How to make Stickies transparent

Stickies are a cool little application in OSX that allow you place virtual “Sticky Notes” on your screen. They are useful for leaving messages to yourself, or for someone else that will be on the computer later. You can find them in your Applications folder.

Table of Contents Show

Transparency
Fully transparent sticky notes in Notezilla
What is Notezilla?
Sticky note transparency

The only problem with Stickies is that they can get in the way. You may need to see through them to continue working. No problem.

Simply hit Command-Option-T and your Stickie Notes will become transparent, allowing you to see right through them. Hit the shortcut again, and they become solid.

I actually found the Stickies hard to use until I learned this trick, because I’d always need to get them out of the way to do something else. Now, it’s as easy a keyboard shortcut to see right through!

Note menu

Notezilla lets you create a sticky note in diverse colors & skins. The sticky note color, skin and transparency are set using the note's menu. To access the note's menu, click on the top left button above the sticky note.

Color

Go to Appearance / Color menu (within the note menu) to choose a color of your choice. If you click on the Color menu item directly, the last selected color will be applied to the sticky note.

Skin

Go to Appearance / Skin menu (within the note menu) to choose a skin of your choice. If you click on the Skin menu item directly, the last selected skin will be applied to the sticky note.

Transparency

Go to Appearance / Transparency menu (within the note menu) to make a sticky note partly transparent or completely transparent. Completely transparent sticky notes will show only the note's text or picture without any background color.

Notezilla works on Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7

This month we released a new update to our sticky notes app Notezilla that allows fully transparent sticky notes, where in only text is visible. See the below animation:

Fully transparent sticky notes in Notezilla

See through sticky notes on Windows desktop

Notezilla lets you set different levels of transparency on sticky notes in Windows. From translucent sticky notes to completely transparent sticky notes (invisible desktop notes).

You can also insert pictures inside a sticky note, make the sticky note completely transparent so that only the picture is seen floating on your Windows desktop. Pin it on top of all other programs. Wow!

What is Notezilla?

Notezilla is a professional, elegant & highly rated sticky notes app for Windows & Phones (Android, iOS, iPhone, iPad, Windows Phone, etc.). It can help you organize your life by keeping all the notes, tasks & reminders that you may need when-ever and where-ever you are.

With sticky notes, you hardly have to put effort to take notes, set reminders, etc. Just jot down & move on with your task at hand. Notezilla allows you to create attractive and realistic sticky notes to make the desktop look more colorful and beautiful.

It works smoothly on both phones & tablets.

An image showing one of the features of Notezilla

Sticky note transparency

To change the transparency of a single sticky note, click on the Notezilla Note menu and choose the Transparency option from the list. A sub-menu will pop up from which you can select the required transparency level.

To make the sticky note fully transparent (invisible background), choose the “Full” option.

To set the default transparency of new notes, right-click on the Notezilla icon and go to Preferences. In the Note tab, set the default transparency level for the new desktop notes.

Note: Only desktop notes can be transparent. Notes inside memoboards always remain opaque.

We also have a video for more clarity:

This is an important but often neglected feature of sticky notes.

The best part of Notezilla is that it can sync notes between your mobile and PC or laptop! Try the sync feature today! You will surely love it.

Download it from the Play Store or App Store today and sync all your sticky notes with the Windows version of Notezilla.

Learn more about Notezilla.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for interesting videos.

Check out our other cool products.

Have a good day!

Thank you :)

Keep notes, lists and even pictures in sticky notes on your desktop. You see the notes whenever the Stickies app on your Mac is open.

Important: If you upgraded to macOS Monterey from macOS 10.14 or earlier, follow the on-screen instructions when you first open Stickies to import any sticky notes you may have had in the Stickies widget in Dashboard.

Open Stickies for me

In the Stickies app
on your Mac, choose File > New Note.
Enter text. Your content is saved automatically. The first line of the note is shown in the title bar when you collapse the note.
To add a picture or PDF, drag a file to your note.
You can also use the Markup tools to crop or rotate pictures and PDF documents in your note, or to write or draw on them. See Mark-up files.
To customise your note, do any of the following:
- Change the note colour: Choose a colour from the Colour menu.
- Change text formatting: Choose Font > Show Fonts. Select text, then use the Fonts window to format it.
- Make the note semi-transparent: Choose Window > Translucent.
- Keep the note in front of other windows: Choose Window > Float on Top.

Tip: If you like how you formatted and customised a note, you can use it as a default template. Select the note, then choose Window > Use as Default.

