Over the last few months, Google has been adding more and more features to Google Keep, its cross-platform note-taking app.

With apps for Android, iOS, Chrome and the web, Google Keep has a variety of features, including note and list taking with your voice, sharing notes with others and recovering deleted notes.

Make sure you are getting the most out of Google Keep with these seven tips. Download Google Keep for Android and iOS.

Add drawings to notes

In Google Keep you can create drawings from scratch, draw on top of images or add drawings to existing notes using their range of drawing tools. This Google Keep feature is only available on Android.

To add a drawing in a new note, tap the Drawing icon (pen) at the bottom right of the main screen of the Google Keep app and start drawing. To close your drawing, tap the back arrow in the top left.

To add a drawing to an existing note or list or to annotate a photo, open the note you want to add a drawing to, tap the overflow menu (three dots, top-right corner) and tap Add drawing and start drawing.

You can also add drawings to notes from the Google Keep widgets. In the 1×3 Google Keep widget, tap the pen icon and add your drawing. In the 2×3 Google Keep widget, tap the plus icon, tap the pen icon to add a drawing to a note.

Create notes and lists with your voice

Google Keep allows you to create notes and lists, with the ability to add, delete or change items on your list using only your voice. This Google Keep feature is only available on Android.

To create a Google Keep note with your voice, say ‘Ok Google’ or tap the microphone in the Google Search bar on your home screen. When the microphone appears, say ‘Take a note’ or ‘Note to self’ (if prompted to select an app, select Google Keep) > Google Keep will respond with ‘What’s the note?’ > speak your note > when you stop speaking you will see your note that you just spoke, which will be saved automatically.

To create a Google Keep shopping list with your voice, say ‘Ok Google’ or tap the microphone. Say ‘Create a grocery list’ > Google Keep will respond with ‘Go ahead, what’s on the list?’ > you can go ahead and add items to your list by saying ‘Add bread, eggs and cheese’. You can also remove items by saying ‘Remove [item], or change items on your list by saying ‘Change [item] to [item]’. Tap the checkmark to save the list in Google Keep.

Caution: If there is a pause in your voice you will need to say ‘Ok Google’ or tap the microphone again before you continue.

Set reminders for your Google Keep notes

Open the Google Keep app and open the note you want to add the reminder to > tap the Remind me icon (image of a finger with a bow wrapped around it).

To set a time reminder > tap one of the default times or tap the Pick a date & time icon (clock) to set your own time.

To set a location reminder > tap Pick place icon (map marker) and enter the name or address > tap the checkmark when you are done.

Note: For location reminders you will need to give Google Keep access to your location.

To view upcoming reminders, open the app > tap the Menu icon (three horizontal lines) > Reminders > you will see a list of your upcoming reminders.

Recover deleted notes within seven days

If you accidently delete a Google Keep note it is possible to recover it as long as you follow these steps within seven days of deleting the note.

In the Google Keep app > tap the Menu icon > tap the Bin > open the note you want to restore and tap the Restore icon.

Share your notes with other users

The Google Keep app for both Android and iOS users allows you to share your notes, lists, and drawings with other people. If you delete a note that you own, it will also be deleted for anyone that you shared it with.

Open the Google Keep app and tap the Action icon (three vertical dots) > Collaborator > add the detail of your contact in the ‘Person or email address to share with’ field (as you start entering text Keep will provide suggestions) > tap Save.

To remove a person from a shared note, tap the Remove icon (bin) next to their name.

Export notes to Google Docs

Google Keep allows iOS and Android users to export their notes to Google Docs, as well as other apps like Gmail and Hangouts.

Open the Google Keep App and select a note you want to export > tap the Action icon > tap Send > to export to Google Docs, tap Copy to Google Doc or for other options, tap Send via other apps.  

Google Keep Chrome Extension

Last week, Google Keep added a Chrome extension, so users can save entire web pages, images, and text selections directly to Keep from their desktop, Android smartphone, or iPhone.

Download the new Google Keep Chrome extension and next time you are reading something that  you want to save for later, click on the Keep badge (top right corner of your Chrome browser window, next to the URL window).

Read our step-by-step instructions for how to use the new “save to Keep” feature on Chrome for web, Android, and iOS.

Image credit: Dean Hochman, Flickr