Sheg25
Level 1 (4 points)

Q: Notes - forgotten password and retrieving old notes - help!!!

I have a list of very important password saved on to the app Notes via my Apple ID so i can access them on Notes on all my apple devices. I decided to lock it by setting up a password for it yesterday but i think i must have typed in the wrong combination of password when setting it up. I was shocked to find out that even though i can reset the password, i'll not be able to retrieve my old notes as the reset password will only apply to subsequently created notes! I am at a loss at to what to do. I can't believe or understand why Apple decided that this was a sensible way to set up the app's functionality! If you can reset your password for your email and still be able to access all your emails, i don't know why this is not the case for Notes! Please as things are now, i'm desperate for any hacks to retrieve those notes/passwords!! Thanks in advance.

Posted on Oct 3, 2016 2:51 PM

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Sheg25

Q: Notes - forgotten password and retrieving old notes - help!!!

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Klaus1,

    Klaus1 Klaus1 Oct 3, 2016 4:13 PM in response to Sheg25
    Level 8 (48,903 points)
    Oct 3, 2016 4:13 PM in response to Sheg25

    What Mac or iDevice, with what operating system, are you running?

  • by Sheg25,

    Sheg25 Sheg25 Oct 3, 2016 4:33 PM in response to Klaus1
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Oct 3, 2016 4:33 PM in response to Klaus1

    Right now i'm using my Macbook Air with OSX 10.11.6 but i can also access Notes on my iphone and iMac.

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Oct 3, 2016 5:38 PM in response to Sheg25
    Level 10 (87,816 points)
    Apple TV
    Oct 3, 2016 5:38 PM in response to Sheg25

    If you are lucky you might have set things up so that you can unlock the note on your iPhone with TouchID. If so you can remove the password lock, then reset the password, then lock it again. Somewhat to my embarrassment I can't recall exactly what password I used to lock my notes with either (and it wasn't that long ago) so I'm in the middle of doing exactly what I'm suggesting.

     

    See Keep your notes secure with password-protection - Apple Support.

     

    P.S. Having proved the concept I had another go at recalling the password I'd decided upon and have confirmed that it works to lock things up again. A careful hint is going inside a locked note just in case I get to this point again.

     

    tt2

  • by Sheg25,

    Sheg25 Sheg25 Oct 3, 2016 5:40 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Oct 3, 2016 5:40 PM in response to turingtest2

    Unfortunately i didn't set up the Touch ID to unlock the notes even though i have it set up to unlock my phone. I'm kicking myself right now and at a loss as to what to do about the passwords on the list. I still don't get the reason for Apple setting up the functionality in that way. As far as i know, the note is still there but i just can't access it because i can't remember the password. That just doesn't make sense!

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Oct 3, 2016 5:47 PM in response to Sheg25
    Level 10 (87,816 points)
    Apple TV
    Oct 3, 2016 5:47 PM in response to Sheg25

    You'll have had to type the password twice to confirm it. Can you think of some systematic error you might have made twice? E.g transposing two letters like ei because you think of them going the other way around, or did you add an extra trailing character for added security?

     

    tt2

  • by Sheg25,

    Sheg25 Sheg25 Oct 3, 2016 6:02 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Oct 3, 2016 6:02 PM in response to turingtest2

    Yes i've tried a couple of other possible close combinations but no luck. It's ***** because this is one of those times you don't want to have forgotten your password!

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Oct 3, 2016 6:10 PM in response to Sheg25
    Level 10 (87,816 points)
    Apple TV
    Oct 3, 2016 6:10 PM in response to Sheg25

    Sleep on it. Yesterday I tried all the passwords that I was certain I must have used. Today I tried a different one, or perhaps spelt it properly when I didn't the other day. Either way I found it. Otherwise you have the long boring task of checking and recompiling a list of the other passwords that you do remember or resetting those that you don't. On a positive note changing your passwords from time to time is a good thing so it isn't all bad.

     

    tt2

  • by Sheg25,

    Sheg25 Sheg25 Oct 3, 2016 6:28 PM in response to turingtest2
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Oct 3, 2016 6:28 PM in response to turingtest2

    Right now i'm compiling a list of the possible combinations of what the password could be. Just trying to give it a shot. Fingers crossed. Thanks so much for your help, much appreciated

  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Oct 3, 2016 6:31 PM in response to Sheg25
    Level 10 (87,816 points)
    Apple TV
    Oct 3, 2016 6:31 PM in response to Sheg25

    You're welcome.

     

    tt2