The New Notability Design | Version 14 

there isn’t a single positive comment on this video + on every possible platform people are repeatedly expressing how bad this update is.. and they still haven’t bothered to address it, really shows a lot of care for your paying costumers!

Please give us the option to switch back to the old toolbox. The rest of UI change is beautiful it’s just the toolbar that is making life harder. LISTEN TO YOUR GODDANM USERS WHO ACTUALLY PAY FOR IT TO USE IT

Please switch back to the old version. It worked perfectly for me and now all the saved presets are lost. I also hate the floating toolbar.

Notability Version 14 release is example number 1 of how a company should NOT roll-out an updated version of it’s much-loved legacy software. Nobody asked for or wanted this update. It reduces customer loyalty. I had stop using the product in my (very important) business meeting on Friday because it kept freezing and not allowing me to write. Also I frequently lose files at start because there are problems with connection to iCloud. The previous UI and workflow was flawless. Let me say again - it was flawless. Why did you change it? If I were you, at this point, I would allow people to voluntarily go back to the previous version and let whoever wants to stay on v14 be the Guinea pigs for as long as it takes until you’re absolutely convinced that customers prefer 14 to the previous. At this point what you’re going to find it people like me drifting away to better designed products as soon as our work schedules allow. I’m the kind of person who usually looks for good things to say, but I just can’t find anything good to say here because the product has literally disrupted my workflow in such a meaningful way.

People wont be mad if you undo the update, they will realize you actually listen to the people who pay your bills. In the future why dont you include your community by, for example, putting a quick survey we can get to in the settings where people can give you feedback before there is backlash. In there you can show a potential UI update and maybe a few options of it and people can choose or even allow people to stay on a legacy UI. There is no reason to push updates for things that people dont want, no one is thinking wow they are so innovative, they are thinking wow maybe GoodNotes is actually better now since they actively engage with the community

This update ruined Notability for me. I have zero use for a template gallery. I have zero use for stickers. What I have a use for is a set of pens and highlighters that I can choose with one click as in version 12.x. I hade such a set of pens and highlighters which proved essential in my medical course notetaking. You have taken those away. PLEASE BRING THEM BACK, STAT!

I’m glad I came to check the comments. I feel the same way, and I’m so glad it’s not just me. I’ve reached out to customer service with a couple questions and gotten zero response, too. So sad.

The newest update is terrible and is a massive step back in terms of functionality. After using NB for 4+ years, seriously considering switching to something else.

The updated toolbar is a massive step back. I’m hoping Notability will notice its users feedback and do the right thing

I am unhappy with the update. Yes it looks “cute” and “minimalist” but SO MANY features have become a multi-step process, reducing productivity. Also, I can’t update the dates anymore to documents and that’s really frustrating because if I import lectures in the wrong order, I can’t fix it like I used to 😠

If you undo the update, I’ll subscribe to whatever plan you create for whatever amount. I mean it!

Instead of changing stuff no one asked for, try improving the auto shapes. Good notes does way better job at making quick shapes like curves in graphs and stuff. This is coming from an avid user with brutally honest review. Fix the TOOLBOX!

Notability should consider giving us an option to switchback to old system. The latest update was useless and defeats the purpose of functionality. Too many annoying stuff on going with the app right now.

Honestly, i prefer the previous update... the tool can't even minimize... and it is so annoying during note taking.... Usually i put the tool over the buttons corner, but now only able put it at the center 😭😭

I was considering getting Notability again for college since my high school used it primarily for note taking (by that I mean it was used pretty much exclusively for everything we did in the classroom) and I just came across this and can say this does not look good in the slightest. The old toolbar was perfectly fine and didn't need changing, but now it just looks clunky to use. If anything, just give us the option to revert back to the old toolbar, which should be very easy considering you just reuse what you had before. I was considering coming back but unfortunately until this is fixed I wont be returning to this app I loved in high school.

Please give us the option to switch back, I've been using my friends iPad for 2 semesters and I was so quick and smooth with it and decided to invest into my own iPad and when I did, I got the new version and no offense its too much. it was so much simpler before, now I don't know how to do a lot of things and I miss favoriting my pen and highlights on one tab

I’m commenting again because the previous video for this release was unlisted after it received negative feedback. Please release the ipa file for version 12.1.15 because Notability 14 is a buggy mess that significantly worsened the workflow of the app.

