Fn + Q Not Working for Quick Notes on Mac Sonoma, Ventura

🗓️ August 22, 2023 By ✍️ Jaysukh patel

Quick Notes not working in Mac? Is Fn Q not working for Quick Notes Mac? For the first time, Apple has introduced Quick Notes, a simple but advanced noting tool that comes on screen by pressing two buttons over any app. The best part is you don’t need to close any currently running application to use Quick Notes. Unfortunately, few users have reported that Fn+Q, the default keyboard shortcut, is not working for Quick Notes; if you’re experiencing the same, we’re here for you.

This article will show you quick and easy solutions to deal with Quick Notes not working on Mac or the keyboard shortcut not working for Quick Notes App at all. Let us know which solution did the trick for you.

Related: How to Enable Quick Notes on Mac

Fix FN + Q Not Working in Mac for Quick Notes

Make Sure Quick Notes Shortcut is Enabled

By default, the fn + Q shortcut is assigned to open the Quick Notes from Apple’s end. Though Apple is not very much known for customizations, keyboard shortcuts can be personalized depending on your preference. While you can enable or disable the Fn + Q keyboard shortcut for Quick Notes, here’s how to allow the Quick Notes shortcut in Mac.

On MacOS Monterey:-

1. Click on the Apple icon. > Choose System Preferences.
2. Click on Keyboard > Select the Shortcuts tab.
3. From the sidebar, click on Mission Control.
4. Ensure the last option, Quick Note, is checked.
5. That’s it.

On MacOS Ventura:-

1. Go to the Apple Logo from the top menu > System Settings.
2. Next, Select Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts…
3. Now, Choose Mission Control from the left side > Select Quick Note Option checkbox.

Change Keyboard Shortcut for Quick Notes

There are many programs and applications that support Keyboard Shortcuts. If the keyboard shortcut assigned to Quick Notes is also assigned to any other app, it won’t work due to conflict. Here’s how to change the keyboard shortcut for Quick Notes in Mac.

on MacOS Monterey & Earlier

1. Click on the Apple icon.
2. Select System Preferences.
3. Click on Keyboard.
4. Choose the Shortcuts tab.
5. From the sidebar, click on Mission Control.
6. Check the Quick Note button, and to change the keyboard shortcut, click on the current shortcut, which might be fn Q, to open Edit Mode. Now you can assign a new shortcut for Quick Notes.

on MacOS Ventura

1. Go to the Apple Logo > System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts… > Choose Mission Control > choose “Quick Notes” Shortcut. That’s it. The default shortcut is Fn + Q

Change or Enable Quick Notes in Hot Corners on Mac

Apart from the keyboard shortcut, you can open Quick Notes by hovering the cursor towards the Hot Corners of the screen. If you’re wondering how to change the Hot Corners for Quick Notes, proceed with the below steps.

on MacOS Monterey:-

1. Click on the Apple menu. > Go to System Preferences.
2. Choose Mission Control.
3. In the lower-left corner, click on Hot Corners…From all four dropdowns, or say Hot Corners, you can click on one and select Quick Note.

On MacOS Ventura:-

1. Go to the Apple Logo from the top menu > System Settings.
2. Next, Select Desktop & Dock > Hot Corners…
3. Select, Quick Note for Selected Corner of your Mac.

Update Mac to macOS Monterey or Later

The Quick Note is available for macOS Monterey or later versions. If you haven’t updated the Mac to Monterey or newer and trying to launch Quick Notes with Fn + Q keyboard shortcut, it won’t work. Apparently, even if your Mac is running macOS 12/13, you should give it a try.

macOS Monterey & Earlier

1. Click on the Apple icon.
2. Go to System Preferences.
3. Select Software Updates.
4. Let the Mac retrieves any pending firmware update for your Mac.
5. Download and Install software updates if available.

macOS Ventura

1. Go to the Apple Logo > System Settings > General > Software Update.

Reinstall macOS using Recovery Mode without Data Loss

Fn+Q is one of the quickest ways to launch the Quick Notes in Mac. The Quick Notes comes with macOS Monterey update, so if the macOS is not installed correctly, it might be possible Quick Notes is not available at all, and you’re pressing the Fn + Q shortcut in the air.

You should take a step forward and reinstall the macOS using Recovery Mode, and fortunately, the process is entirely safe and doesn’t harm any data. Visit our detailed guide on how to reinstall macOS using Recovery Mode without any data loss.

Restart Mac in Safe Mode

Safe Mode is the most incredible workaround to diagnose the Mac for any issues. At this stage, we don’t have any idea why Quick Notes is not working on Mac. However, Safe mode is always being a potential fix when Mac faces any issues. Keep note that when Safe Mode is ON, the Mac-only runs necessary and basic programs, disabling the third-party extensions, programs that don’t need at all.

M1 Mac Safe Mode has a different procedure compare to Intel-based Mac. Refer to the below steps to enable Safe Mode on Mac.

For M1 Mac:

1. Click on the Apple menu and select Shut Down.
2. After 10 seconds, press and hold the Power button until Startup Disk and Options appear.
3. Click on the Startup Disk.
4. While holding the Shift key, click on Continue to Safe Mode.

For Intel-based Mac:

1. Click on the Apple menu.
2. Select Shut Down.
3. Now, power On the Mac and immediately press and hold the Shift key until you see the login screen.
4. In the login screen, the upper-right corner should be labeled as Safe Boot in red fonts.
5. Log in to the Mac.

 To get out of Safe Mode, perform a simple restart, click on the Apple menu, and select Restart.

Restart your Mac

Another basic but potential solution is restarting the Mac. Many users don’t shut down the Mac even for weeks, and that’s not good at all. Let’s do restart the Mac.

1. Click on the Apple menu.
2. Select Restart.

Delete Quick Notes and Re-Create New from Notes App

Quick Notes is still a part of the Notes App. You can access Quick Notes from the Notes App too. If Quick Notes were working properly, but now all of sudden it isn’t, delete the Quick Notes from the Notes App and re-create it. If the problem is associated with any of the particular Quick Note and is affecting the program, you should get rid of it.