Create local backup of notes in Notes.app on macOS

up vote
7
down vote

favorite

I'm using a company-issued MacBook where we cannot use iCloud to backup notes. But I would like to have a way to create backups of the notes, since they are not included in the company backup software. Is there a way to do this by hand?

I tried copying the folder:

$HOME/Library/Containers/com.apple.Notes

but when I copied that one to a new Mac, the notes didn't show up when running Notes.app.

edited Nov 20 at 10:07

Nimesh Neema

13k43469

asked Nov 20 at 9:41

Harpe

484

add a comment |

up vote
7
down vote

favorite

I tried copying the folder:

$HOME/Library/Containers/com.apple.Notes

but when I copied that one to a new Mac, the notes didn't show up when running Notes.app.

edited Nov 20 at 10:07

Nimesh Neema

13k43469

asked Nov 20 at 9:41

Harpe

484

add a comment |

up vote
7
down vote

favorite

I tried copying the folder:

$HOME/Library/Containers/com.apple.Notes

but when I copied that one to a new Mac, the notes didn't show up when running Notes.app.

edited Nov 20 at 10:07

Nimesh Neema

13k43469

asked Nov 20 at 9:41

Harpe

484

I tried copying the folder:

$HOME/Library/Containers/com.apple.Notes

but when I copied that one to a new Mac, the notes didn't show up when running Notes.app.

backup notes.app

edited Nov 20 at 10:07

Nimesh Neema

13k43469

asked Nov 20 at 9:41

Harpe

484

edited Nov 20 at 10:07

Nimesh Neema

13k43469

asked Nov 20 at 9:41

Harpe

484

edited Nov 20 at 10:07

Nimesh Neema

13k43469

edited Nov 20 at 10:07

Nimesh Neema

13k43469

edited Nov 20 at 10:07

Nimesh Neema

13k43469

asked Nov 20 at 9:41

Harpe

484

asked Nov 20 at 9:41

Harpe

484

asked Nov 20 at 9:41

Harpe

484

add a comment |

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

up vote
7
down vote

accepted

You may have copied the wrong directory, depending on your operating system.

Newer operating systems (I believe El Capitan and above, but certainly Sierra and above) use this folder:
~/Library/Group Containers/group.com.apple.notes/

Without iCloud there should be no issue with disappearing notes, which you would have to work around, if you were signed into iCloud Notes.

edited Nov 20 at 16:32

answered Nov 20 at 12:58

Redarm

1,6811717

Thank you, i copied this folder and the other one and all my notes including attachments were restored on the other MacBook.
– Harpe
Nov 20 at 13:07

add a comment |

up vote
0
down vote

Apple's official recommendation to backup notes is to save them in a text/document file or export as PDF. From the Apple support article, Archive or make copies of the information you store in iCloud - Notes and Voice Memos

Notes and Voice Memos

Make a copy of a note on your Mac or at iCloud.com:

Open the Notes app and select the note that you want.

Copy and paste the text into a document on your computer, such as a Pages or TextEdit document.

Save the document to your computer.

You can also export a note. Just select the note, click File > Export as PDF, and choose a location.

The approach is a bit clumsy and doesn't let you backup all the various notes in one go.

answered Nov 20 at 10:10

Nimesh Neema

13k43469

Thanks for the answer, but the problem with this approach is that you cannot restore the backups easily. I'm looking for a way to backup and restore notes, in case the original notes get lost.
– Harpe
Nov 20 at 10:20

Alternatively, if there is another note taking app that allows easier local backups with restore, and where I can easily import my current notes including nested folders of notes, that would also be very helpful.
– Harpe
Nov 20 at 10:21

@Harpe You can find a plethora of note taking apps which do not backup to iCloud. Try doing a Web search.
– Nimesh Neema
Nov 20 at 10:22

Thanks I did, but I was hoping for a recommendation, especially wrt to importing existing notes. I'll add a comment if I find a good one.
– Harpe
Nov 20 at 10:38

There is a 3rd party app named Note2txt which exports all your notes to a text file. Each note generates a separate file. i backup my notes by using this and exporting files to a folder with the date in the name. like notes_11202018
– jmh
Nov 20 at 14:31

|
show 1 more comment

Your Answer

StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "118"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});

function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});

}
});

draft saved

draft discarded

Sign up or log in

StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});

Post as a guest

Name

Required, but never shown

StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fapple.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f343221%2fcreate-local-backup-of-notes-in-notes-app-on-macos%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);

Post as a guest

Name

Required, but never shown

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

up vote
7
down vote

accepted

You may have copied the wrong directory, depending on your operating system.

Newer operating systems (I believe El Capitan and above, but certainly Sierra and above) use this folder:
~/Library/Group Containers/group.com.apple.notes/

Without iCloud there should be no issue with disappearing notes, which you would have to work around, if you were signed into iCloud Notes.

edited Nov 20 at 16:32

answered Nov 20 at 12:58

Redarm

1,6811717

Thank you, i copied this folder and the other one and all my notes including attachments were restored on the other MacBook.
– Harpe
Nov 20 at 13:07

add a comment |

up vote
7
down vote

accepted

You may have copied the wrong directory, depending on your operating system.

