Troubleshooting
My notes aren't showing
Check the Trash and your folders first
When a note is missing, work through the list below. Most of the time it has not been deleted. It is somewhere else.
1. Trash
Check the Trash on the Notes screen. Deleted notes are kept there rather than removed right away, and you can put them back.
2. Another folder, or a locked one
The note may have been moved, or it may sit inside a locked folder and so stay out of the list. Notes in a locked folder appear only after you open it with Face ID.
3. Sync may still be running
If you have just set up a new device, downloading takes a while.
- 1Open
Settings, tap the iCloud status line, and leave sync status open. While that screen is up the display will not turn off on its own, so syncing can keep going - 2Plug in the charger and connect to Wi-Fi
- 3Turn
Low Power Modeoff
If that screen shows something you need to fix yourself, start with that. Account checks and full storage will not move a single item no matter how long you leave it open, and the display turns off as usual in that case.
It does not have to finish in one go. Opening it now and then chips away at the queue.
Do not delete and reinstall the app while waiting. That sends the download back to the start.
4. If everything looks empty
If notes and folders are all gone rather than a few, that is a different matter. Some cases can be undone, so do nothing else and read the item below first.
All my notes and folders are gone
In particular, do not delete and reinstall the app, or restore a backup over the top. Things that could have been recovered can be lost for good that way.
If you still can't find it
Settings > About & Help > Diagnostics shows how many items are stored. Open that screen and send it with Send feedback and we can check the state for you. It contains counts and status values only, never personal content.
Still stuck? Let us know and we'll help.
Contact support