I’m always on the lookout for new note-taking apps that will simplify the writing and note-taking process. This, ironically, overcomplicates it because I end up with a million different options and decision fatigue. I eventually settled on this simple plain-text local note-taking stack, which has been serving me well for the most part. However, I practically live in my browser, so having a notepad I can keep pinned for quick access while I’m researching is invaluable.

This is where Microsoft Loop comes in. It catapulted to the top of my go-to project managers because it’s so simple and easy to use, and although there’s a desktop app, I can use it in my browser, too. Loop is capable of some pretty advanced task and project management setups, but one of my favorite things about it is how easy it is to write in. It’s why I started reaching for it as I’m researching or writing, to the point where it’s become one of my primary note-takers.

What is Microsoft Loop?

A project manager that’s also a notes app

Microsoft Loop is first and foremost designed to be a modular collaboration platform that integrates with Microsoft 365. Its main selling point is the Components, which are shareable live blocks of content that you can copy and drop anywhere in a Loop page or other 365 app. I like to think of them as flexible Lego blocks.

Another standout feature is the advanced filtering system that uses rules to dynamically organize your content. You can also create elaborate tables, boards, and calendar layouts, plus there’s a host of useful templates so you don’t have to build out your pages from scratch. Furthermore, you can add comments, use the slash command to insert things like headers and code blocks, and link pages in other pages.

This is handy and all, but where I get the most use out of Loop is in a simple page setup that’s now my primary online note-taking space…

Using Microsoft Loop as a notes app

Narrowing it down to a simple setup

I keep Loop pinned in my primary browser, which is Brave. This is where I do all my research, information collection, and so on - the majority of my workdays and studying sessions are spent here. So instead of constantly switching to an app like Windows Notepad, I only have to flip to a different tab. Plus, copy-pasting content directly from web sources is quicker, or I can just drag the URL onto a page.

To start with, I created a regular page called “writing”, which serves as a hub of sorts for all my writing pages. I actually created a table to keep track of all my notes and drafts - though looking back, a list with backlinks probably would have been quicker and also easier to navigate.

But to get the most out of Loop’s hierarchical document structure, I create subpages under the Writing page. I do this to keep all my notes in one place so they don’t get lost in the rest of my Loop projects. You can do it by right-clicking and selecting New Subpage. Now, when I expand the Writing page, it reveals all of my individual notes and drafts.

And then it’s just a matter of writing what I need to write. I flip-flop between Loop and Google Docs for my article drafts because both have version histories, which is important for longer drafts. And then I also use Loop for quick nuggets of information or snippets from websites. The only slash functions I really need here are the headers, lists, dividers, and occasionally images. And, as mentioned before, I can just drag in links straight from my browser.

It’s a very watered-down system, but I can flesh it out into a more structured workflow whenever I need, since the rest of Loop’s features are right there.

Getting my notes out of Loop

It’s straightforward

The downside to Loop is that it doesn’t have an export-as-Markdown function, which is my preferred format because I can edit those anywhere. However, exporting is mainly for the purpose of having a backup, or getting those documents into NotebookLM for further research, and Loop does offer a compatible format for that. I can export my files as PDFs.

Clicking the three-dot menu in the top corner and selecting Print and PDF Export will take you to the export window. And from there, I just save it to a folder on my PC that’s synced to Google Drive. This gives me a local copy, backs it up, and lets me retrieve it from apps that have a Drive integration.

A simpler and faster setup

Note-taking shouldn’t be complicated. Having an uncluttered, easy-to-navigate space that I can reach with one click turned out to be the solution for quick notes and writing. While Loop doesn’t replace every note-taking tool in my stack, it’s by far the most accessible for when I’m online and working in my browser. At the end of the day, convenience wins for me.