User Case: How Do I Get My Notes Back on My iPhone?
“I had over 120 notes across my iPhone, iPad, and MacBook. Now only 70 remain in iCloud. How can I restore all my notes?” – Apple Community
Losing important notes unexpectedly can be stressful, whether they’re work files, creative ideas, or personal reminders. Fortunately, there are several ways to restore notes on iPhone—some simple, some more advanced.
Why Have My Notes Disappeared on My iPhone?
Before we dive into solutions for how to restore notes on iPhone, it’s helpful to understand the common causes:
Outdated iOS software – bugs in older iOS versions may cause notes to disappear.
Accidental deletion – it’s easy to unintentionally delete notes.
Apple ID issues – signing in with a different Apple ID can hide your notes.
Third-party accounts or bugs – notes synced from other email accounts may encounter errors.
No matter the reason, the following 6 methods can help you recover your missing notes.
6 Effective Methods to Restore Notes on iPhone
Wondering deleted notes on iPhone how to restore? In this section, we will provide you with 6 useful methods. Check below to learn the details.
Way 1: How to Restore Notes by Checking Your Apple ID
If you have multiple Apple IDs, ensure you’re signed in to the same one used to create the notes. To locate missing notes quickly:
Open the Notes app.
Use the Search bar to enter keywords from the missing notes.
Review the results to see if the notes appear under a different account.
Tip: Notes linked to other Apple IDs or devices may only appear when you’re signed in correctly.
Way 2: How to Retrieve Notes via Updated iOS Software
Running the latest iOS can resolve bugs that hide or delete notes.
Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
If an update is available, tap Download and Install.
Optionally, enable Automatic Updates to stay current.
Updating ensures your iPhone runs smoothly and reduces the risk of disappearing notes.
Way 3: How to Restore from the Recently Deleted Folder
If you removed your notes accidentally, how to restore deleted notes on iPhone? You can navigate to the Recently Deleted Folder to check whether they are here or not. Deleted notes in this folder will be kept for 30 days. So, you can restore them in 30 days. Or, the notes will be permanently deleted.
Open Notes and select Recently Deleted.
Tap Edit, choose the notes to recover, and select Move To.
Select Notes to restore them to your main list.
Note: If you delete a shared note you don’t own, it won’t appear in Recently Deleted.
Way 4: How to Restore Notes by Checking Account Settings
If you are using a third-party account or email service to store your notes, you can check your account settings to make sure that Notes is turned on. Otherwise, you might not find your notes.
Here is how:
Open Settings > Mail > Accounts.
Select the relevant account.
Ensure Notes is toggled on.
This ensures all notes from external accounts are visible on your iPhone.
Way 5: How to Restore Notes on an iPhone from iCloud Backup
Can I recover a previous version of a note on my iPhone? Yes. That’s where iCloud Backup works. If you have enabled the iCloud Backup feature, you can check when it is the last backup was taken. If the last backup was done while the notes were still on the device, you can restore the backup to get the notes back.
Steps to restore notes from iCloud Backup:
Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup to check your last backup.
Factory reset your iPhone: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Erase All Content and Settings.
During setup, select Restore from iCloud Backup and choose the backup containing your notes.
⚠️ Important: Restoring from iCloud Backup replaces all current data on your iPhone with the backup version.
Way 6: How to Recover Deleted Notes on iPhone without Backup
If your notes weren’t included in the last iCloud backup or you want a safer, selective recovery, Gbyte Recovery is the ultimate solution.
As one of the most professional iOS data recovery tools, Gbyte Recovery allows you to restore various kinds of data, including Notes, Contacts, Messages, Photos & Videos, Kik, Line, FaceTime, Instagram, WhatsApp, WhatsApp Business, and so on. No matter whether your data is deleted unintentionally or has disappeared somehow, Gbyte Recovery gets you covered by offering cutting-edge technology to get the data back.
Why Gbyte Recovery?
No Data Overwritten: Recover only the notes you need without affecting existing data.
Cross-Device Support: Scans all devices linked to your Apple ID to retrieve deleted notes.
Customized Recovery: Select specific notes instead of restoring everything.
User-Friendly: Intuitive interface for beginners and advanced users alike.
Now, let’s delve into how to restore notes on iPhone via this robust iPhone data recovery tool:
How to Restore Notes Using Gbyte Recovery:
Download and install Gbyte Recovery from its official website (free).
Open the app, select Notes, and tap Scan.
Select the notes you want to recover and export to your computer.
Pro Tip: Gbyte Recovery also restores other data types such as Contacts, Messages, Photos, WhatsApp, and more.
Comparison of 6 Methods to Restore Notes on iPhone
This table summarizes six methods to restore notes on iPhone, highlighting their main uses, advantages, limitations, and ease of use. It helps you quickly compare options and choose the most suitable method for your situation.
Method | Best For | Pros | Cons | Ease of Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Check Apple ID | Quickly locating notes linked to multiple Apple IDs | No additional tools needed; instant results | Only works if notes exist under the Apple ID | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
Update iOS Software | Fixing bugs causing missing notes | Simple, maintains system stability | Doesn’t recover already deleted notes | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Recently Deleted Folder | Recovering recently deleted notes (within 30 days) | Fast and native solution; no extra software | Notes permanently deleted after 30 days; shared notes not recoverable | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
Check Account Settings | Notes stored in third-party accounts (Gmail, Outlook) | Ensures syncing issues are resolved | Only works for accounts already added to iPhone | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
iCloud Backup | Restoring notes from previous backups | Can recover notes lost long ago | Requires factory reset; replaces current data | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ |
Gbyte Recovery | Selective recovery of deleted notes without backup | High success rate; no data overwritten; works across devices | Requires installation of third-party software | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Final Words
You have learned how to restore notes on iPhone in 6 simple and effective methods after reading this complete guide. Now, you can select the method that suits you most. Anyway, among those solutions, using Gbyte Recovery is the easiest and most useful one. It not only helps you restore Apple Notes but also recovers many other types of data. This way, you don’t need to worry.
