I have always trusted Goodnotes for its efficiency, but this update has made even simple note-taking tasks unnecessarily complicated and frustrating. This is not feedback — this is a complaint. The latest version has completely broken a workflow that took years to build.
1. Lasso Tool Constant Floating Toolbar Pop-Up
The toolbar now appears automatically whenever I select something. Previously, it only appeared after tapping. This blocks content and slows editing.
Request: Add a setting to disable the automatic toolbar pop-up when using the lasso tool.
2. Draw and Hold Incorrect Shape Recognition
Shapes like rectangles and underlines now snap into random ovals or figure-eights. Scaling only works in one direction. This feature used to be precise and reliable.
Request: Restore accurate shape recognition and free two-axis scaling.
3. AutoShape Oversized Shapes and Broken Resizing
Shapes from presets snap into much larger forms, stretched vertically, and can’t be resized properly. Undoing every time wastes minutes.
Request: Fix shape snapping so dimensions match what’s drawn and can be resized both ways.
4. Tool Switching After Using AutoShape
After creating a shape, the app auto-switches to the lasso tool. Completely unnecessary and disruptive.
Request: Keep the current tool active after creating a shape.
5. Apple Pencil Double-Tap Behavior
Double-tap now cycles through random tools instead of toggling between tool ↔ eraser, ignoring iPad settings. This breaks years of muscle memory.
Request: Add a toggle to restore the old double-tap behavior (tool ↔ eraser).
6. Floating Black Toolbar — Cluttered and Restrictive
The floating toolbar wastes workspace, groups tools unnecessarily, and hides color options (only six visible now instead of eight).
Requests:
• Option to show all tools on the blue main bar
• Option to disable the floating bar
• Restore full-size icons and eight visible colors
7. Color Presets Not Synced Across Tools
Each tool now requires re-entering colors manually. I have 30+ HEX presets — re-adding them is a huge waste of time.
Request: Create a universal color preset system applied across all tools.
8. Pages Tab and Bookmarks
Bookmarks are hidden under “All Pages → Bookmarks Only.” This adds unnecessary steps. The “Audio” tab is less useful.
Request: Bring back a dedicated Bookmarks tab or replace “Audio” with it.
9. Page Layout View Changes
The new sidebar view only shows 2×2 pages. The previous floating grid showed more and was faster to rearrange.
Request: Return to the floating, multi-row grid layout.
10. Toolbar Order Changes
The lasso tool now appears before the pen tool, breaking established muscle memory.
Request: Allow custom reordering or restore the previous default order.
11. Missing Favorites Button
The one-tap Favorites button beside “Add Page” is gone. Adding favorites now takes multiple steps.
Request: Re-add the Favorites button to the main toolbar.
12. Image Editing Restrictions
The Images tool no longer functions as its own editing tool. To move or resize an image, I must enable “Images” under lasso settings every time.
Request: Allow direct image editing from the Images tool, regardless of lasso settings.
13. Tape Tool Visibility
Tape lines can only be hidden/unhidden when the Tape tool is active. Previously this worked with any tool.
Request: Re-enable hide/unhide access for tape lines universally.
14. Missing Rotation Option for Lasso Selections
The rotate handle is gone. Shapes and handwritten content can’t be rotated anymore.
Request: Bring back the rotation option in lasso selections.
15. General Interface and Workflow Regression
Every action now takes more steps. The new interface is cluttered and unintuitive, undoing years of improvement.
Requests:
• Restore full toolbar customization
• Add a toggle for floating elements
• Let users revert to the previous layout
16. Request for Downgrade Option
The previous version (v6.7.21) was stable and efficient. Goodnotes 7.0.4 has disrupted daily use for many users.
Request: Provide an option to downgrade to Goodnotes 6 (v6.7.21) until these issues are fixed.
This update has fundamentally broken Goodnotes’ usability. It’s not about preference — it’s about functionality, workflow, and efficiency. Many long-term users, including me, are deeply frustrated. Goodnotes 7.0.4 took a reliable system and made it unnecessarily complex and counter-intuitive. Please let us revert to Goodnotes 6 until these problems are resolved.