In the Stickies app

on your Mac, do any of the following:

Add a list: Press Option-Tab, enter your first item, then press Return.
End a list (and add a regular paragraph): Click at the end of the last list item, then press Return twice.
Increase list level: Click a line in the list, then press Tab.
Decrease list level: Click a line in the list, then press Shift-Tab.

In the Stickies app
on your Mac, choose Edit > Find > Find, then type text in the Find field.
You can also select text, then choose Edit > Find > Use Selection for Find.
To refine your search, you can:
- Select the current note or all notes.
- Deselect Ignore Case to find text that exactly matches the capitalisation of your search term.
Press Return to start the search.

Click Previous or Next to move to another match.

Note: You can also find and replace text. Enter the text in the Replace With field, then choose one of the Replace options.

In the Stickies app

on your Mac, do any of the following:

Arrange a note manually: Click the top of a note and drag the note where you want it.
Group multiple notes: Choose Window > Arrange By, then choose an option.
Keep a note in front of other windows: Choose Window > Float on Top.
Make a note semi-transparent: Choose Window > Translucent.
Collapse or expand a note: Double-click the title bar.
Change the size of a note: Drag the note’s edge (top, bottom or sides). To maximise the note, click the triangle in the top-right corner. Click it again to reduce the note to its original size.
See note information: Hold the pointer over the title bar — you see when the note was created and last edited.

If you don’t see your note, verify that the Stickies app is still open. When Stickies is closed, notes don’t appear on your desktop.

You can import a text file as a single note into Stickies or export a note from Stickies as a text file. You can also export all your notes from the Stickies app and import them into the Notes app, where you can write and organise notes in a single window and see your notes on all your Apple devices.

In the Stickies app

on your Mac, do any of the following:

Import or export a single note: Choose File > Import Text or File > Export Text.
You can import and export notes in common formats such as plain text, RTF and RTFD (includes graphics). When you export text, you can choose where to save the file.
Export all notes from Stickies to Notes: Choose File > Export All to Notes, then click Export All.
All your notes are imported into Notes in the Imported Notes folder, which contains subfolders for each colour of note. (Your notes also remain in Stickies.)
Open Notes for me

Click the box in the top-left corner, then click Delete Note.

Page 2

Keep notes, lists and even pictures in sticky notes on your desktop. You see the notes whenever the Stickies app on your Mac is open.

Open Stickies for me

In the Stickies app
on your Mac, choose File > New Note.
Enter text. Your content is saved automatically. The first line of the note is shown in the title bar when you collapse the note.
To add a picture or PDF, drag a file to your note.
You can also use the Markup tools to crop or rotate pictures and PDF documents in your note, or to write or draw on them. See Mark-up files.
To customise your note, do any of the following:
- Change the note colour: Choose a colour from the Colour menu.
- Change text formatting: Choose Font > Show Fonts. Select text, then use the Fonts window to format it.
- Make the note semi-transparent: Choose Window > Translucent.
- Keep the note in front of other windows: Choose Window > Float on Top.

Tip: If you like how you formatted and customised a note, you can use it as a default template. Select the note, then choose Window > Use as Default.

In the Stickies app

on your Mac, do any of the following:

Add a list: Press Option-Tab, enter your first item, then press Return.
End a list (and add a regular paragraph): Click at the end of the last list item, then press Return twice.
Increase list level: Click a line in the list, then press Tab.
Decrease list level: Click a line in the list, then press Shift-Tab.

In the Stickies app
on your Mac, choose Edit > Find > Find, then type text in the Find field.
You can also select text, then choose Edit > Find > Use Selection for Find.
To refine your search, you can:
- Select the current note or all notes.
- Deselect Ignore Case to find text that exactly matches the capitalisation of your search term.
Press Return to start the search.
Click Previous or Next to move to another match.

Note: You can also find and replace text. Enter the text in the Replace With field, then choose one of the Replace options.

In the Stickies app

on your Mac, do any of the following:

Arrange a note manually: Click the top of a note and drag the note where you want it.
Group multiple notes: Choose Window > Arrange By, then choose an option.
Keep a note in front of other windows: Choose Window > Float on Top.
Make a note semi-transparent: Choose Window > Translucent.
Collapse or expand a note: Double-click the title bar.
Change the size of a note: Drag the note’s edge (top, bottom or sides). To maximise the note, click the triangle in the top-right corner. Click it again to reduce the note to its original size.
See note information: Hold the pointer over the title bar — you see when the note was created and last edited.

If you don’t see your note, verify that the Stickies app is still open. When Stickies is closed, notes don’t appear on your desktop.

