GaryHM

Q: Notes won't sync to iCloud.

The Notes application on my Mac won't sync to iCloud, so isn't picking up changes made on my iPad or iPhone.

Any ideas what to do? It hasn't synced in about 2 months

MacBook, OS X El Capitan (10.11.4)

Posted on Mar 29, 2016 9:27 PM

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Q: Notes won't sync to iCloud.

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  • by W. Richard Glendon,

    W. Richard Glendon W. Richard Glendon Mar 30, 2016 7:09 AM in response to GaryHM
    Level 4 (1,131 points)
    Mar 30, 2016 7:09 AM in response to GaryHM

    I agree that it should be working. But there are a couple of questions:

    • Are Notes enabled (box checked in iCloud System preferences? Apple Menu-> System Preferences-> iCloud?

    Screen Shot 2016-03-30 at 9.57.49 AM.png

    • What version(s) of iOS are you using on your iPad and iPhone? Early iOS versions of Notes may not be compatible with the current Notes on the Mac.

    dick glendon

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Mar 30, 2016 8:05 AM in response to GaryHM
    Level 10 (207,926 points)
    Applications
    Mar 30, 2016 8:05 AM in response to GaryHM

    Only notes in the iCloud category will sync with iCloud. If you have notes under On My Mac, or synced with some other network service, they won't sync.

    If notes that should sync do not, please open the iCloud pane in System Preferences. Make sure that you're signed in to iCloud with the right Apple ID and that the box marked Notes is checked. Uncheck the box and check it again.

    If notes still don't sync, ask for further instructions.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Apr 1, 2016 12:29 PM in response to GaryHM
    Level 9 (70,061 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 1, 2016 12:29 PM in response to GaryHM

    If you did the Notes iCloud update, have you done it on the computer and the devices?

     

    Have you tried signing out of iCloud and then sign back in?

  • by GaryHM,

    GaryHM GaryHM Apr 1, 2016 6:14 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 1, 2016 6:14 PM in response to Eric Root

    I appreciate all of the feedback and suggestions. To clarify my issue. My notes have been on my Mac and IOS devices for several years and working perfectly until i noticed last week that the notes on my Mac have not updated for several months. I am running the most recent version of IOS and my notes are syncing across those devices. the new notes were created on my iPad and are not syncing to Mac.

    How would i update the Notes program on my Mac to ensure is most recent version?

    I have not signed out and tried o sign in again. Will i loose data or will it all sync back when i turn it on again.

  • by GaryHM,

    GaryHM GaryHM Apr 1, 2016 6:39 PM in response to GaryHM
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 1, 2016 6:39 PM in response to GaryHM

    UPDATE- I just signed out and signed back in to iCloud. No change. The Notes on my Mac are not synced with my IOS devices.

    Appreciate any help and insight.

  • by W. Richard Glendon,Solvedanswer

    W. Richard Glendon W. Richard Glendon Apr 2, 2016 5:04 AM in response to GaryHM
    Level 4 (1,131 points)
    Apr 2, 2016 5:04 AM in response to GaryHM

    Are other similarly synced applications like Calendar and Contacts syncing normally? What do you see in Notes when you go to iCloud.com?

     

    What is the version of iOS on your iPad/iPhone?

     

    I would consider 2 further troubleshooting steps.

    1. re-update to OS X 10.11.4 using the "combo" updater.
    2. make a new user on your MacBook and use the same iCloud credentials that you use on your iPad/iPhone to connect to the syncing services. The goal here is to see if the "new" user can sync Notes properly, which would suggest that some setting on your ordinary user account is problematic.

    You are aware of this Notes issue with El Capitan, right? Particularly the upgrade process.

    Please let us know how it goes.

     

    dick glendon

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Apr 2, 2016 8:22 PM in response to GaryHM
    Level 10 (207,926 points)
    Applications
    Apr 2, 2016 8:22 PM in response to GaryHM

    I just signed out and signed back in to iCloud.

    When you signed out, did your notes disappear? They should have.

  • by GaryHM,

    GaryHM GaryHM Apr 3, 2016 8:08 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 3, 2016 8:08 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Thanks to everyone for your advice.

    I was able to redo install of El Capitan and get it to all sync correctly.

  • by debbdrex,

    debbdrex debbdrex Jul 11, 2016 1:19 PM in response to GaryHM
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 11, 2016 1:19 PM in response to GaryHM

    I've been trying to solve this for months and finally found this fix after trying those in this post and in countless other posts. Go to Settings > Notes > scroll to the bottom to "On my iPod touch" Account. If this is on (green) your notes from your iPod will stay only on the Pod. If you switch it off, you'll first have to delete all of the notes on the iPod. I emailed mine to myself then deleted them. Once you turn off this option (and have copied them back into the app) your notes will immediately sync with iCloud! Whoo hoo!

     

    Debbie

  • by jackiefrom glacier,

    jackiefrom glacier jackiefrom glacier Jul 13, 2016 9:47 AM in response to debbdrex
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Jul 13, 2016 9:47 AM in response to debbdrex

    Have tried everything to get notes to sync across devices.  Am hopeful this is the answer for me.  But, first, how did you get your notes available to email to yourself? 

  • by debbdrex,

    debbdrex debbdrex Jul 13, 2016 10:09 AM in response to jackiefrom glacier
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 13, 2016 10:09 AM in response to jackiefrom glacier

    When I opened "Notes" on my iPod the screen showed a list of where notes were (iPod, iCloud, email server) I clicked on iPod which showed a list of the notes there. I then clicked on each note individually and selected the sharing symbol in the upper right screen (a rectangle with an arrow pointing up from within the rectangle) which gave me several options for...well...sharing my notes. I chose Mail and filled in my email address and sent the note on it's way.

  • by jackiefrom glacier,

    jackiefrom glacier jackiefrom glacier Jul 13, 2016 11:41 AM in response to debbdrex
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Jul 13, 2016 11:41 AM in response to debbdrex

    Thanks, debbrex!  I see the "share" icon now.  I'm going to get to work on this this afternoon.  Will let you k now m success!

  • by debbdrex,

    debbdrex debbdrex Jul 13, 2016 12:25 PM in response to jackiefrom glacier
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 13, 2016 12:25 PM in response to jackiefrom glacier

    I'm glad I could help and look forward to hearing that you're notes are syncing!