Brinda C supported this idea ·
I have always trusted Goodnotes for its efficiency, but this update has made even simple note-taking tasks unnecessarily complicated and frustrating. This is not feedback — this is a complaint. The latest version has completely broken a workflow that took years to build.
1. Lasso Tool Constant Floating Toolbar Pop-Up
The toolbar now appears automatically whenever I select something. Previously, it only appeared after tapping. This blocks content and slows editing.
Request: Add a setting to disable the automatic toolbar pop-up when using the lasso tool.
2. Draw and Hold Incorrect Shape Recognition
Shapes like rectangles and underlines now snap into random ovals or figure-eights. Scaling only works in one direction. This feature used to be precise and reliable.
Request: Restore accurate shape recognition and free two-axis scaling.
3. AutoShape Oversized Shapes and Broken Resizing
Shapes from presets snap into much larger forms, stretched vertically, and can’t be resized properly. Undoing every time wastes minutes.
Request: Fix shape snapping so dimensions match what’s drawn and can be resized both ways.
4. Tool Switching After Using AutoShape
After creating a shape, the app auto-switches to the lasso tool. Completely unnecessary and disruptive.
Request: Keep the current tool active after creating a shape.
5. Apple Pencil Double-Tap Behavior
Double-tap now cycles through random tools instead of toggling between tool ↔ eraser, ignoring iPad settings. This breaks years of muscle memory.
Request: Add a toggle to restore the old double-tap behavior (tool ↔ eraser).
6. Floating Black Toolbar — Cluttered and Restrictive
The floating toolbar wastes workspace, groups tools unnecessarily, and hides color options (only six visible now instead of eight).
Requests:
• Option to show all tools on the blue main bar
• Option to disable the floating bar
• Restore full-size icons and eight visible colors
7. Color Presets Not Synced Across Tools
Each tool now requires re-entering colors manually. I have 30+ HEX presets — re-adding them is a huge waste of time.
Request: Create a universal color preset system applied across all tools.
8. Pages Tab and Bookmarks
Bookmarks are hidden under “All Pages → Bookmarks Only.” This adds unnecessary steps. The “Audio” tab is less useful.
Request: Bring back a dedicated Bookmarks tab or replace “Audio” with it.
9. Page Layout View Changes
The new sidebar view only shows 2×2 pages. The previous floating grid showed more and was faster to rearrange.
Request: Return to the floating, multi-row grid layout.
10. Toolbar Order Changes
The lasso tool now appears before the pen tool, breaking established muscle memory.
Request: Allow custom reordering or restore the previous default order.
11. Missing Favorites Button
The one-tap Favorites button beside “Add Page” is gone. Adding favorites now takes multiple steps.
Request: Re-add the Favorites button to the main toolbar.
12. Image Editing Restrictions
The Images tool no longer functions as its own editing tool. To move or resize an image, I must enable “Images” under lasso settings every time.
Request: Allow direct image editing from the Images tool, regardless of lasso settings.
13. Tape Tool Visibility
Tape lines can only be hidden/unhidden when the Tape tool is active. Previously this worked with any tool.
Request: Re-enable hide/unhide access for tape lines universally.
14. Missing Rotation Option for Lasso Selections
The rotate handle is gone. Shapes and handwritten content can’t be rotated anymore.
Request: Bring back the rotation option in lasso selections.
15. General Interface and Workflow Regression
Every action now takes more steps. The new interface is cluttered and unintuitive, undoing years of improvement.
Requests:
• Restore full toolbar customization
• Add a toggle for floating elements
• Let users revert to the previous layout
16. Request for Downgrade Option
The previous version (v6.7.21) was stable and efficient. Goodnotes 7.0.4 has disrupted daily use for many users.
Request: Provide an option to downgrade to Goodnotes 6 (v6.7.21) until these issues are fixed.
This update has fundamentally broken Goodnotes’ usability. It’s not about preference — it’s about functionality, workflow, and efficiency. Many long-term users, including me, are deeply frustrated. Goodnotes 7.0.4 took a reliable system and made it unnecessarily complex and counter-intuitive. Please let us revert to Goodnotes 6 until these problems are resolved.