kasks

Q: Notes in El Capitan

My iPad, iPhone and new Macbook Pro (running El Capitan) are all using the same Apple ID. The iPad and iPhone notes all sync perfectly, but since getting the new computer / El Capitan OS, nothing is syncing to my laptop. There is a lot of chatter on the web, but no answers from from Apple... and it's very, very frustrating. What's the use in having ones life built on Apple products, if those products don't sync any longer?

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015), OS X El Capitan (10.11)

Posted on May 14, 2016 12:27 PM

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Q: Notes in El Capitan

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  • by leroydouglas,

    leroydouglas leroydouglas May 14, 2016 12:33 PM in response to kasks
    Level 7 (23,520 points)
    Notebooks
    May 14, 2016 12:33 PM in response to kasks

    >System Preferences>iCloud

     

    Verify you are signed in, and Notes is checked.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis May 14, 2016 12:44 PM in response to kasks
    Level 10 (207,963 points)
    Applications
    May 14, 2016 12:44 PM in response to kasks

    If you have upgraded an Apple mobile device to iOS 9 or later, and then synced the Notes database to iCloud, then you won't be able to sync Notes on a Mac with the same iCloud account until it's upgraded to OS X 10.11 or later.

    Only notes in the iCloud category will sync with iCloud. If you have notes under On My Mac, or synced with some other network service, they won't sync.

    If notes that should sync do not, please open the iCloud pane in System Preferences. Make sure that you're signed in to iCloud with the right Apple ID and that the box marked Notes is checked. Uncheck the box and check it again.

  • by Gino_Cerullo,

    Gino_Cerullo Gino_Cerullo May 14, 2016 12:50 PM in response to kasks
    Level 3 (567 points)
    Apple TV
    May 14, 2016 12:50 PM in response to kasks

    As I am also running an iPhone, iPad and MacBook Pro (and iMac for good measure), all up to date OS's, and am not experiencing any problems with any iCloud data syncing between devices I would suggest it is an anomaly unique to a few users, yourself unfortunately included.

     

    Before proceeding, I suggest you make a backup of your data in case something goes wrong. Time Machine is great for that or just backup the files located at, ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.Notes

     

    Some suggestions, on the MacBook Pro go to System Preferences > iCloud and uncheck the checkbox for Notes and see if this resets things. If that does not work, again on the MacBook Pro, log out of and then back in to your iCloud account.

  • by Gino_Cerullo,

    Gino_Cerullo Gino_Cerullo May 14, 2016 12:57 PM in response to kasks
    Level 3 (567 points)
    Apple TV
    May 14, 2016 12:57 PM in response to kasks

    In addition to my post above after reading Linc Davis' post I am reminded that the format for Notes was updated in iOS 9 and El Capitan. You may have seen a warning about it when you updated to the latest OS's. Make sure the Notes app on your computer and iOS devices are all running the same version.

     

    Here is a Support document regarding the Notes update. Upgrade your notes with iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan - Apple Support

  • by kasks,

    kasks kasks May 14, 2016 3:50 PM in response to Gino_Cerullo
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    May 14, 2016 3:50 PM in response to Gino_Cerullo

    Thanks everyone... Unfortunately this doesn't answer my problem. I had already updated to the latest version of OS X and iOS, tried to log out and in to my iCloud account, checked that all of my devices were logged into the same iCloud account, restarted all of the devices, etc... nothing helped. There just doesn't seem to be a reason why my Macbook Pro and the other devices aren't syncing. All of the other Apple apps (i.e., Contacts, Calendar, etc.) sync perfectly and instantly. It's just notes. So, if anyone else can think of something, it would be gratefully appreciated. I'm sure I'm not the only one who's encountered this issue. Thanks!

  • by Gino_Cerullo,

    Gino_Cerullo Gino_Cerullo May 14, 2016 3:57 PM in response to kasks
    Level 3 (567 points)
    Apple TV
    May 14, 2016 3:57 PM in response to kasks

    One other thing, when you launch the Notes app on the Mac does it display the new menu bar like the one below?Screen Shot 2016-05-14 at 6.52.57 PM.png

  • by kasks,

    kasks kasks May 14, 2016 4:02 PM in response to Gino_Cerullo
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    May 14, 2016 4:02 PM in response to Gino_Cerullo

    It seems the same, other than the fact that the four center icons on your screen shot appear next to the four icons on the right on my notes menu bar.

  • by Linc Davis,Apple recommended

    Linc Davis Linc Davis May 14, 2016 4:45 PM in response to kasks
    Level 10 (207,963 points)
    Applications
    May 14, 2016 4:45 PM in response to kasks

    This procedure will reset the Notes application to its default state, with no content, just as if you had never used it. That's not a problem if all the notes you want to keep are in iCloud.

    Please back up all data. Disable Notes synchronization in the iCloud preference pane.

    Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:

    ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.Notes

    Right-click or control-click the line and select

              Services Reveal in Finder (or just Reveal)

    from the contextual menu.* A folder should open with an item selected. Quit the application if it's running. Move the selected item to the Trash. Relaunch the application and test.

    Repeat with this line:

    ~/Library/Group Containers/group.com.apple.notes

    Re-enable iCloud Notes and test.

    *If you don't see the contextual menu item, copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination  command-C. In the Finder, select

              Go Go to Folder...

    from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You may not see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.

  • by Gino_Cerullo,

    Gino_Cerullo Gino_Cerullo May 14, 2016 4:59 PM in response to kasks
    Level 3 (567 points)
    Apple TV
    May 14, 2016 4:59 PM in response to kasks

    Thanks, I just wanted to make sure that the Notes app on you Mac had updated to the new version. Had it not that might explain why you are having problems.