Recently, a large number of users have complained that their iPhone notes are not showing up on Mac. Especially the folks who are on the iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia 15 devices. If this frustrating syncing issue has also marred your seamless experience, don’t worry! In this detailed guide, I’m going to discuss the 15 most reliable ways to fix the Apple Notes not syncing between iPhone and Mac issue in iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia 15. Read on to…
Fix Apple Notes Not Syncing Between iPhone/iPad and Mac Issue
It’s worth pointing out that the syncing between your iPhone and Mac tends to break down due to various factors such as poor connectivity, iCloud settings, or software glitches. To bring it back on track, we will try to take control of these well-known culprits with the help of reliable fixes.
1. Enable iCloud Notes on Both Devices
Bear in mind that your notes won’t sync unless iCloud is active for the Notes app. Therefore, be sure that you have allowed your Apple Notes to sync with the iCloud.
- On iPhone: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Show All > Notes and toggle it on.
- On Mac: Fire up the System Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > iCloud Drive > Options, and make sure Notes is checked.
2. Use the Same Apple ID
Be warned that the iCloud sync only works when both devices are signed in to the same Apple ID.
- On iPhone: Head over to Settings > [Your Name] and check the Apple ID.
- On Mac: Navigate to System Settings > Apple ID and ensure it matches the one on your iPhone.
3. Connect to a Stable Internet Network
It’s also important to mention that syncing requires an active internet connection via Wi-Fi or cellular data.
- Therefore, I’d recommend you switch to a reliable Wi-Fi network on both devices.
- After that, test your connection by loading a webpage to confirm it’s working.
4. Ensure Notes Are Saved in iCloud and Not “On My iPhone”
Keep in mind that the notes saved locally on your iDevice won’t sync with iCloud or your Mac.
- To get going, open the Notes app on your iPhone or iPad.
- If you see a folder labeled On My iPhone/iPad, make sure to move those notes to your iCloud folder manually.
5. Restart Both Devices
Do you know that a simple restart can let you often resolve temporary glitches affecting sync? Hence, give the rebooting idea a chance as well.
6. Update iOS and macOS to the Latest Version
Be aware of the outdated software as it may cause compatibility issues with iCloud syncing.
- On iPhone: Dive into the Settings > General > Software Update and install any available updates.
- On Mac: Head into the System Settings > General > Software Update and update macOS if needed.
7. Enable iCloud Drive on Both Devices
For the notes syncing to function properly, the iCloud Drive must be enabled on both devices.
- On iPhone/iPad: Head straight into Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Drive and turn it on.
- On Mac: Launch the System Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > iCloud Drive, then click Options and check if Notes is selected.
8. Check iCloud Storage Space
Check if your iCloud is full. If it has been cluttered for space, the syncing will stop.
- On iPhone/iPad: Open the Settings app > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Account Storage.
- On Mac: Go to System Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Manage and review available space.
9. Force Sync Notes Manually
Sometimes Notes needs a manual refresh to push new changes.
- Open the Notes app, pull down from the top of the screen on iPhone to refresh.
- On Mac, quit and reopen the Notes app or press Command + R to refresh.
10. Sign Out and Back Into iCloud
Re-authenticating your Apple ID can fix syncing issues.
- On iPhone: Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Sign Out, restart the phone, then sign in again.
- On Mac: Go to System Settings > Apple ID > Sign Out, restart, then sign back in.
11. Check Date and Time Settings
An incorrect system time may prevent devices from syncing with iCloud servers.
- On iPhone/iPad: Go to Settings > General > Date & Time and enable Set Automatically.
- On Mac: Open the System Settings > General > Date & Time and turn on Set time and date automatically.
12. Disable and Re-enable Notes in iCloud
Toggling the sync off and back on can refresh the connection.
- On iPhone: Open the Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Notes, toggle it off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.
- On Mac: Go to System Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > iCloud Drive > Options, uncheck Notes, then re-enable it.
13. Check Notes App Settings on iPhone
The default account for new notes might be set to “On My iPhone” instead of iCloud.
- On your iOS or iPadOS device, launch Settings > Notes > Default Account and set it to iCloud.
14. Reset Network Settings on iPhone
Remember the fact that the corrupt network settings can block iCloud syncing.
- To fix your corrupt network settings, launch Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
- After that, make sure to reconnect to Wi-Fi after the reset.
15. Check Apple System Status Page
Check if Apple’s servers are down temporarily. If they are acting up, wait for some time until Apple has resolved the issue.
- Open a browser and visit Apple’s System Status webpage and ook for iCloud Notes. If it’s not green, be sure to wait until Apple resolves the issue.
Wrapping up…
Syncing issues between your iPhone and Mac can be frustrating, especially when you rely on Notes for day-to-day productivity. Fortunately, most syncing problems are easy to fix once you understand what’s causing them.
By following the 15 solutions above, you should be able to restore syncing and ensure your notes appear instantly on all your Apple devices. Have any important feedback to share? Use the comments section below to share it with ease!