Newer operating systems (I believe El Capitan and above, but certainly Sierra and above) use this folder:
~/Library/Group Containers/group.com.apple.notes/

Without iCloud there should be no issue with disappearing notes, which you would have to work around, if you were signed into iCloud Notes.

edited Nov 20 at 16:32

answered Nov 20 at 12:58

Redarm

1,6811717

Thank you, i copied this folder and the other one and all my notes including attachments were restored on the other MacBook.
– Harpe
Nov 20 at 13:07

add a comment |

up vote
7
down vote

accepted

You may have copied the wrong directory, depending on your operating system.

Newer operating systems (I believe El Capitan and above, but certainly Sierra and above) use this folder:
~/Library/Group Containers/group.com.apple.notes/

Without iCloud there should be no issue with disappearing notes, which you would have to work around, if you were signed into iCloud Notes.

edited Nov 20 at 16:32

answered Nov 20 at 12:58

Redarm

1,6811717

You may have copied the wrong directory, depending on your operating system.

Newer operating systems (I believe El Capitan and above, but certainly Sierra and above) use this folder:
~/Library/Group Containers/group.com.apple.notes/

Without iCloud there should be no issue with disappearing notes, which you would have to work around, if you were signed into iCloud Notes.

edited Nov 20 at 16:32

answered Nov 20 at 12:58

Redarm

1,6811717

edited Nov 20 at 16:32

answered Nov 20 at 12:58

Redarm

1,6811717

answered Nov 20 at 12:58

Redarm

1,6811717

answered Nov 20 at 12:58

Redarm

1,6811717

Thank you, i copied this folder and the other one and all my notes including attachments were restored on the other MacBook.
– Harpe
Nov 20 at 13:07

add a comment |

Thank you, i copied this folder and the other one and all my notes including attachments were restored on the other MacBook.
– Harpe
Nov 20 at 13:07

Thank you, i copied this folder and the other one and all my notes including attachments were restored on the other MacBook.
– Harpe
Nov 20 at 13:07

add a comment |

up vote
0
down vote

Notes and Voice Memos

Make a copy of a note on your Mac or at iCloud.com:

Open the Notes app and select the note that you want.

Copy and paste the text into a document on your computer, such as a Pages or TextEdit document.

Save the document to your computer.

You can also export a note. Just select the note, click File > Export as PDF, and choose a location.

The approach is a bit clumsy and doesn't let you backup all the various notes in one go.

answered Nov 20 at 10:10

Nimesh Neema

13k43469

Thanks for the answer, but the problem with this approach is that you cannot restore the backups easily. I'm looking for a way to backup and restore notes, in case the original notes get lost.
– Harpe
Nov 20 at 10:20

Alternatively, if there is another note taking app that allows easier local backups with restore, and where I can easily import my current notes including nested folders of notes, that would also be very helpful.
– Harpe
Nov 20 at 10:21

@Harpe You can find a plethora of note taking apps which do not backup to iCloud. Try doing a Web search.
– Nimesh Neema
Nov 20 at 10:22

Thanks I did, but I was hoping for a recommendation, especially wrt to importing existing notes. I'll add a comment if I find a good one.
– Harpe
Nov 20 at 10:38

There is a 3rd party app named Note2txt which exports all your notes to a text file. Each note generates a separate file. i backup my notes by using this and exporting files to a folder with the date in the name. like notes_11202018
– jmh
Nov 20 at 14:31

|
show 1 more comment

up vote
0
down vote

Notes and Voice Memos

Make a copy of a note on your Mac or at iCloud.com:

Open the Notes app and select the note that you want.

Copy and paste the text into a document on your computer, such as a Pages or TextEdit document.

Save the document to your computer.

You can also export a note. Just select the note, click File > Export as PDF, and choose a location.

The approach is a bit clumsy and doesn't let you backup all the various notes in one go.

answered Nov 20 at 10:10

Nimesh Neema

13k43469

Thanks for the answer, but the problem with this approach is that you cannot restore the backups easily. I'm looking for a way to backup and restore notes, in case the original notes get lost.
– Harpe
Nov 20 at 10:20

Alternatively, if there is another note taking app that allows easier local backups with restore, and where I can easily import my current notes including nested folders of notes, that would also be very helpful.
– Harpe
Nov 20 at 10:21

@Harpe You can find a plethora of note taking apps which do not backup to iCloud. Try doing a Web search.
– Nimesh Neema
Nov 20 at 10:22

Thanks I did, but I was hoping for a recommendation, especially wrt to importing existing notes. I'll add a comment if I find a good one.
– Harpe
Nov 20 at 10:38

There is a 3rd party app named Note2txt which exports all your notes to a text file. Each note generates a separate file. i backup my notes by using this and exporting files to a folder with the date in the name. like notes_11202018
– jmh
Nov 20 at 14:31

|
show 1 more comment

up vote
0
down vote

Notes and Voice Memos

Make a copy of a note on your Mac or at iCloud.com:

Open the Notes app and select the note that you want.

