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Level 1

74 points

Notes not syncing or uploading to iCloud After iOS 13 Update

I'm having an issue where, after updating my devices to iOS 13, notes from the Apple Notes app are either not syncing, randomly syncing, or syncing only after a prolonged delay (e.g. days) between my iPhone and iPad. I've tried signing out and back in to iCloud and have removed and reinstalled the Notes app on both devices. I've ensured that the OS on both devices has been updated to the current version. Interestingly, If I have the notes app open on my iPhone, I still get the notification in the dock on my iPad that the notes app is open on my phone, but the notes still fail to sync, or at best, some notes randomly sync hours or days later, between the two devices. I noticed that if I create a note in the notes app through the iCloud website, the note downloads to both my devices immediately, but notes created on my devices fail to upload.

Has anyone else had this issue and found a solution? Is this a known bug in iOS 13, similar to one with the Reminders app (which I don't seem to be having)?

Posted on Oct 8, 2019 3:55 AM

Best reply

pg2001

Level 1

19 points

Posted on Oct 31, 2019 6:12 PM

Hi all,

I have resolved the issue.

I have had the same problem as everyone - Notes not syncing between my iPhone, iPad, MBA - all with the latest OS. I tried everything recommended and ended transferring all my notes to sit on my iPhone - then deleted all notes out of the iPad and MBA and switched iCloud off for Reminders and Notes on all three devices.

I then backed up my phone so at least I had a copy of my notes (I used iexplorer to look into the backup to make sure all of my Notes were there).

I periodically switched iCloud back on in the iPad and iPhone and attempted to create notes and see if they would sync. They did not. My wife created a note on her phone and shared it with me - and that synced as we both made changes, although it was not instant as it had been prior to the iOS upgrades.

So until yesterday things were still not working.

Then I did the following:

switched off iCloud again on all devices.
deleted all notes on the iPad, MBA and deleted any notes in the 'recently deleted folder'.
logged into the iCloud account to access Notes via the browser and deleted all notes/folders - including notes in the recently deleted folder.
The only notes left were the 480 notes I'd transferred to the 'On my iPhone' folder on my iPhone. If you don't have this option in Notes you have to go to Settings/Notes and switch it on.
Then I did this (this is what I think resolved the issue). I went to Settings/Passwords & Accounts/iCloud/iCloud/Manage Storage - and I looked down the list to see how much data Notes had stored in iCloud (obviously it should be zero as I had deleted all Notes out of iCloud). It was 2.2GB - ranked 5th after iCloud Drive, Photos, Messages, Backups. Obviously something was jammed in there.
So I swiped left and the option comes up to Delete Data. I hit that option and I think it says 'This will delete all Notes in iCloud and on you iPhone' - I say yes or OK or whatever it asked. It didn't delete the Notes I had 'On my IPhone' - but I guess it deleted whatever was stuck in iCloud.
I waited for 30 minutes. Then switched on iCloud on my phone, and tested making notes on my phone, and in iCloud via the browser and it all synced immediately. I then added my iPad - and the same - all synced immediately - then added my MBA and notes synced immediately between all four. I then copied a folder from my 'On my iPhone' folder - to the iCloud folder - and it immediately synced the folder and all the notes it contained between all my phone, iPad, MBA and iCloud. I then copied all the folders - and all other notes have now synced between all devices. Each account has 480 notes.
If you are going to follow these instructions the only thing I would do differently is use my MBA to hold all the notes in the 'On My Mac' folder. If you don't have this folder you have to switch it on in Preferences. It is easier to use a mouse to move folders around.

I'll report back if I have any problems, but it seems I have resolved this issue.

Good luck all.

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537 replies

Oct 9, 2019 12:42 PM in response to smccorkle13

Notes were working perfectly across my iOS devices (iPhone & iPad) until I upgraded my MacBook Air to Catalina. Now the sync is taking forever or not at all. Interesting point is that the time/date stamp is updating but not the content of the handwritten notes.

Oct 9, 2019 6:07 PM in response to anatoly193

I'm having the same problems, running iOS 13.1.2 and Catalina on all devices/machines.

Another problem I have is I'm using the new shared folder with the wife and when you look at notes in a web browser you can't even see that folder or any notes. So iCloud.com isn't even showing the functionality to share a folder.

Oct 10, 2019 1:05 AM in response to mdeonte

I opened Reminders on my iPhone and suer enough it required an update. I just did that, now waiting for my Notes to sync between my three devices: Mac, iPhone, iPad Pro.... so far after 5 minutes: no dice!

Oct 10, 2019 1:08 AM in response to smccorkle13

So, about 6 months ago I completely switched from Evernote for my daily journal/todo/notes/daybook to Notes, after all I have three devices with me every day (Mac, iPad Pro, iPhone) all running Apple software, so I figure why also have Evernote. As of iOS 13 update on my iPhone and iPad notes sync is broken completely, as evident by all the replies on this thread.

