---
title: "How to format text in a note"
url: "https://recollect.fyi/support/formatting-notes/how-to-format-text-in-a-note/"
updated: "2026-08-04T05:56:11+00:00"
sources:
  - "https://recollect.fyi/support/formatting-notes/how-to-format-text-in-a-note/"
entities:
  - name: "Markdown"
    relation: "about"
    type: "Thing"
    sameAs:
      - "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1193600"
      - "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markdown"
---

Recollect gives you a formatting toolbar and Markdown shortcuts, so you can style a note however you like. The first line of a note is always its title, and everything below it is the body you format.

## Using the toolbar

The toolbar at the top of a note has a **block type** dropdown for turning the current line into a **Heading**, **Bullet List**, **Numbered List**, **Check List**, **Quote**, or **Code Block**. Use the **Insert** dropdown to add a **Link**, **Image**, **File**, **Video**, **Horizontal Rule**, or **Table**. You can also set text alignment and change the font family, size, and color.

Apply bold, italic, underline, and strikethrough with the usual keyboard shortcuts, such as CMD + B for bold, or type Markdown as described below.

## Inserting blocks with the / menu

Type / on an empty line to open the insert menu, then choose a block: **Text**, **Heading 1**, **Heading 2**, **Heading 3**, **Bulleted List**, **Numbered List**, **Check List**, **Quote**, **Code Block**, **Divider**, **Image**, **File**, **Video**, or **Table**.

## Formatting with Markdown

If you prefer Markdown, just type it and Recollect formats the text automatically as you go, such as `# ` for a heading, `- ` for a list item, or `**bold**` for bold text. To write in raw Markdown instead, click the gear icon and select **Settings**, open the **Appearance** tab, and turn on **Show Markdown switcher**. A button then appears on the note toolbar to switch between the visual editor and Markdown on any unshared note.