6 Ways to Find and Recover Disappeared iPhone Notes

Quick Tips

• Check the Recently Deleted folder to find your missing or accidentally deleted notes.
• Use the search feature to find the note.
• If you have multiple Apple devices, ensure iCloud sync is turned on. Go to Settings → Notes → Accounts → select account → toggle on Notes.

Basic Troubleshoot

• Check the Recently Deleted Folder – Assuming the disappeared note is accidentally deleted, you can recover it within 30 days from the date of deletion.
• Use the Search feature – If you remember even some of the notes’ content, try searching for it. You can also select categories like Shared Notes, Notes with Tags, etc., to narrow down the hunt.
• Update iOS – The chances that a bug is behind your disappeared iPhone note are low. However, we’re leaving no stone unturned to get it back. So, let’s check this one off the list as well.

Fix 1. How to Search for Notes in a Specific Folder or Group

Step 1: In the Notes app, select the folder and tap the three-dot icon from the top-right corner.

Step 2: Select Group By Date or Sort By.

Once organized in groups and sorted per your preference, you can look for the missing notes under the expected date group.

Fix 2. Check the Account Settings for Notes Sync

If you use multiple email accounts on your device, the disappeared note is likely linked to one of those accounts. The same is true for a previously removed account from your iPhone.

Now, the plan is to ensure Notes sync is turned on for all existing accounts. Plus, add back the deleted accounts to retrieve the missing notes.

Step 1: Launch the Settings app. Go to Mail/Notes.

Step 2: Select Accounts.

Step 3: Tap the existing accounts. Ensure to toggle on Notes.

Step 4: Next, if an account is missing, tap Add Account and follow the on-screen instructions. Just ensure the Notes sync is turned on for the account.

Step 5: Once done, go to the Notes app → folders list (tap back < if needed).

Step 6: Select the account from the list and look for your note.

Notably, you can also try searching again for the note. You’ll probably find it under the newly synced notes. Although, if your notes are still lost, try the next step to get them back on the iPhone.

Fix 3. Check iCloud for the Missing Note

Although a little out-of-the-box solution, it’s worth trying. The idea here is to temporarily disconnect the iPhone’s connection to iCloud, stopping notes from syncing.

In turn, this might prevent the disappeared note on iPhone from being deleted or lost from iCloud or another non-active device.

Step 1: On your iPhone, turn off Wi-Fi and Cellular Data. This will stop iCloud from being connected and thus, prevent the synchronization across devices.

Step 2: Now, open the iCloud website on any other device. Sign in with your Apple ID.

Step 3: Select Notes.

Step 4: Here, look for the missing note. You can scroll, search, and check individual folders (don’t forget the Recently Deleted folder).

Step 5: If found, copy the content of the note/notes into a new one.

Step 6: On your iPhone, turn on Wi-Fi and Cellular Data to allow the new note to sync with your iPhone.

Note: If you have a non-active Apple Device handy, that can also help you recover the deleted note. Turn on the device → turn off Wi-Fi or Cellular Data → open the Notes app → look for the notes → create a new note with the content of the old one.

Fix 4. Restore an Older Backup to Retrieve a Missing Note

If you have an iCloud or Finder/iTunes backup of the iPhone that might have the lost note, restoring it is the best way to get it back. However, you can’t just select the notes section of the backup and restore it.

You’ll have to completely erase the iPhone and then restore it with the old backup. Notably, this step will remove new data from the iPhone, so try these steps only if the data is extremely important.

1. Create a Backup of the Recent Data on the iPhone

Step 1: On iPhone, launch the Settings app. Tap your name from the top.

Step 2: Tap iCloud > select iCloud Backup.

Step 3: Turn on the toggle for Back Up This iPhone. If already enabled, tap Back Up Now to take an updated backup of your iPhone.

2. Reset Your iPhone

Next up, reset your iPhone to ensure old content is completely erased.

Step 1: Go to Settings → General. Scroll down and select Transfer or Reset iPhone.

Step 2: Select Erase All Content and Settings.

Step 3: Tap Continue and enter the passcode if prompted.

Now, let the process finish. Once done, the phone will restart with the set-up screen.

3. Restore the iPhone With a Backup

Step 1: On the setup screen, select Set Up Manually. Follow the on-screen instructions, till you reach the Apps & Data screen.

Step 2: Select either of the following to find the old backup,

• Restore from iCloud Backup → Sign in to iCloud with your Apple ID.
• Restore from Mac or PC → Connect the phone to Mac/PC via USB.

Step 4: Accordingly, follow the on-screen instructions and select the previous backup you want to update.

Step 5: Wait while the backup is restored.

Once done, look for the missing note and transfer it to a different account, such as Google Keep, Outlook, etc. Hopefully, you’ll finally find the lost notes.

Now, if you want to restore the latest backup on an iPhone, repeat the steps in sections 2 and 3, selecting the most recent backup we made in section 1. We’ll reiterate, that these methods should be the last-case scenario because you could lose some other data in the to and fro. Although, if the lost note is worth it, it’s your call.

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