Notes disappeared with Tahoe update

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Level 1

4 points

Notes disappeared with Tahoe update

After updating to Tahoe I noticed that half my notes where missing. They went from 526+ notes organised in folders down to just 112 iCloud notes with no folders. So basically over 400 of my notes just disappeared including the whole folder structure I had as well. It's the same on my iPhone as well. But when I checked my MacBook running Big Sur I noticed all 526 notes and folders where still there. I stupidly followed some forum advice and turned the iCloud sync on and off on both my Mac Studio and the MacBook, then all my notes dissapeared off my MacBook and synced to my Mac Studio leaving me with 112 notes on both machines now!

Obviously my old 400+ notes exist somewhere and I'd love to know how to retrieve them if I can. Otherwise it's back to a more reliable system like Evernote.

I'd prefer to not hear advice about turning iCloud on and off on each device because that's lead me here in the first place.

Only other suggestion I've heard is to wip my iphone and try and backup from an older backup. But I don't even know how to check if a backup exists before this happened.

I'm assuming this is an issue with Tahoe as it was working fine until I updated.

Mac Studio, macOS 26.1

Posted on Dec 10, 2025 9:11 PM

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Answer 1

Owl-53

Level 10

102,373 points

Dec 11, 2025 1:51 AM in response to DaveRusanow

DaveRusanow wrote:

I don't have a Time Machine backup from before I updated to Tahoe unfortunately. NoteStore.sqlite file was updated today and doesn't seem to have a backup history so that's not going to work. iCloud recover Notes just mentions recovering notes from the recently deleted bin, which is empty.

Thanks anyway.

The notion that the root cause for many of your Notes to disappear is misguided

Using 3 different M Class computers, some of which have been upgraded from macOS 11 Big Sur through to the current Tahoe 26.1

Notes created back in 2020 still remain intact to this very day

Unfortunately, so advise that appears on these forum are equally misguided, incomplete, and sometimes misinformed

OP wrote " I don't have a Time Machine backup from before I updated to Tahoe

What follows will not bring back the missing Notes so not helpful, I realize

Some will say, "walking the tight rope without a Safety Net is not wise " re not TM Backups

Moving frowards with that idea

If you have used Time Machine Backup Utility you maybe have able to Restore the Deleted Files

For future purposes

To truly protect your non replaceable Data

Have a 3-2-1 Rescue Plan in place and always current

3 Backups using 2 methods and 1 off site incase of natural disaster or un-natural disaster.

Each of the above should be done to a Dedicated Single Purposed External Drive

Below link is intended to augment what TM Backup does

https://bombich.com

PS:We are embarrassed to inform you.

It is doubtful you will receive a response from the other contributor.

They are using an Automated Response mechanism from the AI / LMM Chatbot to generate responses and almost never are available for followup support

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Answer 2

Owl-53

Level 10

102,373 points

Dec 11, 2025 1:56 AM in response to DaveRusanow

Regarding iPhone backups

You may consider the information from Apple in this link below

Two methods, 1 to iCloud and the other using your Mac

Back up iPhone

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Answer 3

DaveRusanow Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 10, 2025 9:46 PM in response to azaksalmarzur28

I don't have a Time Machine backup from before I updated to Tahoe unfortunately. NoteStore.sqlite file was updated today and doesn't seem to have a backup history so that's not going to work. iCloud recover Notes just mentions recovering notes from the recently deleted bin, which is empty.

Thanks anyway.

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Answer 4

DaveRusanow Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 11, 2025 4:42 PM in response to Owl-53

Owl-53 wrote:

Using 3 different M Class computers, some of which have been upgraded from macOS 11 Big Sur through to the current Tahoe 26.1

Notes created back in 2020 still remain intact to this very day

Yes, if that's the case where are these notes stored and how do I get them back?

It appears to me this is a problem with Updating to Tahoe. I've seen other people mention it happening to them. Losing folder structure, notes etc. I know I'm probably never going to get a response from Apple, but just wondering if anyone else has had this problem and can offer a valid solution.

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Answer 5

Owl-53

Level 10

102,373 points

Dec 12, 2025 1:58 AM in response to DaveRusanow

Herd Mentality. If some others have the same issue as my computer it must the Apple Fault with Tahoe

If it were an issue with Notes, would it not effect everyone including my 3 machines

As mentioned previously but in other wording

Not having some type of a backup of all your important data sends a clear message that their Data is Not Important enough to protect

As for getting a response from Apple on these Forums

These Forums are only User to User Forums

If you really what to communicate with Apple

Start now and open an Apple Support Ticket as they are Apple Employees who deal will these types of issues .

Product Feedback - and make it known to Apple regarding this ongoing issue

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Answer 6

Dec 10, 2025 9:32 PM in response to DaveRusanow

Best recovery steps: enable “On My Mac” notes, restore the Notes database folder from Time Machine, check iCloud’s “Recover Notes,” or extract data directly from the old NoteStore.sqlite file.

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