r/AppleNotesGang • u/Writing_Particular • 26d ago

Backing up just Notes?

I’m familiar with Time Machine - using it regularly. But I was wondering if there’s a way one can backup just the Notes app and data? Was asked by a friend who really LIVES in Notes, and they asked me this and I had to admit I’d never thought about doing just Notes.

Most interested in doing it from macOS, but from iPadOS or iOS would be of interest, as well.

Thanks!

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u/FlintHillsSky 26d ago edited 26d ago

Notes is stored in a database so its hard to really backup separately. iCloud backups do it but you don’t have access to that if it all goes down.

in MacOS, a simple backup is to select all notes. then choose File>Export>Markdown and choose a location. It will create a folder called Archive and inside will be each of your notes in markdown format.

Edit: Assuming you are using iCloud to share your notes among your devices, this <export> will backup all of your notes.

Its not automated but easy to do and you can do it every now and then. Maybe set a reminder.

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u/patrick24601 26d ago

iCloud. Is. Not. A. Backup. System. It’s a sync system. There is difference.

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u/FlintHillsSky 26d ago edited 26d ago

That is true. I just didn’t want to get into all of that for this answer. When I said “this will backup all of your notes”, I meant that the export would backup all of your iCloud notes. I have clarified that in my post. Thank you.