Amplenote Explained 15: Intro to note linking pt. 1: How to use note links

Note linking in Amplenote is built around a fast “@” workflow that turns references into navigable connections—complete with previews, backlinks, and practical ways to attach context to tasks and projects. Typing “@” inside a note opens a note-link menu listing all notes ever created. Choosing a destination note inserts a link; clicking the linked text shows a preview of that note’s contents, while clicking the note icon (or pressing Control Space) jumps to the full destination note. A key payoff comes from the destination side: Amplenote automatically tracks incoming references, so the linked note displays a list of where it’s referenced—using “note reference” or “backlink” for that incoming list.

The most common reason to use note links is navigation. Instead of searching or filtering for the right page, users can create direct links to frequently needed notes. One example is project management: if each project lives as its own note, a projects list can be assembled as a set of links. Rather than relying only on the “@” shortcut, links can be created via drag-and-drop, which also enables practical list management like applying formatting and reordering while keeping each project page one click away.

Note links also make tasks more informative by bundling instructions with the action. A recurring task—such as a 10-minute stretch before bed—can include a link to a separate note containing the stretching exercises. The workflow is straightforward: select relevant text and press “@” to create a new note titled from the selection and insert the link in one step. The task becomes both a reminder and a container for the detailed reference material it needs.

A similar pattern applies when a task’s goal is to create a new note. For instance, a “write tailored cover letter” task can link to an “empty internship cover letter” note. Returning to the task then provides quick access to the draft space, keeping the to-do and the working document tightly connected.

Finally, note links help preserve the trail of ideas by extracting reusable content into separate notes. When daily jot notes contain something that should be reused—like a checklist—users can select the checklist items and choose “extract to a note,” giving the new note a title and pressing Enter. This creates a standalone checklist note for future workshops, while leaving a link back in the original daily jot. That linked footprint acts like a breadcrumb for how and where projects branched off, making it easier to understand the evolution of an idea.

Overall, the core mechanics are simple: use the “@” shortcut to insert links anywhere in a note, use “@” after selecting text to convert selection into a note link (and optionally a new note), and use extract to move content into a separate note while keeping a link behind.