User profile for user: Lee Rodgers
Lee Rodgers Author
User level: Level 2
382 points

Why does Apple Notes fail to sync across Apple devices?

I have recently started using Apple Notes. Previously I used Evernote (before they became greedy) and Bear. Both worked fine, but I wanted more integrated solution so started using AppleNotes. It is a great app which can do about everything I want. But...

I have noticed that it is common for the notes to not synch across platforms. It seems that it mostly works when I create a note on the iphone. I have more problems with notes created in MacOS. If I sign into icloud.com in the browser, the note count is nearly always off.

I have gone through all the normal steps - everything with newest OS; All signed into same icloud account; turn icloud off and on; quit app and restart; restart phone and laptop, etc. The most effective way to "force" a full synch is to go into the control center on the phone and "offload" Notes and then reinstall. It worked, but I don't think that is a way to run a productivity app.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to tweak this app? Does anyone know where there may be some poison cookies or other bad code I can remove? TIA




[Re-Titled by Moderator]



MacBook Air 13″, macOS 14.7

Posted on Apr 27, 2025 7:52 AM

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User profile for user: Matti Haveri
Matti Haveri
User level: Level 6
18,228 points

Posted on Apr 27, 2025 10:54 PM

Occasionally Safari bookmarks or Reading list or Notes do not automatically sync to other devices despite waiting 5-20 minutes. I have fixed that by turning that item OFF/ON in iCloud settings. I have not noticed any ill effects when merging the iCloud info.


Or sometimes iCloud Drive fails to sync despite waiting 5-20 minutes after logging to the other device. I must annoyingly babysit that by looking at the file modification date. If it is older than it should, I kick the sync awake by doing some dummy update like saving a dummy new document or doing a dummy duplicate of some document. Opening such document (.odt for example) also kicks the sync awake but then at least LibreOffice is fast enough to open the old .odt document. I wish there was a button to force a sync and a datetime info of the last sync.


My setup: desktop Sequoia, some Monterey-Ventura laptops, iPad latest iPadOS 18, iPhone iOS 16.7.11.


I use iCloud sync mainly for Safari bookmarks & Reading list, Passwords, Notes, iCloud Drive, Contacts, Calendar.

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User profile for user: Matti Haveri
Matti Haveri
User level: Level 6
18,228 points

Apr 27, 2025 10:54 PM in response to Lee Rodgers

Occasionally Safari bookmarks or Reading list or Notes do not automatically sync to other devices despite waiting 5-20 minutes. I have fixed that by turning that item OFF/ON in iCloud settings. I have not noticed any ill effects when merging the iCloud info.


Or sometimes iCloud Drive fails to sync despite waiting 5-20 minutes after logging to the other device. I must annoyingly babysit that by looking at the file modification date. If it is older than it should, I kick the sync awake by doing some dummy update like saving a dummy new document or doing a dummy duplicate of some document. Opening such document (.odt for example) also kicks the sync awake but then at least LibreOffice is fast enough to open the old .odt document. I wish there was a button to force a sync and a datetime info of the last sync.


My setup: desktop Sequoia, some Monterey-Ventura laptops, iPad latest iPadOS 18, iPhone iOS 16.7.11.


I use iCloud sync mainly for Safari bookmarks & Reading list, Passwords, Notes, iCloud Drive, Contacts, Calendar.

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Why does Apple Notes fail to sync across Apple devices?

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