Bear Problems & Issues
Real user-reported problems, complaints, and limitations for Bear. Based on analysis of 13 signals.
Overall score: 74/100
Issues by Category
Apple-only: No native Windows or Android apps
Bear is only available natively on macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. There are no plans for Windows or Android versions. Users with mixed-platform workflows are locked out. Bear Web (beta) offers limited browser access but isn't a full solution.
No folders - Bear only organizes with tags
Bear organizes notes with nested tags (#work/clients) instead of folders. Some users love it, but reviewers building reference libraries find it too rigid, and there is no quick way to re-nest existing tags. Tag structure only survives export if 'Keep tags during export' is enabled.
No collaboration features
Users cannot collaborate on notes at all. There's no sharing, real-time editing, or team features. Even basic collaborative use cases like shared grocery lists are impossible. Solo-user only.
No graph view for linked notes
Bear 2 supports [[wiki links]] and a Backlinks panel, but there is no graph view, block references or canvas like Obsidian or Logseq offer. Users building a full PKM system still outgrow it, and the backlinks panel has been reported to freeze on iOS with ~5,000 notes when unlinked mentions are on.
Bear Web doesn't work with Advanced Data Protection
Bear Web is still a companion beta, not a full app. Users must turn off iCloud Advanced Data Protection to use it, and several reports describe tags or subtags missing or duplicated in the web sidebar while Mac and iOS look correct.
No voice recording; sketches lag in heavy notes
Bear 2 has an inline sketcher (Apple Pencil or finger) but no voice memos or audio transcription like Apple Notes. Users report large notes with many sketches becoming unstable and crashing on iPad while opening fine on Mac.
Bear notes not syncing between devices
Recurring forum reports of Macs that stop syncing for weeks, new notes that never reach iPhone, and devices on different Bear versions refusing to sync. Fixes are usually toggling sync, updating every device or a full sync reset. Bear 1.7+ shows a sidebar sync icon, but problems are still hard to diagnose.
Backups are manual and restoring wipes all notes
Bear has no automatic backup - you must run File > Backup Notes yourself. Restoring a .bear2bk backup permanently deletes every current note, including the Trash, which has caught users out after corruption or sync problems.
Duplicate 'conflicted' notes after editing on two devices
When the same note is edited on two devices before they sync, Bear keeps both copies as conflicted notes pinned to the top of the list and you must merge them by hand. Users report it happening repeatedly and ask Bear to show which device made each version; a full iCloud resync has also duplicated whole libraries.
Evernote import crashes and lost images
Importing large .enex exports has crashed Bear across versions (most recently 2.7.1, fixed in 2.7.2), and some imports leave raw image markdown instead of attachments. Duplicate note titles in one .enex file were a known trigger.
Limited integrations beyond Apple automation
There is no Zapier or calendar/project-tool integration. Bear relies on x-callback-url, Shortcuts and, since Bear 2.8-2.9 (2026), BearCLI, an MCP server and a Claude Connector - useful for power users, but early reports note tags added via MCP not showing in the sidebar and requests for attachment access.
Why is Bear so slow with large notes?
Notes of 100k-400k characters cause seconds of typing lag and in-note search that freezes the editor (one report: ~70% CPU on an M3 Mac). Bear staff acknowledged the search issue. Notes over 500,000 characters do not sync at all.
Forgot Bear note password = locked notes are gone
Encrypted notes use a Note Password Bear cannot see or reset. If Face ID/Touch ID stops working and you forget it, the only option is deleting all locked notes and resetting the password.
Regret Patterns
Common reasons users regret choosing Bear.
Discovered need for Windows/Android access after investing
Users build extensive note libraries in Bear, then get a Windows work computer or Android phone. They realize their notes are inaccessible on non-Apple devices with no solution besides Bear Web (limited beta).
Expected bidirectional linking like Obsidian
Users coming from Obsidian or Roam expect linked notes and graph view. They discover Bear's tag system is the only organization method, lacking the knowledge management features they wanted.
Risked legacy pricing by letting subscription lapse
Pre-Bear 2 subscribers pay $14.99/year only 'for as long as they stay subscribed'. Letting it lapse risks paying the new $29.99/year rate on return.
Lost notes with no recent backup
Users hit corruption, a bad sync or a failed upgrade and discover Bear only makes backups when you manually run them - the latest backup is months old.
Big imports bogged Bear down
Users importing thousands of notes from Evernote hit crashes, missing images, sluggish search and hours of sync before devices match.
Long documents became laggy
Writers who keep huge single notes (manuscripts, logs) see typing lag and frozen search, and notes over 500k characters stop syncing.
When Bear Breaks Down
Specific scenarios where Bear fails or underperforms.
Need cross-platform access
When users get a Windows work machine or Android phone, Bear becomes problematic. Notes are locked in the Apple ecosystem. Bear Web is limited and doesn't replace native apps.
Want to build a knowledge graph
Bear's tag-only organization doesn't support bidirectional linking or graph visualization. Users wanting to connect notes and see relationships must migrate to Obsidian or similar.
Need to collaborate with others
Bear has zero collaboration features. Any project requiring shared notes or team editing requires switching to Notion, Craft, or other collaborative tools.
Editing the same note on two devices offline
Both versions are kept as conflicted notes that must be merged manually.
Single notes over 100k-500k characters
Typing lag and in-note search freezes appear; over 500,000 characters the note will not sync.
Importing thousands of Evernote notes
Large .enex imports can crash Bear or drop images, and initial sync of a big library can take hours with the iOS app in the foreground.
Using iCloud Advanced Data Protection and Bear Web
Bear Web will not work until ADP is disabled, forcing a choice between browser access and end-to-end iCloud encryption.