.

So let’s look at the various methods of importing your digital notebook or digital planner to Notability, so you can start planning today!

How to Add Digital Planner to Notability

Importing an Etsy Purchase

Etsy is one of the best places to find your perfect digital planner or notebook. And no matter if you’re a Snazzy Pixels Shop customer or you purchased from another Etsy seller, you might need a bit of help getting your files into Notability.

Here’s everything you need to know to get your digital planner from your Etsy Account to Notability…

How to Import an Etsy Digital Planner to Notability

1. Open up Safari on your iPad and login to Etsy.com. The Etsy App doesn’t allow you to download, so you must use Safari and go to the website version. 
2. Once logged in, head to the Purchases and Reviews section of your account. This can be accessed by tapping on your profile image on the top right and navigating to Purchases and Reviews. 
3. On the Purchases and Reviews page you’ll see a record of all your Etsy orders, both physical and digital products. Next to your digital order, tap on the Download Files button. 

4. This will take you to the Etsy Downloads page and display all of the available files for download included with your purchase. Next to each file, tap on the Cloud Download icons as shown below.

5. For some SnazzyPixels digital planners, a PDF with hyperlinked buttons will open after download. Tapping on these buttons will automatically download the files to your iCloud Files > Downloads folder. Once all the desired files are downloaded, then open Notability and follow the next set of instructions on Importing a Digital Planner from iCloud Files.

6. Other digital planner PDFs will open directly in Safari. If so, tap on the Share icon on the top right and choose Share to Notability or Save to Files. If you run into any importing issues or glitches when using the Share to Notability option, then Save to Files first and then open Notability and import from there.

7. Files that aren’t PDFs—like ZIP files—will automatically download to your iCloud Files > Downloads folder. For these files, follow the next set of instructions…

Importing a Digital Planner or Notebook from iCloud Files, Google Drive, or Dropbox

By default, iPads use iCloud Files to store downloads and other files on your device. However, you may use a different file management system, such as Google Drive or Dropbox, to store or transfer your digital planner or digital notebook to Notability.

No matter which file system you’re using though, the steps to add your digital planner to Notability are the same.

How to Import from Various File Storage Locations

1. Open Notability and navigate to the main Notes screen.
2. Tap on Import Icon on the top right. Choose Files from the pop up menu or your desired location.

3. This will display a file browser window. Tap the back arrow on the top left until you see a left-hand column of storage locations.

4. You should now see iCloud Files and other storage locations. 
5. If you don’t see your Google Drive or Dropbox, tap on the 3 Dots icon and select Edit Sidebar. This reveals all available locations. Use the toggle on/off switch to display your Google Drive and/or Dropbox files.

6. Browse and select the file(s) that you’d like to import from your iCloud, GDrive, or Dropbox. After you tap on them they will immediately import and open in Notability. 

Importing a Digital Planner or Notebook from Other Apps

Safari to Notability

If a PDF or other file opens in a Safari window, in just 2 simple steps you can quickly and easily send it to Notability. 

First, the file should be open and displaying in Safari. Next, tap on the Share icon and choose Share to Notability. 

Please note: If the import fails or there are any issues with the file after importing, follow these same steps except choose Save to Files instead. Then open up Notability and import from your iCloud Files (see previous section).

GDrive App to Notability

Some Etsy sellers use Google Drive links to share purchased files with you. This is because digital planners and notebooks often come loaded with many additional files, like digital planner covers, digital stickers, and more. 

And if you have the GDrive App installed on your iPad, then clicking a Google Drive shared link will send you to the GDrive App instead of a browser window. 

So if a shared link opens in the Google Drive App, follow these steps to import a digital planner to Notability…

1. Click on the Google Drive link and it will open the file in your GDrive App.
2. Once the file loads, tap on the 3 Dots icon on the top right. Choose Open In.

3. Wait for the “Preparing to Export” screen. Depending on the size of the file, this could take a few seconds to a minute to load.
4. When the file is ready to export, you should now see a pop-up menu of available apps and export options. Choose Share to Notability.

Dropbox App to Notability

Snazzy Pixels along with many other Etsy shops use Dropbox download links to deliver all of your purchased files. 

And if you have the Dropbox app installed, then any Dropbox download links will open in the Dropbox App instead of downloading straight to your iCloud Files.

No worries though! From the Dropbox App you can easily send any and all files to Notability. Here’s how…

1. Click the Dropbox link and the file will open in your Dropbox App.
2. On the bottom right, tap on the blue Share button.
3. Choose Export File.

4. Now it shows all of your available apps and export options. Select Share to Notability.

If you experience any issues with this method (i.e. the file doesn’t import properly or hyperlinks don’t work), then follow these same steps but choose Save to Files instead. Then, open Notability and import from your iCloud Files (see previous section).

Importing a Planner from Your Computer (Mac or Windows)

Sometimes your iPad isn’t cooperating, or you’ve already downloaded the files onto your computer and don’t feel like going through the same steps again on your iPad. No problem!

If your digital planner or digital notebook and other files are stored on your Mac or Windows computer, then you can send them to your iPad easily via a few different methods. 

Here are a couple ways to transfer files from a computer to your iPad, ranked easiest to hardest—and even the last one’s not too difficult, promise!

1. Use iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox

The easiest and BEST method is to save your digital planner to your iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox files first. Then, follow the import instructions above. These cloud services will sync between your devices so any and all files are almost immediately available on your iPad!

2. Use AirDrop (Mac to iPad)

If you’re on a Mac, use AirDrop to send it to your iPad! Here are the steps:

1. locate the file and click once to select it
2. use a two-finger click (right-click) on the file
3. Choose Share > AirDrop
4. AirDrop will then show available devices on your wifi network (your Mac and iPad must be on the same wifi). Choose your iPad.

3. Email

The least easy method is to email the file(s) to yourself. However, oftentimes digital planners and all the additional files included with them can be large file sizes, and may be too large to fit in an email. Therefore, it might require multiple emails.

If you do decide to use email, then make sure to use the default Mail app on your iPad. Open the email, tap on the attachment, and use the Share icon to Save to Files or Share to Notability.

Conclusion: Import a Digital Planner to Notability

Now that your digital notebook, digital planner, and other files are ready to go in Notability, it’s time to start planning!

If you’re new to digital planning, be sure to check out my how to start digital planning for beginners. It goes over all the basics of digital planning, how to use digital stickers, add a cover, and more!

How to Import a Digital Notebook or Planner to Notability