5 Proven Ways to Recover Deleted Notes on Mac​ [Updated]

Losing crucial notes on your Mac feels awful. Maybe you hit delete by accident, and now those notes are just gone. But the thing is, when you delete notes on a Mac, they don’t end up in the Trash like other files. So, where to find deleted notes on Mac and whether can you recover […]

Losing crucial notes on your Mac feels awful. Maybe you hit delete by accident, and now those notes are just gone. But the thing is, when you delete notes on a Mac, they don’t end up in the Trash like other files.

So, where to find deleted notes on Mac and whether can you recover deleted notes on Mac? You’ll find the answer to these questions in this post. Alongside, we’ll also share how to recover deleted notes on Mac​ and under what conditions!

Part 1: Where Do Deleted Notes Go on Mac?

When you erase a note on a Mac, the big question is, where to find deleted notes on Mac? The answer is that notes usually move to the “Recently Deleted” folder in the Notes app, where they remain for about 30 days before being permanently removed.

But if your notes are synced with iCloud, how to find recently deleted notes on Mac? In this scenario, the erased notes appear in the “Recently Deleted” folder across all devices using the same Apple ID. They are permanently removed after roughly 40 days.

Notes are also stored in backup files and temporary “.storedata” files within the Library folder, which contain the app’s data. Occasionally, removed notes might still be found in the Mac’s Trash Bin, though the primary location is the “Recently Deleted” folder.

Part 2: How to Recover Deleted Notes on Mac?

Now, you know where the erased notes reside, but the next big question is, can you recover deleted notes on Mac? To answer in simple words, yes, you can, but under certain conditions. You can recover deleted Mac notes from the “Recently Deleted” folder, a backup, or local notes files, or with the aid of notes recovery software. Here we’ve listed each method step-by-step in detail:

Method 1: Restore from Recently Deleted Folder

In case your deleted note hasn’t gone past the 30-day limit, you might still be able to find it in the app’s “Recently Deleted” folder. Here’s how to recover deleted notes on MacBook Air from the “Recently Deleted” folder:

Step 1: Open the “Notes” app from the Dock. Then, visit the “Recently Deleted” folder in the left panel.

Step 2: Select the note you want to retrieve. From the top menu, choose “Edit.” Tap “Undo Trash Note.”

Step 3: Right-click the note. Next, select “Move to” to choose a folder where you wish to shift the recovered note.

Method 2: Use Notes Recovery Software

If the 30-day limit has passed, how to recover permanently deleted notes on Mac​? In such a scenario, you can employ Mac data recovery software to retrieve the notes. 4DDiG Mac Data Recovery tool can extract permanently erased notes with high success. The tool can also recover corrupted notes. It offers:

 

• The tool can extract lost notes without affecting their quality.
• This app offers easy, three-click restoration with no technical skills needed.
• You can retrieve missing notes from Trash, Time Machine backups, and encrypted APFS disks.
• It provides a preview for retrieved files and selective file recovery.
• The tool is compatible with M4 chipsets, macOS Tahoe, macOS Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina, and earlier versions.

Here’s how to recover permanently deleted notes on Mac​ with this tool:

Step 1: Install and execute the notes recovery tool on your Mac. Then, choose a location, like your hard drive.

Step 2: Choose the “Documents” file type to scan only for documents, which will also include notes. Hit “Scan.”

Step 3: After scanning, preview the recovered notes. You can also specifically search for the Notes file by entering its name or extension in the search field.

Step 4: Once you find the notes you want back, hit “Recover” (avoid saving to the same drive where they were lost). So, that’s how to recover permanently deleted notes on Mac.​

Method 3: Time Machine Backup

You can recover deleted Mac notes with Time Machine if you’ve backed them up previously. But export your recent notes as PDFs first before restoring the deleted ones from the backup. You can import them afterward. Here’s how to recover deleted notes on MacBook Air with the Time Machine backup:

Step 1: Notes are stored at:

• ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.Notes/Data/Library/Notes/
• ~/Library/Group Containers/group.com.apple.notes

 

So, first, copy the files from both locations and move them to a secure place.

Step 2: Next, connect your Time Machine backup drive to the Mac. Quit the “Notes” app. Then, turn off iCloud syncing for the app.

Step 3: Open “System Preferences.” Next, choose “Time Machine.” Activate “Show Time Machine” in the menu bar.
Step 4: In Finder, visit “Go.” Next, tap “Go to Folder.” Enter the following address:

 

• ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.Notes/Data/Library/Notes/

 

Step 5: Click the “Time Machine” icon in the menu bar. After this, select “Enter Time Machine.”

Step 6: Use the timeline arrows to find the desired backup. Then, select the “.storedata” files. Hit “Restore.” So, that’s how to recover deleted notes on MacBook Air.

Method 4: Restore From iCloud

Your Mac might be synced with iCloud. So, in such a situation, where to find deleted notes on Mac? Even if your notes are gone, you can recover deleted Mac notes from the iCloud Notes app. Here’s how to find recently deleted notes on Mac with iCloud:

Step 1: Visit “System Preferences.” Then, choose “Internet Accounts.”
Step 2: Select “iCloud.” Next, untick “Notes” to stop syncing with iCloud.

Step 3: Log in to your account with your iCloud credentials. After this, execute the “Notes” app.

Step 4: Copy your notes to a text editor. Then, save them on your computer. Reactivate iCloud Notes syncing after recovery is complete.

Method 5: Search for Local Notes Files

The Notes app automatically saves temporary data in “.storedata” files in your Mac’s Library folder, which may contain your missing notes. You can access these files. Here’s how to recover deleted notes on Mac by looking through the local notes files:

Step 1: Open “Finder.” Then, visit “Go.” Tap “Go to Folder.” Enter the following addresses. Hit “Return” afterward:

• ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.Notes/Data/Library/Notes/

Step 2: Copy “NotesV7.storedata.” Do the same with “NotesV7.storedata-wal.” Move these files to another location.

Step 3: Next, follow “Step 1” and enter the following address:

• ~/Library/Group Containers/group.com.apple.notes

Step 4: Check the “Notes” or “Accounts” folder. Copy the files in the “.storedata” or “.sqlite” format. Move them to another location.

Step 5: Change their extensions to “.html.” Then, open them. Look for your notes within the coded text. Next, copy them into a text editor like TextEdit.

FAQ about How to Recover Deleted Notes on Mac

Q1: Can you recover deleted notes on Mac?

Yes, you can recover erased notes on a Mac with any of the methods mentioned earlier.

Q2: Are notes automatically backed up to iCloud?

Notes are backed up to iCloud only if iCloud syncing for Notes is turned on. When enabled, your notes are saved online and synced across all devices using the same Apple ID. If iCloud Notes are turned off, they are stored only on your Mac.

Q3 Where are Apple Notes stored?

Apple Notes are stored either in iCloud (if syncing is enabled) or locally on your Mac. Local notes are kept in the Library folder at:

• ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.Notes/Data/Library/Notes/

Some related files may also be found in:

• ~/Library/Group Containers/group.com.apple.notes

Conclusion

We’ve answered your query, “How to find recently deleted notes on Mac and permanently removed ones,’ to the best of our knowledge. You would also want to know whether can you recover deleted notes on Mac? If you know where to check, you can know how to recover deleted notes on Mac​.

 

For instance, the “Recently Deleted” folder, iCloud, Time Machine backups, or local “.storedata” files. For notes permanently removed or lost beyond these methods, 4DDiG Mac Data Recovery is a dependable solution. It offers fast, safe, and selective recovery with simple three-click restoration, file previews, and support for various storage devices and macOS versions.