Apple Notes in iOS 26: Markdown and Transcription

Apple Notes has quietly become one of the most capable apps on the iPhone, and iOS 26 is the update that finally closes the gaps that pushed power users to third-party apps. Markdown, audio transcription, shared folders, and 3D graphing all land at once, and together they may let you delete an app or two.

Key takeaways

• Markdown import and export arrive, so you can write or move notes in plain Markdown via the share sheet.
• Audio recording with real-time transcription captures voice notes and call recordings with transcripts.
• Shared folders let multiple people edit notes together with live cursors, not just single shared notes.
• Math Notes gains 3D graphing support for plotting three-dimensional functions.
• Most features are on-device, which keeps transcription private and works without a network connection.

What's new at a glance

Here is the full lineup and who each feature is actually for.

Feature	What it does	Best for
Markdown import/export	Round-trips notes as .md files	Writers and plain-text workflows
Audio recording + transcription	Records and transcribes speech live, on device	Meetings, lectures, interviews
Call recording + transcript	Records calls with a transcript (iPhone 12+)	Keeping accurate call records
Shared folders	Share whole folders with live collaboration	Teams, families, shared projects
3D Math Notes	Plots 3D functions from typed/handwritten math	Students and anyone doing math

Markdown support

The most requested feature finally landed. Notes now supports importing and exporting Markdown, so you can write a note entirely in Markdown syntax and export it through the share sheet, or bring a Markdown file in. The one caveat: Notes does not style the Markdown syntax as you type, so you will not see # Heading render into a styled heading live the way a dedicated Markdown editor does. What it does give you is a clean round-trip, so your text is no longer trapped inside Apple's proprietary format.

1. Write a note using Markdown syntax (headers with #, lists with -, bold with double asterisks, and so on).
2. Tap the share button at the top of the note.
3. Choose the Markdown export option to save or send the note as a .md file.
4. To bring Markdown in, import a .md file through the share sheet from Files or another app.

Audio recording and transcription

Notes can now capture voice notes directly on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and it transcribes the speech in real time as you record. Because the transcription runs on-device, it works without an internet connection and keeps the audio private. On iPhone 12 or later it also supports call recording with transcription, which helps you keep accurate records of calls and act on the details afterward without scribbling things down.

Shared folders and collaboration

Collaboration got a real upgrade. iOS 26 lets you share an entire folder with collaborators, not just individual notes, and multiple people can edit simultaneously with live cursors and instant updates. For a team running a project or a family planning a trip, sharing one folder is far simpler than sharing notes one by one, and new notes added to that folder are automatically shared with everyone.

3D Math Notes

Math Notes, which solves handwritten and typed equations, now supports 3D graphing. You can plot three-dimensional functions and rotate them to visualize the surface, turning Notes into a surprisingly capable math tool for students and anyone working through equations. It builds on the existing 2D graphing, so a single note can hold worked equations and their plots side by side.

How Notes now compares to third-party apps

The honest question is whether you still need a separate app. For many people, the answer flipped with iOS 26.

Need	Used to require	iOS 26 Notes
Plain-text Markdown	Bear, Obsidian, iA Writer	Import/export covers it (no live styling)
Meeting transcription	Otter, dedicated recorders	Built in, on-device
Real-time collaboration	Notion, Google Docs	Shared folders with live cursors
Math and graphing	Desmos, GeoGebra	Math Notes with 2D and 3D plots

The gap that remains is live Markdown styling and the deep linking and plugin ecosystems of apps like Obsidian and Notion. If those are central to your workflow, you will still want the dedicated app. If you were only propping up Notes for transcription or basic Markdown export, iOS 26 likely lets you stay put.

What to do right now

To get the most out of the update:

• Update to iOS 26 on a supported iPhone, and iPadOS/macOS 26 if you use those.
• Try a Markdown export on an existing note to confirm the round-trip fits your workflow before committing.
• Test transcription on a short recording so you trust its accuracy before relying on it for a meeting.
• Check call-recording laws for your location before recording any call.
• Move a shared project into a folder and share the folder instead of juggling individual notes.

For more iOS 26 coverage, see our guides to Control Center customization, Messages polls and Live Translation, and the Adaptive Power battery mode.

Frequently asked questions

Does Notes style Markdown as I type?

No. Notes supports Markdown import and export, but it does not apply live styling to Markdown syntax as you write. You write the syntax and export it as a .md file; it will not render # Heading into a styled heading on screen.

Which iPhones support call transcription?

Call recording with transcription in Notes is available on iPhone 12 or later. Check that you comply with local recording-consent laws, as some require all-party consent.

Can I share a whole folder?

Yes. iOS 26 adds shared folders, so you can share an entire folder with collaborators, with live cursors and simultaneous editing, rather than sharing individual notes. New notes added to the folder are shared automatically.

Is the audio transcription accurate?

Apple's on-device transcription is generally high-accuracy for clear speech, though heavy accents, crosstalk, or noisy environments can reduce quality, as with any transcription tool. Because it runs on-device, it also works offline and keeps the audio private.

Do these features work on iPad and Mac?

Yes. Markdown, audio recording with transcription, and shared folders are available across iPhone, iPad, and Mac running the iOS 26-generation releases, so your notes and recordings sync across devices through iCloud.

The bottom line

iOS 26 turns Apple Notes into a genuine productivity app rather than a scratchpad. Markdown export frees your text, on-device transcription captures voice and calls privately, shared folders make collaboration painless, and 3D Math Notes is a neat bonus for students. If you have been propping up Notes with other apps, try the new features first; you may find you no longer need the extras.