Notes app causes high CPU load after upgrade to Big Sur

Hello tom-62,

Welcome to Apple Support Communities. It sounds like you're having trouble with the Notes app on your Mac after upgrading to macOS Big Sur. We are happy to share information that may help.

First, restart your Mac: Log out, sleep, restart, or shut down your Mac.

Next, start up in safe mode to see if the issue continues while you're in safe mode: How to use safe mode on your Mac.

If those steps do not resolve the issue, please let us know if you see any messages such as "Syncing" after you open the Notes app.

Take care.

Look here - this helped me, as a workaround, until bug is fixed:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-notes-using-cpu.2268511/

→ switch to gallery mode

Same issue, around 65% of constant cpu usage, gallery mode fixed it !

Same issue. Was able to work around using Gallery view in Notes.

Is there a bug report open on this?

I'm experiencing the same problem noted by many. The reports are spread across several devices and operating systems. I'm interested in a solution that will work with the latest Big Sur.

I have yet to find a solution. It appears that more than a few get frustrated and give up on Apple Notes. If you find something that works, I'd love to hear from you.

BTW: Performed the on/off with notes, rebooted (many times), cleared all caches, turned IOS devices on/off, exited iCloud, etc.

My iPad Pro with the lates IOS works find, but after upgrading from 10.15.+ to 11.2.1, cannot get Notes to sync with iCloud. The system spins and uses much of CPU %.

Seems to work right only when iCloud sync is enabled. Looks like Apple really wants to read our notes. I switched to Standard Notes https://standardnotes.org/

Unfortunately, I have the same issue as tom-62 (had), after upgrading to Big Sur - restart & safe mode did not help. Notes take still about 67% CPU permanently. Disconnected notes already from iCloud (=> restarted) and connected to iCloud again (2 times) - without any change. Any further ideas? thx&regards

Unfortunately, I don't like gallery mode at all and As soon as I switch to a List Mode - CPU load is about 67%.

How long does it take to solve this issue? And why it is marked as resolved as it the answer doesn't help and people are using workarounds?

I agree, this issue is not solved. It’s status must be changed so we can be sure developers are aware of and plan to fix this bug.

this is a constant nuisance. I have to keep quitting notes and re-opening it, otherwise my fans go on high constantly. This started with the Big Sur update.

Are you serious Apple? Really, it's 2021, anyone tell you that? Inexcusable, pathetic. College kids could design better software than this. You should be ashamed of yourselves. Can you please hire a competent QA department. Don't release software with these kinds of bugs.

You actually think that Apple will address the Issue? I've been dealing with this BS since my 'El Captain' days. Strange, never any issues on my iPhone. We've been waiting a long F*%^ing time, Address the Damm issue Apple!!!

Same problem. This didn't help me.

Same problem, answer didn't help

Not solved!