The Obtrusive Recording Indicator in GoodNotes is Pushing Me Away
I’ve been a dedicated GoodNotes user since early 2021, having chosen it over Notability after extensive research. It was a near-perfect note-taking app for me, and the one-time purchase model made it even more appealing. Over the years, I’ve adjusted to its shortcomings because, overall, the experience was solid.
However, in mid-2024, as I began my MBA, the necessity of recording lectures became undeniable. But to my absolute frustration, GoodNotes makes this process far from discreet. The recording indicator is blatantly visible—a glaring orange timer that continuously updates, drawing unnecessary attention. Every time I record, people notice and start asking me for transcripts, flashcards, or summaries, assuming I’m now the designated “note distributor” just because I have the recording. It’s frustrating beyond words.
Not only is it socially disruptive, but the constantly changing numbers are incredibly distracting while writing. There’s no option to minimize, fade, or hide it. Compare this to Notability, where, while not perfect, there’s at least a workaround to keep the recording discreet. I was so annoyed that despite already purchasing GoodNotes Premium, I paid ₹1,200 for a Notability subscription—just to escape this issue.
The irony? I still like GoodNotes. I love the writing experience, but I cannot return as flash card generation and quizzes is not added like notability has and most importantly while unless this issue is addressed, Recording should be a personal tool, not a public announcement. Please, give users the choice to record discreetly without an obtrusive timer announcing it to the world. Until then, I—and likely many others—will be forced to look elsewhere.