Quick Answer
Google Keep (keep.google.com) is best for quick notes, checklists, and reminders with color-coding and image attachments. Google Tasks (tasks.google.com, or the side panel in Gmail/Calendar) is better for structured to-do lists with due dates and subtasks. Both work as installable web apps on ChromeOS and support offline access.
Setting Up Google Keep
Step 1: Install it as an app
Open Chrome, go to keep.google.com, click the three-dot menu, and choose Cast, save, and share > Install page as app. This pins Keep to your shelf and app launcher like a native app.
Step 2: Enable offline access
In Keep’s settings (gear icon), turn on Offline. This caches your notes locally, similar to how Google Docs offline access works, so you can view and edit notes without an internet connection.
Step 3: Use labels and colors to organize
Right-click any note to assign a color or add it to a label. Labels appear in the left sidebar and function like folders for grouping related notes.
Setting Up Google Tasks
Step 1: Access it from Gmail or Calendar
Click the Tasks icon in the right-hand side panel of Gmail or Google Calendar, or install tasks.google.com as a standalone app the same way as Keep.
Step 2: Create task lists
Tasks supports multiple named lists (e.g., “Work,” “Personal,” “Shopping”), each with due dates, subtasks, and notes attached to individual items.
Step 3: Turn on notifications
If installed as an app, Tasks can send desktop notifications for due dates — check that notifications are allowed for the app under Settings > Apps > Notifications.
Which One Should You Use?
Use Keep for anything visual or unstructured — quick notes, photos of whiteboards, shopping lists you’ll check off in a store. Use Tasks for anything with a deadline or that needs to integrate with your calendar, since Tasks due dates show up directly in Google Calendar.
Using Both Side by Side
Since both are installable web apps, you can snap Keep and Tasks into a split screen layout alongside your main work app, keeping notes and to-dos visible without switching tabs.
Still Not Fixed?
If notes or tasks aren’t syncing between devices, confirm you’re signed into the same Google account everywhere, and check your Chromebook sync settings to make sure app data sync hasn’t been disabled.
FAQ
Do Keep and Tasks work without internet?
Yes, both support offline mode once enabled — changes sync automatically the next time you’re connected.
Can I convert a Keep note into a Task?
Not directly, but you can copy a checklist from Keep into a new Tasks list manually. They’re designed as separate, complementary tools rather than one feeding the other.
Is there a keyboard shortcut to quickly add a note in Keep?
Yes — with Keep open, press C to start a new note. See our full keyboard shortcuts guide for more.
