Backup Notes in the Cloud

Hello Kikko2020,

We understand the desire to know about options for protecting and encrypting the data you store on your device and in iCloud.

If your Notes are set to sync to iCloud, then they would not be backing up to iCloud. You can check whether they are syncing in the Notes app, by tapping the arrow at the top left until you get back to 'Folders' and see if it is listed under 'iCloud' or 'On My iPhone'.

From a computer you can export the Notes that are syncing with iCloud as a PDF and store them in iCloud Drive, which will also sync with iCloud, or on a computer. This article goes over how: Archive or make copies of the information you store in iCloud

When Notes are syncing with iCloud they are encrypted with a minimum of 128-bit encryption. We’ve got an article on iCloud security that helps detail all that information as well: iCloud security overview 

You can also lock a note with a password. Keep in mind, if that password gets misplaced or stops working, there is not a way to recover the data from that note. How to lock notes on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

Thanks.

Kikko2020,

Thanks for checking where those notes are stored. We'll need to move those notes to the iCloud folder, so they'll sync. First and foremost, before we move anything, please be sure you have a backup of your iPhone. Since the notes are currently stored on your device, they will be stored in the backup. You can make that backup to a computer or to iCloud if you have enough space.

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch 

Now for the moving of the notes. The easiest way to do that is:

From the Notes app tap the back arrow at the top left until you're looking at all your folders

Tap the Notes folder under On My iPhone

Tap the circle with the three dots at the top right

Choose 'Select Notes'

Tap the circle to the left of each note you want to select

At the bottom choose Move

Select the Notes folder under iCloud

This should move your selected notes to the iCloud folder and then as long as Notes is enabled in Settings > your name > iCloud sync them with iCloud.

Let us know if you have any issues or questions.

Kikko2020,

You're correct, that's exactly what happens. If the notes are in the iCloud folder, they are now syncing between your device and iCloud. You can double verify that by checking the Notes app on other devices that use the same iCloud sign in or on the iCloud website, link here - iCloud and you should see all your notes in the Notes app there.

What this means is that if you delete the note on your iPhone it will also delete it from iCloud and any other devices that use the same Apple ID. Similarly, if you make any changes to the notes those changes will reflect on iCloud and any other devices that are syncing your notes.

As per the information we provided originally, you can export a copy of your notes and store them off your iPhone. This will export your notes as they are right now, but will not reflect any changes you make to them. Here's how to do that again: Archive or make copies of the information you store in iCloud

Here's also some additional information about other data you can sync with iCloud: What is iCloud?

Be sure to keep us posted if anything isn't clear. We definitely want you to be secure that your data is safe.

You can always lock your notes with a password, even if they are stored in iCloud. Please see the following article on how to do so: How to lock notes on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

Also, make sure to remember the password you use for your notes as there is no way to recover locked notes if you forget the password.

Thanks for getting back to us Kikko2020,

It does sound like there are some expectations that are inaccurate and we're glad you've asked. We want to try and have this process be transparent for you.

Once you move your notes to the iCloud folder they are syncing with iCloud and you'll only see them in the iCloud folder in the Notes app. The On My iPhone folder will remain empty unless you place a note in there. Notes stored in the On My iPhone folder do not sync with iCloud or any service. They are only stored on your iPhone's hard drive.

The notes being synced to iCloud appear on your iPhone and the iCloud servers the same way. When a change is made to one it is made to the other.

You can, if you'd like, copy and paste each note back to the On My iPhone folder so that a copy of exactly how the notes are now shows both in iCloud and On My Mac. However, if you make changes to the notes in the On My Mac folder it will not show in the notes in the iCloud folder.

Please tell us if that still leaves questions.

Kikko2020,

That's not a feature Apple offers at this time. You can definitely leave some feedback on how iCloud and iCloud Drive could be improved to meet your needs though. Here's a link for that: Product Feedback

If you have additional questions, we also want to provide you with a link to connect with Apple Support, they can help: Contact Apple Support

Thank you.