In the Stickies app

on your Mac, do any of the following:

Import or export a single note: Choose File > Import Text or File > Export Text.
You can import and export notes in common formats such as plain text, RTF and RTFD (includes graphics). When you export text, you can choose where to save the file.
Export all notes from Stickies to Notes: Choose File > Export All to Notes, then click Export All.
All your notes are imported into Notes in the Imported Notes folder, which contains subfolders for each colour of note. (Your notes also remain in Stickies.)
Open Notes for me

Click the box in the top-left corner, then click Delete Note.

Page 3

Keep notes, lists and even pictures in sticky notes on your desktop. You see the notes whenever the Stickies app on your Mac is open.

Important: If you upgraded to macOS Big Sur from macOS 10.14 or earlier, follow the on-screen instructions when you first open Stickies to import any sticky notes you may have had in the Stickies widget in Dashboard.

Open Stickies for me

In the Stickies app
on your Mac, choose File > New Note.
Enter text. To add a picture or PDF, drag a file to your note.
Your content is saved automatically. The first line of the note is shown in the title bar when you collapse the note.
To customise your note, do any of the following:
- Change the note colour: Choose a colour from the Colour menu.
- Change text formatting: Choose Font > Show Fonts. Select text, then use the Fonts window to format it.
- Make the note semi-transparent: Choose Window > Translucent.
- Keep the note in front of other windows: Choose Window > Float on Top.

Tip: If you like how you formatted and customised a note, you can use it as a default template. Select the note, then choose Window > Use as Default.

In the Stickies app

on your Mac, do any of the following:

Add a list: Press Option-Tab, enter your first item, then press Return.
End a list (and add a regular paragraph): Click at the end of the last list item, then press Return twice.
Increase list level: Click a line in the list, then press Tab.
Decrease list level: Click a line in the list, then press Shift-Tab.

In the Stickies app
on your Mac, choose Edit > Find > Find, then type text in the Find field.
You can also select text, then choose Edit > Find > Use Selection for Find.
To refine your search, you can:
- Select the current note or all notes.
- Deselect Ignore Case to find text that exactly matches the capitalisation of your search term.
Press Return to start the search.
Click Previous or Next to move to another match.

Note: You can also find and replace text. Enter the text in the Replace With field, then choose one of the Replace options.

In the Stickies app

on your Mac, do any of the following:

Arrange a note manually: Click the top of a note and drag the note where you want it.
Group multiple notes: Choose Window > Arrange By, then choose an option.
Keep a note in front of other windows: Choose Window > Float on Top.
Make a note semi-transparent: Choose Window > Translucent.
Collapse or expand a note: Double-click the title bar.
Change the size of a note: Drag the note’s edge (top, bottom or sides). To maximise the note, click the triangle in the top-right corner. Click it again to reduce the note to its original size.
See note information: Hold the pointer over a collapsed note — you see when the note was created and last edited.

If you don’t see your note, verify that the Stickies app is still open. When Stickies is closed, notes don’t appear on your desktop.

In the Stickies app

on your Mac, do any of the following:

Import or export a single note: Choose File > Import Text or File > Export Text.
You can import and export notes in common formats such as plain text, RTF and RTFD (includes graphics). When you export text, you can choose where to save the file.
Export all notes from Stickies to Notes: Choose File > Export All to Notes, then click Export All.
All your notes are imported into Notes in the Imported Notes folder, which contains subfolders for each colour of note. (Your notes also remain in Stickies.)
Open Notes for me

Click the box in the top-left corner, then click Delete Note.

Page 4

Keep notes, lists and even pictures in sticky notes on your desktop. You see the notes whenever the Stickies app on your Mac is open.

Important: When you first open the Stickies app after upgrading to macOS Catalina or later, follow the onscreen instructions to import any notes you may have had in the Stickies widget in Dashboard.

Open Stickies for me

In the Stickies app
on your Mac, choose File > New Note.
Enter text. To add a picture or PDF, drag a file to your note.
Your content is saved automatically. The first line of the note is shown in the title bar when you collapse the note.
To customise your note, do any of the following:
- Change the note colour: Choose a colour from the Colour menu.
- Change text formatting: Choose Font > Show Fonts. Select text, then use the Fonts window to format it.
- Make the note semi-transparent: Choose Window > Translucent.
- Keep the note in front of other windows: Choose Window > Float on Top.

Tip: If you like how you formatted and customised a note, you can use it as a default template. Select the note, then choose Window > Use as Default.

In the Stickies app

on your Mac, do any of the following:

Add a list: Press Option-Tab, enter your first item, then press Return.
End a list (and add a regular paragraph): Click at the end of the last list item, then press Return twice.
Increase list level: Click a line in the list, then press Tab.
Decrease list level: Click a line in the list, then press Shift-Tab.
Format a list: Control-click in the list, then choose List. You can change the bullet type.

