How to Fix iPhone Notes Disappearing After Accepting New iCloud Terms

Apple in September updated its iCloud terms and conditions with some minor changes, and this week it has been notifying iPhone users that they must accept the revised terms in order to continue using iCloud. Unfortunately, after accepting the new terms, some iPhone users have seen all of their notes disappear in the Notes app.

iOS 18 Notes Feature
While some users have turned to social media to justifiably panic about all of their notes being gone, thankfully the issue can be fixed by following the steps below.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap on your name at the top (aka your Apple Account settings).
  3. Tap on iCloud.
  4. Tap on Notes.
  5. Turn on "Sync this iPhone" (green = on). If it is already on, turn it off and on again.
  6. In the Notes app, wait several minutes for your notes to be restored from iCloud.

We began monitoring this issue earlier this week, but it is unclear what the underlying cause is. Apple did not respond to our request for comment.

Related Roundups: iOS 18, iPadOS 18
Tag: iCloud

Popular Stories

iOS 18

Here Are Apple's Full Release Notes for iOS 18.2

Thursday December 5, 2024 11:48 am PST by
Apple seeded the release candidate version of iOS 18.2 today, which means it's going to see a public launch imminently. Release candidates represent the final version of new software that will be provided to the public should no last minute bugs be found, and Apple includes release notes with the RC launch. The iOS 18.2 release notes provide a look at all of the new features that are coming...
Apple AI Command Center Concept Mock 3

Apple Expected to Launch This All-New Device Next Year

Wednesday November 27, 2024 1:05 pm PST by
Apple is expected to kick off 2025 by launching an all-new smart home hub, also referred to as a "command center," as early as March. The hub is expected to feature around a six-inch display that can be attached to a tabletop base with a speaker, or mounted on a wall. The device is said to run a new "homeOS" operating system with a customizable widget-focused home screen, and it is expected...
airpods pro 2 gradient

AirPods Pro 3 Expected Next Year: Here's What We Know

Thursday November 28, 2024 3:30 am PST by
Despite being released over two years ago, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 continue to dominate the wireless earbud market. However, with the AirPods Pro 3 expected to launch sometime in 2025, anyone thinking of buying Apple's premium earbuds may be wondering if the next generation is worth holding out for. Apart from their audio and noise-canceling performance, which are generally regarded as...
Tim Cook WWDC 2024

Apple CEO Tim Cook Opens Up About AI Plans, Vision Pro Future, and More in New Interview

Wednesday December 4, 2024 5:40 am PST by
WIRED today shared in an in-depth interview with Apple CEO Tim Cook, asking questions about AI, Vision Pro sales, pre-recorded keynotes, and more. The wide-ranging interview covers Apple's pivot toward AI technology, including what Apple Intelligence features Cook finds most useful, Apple's partnership with OpenAI, and the environmental impact of AI. For example, WIRED asked Cook about...
Generic iOS 18

Apple Seeds Release Candidate Versions of iOS 18.2 and More With Genmoji, Image Playground and ChatGPT Integration

Thursday December 5, 2024 10:03 am PST by
Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 updates to developers and public beta testers for testing purposes, two weeks after releasing the fourth betas. Alongside the release candidate versions of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac operating system updates, Apple has also seeded the watchOS 11.2, tvOS 18.2, and HomePod Software 18.2 RCs....
Whatsapp Feature

WhatsApp to Drop Support for These iPhones Starting May 2025

Monday December 2, 2024 2:57 am PST by
WhatsApp is set to end support for iOS versions older than iOS 15.1 from May next year, removing the chat platform's compatibility with several iPhone models in the process. From May 5, 2025, WhatsApp will no longer be compatible with iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus models. Users with those devices won't be able to access the encrypted chat service after the specified date unless they ...
iPhone 14 Pro Display Two Times Brighter Feature

Every Display Upgrade Rumored for Apple's iPhone 17

Friday December 6, 2024 5:14 am PST by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 lineup may bring some of the most significant display improvements we've seen in recent years. While the iPhone 17 series isn't expected until late 2025, multiple rumors suggest Apple is working on substantial screen upgrades across its entire smartphone range. From enhanced refresh rates to advanced materials and improved power efficiency, these display...

Top Rated Comments

antiprotest Avatar
4 weeks ago
"Our unique integration of hardware and software ensures the total destruction of your data."

Privacy. That's iPhone.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mystery hill Avatar
4 weeks ago
There is no way to batch export all notes on iPhone and iPad to a folder on the device, or to an external drive.

You have to completely depend on iCloud and hope that a bug doesn’t delete all your notes.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Egk Avatar
4 weeks ago
Safari can’t even keep my bookmarks up to date. I will *never* trust Apple with anything critical when it comes to sync.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Hank001 Avatar
4 weeks ago

That would be a disaster for most people! I know it’s rare but shows the risk of cloud computing.

Can you still create notes on your mac locally? And if so how do you back them up?
Calm down please. One can simply store them on the iPhone as well.


Attachment Image
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tywebb13 Avatar
4 weeks ago
would simply making a new note make all the others come back?

i heard that this was a simpler way to fix it.

but more concerning is apple's silence on the matter.

why the silence?

refusal to acknowledge the bug, when it is blatantly obvious to the rest of the internet?

well as big as apple is, the internet is bigger!

and not even helping people with a workaround to fix it, leaving it up to sites like macrumors to provide the workaround?

that’s very poor form on apple's part
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ellpee Avatar
4 weeks ago
Only a matter of time before everything you have in iCloud disappears. Nothing about it works smoothly, even adjusting settings will induce hiccups. Always print your favorite photos!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)