Does Apple realise that for many people their apps are MISSION CRITICAL to our daily operations, iOS 13 seems plagued with bugs, what is happening to Apple QC, I switched from Android 5 years ago to Apple because of a desire for improved quality; now all my friends are switching back to Android, and I wonder if I should be doing the same.

COME ON APPLE; you are losing your grip!!!

Oct 10, 2019 3:47 AM in response to smccorkle13

I'm having the same problem since upgrading to iOS 13 and Catalina.

I had two problems, the first was that folders were not appearing on my Mac but were on my phone. Renaming the folder on my phone caused the folder to appear on my Mac where I could rename it back to its original name.

Then I noticed I had some notes missing from a couple of folders. On my phone I copied the notes, deleted the original and create a new note by pasting in the text from the original note. The new note appeared just fine on my Mac after that.

Himx

Level 1

4 points

Oct 10, 2019 4:24 AM in response to smccorkle13

I do also have the same problem since upgrade my iPad Pro 10.5” to iPadOS 13.1.2.

Earlier, Notes work fine for me as I work with my iPhone , Macbook , and iPad. Since then, I have only to work on iPhone and Macbook, so frustrated as Notes play a major role for my daily work.

Please, Apple, fix this issue asap because your Cloud and Ecosystem are the core and main reasons why many people use your product. : (

Anyway, it’s also my fault that I should never rush to upgrade to the new OS with full of errors.

Oct 10, 2019 5:22 AM in response to Himx

Apple - you need to fix this! I echo the other points that millions of people rely on your Notes app as a daily driver. How can you let this happen?! Major violation of trust and degradation of consumer goodwill. Please advise on a fix ASAP!

Oct 10, 2019 5:43 AM in response to smccorkle13

I can also confirm that my notes are not syncing across my devices after updating to the new operating systems on each device. I have an iPad, iPhone, and MacBook. When I make changes to my notes from my phone it will sync to my iPad, but it does not sync onto the MacBook. When I make changes to notes on my iPad or my MacBook, they DO NOT sync with any other devices whatsoever. This is extremely frustrating. Basically, I should only make changes to notes on my iPhone because that is the only way to ensure it will save to iCloud. Smh.

Oct 10, 2019 6:59 AM in response to smccorkle13

My MacBook pro running Catalina will receive notes updated on my iPhone and iPad running ios13 or my iMac running Mojave. But notes created on my MacBook pro running catalina will not update to my other devices. I already lost some work trying in the midst of trouble shooting.

DPC1975

Level 1

4 points

Oct 10, 2019 7:08 AM in response to smccorkle13

I think the issue is deeper... the sync process between multiple devices is flawed. Doesn't matter what device (iPhone, iPad, Mac) the notes are authored on, they aren't replicated through iCloud. Back to Evernote I go for now!!

MapucaNL

Level 1

8 points

Oct 10, 2019 11:02 AM in response to smccorkle13

Agreed. I have lost many hours with Support. From restarting in Save mode and disable and re-enable notes in icloud. I also have for sure lost some work. Apple is loosing his game here. I migrated from all type of workflow tools to iCloud Notes, Reminders, Apple Mail, iCloud Drive and Siri.

This is by far the most expensive iOS and MacOS update in 10 years for me. Again blame it om me, that I updated to quickly. But this was a public release, not a beta version.

Oct 10, 2019 4:44 PM in response to smccorkle13

This is the most frustrating experience that I have after after upgrading to the latest iOS. Previously having Zero issues to hands off from iPad-iPhone when writing on notes and now risking information gaps between the 2 devices when after so many patches after iOS 13

Heindrik

Level 1

4 points

Oct 10, 2019 6:26 PM in response to mdeonte

+1 to this. First I did the upgrade and it didn't work. But then I also realized I was part of a reminders group (Family) where not everyone has upgraded to iOS 13. As soon as I deleted that group, apple notes started syncing normally.

Oct 11, 2019 3:35 AM in response to andreascarse

Same issues here - on latest versions of iOS iPadOS and Catalina all latest beta versions.

Catalina and iCloud are syncing.

icloud to iOS and iPadOS broken and not working.

notes created on iOS and iPadOS do sync to iCloud but only text and not attachments/links/pdf etc.

Oct 11, 2019 5:06 AM in response to smccorkle13

I have a second update. Oddly enough, my now my iPhone (iOS 13) won't sync with my iPad (newest iPad OS) or my MacBook (Catalina OS). Just a couple of days ago, if I made changes on my iPhone it would only sync to the iPad but not the other way around. However, just now, I realized that it stopped doing that. I haven't updated or done anything different.

I played around with the system and learned that if I made changes to notes on iCloud.com then it would update the notes on my other devices. However, I still cannot make changes on the devices. They will not sync with iCloud and therefore will not update on the other devices.

Notes not syncing or uploading to iCloud After iOS 13 Update