REVERT THIS UPDATE PLEASE. Listen to your users, it was so much more functional and usable before the update

Ive been using this app for 7 years, im considering good notes now :(

Where did my favourite writing styles go? This was a major advantage over GoodNotes. Why on earth would you remove that? Like, what???

What happened to the favourites bar, it was quite literally the best feature?? This update is making me so mad.

All the the important features for me are gone. Shortcuts to predefined tools, easy to reach magnifier, toolbar within the magnified window. The new toolbar cover out the header and my content, and more click needed to access the tools I use. Please give us back the previous version!

this update is SOOOO bad please just go back to the older interface. The lag is terrible when opening notes and JUST ENABLING TOOLS THEMSELVES. Going to the zoom tool for writing became more complicated just to add a random pencil tool that no one has ever used or will use in Notability. Not to mention the pen and pencil tool I have mixed up more than I EVER have mixed any tool in the past because of the UI being changed to make everything harder despite what you have been saying. The solution? Just go back to what you did best please.

PLEASE ADD THE FAVORITE BAR BACK!

Worst update ever!! Tools now take 3-4x more clicks than they used to too switch between the most common tools/colors/sizes that I had laid out for my notetaking. I’m quite disappointed in the Notability team and hope they bring the toolbar and favorite tools back, at least as an option.

The box on the top is very distractive. Focusing on the work gets impossible. it should have been totaly dissappeared. Fav pencil box should be returned. The old version was much more better. if you don’t fix it i will definitely delete this app

The toolbox is a considerable downgrade, not only visually but also functionality-wise. I have huge issues selectin my preferred pencil because all my presets are gone. Probably switching to Goodnotes or OneNote if not fixed.

Has anyone else had the issue of all of your subjects and dividers disappearing randomly? This has happened three times in the past month. I spend time organizing all of my notes and suddenly I open it up and all of my notes are no longer categorized under divider and subject. WTF? And if you try to contact Notability/Ginger Labs, they will wait 3 weeks to get back to you to tell you they are sorry for not getting back with you...but wont tell you what the issue is or how to resolve it.

Dear notability users, it's a matter of ego for ginger labs, that's why we are not being heard......rest in peace notability

I'm not in the app development scene, so I clearly don't get it, but there is an entire ecosystem apparently around taking popular apps and making trash UI overhauls that people absolutely hate and then ignoring all the hate and pushing through with it anyway. The recent change to this app is just one of many examples. WHY anything has to change at all, other than small features or the occasional color change, is beyond me. What compels these things across the board? And it happens all the freaking time, to websites, to mobile and tablet apps, occasionally to desktop software. Actually improving the user experience is exceedingly rare. And nobody asks for it, often people flat out hate it, but virtually without exception the devs will refuse to swallow their pride or whatever and go back to what people liked. Boycotts and cancellations don't work. Nothing works. I don't get it. Please just leave things alone and stop annoying people with your bright ideas about how to screw up a working user experience. We're talking about software I paid for on a device that I own, and somebody else randomly deciding without my permission or buy-in that the experience is going to radically change whether I like it or not. This app has become less intuitive, harder and more frustrating to use, and on its way to being permanently removed from my iPad.

I HATE THIS UPDATE

As an online teacher sharing and updating live links has become a real pain. I simply cant update my notes anymore. This is just terrible.

This update makes everything look so cramped. It looks like function was sacrificed for aesthetic. Some of the new design aspects are cool, sure. But you essentially redesigned the entire app, changing the essence of what your supporters loved. I’ll be very disappointed if this update is here to stay, and I’ll be cancelling my subscription soon if that’s the case. The options are so packed together and some are even in different places. For the sake of your supporters and users, please give us back the old look.

Give us the option to switch back to the old layout,

I am unable to understand why can’t i have the option to go back the previous version !!!!!

Wow didn’t expect a promotional video to ‘pop up’ after all the discussion on Reddit. Sensing major dissonance, better ‘dock’ your roll-out plans for a little while…

Please go back to the old version!!!

Can we please have the option to dock the toolbox against the bezels again? This update came in the middle of my semester and messed up a whole lecture’s worth of notes for me because I wasted time trying to navigate it instead of tapping my usual buttons in their usual positions.

BRING BACK THE TOOLBAR!!

