Notes app won't stop loading, stuck on spinning ball!

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coatli Author

Level 1

60 points

Notes app won't stop loading, stuck on spinning ball!

Hi all,

i’d be so grateful for any help!

i have had this major Notes app problem for the past couple days—

it just keeps trying to load (that colorful spinning ball won’t stop)!

It started when i accidentally chose the "import notes" command and chose import all.

It took a super long time and i think it imported like all my mac’s files, or at least all from my entire home folder.

I am only guessing, as i cannot scroll through my Notes or make it do anything.

I searched the apple forums already and tried others’ suggestions from them since a couple years back, but nothing worked for me.

So i have a few different thoughts/ideas to ask you all about:

1. I would love to simply revert it to how it was two days ago—

is there any way to revert Notes?

Either from my mac or my online iCloud?

I tried everything i could think of, with my very limited knowledge, but just could not find any way!

2. Or is there any way to uninstall and reinstall the Notes program from my mac?

Hopefully keeping all my notes in the Cloud,

but re-setting to fix whatever Notes aspect needs it on my mac?

3. Also, is there a way to disconnect my Notes app from my mac?

Ideally, so i could still access my Notes online, and on my other mac!

And then re-connect it.

4. As i am having some restarting, power plug, and login issues on my mac, i am shipping it away for repairs. Would technicians be able to fix this sort of thing for me,

or is it something i need to do on my end before i ship it?

Thanks!

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Sep 3, 2017 1:25 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

raina_b22

Community Specialist

Sep 3, 2017 1:44 PM in response to coatli

Hi, coatli,

Thanks for reaching out via the Apple Support Communities. From your post, I understand that you are having some trouble with the Notes app. Specifically, you turned iCloud Notes on and now it seems to be trying to load the notes for an exceptionally long time. I'd be happy to help.

You've mentioned you have tried troubleshooting, but did not state what all you have done, so I apologize in advance if any of these steps have already been completed, but I would recommend the following steps. Try them in order, testing after each:

Close the Notes app. You can do this by pressing Command + Q while in the Notes app, or selecting Notes > Quit Notes from the Menu. If you are unable to close the Notes app via these two methods, try force quitting: How to force an app to quit - Apple Support. Then, open the Notes app again while holding the Shift key on the keyboard. When the Notes app bounces in the Dock, you can let go of Shift.
Restart your Mac by selecting the Apple  menu > Restart...
Turn off iCloud Notes sync under System Preferences. To get here, select Apple  Menu > System Preferences > iCloud, and turn the Notes toggle switch off. You can then try turning it back on. It will start to download/load your iCloud Notes when you turn it back on. If you'd like, you can leave the iCloud Notes sync off, instead. This won't remove your Notes from iCloud or other devices using iCloud, but will stop syncing the Notes with your Mac.
Restore your Notes from a Time Machine backup: Use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac - Apple Support

Have a great day!

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