iCloud Notes not updating

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iCloud Notes not updating

Notes in Ventura or in iOS don't appear in iCloud Notes. No system I'm logged into, iPadOS or even Monterey, will update iCloud, and consequently nothing syncs across platforms. Notes are switched on in Apple ID iCloud on all devices. System Status is Ok. The last note that appeared iCloud was on Nov 30. Other iCloud systems, Mail and Calendar, are all still syncing. The problem seems to be only in Notes. Does anyone know how to overcome this? Is there some switch for iCloud to sync aside from those on the various platforms? It's a huge problem for me if Notes doesn't sync.

Thanks very much for any assistance.

Posted on Dec 2, 2022 2:39 AM

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Answer 1

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Tom Wolsky Author

Level 10

152,777 points

Dec 7, 2022 10:27 AM in response to wendylm

Colton at Apple support suggested reinstalling the OS. I reinstalled 13.0.1 on top of the existing system. It allowed 13.0.1 Notes to upload to iCloud. I message could be deleted and disappeared from iCloud. Once that was done the log jam was broken and all the devices and various OSs could send to iCloud and populate across all the systems. Glad to have gotten past this hurdle. Good luck to others with this problem.

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Answer 2

djc00

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13 points

Dec 4, 2022 12:08 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

An additional data point: I share a Notes folder with my wife and she has no problem adding to it (and they sync back to my devices). Same iPhone model, iOS version, wifi, location etc etc. So at least that removes some of the variables that could have been a factor.

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Answer 3

Tom Wolsky Author

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152,777 points

Jan 23, 2023 9:56 AM in response to appleaday8

You should contact Apple Support.

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Answer 4

Tom Wolsky Author

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Jan 21, 2023 2:20 PM in response to appleaday8

Reinstalling the OS from recovery seemed to be the one way that worked for everyone. It seems likely there will be a new version of Ventura shortly but that may not fix it.

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Answer 5

wendylm

Level 1

9 points

Dec 4, 2022 9:05 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

I don't think it has anything to do with Ventura, because I'm still running Catalina (10.15.7) and am having the same problem. Notes will not update to iCloud, and therefore, not sync across platforms. This started for me on November 30.

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Answer 6

djc00

Level 1

13 points

Dec 7, 2022 11:10 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

No need to reinstall anything or even do anything. It seems to have been fixed on Apple’s side. So should be all good now.

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Answer 7

djc00

Level 1

13 points

Dec 3, 2022 9:58 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

Yep. Across all my devices. Notes sync from iCloud.com down to my devices instantly. But do not sync from any of my devices up to icloud (and hence back down to the other devices).

This seems to have started when I update my MacBook Pro to Ventura, but that might just be a coincidence.

Has anyone found a fix? Or do we just need to wait for (a) Apple to fix this server-side, or (b) Apple to release an os update?

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Answer 8

Tom Wolsky Author

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152,777 points

Dec 4, 2022 5:30 AM in response to djc00

Coincidence about the update. Ventura's been running for a while before this appeared, even 13.0.1. I think the fix is down to Apple on the server side. Unfortunately it only seems to impact a small percentage of users.

I was going to try to manually update iCloud on my phone from the notes I added on the phone, but hit a bit of hurdle. I can't paste into iCloud. I'd manually have to type the text, and I can't copy/paste links or images from from iOS Notes to iCloud Notes. A really bummer because it kind of killed a workaround for syncing across devices. Right now it's a mess. Unfortunately I'm afraid something important is going to get lost in the shuffle. The downside of having multiple computers, pad, and phone.

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Answer 9

Jan 21, 2023 2:14 PM in response to djc00

I'm still having the problem. My iPhone 12 Pro and iPad Air, both with the latest OSs sync to iCloud but my 2019 MacBook Pro 13" (fully loaded) running the latest version of Ventura cannot update iCloud. Although whenever I create or edit notes on my iPhone or iPad, notes on my MacBook update. It's just not working in the other direction, i.e. MacBook to iCloud. Would rather not reinstall the OS if I don't need to. Any ideas?

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Answer 10

Dec 3, 2022 6:37 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Me too. it makes me crazy.

Only memo's sync doesnt work

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Answer 11

Tom Wolsky Author

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152,777 points

Dec 4, 2022 9:08 AM in response to wendylm

Yes indeed. It seems date specific. That’s the last date I made an entry that did not sync. The only updated and populated notes were those I manually updated in iCloud.

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