I recently upgraded to Catalina and to iOS 13 on all devices. Since then, there appears to a problem with iCloud notes not syncing and/or extremely slow to sync. For me, I have to constantly restart the app on all devices. Sometimes the sync occurs, sometimes not. I’ve signed in and out of the iCloud on all devices. Same issue. Anyone’s else have this problem?
Solution! I spent almost 2 hours on the phone with Apple support yesterday. No joy. Then, I thought about what I would do if this were a third-party app. I recollected that the problem began with a note on my iPad. So, I simply deleted the app from my iPad. I then went to the App Store and downloaded it again. After this, you need to go into iCloud settings and manually connect Notes to iCloud.
Following this, it took awhile for notes to repopulate on my iPad. However, now that this is complete, synchronization is functioning normally again. Hopefully this is not an aberration.
Solution! I spent almost 2 hours on the phone with Apple support yesterday. No joy. Then, I thought about what I would do if this were a third-party app. I recollected that the problem began with a note on my iPad. So, I simply deleted the app from my iPad. I then went to the App Store and downloaded it again. After this, you need to go into iCloud settings and manually connect Notes to iCloud.
Following this, it took awhile for notes to repopulate on my iPad. However, now that this is complete, synchronization is functioning normally again. Hopefully this is not an aberration.
I’ve just tested creating, editing, and deleting a new note after installing iOS 13.3 beta 2, and changes appear instantly (within 1–2 seconds) on my other devices.
They are: iMac running Catalina 10.15.1, iPad on iPad OS 13.3b2 and iPhone on iOS 13.3b2, all on the same network. I tested changes from each of these devices, and the other 2 are always reacting immediately. If Notes are important to you, try updating to iOS 13.3 beta 2.
Tried the same. Deleted Notes from my iPhone 7 Plus + iPad Pro 10.5. Re-downloaded and switched them back to iCloud.
I completely forgot that we can delete the Apple apps.
It worked! So far, so good.
Many thanks for the post!
As noted above by someone else, try deleting, re-downloading, then reconnect the Notes app to iCloud from iOS/iPadOS devices. Obviously, make sure your notes are safely stored (and storing themselves) in iCloud first before deleting.
Fixed it for me. Been syncing instantly since yesterday.
It appears the latest iOS update 13.2.3 FINALLY fixed my issue. Notes are finally syncing quickly, on all devices, and updates/changes are instantaneous. Thank you Apple, now leave it alone!! Don't mess with it anymore!!
I just bought the iPhone XS Max and i signed in to iCloud as soon as i got it. I noticed my notes weren't downloading so I thought i'd give it a sec to catch up. Messing around for about an hour and checked back expecting my notes to be running in full effect, but nothing... so i made sure all settings were on for "syncing" and yup all good so I then hard reset my iPhone (click volume up then down then lock till apple logo pops up) and when it turned on again i instantly checked back to my notes and bam! we good, just like that lol
See the article https://support.apple.com/en-in/guide/mac-help/mchlde9a31f1/10.15/mac/10.15
You must check the iCloud storage limit , it should not exceed the designated storage see these articles https://support.apple.com/en-in/HT201656
https://support.apple.com/en-in/guide/icloud/mm6e5a441fc7/icloud
https://support.apple.com/en-in/HT206504
Note : the notes box must always be checked in all devices , high network speed is essential .
As noted above by someone else, try deleting, re-downloading, then reconnect the Notes app to iCloud from iOS/iPadOS devices. Obviously, make sure your notes are safely stored (and storing themselves) in iCloud first before deleting.
Fixed it for me. Been syncing instantly since yesterday.
I posted this earlier but don't see it, so posting again. I opened a MacBook Pro running Catalina, a MacBook Air running Mojave, an iPad mini running iPadOS 13.2, and an iPhone running iOS 13.2. Any changes made to notes from the newer OS's (iPad, iOS MacOS) are extremely slow to register, taking 20 minutes or longer. Sometimes the problem can be rectified by quitting and restarting, but that's not a great solution and doesn't always work. However, when I make changes to my older MacBook Air running the older MacOS Mojave, I see the changes happening almost instantly (or at most 5-7 seconds) on the other devices running the newer software. So it definitely is an issue w/ the newer operating systems.
I tried the "fix" deleting notes from iPhone 11 running 13.2.2. But still, when I make changes to NOTES from the newly reloaded and turned off/on iCloud settings, it still takes a few minutes to show up on my several devices. As stated in previous posts, when I make changes to NOTES from my MacBook Air running Mojave, (and also the web version of NOTES) the changes show up within 5 seconds on my MacBook Pro running latest version of Catalina, my iPad running latest iPadOS, and iPhone11. HOWEVER, when I make changes to notes to any of the devices running the newest software, it takes at least Take 2 to 3 minutes at least to show up on all devices. So the "FIX" didn't quite work for me. I guess the other OPTION until Apple fixes this, is to use the Web iCloud.com version of notes as it, like my Mojave running MacBook Air works great and changes made to either of those ways shows up within seconds on all the newer software funning devices. Changes made to NOTES on the newer software running devices, still takes several minutes. Boooo!
Ok the 'fix' (turning off iCloud for NOTES, then deleting NOTES App, then re downloading NOTES from App Store and connecting again to iCloud) did speed up syncing of NOTES on my MacPro running latest of Catalina. But the fix didn't help with my iPhone and iPad running latest 13.2.2 ... Still slow to sync when I make changes to NOTES on them.
Having the same issue here.
Signed out and into iCloud too, just like you. Did not solve the issue. Did restarts and shutdowns as well.
I was able to sort of solve the issue by toggling Notes off then on again in the iCloud section of my iPhone, iPad and MacBook Air. Now they are syncing, but it’s just very slow. Verrrrryy sssssllllloooooowwwwww.
Running the 13.1.3 on iPadOS/iOS and Catalina on my MBA.
Something’s up. I’m not alone on this. I know of other people who are having this issue too. It’s just Notes. All other iCloud syncing is working fine.
Only step I haven’t taken is performing a wipe and restore or set up as new.
You're not alone, same thing here. I have signed out of and back in to iCloud on every apple device in the home (two AppleTVs, two iPhones, two iPads, iMac). I have restarted all Apple devices.I have tried restarting all wireless devices in the house (router and modem). I have tried connecting to both "regular" and 5G networks in the house. All to no avail. My Safari updates across devices. Handoff works across all devices. iCloud copy/paste works between all devices. My shared Notes I share with my wife update between our iOS devices. The problem seems to be specifically Catalina on the iMac with Notes and my Photos apps not syncing. I know I just sort of threw in there the Photos App at the end, but it has been a massive headache since upgrading to Catalina as well. The only positive is that the Photos eventually catch up now and sync after doing all the aforementioned steps. But even then I often have to restart the iMac for the Photos to sync across iOS and MacOS. I have zero issues with syncing across any iOS/iPadOS devices (including the AppleTVs). MacOS Catalina seems to be the issue. There's nothing more that this layman can narrow the issue down to.
Hopefully Apple comes out with a fix or an update because it is extremely annoying at this point.
Followed your lead, replaced the apps on my iPhone and iPad, and tested syncing with MacOS on MacBook Pro and iMac, and voila! Everything seems to be instantaneously transferred...love it. Let's hope it continues, but in the meantime, thank you.
I noticed that when the notes is active on both devices, sync happens rather sooner.
iCloud notes not syncing or extremely slow
