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Apple Notes on Mac OS Catalina: "copy" doesn't work

Hello everyone!


Sometimes while working in Apple Notes I suddenly discover I can't copy text from some notes. I select text then press a shortcut (or use menu), but I cannot paste the text anywhere.


Some observations:

  • It happens only in some note windows of many I have open. In other note windows it may work fine or may not.
  • I can copy text elsewhere and paste it in the "problematic" note
  • When I cut, it deletes selected text without copying it.
  • It happens only in Apple Notes, in other applications everything works fine.
  • I tried a clipboard manager Copia, it shows "unknown item" instead of the text I tried to copy.
  • When I open a "problematic" note in a separate window or, vice versa, close separate window and open the note in the main window, it helps. Opening/closing the note back returns the issue.
  • Relaunching Notes helps, but it's inconvenient: I have 5-6 notes open at once, reopening them back is annoying and messes with my work process.


I am dealing with this problem since updating to Catalina. I have a number of apps installed, which could interfere, but I didn't manage to locate the conflict. I tried quitting or force quitting (via Activity Monitor) following apps and processes, but it didn't help:

  • BetterTouchTool
  • HazeOver
  • Parallels Toolbox
  • pboard
  • Atlassian Companion
  • Bartender 3.0
  • Seafile Desktop client
  • Copia


MacBook Pro 15", 10.15

Posted on Apr 2, 2020 1:38 AM

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Apple Notes on Mac OS Catalina: "copy" doesn't work

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