Is it possible to export Notes files onto an external storage drive?

I would like to back up my Notes files from MacBook to a USB drive. I cannot find them in Finder. Notes does not appear in Finder. I have successfully backed up files from other apps and folders. When I open Notes I also see no path to copy those files to the USB C drive. Any suggestions?


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

MacBook Air, macOS 14.2

Posted on Dec 17, 2023 2:10 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 19, 2023 4:07 AM

ejbpesca wrote:

I would like to back up my Notes files from MacBook to a USB drive. I cannot find them in Finder. Notes does not appear in Finder. I have successfully backed up files from other apps and folders. When I open Notes I also see no path to copy those files to the USB C drive. Any suggestions?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]


from Finder>Go>Go to Folder, copy and paste:


~/Library/Containers/com.apple.Notes.datastore/



If you have a Time Machine backup, you have a backup of the com.apple.Notes.datastore :

~/Library/Containers/



4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 19, 2023 4:07 AM in response to ejbpesca

ejbpesca wrote:

I would like to back up my Notes files from MacBook to a USB drive. I cannot find them in Finder. Notes does not appear in Finder. I have successfully backed up files from other apps and folders. When I open Notes I also see no path to copy those files to the USB C drive. Any suggestions?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]


from Finder>Go>Go to Folder, copy and paste:


~/Library/Containers/com.apple.Notes.datastore/



If you have a Time Machine backup, you have a backup of the com.apple.Notes.datastore :

~/Library/Containers/



Dec 19, 2023 12:25 PM in response to ejbpesca

Upone Go to Folder ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.Notes.datastore/ a large amount of files are produced on the screen. Next over is Date, click it and the same menu appears. These is nothing in the list of files from that path that indicates which one is the Notes files, no will any listing produce anything but a menu.


Have I missed somthing?


Dec 19, 2023 4:13 AM in response to ejbpesca

Follow previous advise - First


To add and in response to " Is it possible to export Notes files "


The long way and refer to illustration below.


Though, the user has not specifically mentioned in what File Format


" Export as PDF " , then move the PDF files to External Drive


This export would have to be done on each individual Note







Dec 19, 2023 12:17 PM in response to Owl-53

Thank you for the reply. I do have TimeMachine backups. The "one at a time," PDF export of Note files is a bit much. I was hoping to batch Copy/Paste my Notes to a USB drive, but evidently, that is not possible. I will try to find the folder com.apple.Notes.datastore for a possible way to save it to the USB drive. I do not use iCloud therefore I backup my files to a USB drive. All has gone well except for my Notes files. I do not know the file format of Notes files.


Thank you again.

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Is it possible to export Notes files onto an external storage drive?

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