Category: Workflows

I use the Notes app on my Mac more than my bookmark manager. I needed a system to capture links that I actually visit and act on.

That’s when I started looking for a way to capture any webpage’s URL and title directly to Apple Notes with just a keyboard shortcut.

Here’s how I created a simple yet powerful automation using Apple’s built-in tools that can transform your link-saving workflow.

Creating the Automator workflow

Step 1: Launch Automator and Create a Quick Action

1. Open Automator (found in Applications or via Spotlight)
2. Choose Quick Action when prompted for document type
3. At the top of the workflow area, set:
   • “Workflow receives” to no input
   • “in” to any application

Step 2: Add the AppleScript Action

1. In the Actions library on the left, search for “Run AppleScript”
2. Drag the Run AppleScript action into your workflow area
3. Replace the default code with this script:

-- Get URL from Chrome and save to Apple Notes
tell application "Google Chrome"
    if it is running then
        -- Get the URL and title of the active tab
        set currentURL to URL of active tab of front window
        set currentTitle to title of active tab of front window
        
        -- Create the note content
        set noteContent to currentTitle & return & currentURL
        
        -- Send to Notes app
        tell application "Notes"
            tell account "iCloud" -- You can change this to "On My Mac" if preferred
                tell folder "Links" -- Save to Links folder
                    make new note with properties {name:currentTitle, body:noteContent}
                end tell
            end tell
        end tell
        
        -- Display confirmation with URL
        display notification currentURL with title "Added to Notes"
        
    else
        display alert "Chrome is not running"
    end if
end tell

Step 3: Save Y\your Quick Action

1. Save the workflow with a descriptive name like “Get URL from Chrome and save to Apple Notes”
2. This automatically installs it as a system service

Setting up the keyboard shortcut

Step 4: Configure System Keyboard Shortcuts

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS)
2. Navigate to Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts
3. Select Services from the sidebar
4. Look under the General section for your newly created service
5. Check the box next to “Get URL from Chrome and save to Apple Notes”
6. Click Add Shortcut and press your desired key combination

How it works in practice

Once set up, the workflow is simple:

1. Browse to any webpage in Chrome
2. Press your assigned keyboard shortcut
3. Watch the notification confirm your URL was saved
4. Find your link organized in the Notes app’s “Links” folder

Troubleshooting common issues

Permission prompts: macOS will ask for permission to control Chrome and Notes the first time you run the automation. Grant these permissions for the workflow to function.

Folder not found error: If you get an error about the “Links” folder, either create this folder in Notes manually or modify the script to use an existing folder.

Script not triggering: Ensure you’ve properly assigned the keyboard shortcut in System Settings and that it doesn’t conflict with existing shortcuts.

This Automator workflow is a reliable way for me to capture web content directly into my note-taking system. On iPhone, there’s a simple ‘Add to Quick Note’ option from a browser share sheet that’s easily accessible.