Notes keeps crashing after 18.1.1 update. How do I fix this?

I have an iPhone 14 Pro Max and when I updated the iOS to 18.1.1, my notes app would freeze whenever I tried to open larger notes. I didn’t want to un-sync and re-sync my iCloud backup in the Settings app for Notes in case that would cause me to lose work that hadn’t been backed up yet.

So I shared a Notes folder I had created within the app by tapping the share icon in the folder and selecting “Copy link”. Then I emailed that link to myself. Once I opened that link in my inbox, it took me back to the Notes app and I was able to open my larger notes no problem. Since then, the crashing in the app has stopped (well, it went back to basically how it was before when I would type in bigger notes - the app still crashes or freezes after a while, but now I can actually access the larger notes).

I can’t explain how this helped, but I was incredibly relieved. It’s been a week or so since I did the iOS update and emailed myself the link, and so far things have been good. Also, one of my notes folders is now shared with my email, so I should be able to access the notes if the app crashes in the future. You could do this with all your notes, but from what I can tell it would have to be one at a time. The rest of the notes in the general notes folder have to be shared individually by pressing and holding on each note and selecting “Share” and doing the same process of sending it to yourself.

Tried this and it didnt work for me. I have an iphone 13

Thank you elyseb22, I had the same problem on my iPhone 12.

I used a variation on your solution and it worked! (I didn't try clicking on a Notes folder on your phone like you did)...

On my PC, I logged into my icloud account at icloud.com and went to Notes.

I opened one of the notes that was crashing the Notes app on my iPhone.

I clicked on "view participants or add people to this note" icon (the tiny person with checkmark icon in the upper right corner of the screen.)

I shared it with one of my emails. After sharing, a window showed the link to the note as well. It was easier for me to copy the link and then send it to myself in a message, so I did that.

On my iPhone, I entered the message and clicked on the link and it brought me to Notes and my note that crashed the app was open!

I closed the Notes app and when I opened it, I could again access that note, and it seems all others, with no problem!

What is the “journal” app?

Thank you so much! I wasn't even completely sure on what I was doing but followed your instructions and it worked. No more notes app crashing. Grateful for you!