What Are Secure Notes? (And how to use them safely)

If you’ve ever copied a password into a chat, emailed a Wi-Fi code, or pasted an API key into a shared doc, you’ve felt the problem: most tools are built to store information, not to keep it secure. That’s where secure notes come in.

Secure notes are notes designed to protect sensitive information by keeping it encrypted, controlling access, and reducing how long the data exists in places attackers commonly search (email inboxes, chat history, screenshots in cloud backups, etc.).

Secure notes vs “regular” notes

A regular notes app is great for grocery lists and to do lists, but it usually isn’t meant for secrets like:

• passwords and usernames

• recovery codes

• ID numbers, account details, expiration date info

• private links, one-time access keys, or internal code snippets

Secure notes add secure features like encryption, locking, and tighter rules around how notes are stored and opened.

The 3 common types of secure notes

1) Secure notes inside a password manager

Many people first encounter secure notes through a password manager. These secure notes live inside an encrypted vault, sync across devices, and can store text and sometimes attachments/files. This approach can achieve exceptional security when you use strong authentication and keep your vault protected.

2) Locked notes inside a notes app (iPhone/Mac)

Apple Notes, for example, lets you lock a new note using Face ID / Touch ID, device passcode, or a separate Notes password. This gives you a quick way to keep personal notes secure on a phone you carry everywhere.

Apple’s platform security documentation also describes locked notes as end-to-end encrypted with a user passphrase on supported devices.

3) Secure note sharing services (one-time links)

A third category focuses on sharing, not long-term storage: you create a secure note, generate a URL, and send a link to someone who needs temporary access. This is useful when you want to share a password or secret without leaving it in email/chat history—often with options like a password, a view-once flow, or an expiration window.

Burn Note is positioned for this “share a private note safely” workflow, where the goal is: encrypt, share, view, then delete—rather than keep the secret around forever.

How to use secure notes on iPhone (Apple Notes)

If your question is “How to use secure notes on iPhone?” the most common path is locking a note in the Notes app:

1. Open the Notes app and choose an existing note (or create a new note).

2. Tap the menu and choose Lock.

3. Pick “Use iPhone Passcode” or create a Notes password.

4. Use Face ID / Touch ID / passcode to open locked notes.

Can hackers see my notes on my iPhone?

It depends on the type of notes you’re using:

• Unlocked notes: If someone gets into your device (or your cloud account), they may be able to access your notes.

• Locked notes (secure notes): The note content is protected behind a lock screen flow. This significantly improves security, but it doesn’t eliminate risk (for example: malware on a device, shoulder-surfing, screenshots, or a compromised Apple ID).

• Shared notes: Sharing/collaboration can change the model. Depending on settings, shared content may not be end-to-end encrypted the same way as locked notes.

The practical takeaway: locked secure notes are a strong upgrade over plain notes, but you still want “least exposure” habits when the data is highly sensitive.

What happened to secure notes in Keychain?

A lot of people mean “Keychain Access Secure Notes” on macOS. In macOS 15 Sequoia, Apple removed the ability to create new Secure Notes in Keychain Access and pushed users toward locked notes in the Notes app (existing secure notes may still be readable in Keychain Access).

So if you upgraded and can’t find the “New Secure Note” option, you’re not imagining it.

Which is the most secure notes app?

There isn’t one universal “most secure” notes app, because your needs matter:

• If you need long-term vault storage + cross-device sync: a reputable password manager with secure notes is often the best fit.

• If you need quick personal notes on a phone: a platform notes app with locked notes can be enough.

• If you need to share a secret temporarily: a secure note sharing service built around one-time access and deletion can reduce risk compared to leaving secrets in chat/email.

The key is matching the tool to the threat: storage vs sharing, single device vs many devices, and how long the secret should exist.

How to share a private note safely (best practices)

Here are good practices that apply whether you use a password manager, a notes app, or a web service:

1. Encrypt the secret before it spreads

   • Don’t paste credentials into email, chat, or docs that sync everywhere.

2. Use strong sign-in controls

   • Enable multi-factor authentication and require users to authenticate on new devices.

3. Reduce “secret sprawl”

   • Avoid copying secrets into multiple places. Don’t download secrets onto shared computers. Don’t store them in screenshots or photo rolls.

4. Use time limits

   • Prefer view-once or expiring notes where possible. Keep fewer assets lying around.

5. Treat shared notes as shared risk

   • If you collaborate or share notes, assume they may live longer than intended depending on settings and backups.

6. Other known good practices

   • Use unique passwords, rotate exposed keys, keep devices patched, and lock screens with biometrics.

And a simple trick: if a secret only needs to be seen once, don’t send it in a tool designed to remember it forever.

FAQ

What is a secure note?

A secure note is a protected note that uses encryption and access controls to keep sensitive information secure—often inside a password manager, a locked notes app, or a secure sharing service.

Are shared notes secure?

Sometimes. It depends on whether the platform applies end-to-end encryption to shared content and how participants’ settings work.

Is a free secure notes app okay?

A free option can be fine for low-risk personal notes, but for business secrets (credentials, customer data, internal code) you should evaluate the threat model and the provider’s security posture. If you purchased a premium vault tool, you often get stronger controls and clearer support.

A quick lens for Burn Note readers

If your biggest risk is leaving secrets behind (in Slack, email, shared docs, ticketing systems), secure note sharing can be a better match than a storage-first app: you write the secret, share a link, the recipient decrypts it, and then it’s gone.

That “minimize retention” mindset is the core of secure note sharing—and it’s why secure notes have become a practical default for modern security hygiene.