Copy and paste the text into a document on your computer, such as a Pages or TextEdit document.

Save the document to your computer.

You can also export a note. Just select the note, click File > Export as PDF, and choose a location.

The approach is a bit clumsy and doesn't let you backup all the various notes in one go.

answered Nov 20 at 10:10

Nimesh Neema

13k43469

Notes and Voice Memos

Make a copy of a note on your Mac or at iCloud.com:

Open the Notes app and select the note that you want.

Copy and paste the text into a document on your computer, such as a Pages or TextEdit document.

Save the document to your computer.

You can also export a note. Just select the note, click File > Export as PDF, and choose a location.

The approach is a bit clumsy and doesn't let you backup all the various notes in one go.

answered Nov 20 at 10:10

Nimesh Neema

13k43469

answered Nov 20 at 10:10

Nimesh Neema

13k43469

answered Nov 20 at 10:10

Nimesh Neema

13k43469

answered Nov 20 at 10:10

Nimesh Neema

13k43469

Thanks for the answer, but the problem with this approach is that you cannot restore the backups easily. I'm looking for a way to backup and restore notes, in case the original notes get lost.
– Harpe
Nov 20 at 10:20

Alternatively, if there is another note taking app that allows easier local backups with restore, and where I can easily import my current notes including nested folders of notes, that would also be very helpful.
– Harpe
Nov 20 at 10:21

@Harpe You can find a plethora of note taking apps which do not backup to iCloud. Try doing a Web search.
– Nimesh Neema
Nov 20 at 10:22

Thanks I did, but I was hoping for a recommendation, especially wrt to importing existing notes. I'll add a comment if I find a good one.
– Harpe
Nov 20 at 10:38

There is a 3rd party app named Note2txt which exports all your notes to a text file. Each note generates a separate file. i backup my notes by using this and exporting files to a folder with the date in the name. like notes_11202018
– jmh
Nov 20 at 14:31

|
show 1 more comment

Thanks for the answer, but the problem with this approach is that you cannot restore the backups easily. I'm looking for a way to backup and restore notes, in case the original notes get lost.
– Harpe
Nov 20 at 10:20

Alternatively, if there is another note taking app that allows easier local backups with restore, and where I can easily import my current notes including nested folders of notes, that would also be very helpful.
– Harpe
Nov 20 at 10:21

@Harpe You can find a plethora of note taking apps which do not backup to iCloud. Try doing a Web search.
– Nimesh Neema
Nov 20 at 10:22

Thanks I did, but I was hoping for a recommendation, especially wrt to importing existing notes. I'll add a comment if I find a good one.
– Harpe
Nov 20 at 10:38

There is a 3rd party app named Note2txt which exports all your notes to a text file. Each note generates a separate file. i backup my notes by using this and exporting files to a folder with the date in the name. like notes_11202018
– jmh
Nov 20 at 14:31

Thanks for the answer, but the problem with this approach is that you cannot restore the backups easily. I'm looking for a way to backup and restore notes, in case the original notes get lost.
– Harpe
Nov 20 at 10:20

Alternatively, if there is another note taking app that allows easier local backups with restore, and where I can easily import my current notes including nested folders of notes, that would also be very helpful.
– Harpe
Nov 20 at 10:21

@Harpe You can find a plethora of note taking apps which do not backup to iCloud. Try doing a Web search.
– Nimesh Neema
Nov 20 at 10:22

Thanks I did, but I was hoping for a recommendation, especially wrt to importing existing notes. I'll add a comment if I find a good one.
– Harpe
Nov 20 at 10:38

There is a 3rd party app named Note2txt which exports all your notes to a text file. Each note generates a separate file. i backup my notes by using this and exporting files to a folder with the date in the name. like notes_11202018
– jmh
Nov 20 at 14:31

|
show 1 more comment

draft saved

draft discarded

Thanks for contributing an answer to Ask Different!

Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

But avoid …

Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.

To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.

Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.

Please pay close attention to the following guidance:

Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

But avoid …

Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.

To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.

draft saved

draft discarded

Sign up or log in

StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});

Post as a guest

Name

Required, but never shown

Post as a guest

Name

Required, but never shown

Sign up or log in

StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});

Post as a guest

Name

Required, but never shown

Sign up or log in

StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});

Post as a guest

Name

Required, but never shown

Sign up or log in

StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});

Post as a guest

Name

Required, but never shown

Name

Required, but never shown

Name

Required, but never shown

This page is only for reference, If you need detailed information, please check here

搜尋此網誌

Vrftjkry