Before implementing Goodnotes at your school, ensure your environment meets the necessary technical requirements for your deployment type, with or without Admin Console.
Device Requirements
- iPad running iPadOS 17.5 or later
- For Goodnotes Education with Admin Console features, the app needs to be on version 7.0.0 or later.
- Apple Pencil (1st or 2nd generation) recommended for optimal experience
1:1 iPad Program Goodnotes Education with Admin Console requires a 1:1 iPad deployment where both Teachers and Students have individual devices. This ensures everyone can access Class Folders, participate in live teaching sessions, and complete Assignments effectively. While not a necessity when deploying without Admin Console, this is still highly recommended for an optimal experience.
Network Requirements
Internet Connectivity
- 200 Mbps* stable internet connection required for:
- Initial sign-in and authentication
- Syncing Class Folders and Assignments
- Real-time collaboration features
- Cloud storage access
Firewall Configuration: Ensure your network allows connections to Goodnotes services. If you experience connectivity issues, contact your IT department to verify that firewall settings permit access to required domains.
*For schools in Asia, please make sure this is 200Mbps International Bandwidth in order to access our US servers.
See How Syncing Works in Goodnotes for more information.
Account Requirements for Goodnotes Education with Admin Console
Schools using Goodnotes Education must provision Goodnotes Accounts for all users to enable:
- User role management (Teacher vs. Student)
- Class Folder access and permissions
- Assignment distribution and collection
- Organization membership
Supported Sign-In Methods
- School email addresses
- SSO via Edlink integration (for supported identity providers)
- Standard Goodnotes credentials
Users must sign in with their school accounts to join your Organization and access Education specific features.
Deployment Methods
Mobile Device Management (MDM) We strongly recommend deploying Goodnotes through your school's MDM solution for:
- Centralized app installation and updates
- Configuration management (if on applicable plan)
- License key distribution (if on applicable plan)
For detailed deployment instructions, see:
- Deploying Goodnotes Education (Checklist)
- Deploying Goodnotes Education without Admin Console [License Key]
Requirements for Legacy Goodnotes Classroom Users
If your school is still using the legacy Goodnotes Classroom app, please note:
- The Classroom app is being phased out
- All functionality is now available in the main Goodnotes app
- Teachers should transition to using Goodnotes for both personal and classroom work
- No automated migration tools are currently available
Migration Guidance Teachers moving from Goodnotes Classroom will need to:
- Install Goodnotes (if not already present)
- Sign in with the same account used in Goodnotes Classroom
- Access Classroom functionality directly within Goodnotes
- Follow self-service guidance for transferring private documents
For migration assistance, contact our support team.
Storage Considerations
Cloud Storage
Goodnotes includes cloud storage for syncing across devices, but stores this data locally on the device also. Large deployments should plan for adequate storage capacity on the devices they are deploying to.
Need Help?
If you have questions about technical requirements or need assistance with deployment, contact Support.