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How do you backup Notes?

I really like iCloud and how it keeps my iPhone and Macs in sync, but I have one question. How do you back up Notes?


In Calendar and Contacts, there are export options so I can export and back data up in case iCloud goes wonky, but I don't see such an option in Notes.


Thanks for any suggestions.

iMac 24' flat panel, Mac OS X (10.6.7), 4 GB RAM, 50 GB HD

Posted on Jul 29, 2012 1:53 PM

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73 replies

Jul 29, 2012 7:12 PM in response to Ashka

I thought about that, but emailing myself a bunch of individual notes doesn't seem like a very practical solution. I'm hoping to find either 1) an export feature that I'm just not seeing (there are export functions in the other applications) or 2) the location of the data on my Mac so that I can backup that way.


Thanks for responding, but I'm hoping the answer is something a bit less time consuming.

Jul 29, 2012 7:39 PM in response to Jeff Kennedy1

I sync notes via IMAP G.Mail and there is a Notes mbox > Info plist in the user library which is backed up with TM.


From Notes Help:

Automate tasks for Notes

You can automate tasks for Notes using AppleScript or Automator.

  • With AppleScript, you can use scripts to work with notes, folders, attachments, and accounts.Open the AppleScript dictionary for Notes
  • With Automator, you can create automated tasks by dragging actions into a workflow. Automator records the sequence of actions, which you can later play back as an automated task.For example, you can create an automated task to move a set of notes from one folder to another.Open Automator

Aug 21, 2012 5:29 AM in response to Ashka

Sorry, but unless you have old itunes and old lion mac os x, these are just remnants of the past. they won't get re-synced or updated as you use notes. At this point there is unfortunately no way to backup your notes that are on icloud. No way.


It's time to write to Apple a feedback requesting this essential option.


... many of us have hundreds of notes not willing to be lost. We need offline backup/restore.

Aug 21, 2012 7:03 AM in response to Jeff Kennedy1

I found this today:


Notes for OS X Mountain Lion

  • Open Notes.
  • Select View > Show Folders.
  • Create a new folder called Notes Backup in the On My Mac section of your folders list.
  • Select one or more notes from your All iCloud folder. Holding the Option key down, drag the notes into the Notes Backup folder. A green plus icon should appear as you're dragging the Notes to the new folder. This creates a copy of your iCloud Notes on your computer.
  • If you have an iCloud section in your folders list, but not an On My Mac section, you will need to create one.
    • Quit Notes.
    • In System Preferences, select iCloud. Deselect Notes.
    • Open Notes. Select File > New Folder. Name your folder Notes Backup. Create a new note in that folder as a placeholder. Quit Notes.
    • In System Preferences, select iCloud. Select Notes.
    • Open Notes. You should now see a section for iCloud and a section for On My Mac. Follow the instructions above for making a local backup of your iCloud Notes.


Source: https://support.apple.com/kb/HT4910


So there actually IS an Apple endorsed way to create an additional copy which resides who knows where on your Mac and may or may not be restorable if your whole Library folder is copied... Hope this helps someone.

Nov 1, 2012 11:26 AM in response to Jeff Kennedy1

If you have more than one iOS device, the iCloud is a sound method to backup iPhone notes since it pushes and saves your notes to all your devices. Even if they iCloud fails for one reason or another, the notes would continue existing on all of your iOS devices.


You could also setup iTunes iOS backup or enable iCloud backup (both backup iPhone notes among other data on your device) so you could restore them later on if needed.

Nov 2, 2012 3:26 AM in response to HumphV

One: turning on iCloud backup sets off a warming on iOS saying that this action stops iTunes local backup.


Two: your notes as backed up to iCloud will only restore if your iPhone is stolen, dies, etc. But if your notes get deleted or get lost AND immediately this is propagated to the cloud, they're gone. Their deletion will propagate to your iMacs, MacBooks, iPads, etc... You may just see them disappearing and say Doh! The only way to call that backup would be KNOWING that your notes on one device are gone, then immediately cutting internet from all others and rewrite them one by one (good luck if you have hundreds), because even if offline you'd not be able to say store and restore....


Apple, we love you, but this is ridiculous. Even more so now that you're big and can afford solutions.

How do you backup Notes?

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