I am so upset that I can’t resume playback audio by clicking on my timestamps, while the audio is paused. Before, audio playback could be paused, and I could click on a timestamp to start listening from that timestamp. Now, audio must be playing if I want to jump to hit a different audio timestamp. This better be an accidental bug or I want my money back.

The zoom view tool is the most important tool we need in the tool bar.. why are hide it in the menu 😢😢

I AGREE!! The new toolbar is annoying, intrusive & the app keeps glitching on my iPad. 😠 Frustrating & time consuming. Also, where are my favorite pens & brand colors? This is not an upgrade but a DOWNGRADE 😢 And, why no new guide/handbook?

WORDT UPDATE EVER!!! Please listen to your users and change back the update !!

Please go back 😭 it was such a beautiful product I switched from goodnotes to notability half way through my uni year (which was a pain) but so worth it. If i cant switch back or the update does not get recalled before my subscription renewal you have lost my business, and i can hand on heart say all of my uni friends feel the same way, honestly your company will loss so much business and your reputation will be tarnished.

The updated toolbar is a massive step back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m hoping Notability will notice its users feedback and do the right thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and because of this new update, i have switched over to goodnotes!

Give back favorites tool bar 😢

I’m a new Notability user as GoodNotes decided to screw over their customers with the latest update. I like the simplicity of subjects on the side which makes me more efficient. But only time will tell if I like everything else. Highlighter is one feature I don’t like I’m OCD and in order to get the same shade I have to go over it multiple times or one perfect line to get the lines straight.

Biggest step back on updates

Love the Notability free digital portrait planner. Thanks.

I have never seen a company keep making decisions to make ppl go to their competitors. what a terrible update

Bring back our beloved toolbox

Please bring back the old favourites feature, it is ESSENTIAL. The new UI looks great but the functionality has become the worst since I started using 3 years ago

I used notability for past 7 years. This update is disappointing. No favorite bars, adding camera images on the go made complicated. Switched to goodnotes.

新版本很卡，很不好用，工具栏还占地方。你们要是没事干可以不干活，不要硬创造垃圾需求反向优化。

Notability team, do you even read our messages via social media apps? We want the previous version. The newer version reduced our #Productivity. Bring back the method of combining our FAVORITES.

The new Toolbox is a massive step backwards and makes it more complex than before.

I have been using this app since since starting my digital note taking journey in college. This new version is absolutely TERRIBLE!!! I have 4 devices I use for Notability and one is not syncing my notes timely or correctly. I made notes on Sunday and they did not get uploaded to my subject folder on my laptop until today. For some reason my laptop app is not keeping up with my IPad or Mac mini. I am missing noting and things I highlighted in a PowerPoint on Tuesday that has not updated yet. I've literally have to come home and us my desktop instead of my laptop. Which is ridiculous when I'm on campus for eight hours some days and want to go to the library and get work done. I hate the double notability screen feature on the IPad it's so time consuming when your trying to write notes for a study guide and having to go through almost hundred slides.

I subscribed just so I could get the long time user 3.99 price. But I can’t stand anything about this update. Too many. Clicks and features hidden, buried deep. Welcome to windows.if you make this big a of a change you need very early videos showing changes. This of course would have shown everyone including the designers just how flawed and non intuitive this thing is. Especially if you compared before and after use.

Of course they make a new update and now I have to pay to write notes. Wth. The app already costed money when I got it and now I have to pay $16 to write?

It would be great if we could import PDF files from Notability itself without having to create a notebook. There's a lack of better zoom control and the highlighter pen could set the line automatically without having to hold it down at the end, which would save time. More pen options and adding layers on top of the PDF are missing.

I hate that floating toolbar with my every cell. It doesn’t belong to any part of the screen, wherever i put it, it blocks some part of the page and you can’t minimize it like the favourites bar on the old version. Please at least add selection with the old version if not totally going back to that.

Anyone else unable to search templates?

** Worst update ever ** All the pen features except Colors is gone ,can someone help ?

If you really want your tribe to continue to use your App, you need to create a detailed tutorial first and make comparisons with the previous edition. You're losing your clients now.

Don’t make me go goodnotes.

Glad we can move the toolbar, but wish we could move the other one as well.

