What causes "Apple Notes Not Syncing Between iPhone and Mac"?

Notes saved under On My iPhone or On My Mac Notes switched off in iCloud iCloud storage full Different Apple Account Outdated OS, VPN, wrong date and time

How do I fix "Apple Notes Not Syncing Between iPhone and Mac"?

1. Check account and iCloud toggle: On iPhone open Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Show All > Notes and make sure Sync this iPhone is on On Mac open System Settings > Apple Account > iCloud > Notes and turn it on Confirm the same Apple Account is signed in on every device 2. Move notes into iCloud: In Notes, open the On My iPhone or On My Mac folder Move notes into a folder under iCloud so they sync 3. Check storage and network: Open Settings > [your name] > iCloud and check storage Turn off VPN and Low Power Mode and set date and time to automatic Open iCloud.com Notes to see whether the note is in iCloud 4. Reset the sync toggle carefully: Back up important notes first, for example by exporting or sharing them Turn Notes off and on again in iCloud settings, then restart the device

// troubleshooting guide · apple notes

Apple Notes Not Syncing Between iPhone and Mac

Status: Ongoing
platforms:: iOS, iPadOS, macOS
updated:: November 15, 2026
reports:: 5
Method: how we research

RUNBOOK · apple-notes/not-syncing4 FIXES

// quick answer

Make sure the note sits in the iCloud folder, Notes is on in iCloud settings on every device, and iCloud storage is not full.

Most likely fix: Check account and iCloud toggle

How to fix it

// try these in order, the most common fix is first

FIX 1Check account and iCloud toggle
1. 01On iPhone open Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Show All > Notes and make sure Sync this iPhone is on
2. 02On Mac open System Settings > Apple Account > iCloud > Notes and turn it on
3. 03Confirm the same Apple Account is signed in on every device
Did this fix it?
FIX 2Move notes into iCloud
1. 01In Notes, open the On My iPhone or On My Mac folder
2. 02Move notes into a folder under iCloud so they sync
Did this fix it?
FIX 3Check storage and network
1. 01Open Settings > [your name] > iCloud and check storage
2. 02Turn off VPN and Low Power Mode and set date and time to automatic
3. 03Open iCloud.com Notes to see whether the note is in iCloud
Did this fix it?
FIX 4Reset the sync toggle carefully
1. 01Back up important notes first, for example by exporting or sharing them
2. 02Turn Notes off and on again in iCloud settings, then restart the device
Did this fix it?

Symptoms

A note written on one device does not show on another, or edits are stale.

Why it happens

C-01Notes saved under On My iPhone or On My Mac
C-02Notes switched off in iCloud
C-03iCloud storage full
C-04Different Apple Account
C-05Outdated OS, VPN, wrong date and time

// this guide also covers

apple notes not syncing
icloud notes not syncing
notes not syncing iphone mac

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