# How to use tags in Bear

> Learn how to organize Bear notes with tags: add multi-word and nested tags, pin, rename or delete them, escape a hashtag and add TagCon icons.

Source: https://bear.app/faq/how-to-use-tags-in-bear/

Tags are a powerful, flexible way to organize your work in Bear. They work similar to social media, so you can add tags like **\#work** and **\#school** and **\#errands** to a note. Click a tag in the Sidebar to see notes containing that tag.

Here are some basic tips about tags to get you started:

- Notes can contain as many tags as you want
- Tags can be placed anywhere in a note, even in headings and paragraphs
- Autocomplete will help you add existing tags 

## Ways to add tags to a note

![](https://bear.app/faq/images/tag_1.jpeg)

You have options!

- Type a **\#tag** anywhere you want
- Drag one or multiple notes onto a tag in the Sidebar
- Automatically apply them when collecting content with our browser and app extensions (set these tags in Settings \> Web content options)

## Multi-word tags

Tags can contain multiple words, making them more versatile and legible. **To create a multi-word tag**, wrap the words in pound signs, like this:  
  
**\#vacation plans\#**
**\#meeting notes\#**
**\#school projects\#**

## Nested tags

![](https://bear.app/faq/images/tag_2.jpeg)

Tags can be nested within other tags, just like folders in a typical file structure. This is great for things like keeping a journal, collecting related tags under parent topic, and more. You can have as many nested tag levels as you want.

**To create a nested tag**, simply separate words with a forward slash, like this:

**\#recipes/italian**
**\#journal/2024/01#**

The `/` symbol tells Bear to manage the tag as a hierarchy where `recipes`  is the father tag and `italian` is its child.

All the parent tags will be shown in the _Sidebar_ with a little disclosure button on the side. Selecting the disclosure will show the child tags related to the current parent.

And yes, nested tag also works with multi-word tags, just wrap the nested tag in pound signs:

**\#school projects/biology 101\#**
**\#novel/chapter 12\#**

## Pin tags

![](https://bear.app/faq/images/tag_3.jpeg)

You can pin important tags to the top of the Sidebar for easy access. To pin a tag to the top of the Sidebar:

- **Mac**: Right-click a tag in the Sidebar and choose **Pin Tag**
- **iOS**: Long-press a tag in the Sidebar and choose **Toggle Pin**

## Rename tags

Sometimes, a tag’s name has run its course. If you need to change the name of a tag:

- **Mac**: Right-click a tag in the Sidebar and choose **Edit Tag**
- **iOS**: Long-press a tag in the Sidebar and choose **Edit Tag**

Tag renaming can be useful also for nesting a tag under another. For example if you want to nest `#tag2` under `#tag1` you can rename `tag2` into `tag1/tag2`.

## Remove tags from all notes

One quick way to remove a tag from a note is to select the tag in the Sidebar, then:

- **Mac**: Right-click a note in the Note List and choose **Remove tag [name of tag]**
- **iOS**: Long-press on a note in the Note List and choose **Remove tag [name of tag]**

## Delete tags

To delete a tag from Bear and all the notes that contain it

- **Mac**: Right-click a tag in the Sidebar and choose **Delete Tag**
- **iOS**: Long-press a tag in the Sidebar and choose **Delete**

**Important detail**: This **will not delete the notes themselves**. It only deletes the selected tag _from_ the relevant notes.

## Escape tags

Sometimes you want to just write some text beginning with the `#` without having it turn into a tag. Bear supports **escape character** `\` which allows you to include special characters in your text without triggering Markdown's formatting rules and other text styles in Bear.

To escape tags, precede the tag symbol `#` with a backslash `\`, like this:

`#this_is_a_tag` 
`\#this_is_not_a_tag`

This also applies to other markdown symbols like `\*italic\*`.

## Add or change a TagCon

![](https://bear.app/faq/images/renametag_2.png)

Tags in the Sidebar can have cute little icons that we call TagCons. These help the tags to stand out and they’re just a little fun.

**To add a TagCon** to a tag in the Sidebar:

**Mac**
* Right-click a tag in the Sidebar and choose **Edit Tag**
- In the Edit Tag popover that appears, click the TagCon swatch in the lower left
- Browse or search for the TagCon that floats your boat
- Click it

**iOS**
- Long-press a tag in the Sidebar and choose **Change Tag Icon…**
- Browse or search for the TagCon that butters your bread
- Tap it