I need my left handed feature pls 😭😭

I came looking for help only to find there is none 😭 notability please revert back

I can’t change my highlighter at all. Stuck on perforated dots. Also - no idea where the stickers have gone? Seriously think I’m going to jump to good notes or something :(

This is really a very stupid update and I wish I can go back to the previous one, the floating bar has very small categories that are hard to reach during studying. I think I’m gonna go back to GoodNotes.

the update rendered the app useless. I have since quit my membership i had for several years. It is a disaster and after seeing the arrogant answers on the notability reddit thread i can see that they take their customers for absolute fools. What a shame.

Is there a way to change the pen to dashed/dotted and back to regular? With the new update that seems to be missing.

I want the previous taskbar please

I prefer my custom favorites tools. Please could you put them again.

Please add the possibility to create a lasso selection when you use the pen (like goodnotes)....I just changed from goodnotes to notability and this feature is so great on goodnotes...also add a felt pen whold be great..

I love the new version, seriously. I used to use GN now because of the new version released I change to it

Please release notability 12 untill you fix this 14 version, we users are really suffering

I have been using Notability every day since 2017. This is the first update that is TERRIBLE! Whoever invented the floating toolbar should be fired as should the person who approved the change. Fire them and revert immediately. The is nothing in the update that makes up for the floating toolbar disaster.

Pls change the tool bar soon, I can’t see the whole pdf on my screen and it triggers me. The old layout was awesome, why change something if it isn’t broken in the first place?

This version is often faced with no response, it can't even open a simple PDF, when I search for a word, it doesn't respond and... please fix it as soon as possible.

test your product before releasing an update. Revert the change, I'm moving to goodnotes in the meantime

Wanna Switch to good notes again

please allow us to switch back to the last version 😢

I submitted a support ticket on August 1st. I got no response until August 21st...AND IT WAS NOT EVEN A RESPONSE...ALL IT SAID WAS 'SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT'...THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

This update is SO bad??? I came here trying to find how I could use import the notebook preset in and now it's just gone like what on earth... Bring back the old version!!! All my notes I've made for school are so hard to access now and honestly at this point I might as well use GoodNotes instead of this crappy update 😅😅

Revert to old version please

Where is the zoom view tool!!! I literally can't write properly without it!

From Notability to Not-Able-To-Use. Bring back old version. Let people use V.14 if they want to test it. Get rid of the stupid new Font.

Everyone wants the old tool box again, with favourites. Fix de bugs in the eraser, text marks and pen. We don’t want to have to hold the pencil to mark a text. We want to add our proper stickers.

Hi, when will audio transcription tool be coming?

Please give me the old version because I’m about moving to Goodnotes

Can someone tell me where is the sticky notes?I miss old version.

I wrote to Notability again:! Trevor, this reply is really what we as users are talking about, we feel we are not being listened to. I wrote to you to ascertain whether Notability is aware of the almost universal dislike of the recent update, we hate it, and you don't tell me whether you're aware of it but rather direct me to a link about how the upgrade is actually great and will improve my experience with Notability! No, it has not improved our experience of Notability at all. If you really want to see how users feel about it, allow users the option to revert to the previous version and see what happens! I am telling you we would revert en masse overnight. The tools/pen pallet is nowhere near as good and easy to use as it previously was and so many changes have been made that no one was asking for. The icons are far less clear. The tools pallet now sits as two separate floating regions that are not clipped to the edge so both get in the way and you can no longer minimize them either. Tasks require more clicks and are far less intuitive. Example: Emailing a Note, changing to a dashed or dotted pen. The list is endless. The tools pallet was great as it was the changes are not an improvement they're a huge step backwards. Have you read the comments on both the Notability user forum and the comments to Notability's RU-vid update Video? It is comment after comment of complaints without one acknowledgement from Notability! We would really appreciate you letting us know you are listening by sending an email to all your users telling them you're aware of the very unfavourable reception to the recent update and that you are looking at allowing users to revert to the previous version and are taking on board all their many criticisms.

Please redo and send out another update it was a epic fail

I miss the function to always get back to the main pen. I mean the small bar with the undo buttons 😭 I hate how complicated is to alway set the main pen back.

How do I change the pen size for my headers? the three options in the tool box aren't large enough

I am offended by the way she hold the pencil

Worst… i lost all my temas and divisores!!

I wonder why i can’t import multiple pdfs from one drive now!!! Please restore that function!!!