In the Stickies app
on your Mac, choose Edit > Find > Find, then type text in the Find field.
You can also select text, then choose Edit > Find > Use Selection for Find.
To refine your search, you can:
- Select the current note or all notes.
- Deselect Ignore Case to find text that exactly matches the capitalisation of your search term.
Press Return to start the search.
Click Previous or Next to move to another match.

Note: You can also find and replace text. Enter the text in the Replace With field, then choose one of the Replace options.

In the Stickies app

on your Mac, do any of the following:

Arrange a note manually: Click the top of a note and drag the note where you want it.
Group multiple notes: Choose Window > Arrange By, then choose an option.
Keep a note in front of other windows: Choose Window > Float on Top.
Make a note semi-transparent: Choose Window > Translucent.
Collapse or expand a note: Double-click the title bar.
Change the size of a note: Drag the note’s edge (top, bottom or sides). To maximise the note, click the triangle in the top-right corner. Click it again to reduce the note to its original size.
See note information: Hold the pointer over a collapsed note — you see when the note was created and last edited.

If you don’t see your note, verify that the Stickies app is still open. When Stickies is closed, notes don’t appear on your desktop.

In the Stickies app

on your Mac, do any of the following:

Import or export a single note: Choose File > Import Text or File > Export Text.

You can import and export notes in common formats such as plain text, RTF and RTFD (includes graphics). When you export text, you can choose where to save the file.
Export all notes from Stickies to Notes: Choose File > Export All to Notes, then click Export All.
All your notes are imported to Notes into the Imported Notes folder, which contains subfolders for each colour of note. (Your notes also remain in Stickies.)
Open Notes for me

Click the box in the top-left corner, then click Delete Note.

Page 5

Keep notes, lists and even pictures in sticky notes on your desktop. You see the notes whenever the Stickies app on your Mac is open.

Open Stickies for me

In the Stickies app
on your Mac, choose File > New Note.
Enter text. To add a picture or PDF, drag a file to your note.
Your content is saved automatically. The first line of the note is shown in the title bar when you collapse the note.
To customise your note, do any of the following:
- Change the note colour: Choose a colour from the Colour menu.
- Change text formatting: Choose Font > Show Fonts. Select text, then use the Fonts window to format it.
- Make the note semi-transparent: Choose Window > Translucent.
- Keep the note in front of other windows: Choose Window > Float on Top.

Tip: If you like how you formatted and customised a note, you can use it as a default template. Select the note, then choose Window > Use as Default.

In the Stickies app

on your Mac, do any of the following:

Add a list: Press Option-Tab, enter your first item, then press Return.
End a list (and add a regular paragraph): Click at the end of the last list item, then press Return twice.
Increase list level: Click a line in the list, then press Tab.
Decrease list level: Click a line in the list, then press Shift-Tab.
Format a list: Control-click in the list, then choose List. You can change the bullet type.

In the Stickies app
on your Mac, choose Edit > Find > Find, then type text in the Find field.
You can also select text, then choose Edit > Find > Use Selection for Find.
To refine your search, you can:
- Select the current note or all notes.
- Deselect Ignore Case to find text that exactly matches the capitalisation of your search term.
Press Return to start the search.
Click Previous or Next to move to another match.

Note: You can also find and replace text. Enter the text in the Replace With field, then choose one of the Replace options.

In the Stickies app

on your Mac, do any of the following:

Arrange a note manually: Click the top of a note and drag the note where you want it.
Group multiple notes: Choose Window > Arrange By, then choose an option.
Keep a note in front of other windows: Choose Window > Float on Top.
Make a note semi-transparent: Choose Window > Translucent.
Collapse or expand a note: Double-click the title bar.
Change the size of a note: Drag the note’s edge (top, bottom or sides). To maximise the note, click the triangle in the top-right corner. Click it again to reduce the note to its original size.
See note information: Hold the pointer over a collapsed note — you see when the note was created and last edited.

If you don’t see your note, verify that the Stickies app is still open. When Stickies is closed, notes don’t appear on your desktop.

In the Stickies app

on your Mac, do any of the following:

Import or export a single note: Choose File > Import Text or File > Export Text.
You can import and export notes in common formats such as plain text, RTF and RTFD (includes graphics). When you export text, you can choose where to save the file.
Export all notes from Stickies to Notes: Choose File > Export All to Notes, then click Export All.
All your notes are imported to Notes into the Imported Notes folder, which contains subfolders for each colour of note. (Your notes also remain in Stickies.)
Open Notes for me