Restore stickies database from Time Machine

MrAhmadRifky's solution worked perfectly for me (Using Alt/Option_Go instead of messing with terminal instructions). Was able to go back two months and restore an old version of my stickies which had all of the missing files :-)

Once I clicked on the stickiesdatabase on my main drive, Time Machine showed me every previous iteration. And the days in which the modifications to the database occurred!

If you use an app such as EasyFind (available free in the App Store) you can find Stickies databases all over the place, in different languages, etc. However, I don't think that this is going to help you locate your Stickies database.

If I were you, I'd just do a clean restore from Time Machine. Everything will be put back in its proper place and then you can begin deleting items that you don't want/need. I think that this is far preferable than just picking and choosing what you want to restore as it's doubtful that you'll ever find the database that you're looking for.

Good luck,

Clinton

I don't know if you were in the same **** I've been in for the past month or not, but I'd be wary of doing a clean restore from Time Machine. I started having problems a month ago with my iMac. Software would suddenly pause and lock up the whole computer. It wasn't any specific software. It was various programs. After four calls to Apple Care, I ended up at the Genius Bar...twice. I needed a new fan, but that didn't alleviate the software problems. Finally I had to erase my hard drive and use the Migration Assistant, rather than Time Machinne, to restore what I needed. The one thing the last person at Apple care warned me about was NOT to move any system files! Something in my system was corrupt, but no one has been able to figure out what it is.

My suggestion is to get instructions from this link: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4889?viewlocale=en_US. If you use the migration tool, you'll avoid bringing whatever problems you had in the first place back.

As for Stickies, that problem has consumed most of my day today. When I did the migration, I had to create a new user/administrator for my computer. The migrated stuff is all saved under my old user. I moved everything and thought that when I opened Stickies that I'd see all my old notes. Of course I didn't! Aggravating!!! Apparently you should be able to go back via Time Machine and get the file named StickiesDatabase. I couln't get that to work because the Library folder is hidden in Lion and you can't unhide it via TM. Instead, I logged in as the old user. I found the StickiesDatabase file and moved it to Dropbox, then put it in the Library folder for the new user. For me, that still didn't work. I have no idea why, because it should have.

Because my head was about to explode, I went with the really lame method. I logged in as the previous user and opened Stickies. There were all my notes!! Yay!! I copied and pasted all the text from them into a Word document, put that on Dropbox, and then accessed it as the new user and re-created my Stickies.

I have not figured out how to sync them between all my devices. I think Mountain Lion has that function, but after all the aggravation I've had in the last month, I'm not going to invite any new trouble into my life until all the bugs are worked out. My next step is to look in the App Store for something that will at least sync between my two computers.

I hope this is helpful! I absolutely feel your pain about having to do a clean install. I hope life with my iMac returns to normal so I can write my dissertation...NOW!

Jennifer

I just found a cool app and installed it on both of my computers. It syncs instantly to iCloud and it's only $4.99. It has more options than Stickies, but is essentially the same thing. Here's the info: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nootes/id501819704?mt=12.

Now if you can just get to your old Stickies, you can use this app and never lose anything again. YAY!!

Jennifer

Hello Edmonedmund,

Kindly see the solution below , kindly note the sequence are matter:

1. plug your external hardisk that you ussually use for the Time Machine backup

2. after you connect make sure the Time Machine already acknowledged your external harddisk

3. open FInder ... --> in the Finder there is menu "Go" ... you will only see the "All My files", "Download" ,

"Home" , "Computer" , "Network" the "library" is invisible .

4.How to make this VISIBLE click the "alt/option" and hold and in the menu "GO" you will see "Library", click the "Library" , then you can see the "StickiesDatabase" file BUT THAT is your Current file.

5. Go to menu time machine like the snapshot below , and click "ENTER TIME MACHINE"

6. Select which timeline that you want to choose , and will bring you to the same directory in "the past" and you will see your old backup of "Stickiesdatabase" , right click "Restore" and put it in your /Library directory.

Back to your essential problem,here in your step 6 you able to see the "StickiesDatabase" file 🙂

Hope this is help you.

I have the same problem! it looks like time machine doesnt backup stickiesdatabase file which is located in my computer's library folder. i can see it its there but when i go to the exact location in time machine its not there!

on my TM in the same library folder there are also some other folders missing! this proves that time machine doesnt back everything up..

i dont really understand though, if i did a complete restore im %100 i'd get my stickies notes back!

i looked all over the internet and forums i couldnt get any info. i tried to see if it was a hidden file or not, apparently its not.

any help anyone?

-Go to your "Terminal" (it´s located in your 'Utilities' folder).

- Type this:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE

(Hit enter and type):

killall Finder

This command will make visible ALL your hidden files in your Time Machine.

Enter your Time Machine, go to your 'Latest backup' (or the backup you know your had your Stickies database in), 'Users' > 'your username' > Library (it should be visible now)> Stickies database

Rick click 'Stickies database' and click 'Restore to...'

There you go. You have your database back.

It worked for me 🙂

Oh and at the end go to your terminal again and type in the exact same 2 commands, except that you substitute 'TRUE' with 'FALSE' instead, in order to hide your folders again and put it back as it was...

hey man that worked! my faith in apple has been restored! haha

I had tried the hidden file thing, but instead of going through the timeline app i had been through finder and i didnt see it there. strange huh?

anyway your trick worked. thanks so much!

This worked for me! Thanks so much. I've spent hours attempting to solve this.

This comment is in reference to the Option "Go" and then using Time Machine to restore that individual file. I don't like messing around in the Terminal.

legend. Thanks so much for this tip! Very helpful

Dude! Awesome and it works for importing your saved Safari links as well! One issue I ran into though; when I went click on my library in "the past", it was grayed out and would not allow me to double tap and open. I had to right click and "open in new tab", I was then able to retrieve my Stickies Database and Safari Folder.

HUGE help! Thanks!!

So this is what ulitmately works after looking everywhere and also Thanking folks on this thread

a) You have a Time Machine Backup on a USB/Thunderbolt DRIVE

b) You haven't restored your machine entirely via Time Machine

Step 1:

Go to "Terminal" (it´s located in your 'Utilities' folder).

- Type this:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE

(Hit enter and type):

killall Finder

Step 2:

1. Go to the DRIVE, Locate the Time Machine folder Backups.backupdb

2. Inside this folder, Select Latest or the Date Stamped Folder, Select Your Machine Name Folder

3. Users, username, and Highlight LIBRARY Folder, Click and Expand Triangle on Left

4. See the 'StickiesDatabase' file and copy it

Step 3: Go to Computer/Username,Library Folder and PASTE (and replace) this file

Step 4: Back on Terminal

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE

Thanks for this info! I had the same original problem and now have my stickies restored!

I've been trying to solve this for ages. Amazing! You are a star! Thanks so much.