Getting Started with Goodnotes Teams: Your 15-Minute Setup Guide

Whether you're setting up Goodnotes for your team for the first time, or transitioning from a legacy License Key deployment, this guide takes you from zero to a fully configured workspace — no Account Manager or support ticket required.

Choose Your Path

Part 1: Admin Setup ⏱ ~5 minutes

This section is for the person managing your organization's Goodnotes subscription. If you're an end user, skip to Part 2.

🔄 If You're Migrating from a License Key — Start Here

Goodnotes has moved from device-based License Key deployments to an account-based Admin Console. Before you start, here's what to know:

• Your data is safe. All notebooks, documents, and annotations from Goodnotes 5 are preserved automatically when users update to Goodnotes 6.
• No MDM needed. The Admin Console is account-based — you no longer need to push configurations through MDM to activate licences.
• Users must be on Goodnotes 6 or later to accept an organization invitation. Ask your team to update the app via the App Store before proceeding.
• To check the version: Open Goodnotes → ⚙️ Settings → About. If it shows version 5.x, an App Store update is required first.

For full migration steps, see our License Key migration guide.

🆕 If You're a New Customer — Start Here

Step 1: Access the Admin Console ~2 min

1. Navigate to org-admin.goodnotes.com.
2. Click Sign In and choose your login method — Apple, Google, or Microsoft.
3. Enter your company name to begin your 30-day free trial.

Step 2: Configure Your Organization ~2 min

1. Inside the Admin Console, go to Settings → Organization Details to review and update your organization's information — your company name and details were captured when you started your free trial.
2. Verify your domain (recommended). Domain verification lets Goodnotes automatically recognise users from your organization without requiring individual invitations. Click Verify Domain and follow the DNS instructions provided. See our domain verification guide for help.
3. Check your seat count under the People section. You can add or remove seats at any time; additional seats are pro-rated to your existing billing period.

Step 3: Invite Your Team ~1 min

1. In the Admin Console, go to Members → Invite Members.
2. Enter your team members' email addresses — one per line, or as a comma-separated list.
3. Click Send Invitations. Each person will receive an email with a join link.

Part 2: End User Setup ⏱ ~2 minutes

Share this section with every team member who will be using Goodnotes.

Step 4: Download Goodnotes ~1 min

Step 5: Sign In and Activate ~1 min

There are two ways to join your organization, depending on how your admin set things up:

Option A — You received an invitation link: Click the link in your invitation email. This will open the Goodnotes app automatically and activate your seat — no further steps required.

Option B — You're opening the app directly: Open Goodnotes and tap Sign In. When prompted, use the Identity Provisioning method that was configured during your organization's domain setup (for example, signing in via Google or Microsoft SSO). This ensures Goodnotes recognises you as part of your organization.

Not sure which sign-in method your organization uses? Check with your admin or see our Identity Provisioning guide.

Part 3: Get Productive ⏱ ~5 minutes

Step 6: Import Your Existing Documents ~1 min

You can import and annotate a wide range of file types in Goodnotes:

• PDF — annotate, highlight, and write directly on any PDF
• PowerPoint (.pptx) — open presentations and write on slides
• Word (.docx) and images (JPEG, PNG, GIF)

To import: From the Library, tap + → Import → select your file from Files, iCloud Drive, or a connected cloud service.

Step 7: Create Your First Notebook ~2 min

1. From the Library (home screen), tap +.
2. Select Notebook.
3. Choose a cover and a paper template. Options include lined, dotted, blank, and pre-built structured templates for meeting notes, planners, to-do lists, and more.
4. Name your notebook and tap Create.

✅ Setup Complete!

You've covered everything needed to get your team up and running.

✔ Admin Console configured and team invited

✔ Goodnotes installed and subscription activated on all devices

✔ First notebook created and ready to go

🔗 Quick Reference