Create local backup of notes in Notes.app on macOS











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5
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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.






backup notes.app







share|improve this question




























    up vote
    5
    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.






    backup notes.app







    share|improve this question


























      up vote
      5
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      5
      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.






      backup notes.app







      share|improve this question















      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.






      backup notes.app




      backup notes.app






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited 2 days ago









      Nimesh Neema

      12.2k43366




      12.2k43366










      asked 2 days ago









      Harpe

      384




      384






















          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

          votes

















          up vote
          6
          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.






          share|improve this answer























          • Thank you, i copied this folder and the other one and all my notes including attachments were restored on the other MacBook.
            – Harpe
            2 days ago


















          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:




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


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


          3. 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.






          share|improve this answer





















          • 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
            2 days ago










          • 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
            2 days ago










          • @Harpe You can find a plethora of note taking apps which do not backup to iCloud. Try doing a Web search.
            – Nimesh Neema
            2 days ago










          • 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
            2 days ago










          • 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
            2 days ago











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          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

          votes








          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes








          up vote
          6
          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.






          share|improve this answer























          • Thank you, i copied this folder and the other one and all my notes including attachments were restored on the other MacBook.
            – Harpe
            2 days ago















          up vote
          6
          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.






          share|improve this answer























          • Thank you, i copied this folder and the other one and all my notes including attachments were restored on the other MacBook.
            – Harpe
            2 days ago













          up vote
          6
          down vote



          accepted







          up vote
          6
          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.






          share|improve this answer














          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.







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited 2 days ago

























          answered 2 days ago









          Redarm

          1,6341717




          1,6341717












          • Thank you, i copied this folder and the other one and all my notes including attachments were restored on the other MacBook.
            – Harpe
            2 days ago


















          • Thank you, i copied this folder and the other one and all my notes including attachments were restored on the other MacBook.
            – Harpe
            2 days ago
















          Thank you, i copied this folder and the other one and all my notes including attachments were restored on the other MacBook.
          – Harpe
          2 days ago




          Thank you, i copied this folder and the other one and all my notes including attachments were restored on the other MacBook.
          – Harpe
          2 days ago












          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:




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


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


          3. 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.






          share|improve this answer





















          • 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
            2 days ago










          • 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
            2 days ago










          • @Harpe You can find a plethora of note taking apps which do not backup to iCloud. Try doing a Web search.
            – Nimesh Neema
            2 days ago










          • 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
            2 days ago










          • 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
            2 days ago















          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:




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


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


          3. 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.






          share|improve this answer





















          • 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
            2 days ago










          • 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
            2 days ago










          • @Harpe You can find a plethora of note taking apps which do not backup to iCloud. Try doing a Web search.
            – Nimesh Neema
            2 days ago










          • 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
            2 days ago










          • 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
            2 days ago













          up vote
          0
          down vote










          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:




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


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


          3. 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.






          share|improve this answer












          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:




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


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


          3. 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.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 2 days ago









          Nimesh Neema

          12.2k43366




          12.2k43366












          • 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
            2 days ago










          • 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
            2 days ago










          • @Harpe You can find a plethora of note taking apps which do not backup to iCloud. Try doing a Web search.
            – Nimesh Neema
            2 days ago










          • 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
            2 days ago










          • 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
            2 days ago


















          • 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
            2 days ago










          • 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
            2 days ago










          • @Harpe You can find a plethora of note taking apps which do not backup to iCloud. Try doing a Web search.
            – Nimesh Neema
            2 days ago










          • 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
            2 days ago










          • 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
            2 days ago
















          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
          2 days ago




          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
          2 days ago












          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
          2 days ago




          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
          2 days ago












          @Harpe You can find a plethora of note taking apps which do not backup to iCloud. Try doing a Web search.
          – Nimesh Neema
          2 days ago




          @Harpe You can find a plethora of note taking apps which do not backup to iCloud. Try doing a Web search.
          – Nimesh Neema
          2 days ago












          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
          2 days ago




          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
          2 days ago












          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
          2 days ago




          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
          2 days ago


















           

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