Easy Guide: How to Sync Notes from iPhone to Mac with or without iCloud

You may often use the Notes app to jot down ideas, create to-do lists, or save important information on your iPhone. If you've recently added some notes and want to view them on your Mac, you'll need to sync them between the two devices.

In this guide, we'll explore several methods to sync your iPhone notes to your Mac, including using iCloud, AirDrop, Gmail, Messages, and a reliable third-party tool like Coolmuster iOS Assistant. Whether you prefer the built-in Apple services or a faster, more stable solution, you'll find syncing your notes between devices to be quick and easy with these options.

Part 1: How to Sync Notes from iPhone to Mac in One Click

If you want to transfer notes from your iPhone to your Mac without using iCloud, Coolmuster iOS Assistant is your best choice. You can sync all your notes from your iPhone to your Mac or PC with one click, or selectively transfer only what you need. There is no risk of data loss or overwriting during this sync process. Besides notes, it can also transfer and manage other iOS files, such as contacts, messages, photos, videos, and more.

What can iOS Assistant do for you?

• Transfer notes from iPhone to Mac, or sync notes from Mac to iPhone with ease.
• Support to transfer contacts, messages, videos, music, photos, calendars, etc between iPhone and PC/Mac.
• Sync data without data loss or overwriting.
• It supports one-click synchronization and selective transmission.
• Manage your iPhone data directly on your computer: edit, add, or delete.
• Supports all iOS versions and iPhone models, including the latest iOS 26 and iPhone 17.

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Here is how to transfer notes from iPhone to Mac without iCloud using iOS Assistant:

Video Tutorial:

Part 2: How to Sync iPhone Notes to Mac with iCloud

As an Apple user, iCloud is very familiar to us. It is the cloud synchronization tool provided by Apple. As long as you use the same Apple ID on both your iPhone and Mac and enable iCloud Notes sync, your notes will automatically sync between the two devices without the need for manual action.

Here is how to sync your notes from iPhone to Mac via iCloud:

Step 1. Enable iCloud Sync on iPhone.

Open "Settings", tap on your "Apple ID", and go to "iCloud". In the iCloud settings, find the "Notes" option and make sure it is turned on.

Step 2. Enable iCloud Sync on Mac.

Open "System Settings" (macOS Ventura and later) or "System Preferences" (macOS Monterey and earlier). Click on "Apple ID" > 'iCloud", then ensure the "Notes" option is turned on. Open the "Notes" app on your Mac, and your iPhone notes will automatically sync to your Mac.

Part 3. How to Send Notes from iPhone to Mac via AirDrop

If you don't want to use iCloud but still want to quickly transfer some notes to your Mac, AirDrop is a great option. It allows you to wirelessly transfer data directly between Apple devices without needing the internet or third-party software.

How do I AirDrop Notes from iPhone to Mac? Here are the steps:

Step 1. Enable AirDrop on iPhone: Open the "Control Center", long press the "Wi-Fi" option, tap "AirDrop", and select either "Everyone" or "Contacts Only". (AirDrop not working?)

Step 2. Enable AirDrop on Mac: Open Finder, select "AirDrop" from the left sidebar, and make sure "Allow me to be discovered by" is set to either "Everyone" or "Contacts Only".

Step 3. Open the Notes app, and select the note you want to transfer.

Step 4. Tap the "Share" button (the square with an arrow), then choose "AirDrop".

Step 5. Select your Mac device, and a prompt will appear on your Mac. Click "Accept" to complete the transfer.

Part 4. How to Transfer Notes from iPhone to Mac with Gmail

If you want to sync notes linked to your Google Gmail account, you can enable the sync option on both your Mac and iPhone. First, ensure that your Gmail account is connected to both your iPhone/iPad and Mac.

Here is how to sync notes between iPhone and Mac with Gmail:

Step 1. On your iPhone, go to "Settings" > "Mail" > "Accounts". Select the Gmail account you've added; if not, tap "Add Account" and choose "Google".

Step 2. Enable the "Notes" option, and your iPhone notes will sync to your Gmail account.

Step 3. Open the Notes app on your Mac and click "Notes" in the menu bar at the top left corner.

Step 4. From the drop-down menu, select "Account", then choose the "Google" option.

Step 5. Follow the prompts to enter your username and password. Then, select "Notes" from the available options.

You may also want to know: 5 Ways to Back Up Text Messages from iPhone to Gmail

Part 5. How to Sync Notes from iPhone to Mac Using Email

If you only need to send some important notes to your Mac, you can use email for the transfer. Here is how to transfer notes from iPhone to Mac free using email:

Step 1. Open the "Notes" app on your iPhone and select the note you want to send.

Step 2. Tap the "Share" button and choose "Mail".

Step 3. Enter your own email address and click send.

Step 4. On your Mac, open the email, download, and save the note.

Part 6: How to Sync iPhone Notes to Mac with Messages

If you're looking for a simple alternative, you can also transfer your iPhone notes to a Mac using the Messages app. Here's a quick guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Open the Notes app on your iPhone and select the note you want to send.

Step 2: Tap the share icon, then choose "Messages" from the options that appear.

Step 3: Pick your Mac from the list of contacts in the Messages app.

Step 4: Hit "Send" to send the note to your Mac.

Step 5: On your Mac, launch the Messages app and locate the note in your conversation thread.

Bonus: Fixes to Notes Not Syncing Between iPhone and Mac

In most cases, if you have enabled iCloud sync, your notes on your iPhone will automatically sync to your Mac. However, if the notes are not syncing properly, you can check the following factors and their corresponding solutions:

• iCloud Notes sync is not enabled: If you are syncing notes via iCloud but they are not appearing on your Mac, it could be because iCloud sync is not enabled.
• Different Apple IDs on iPhone and Mac: For iCloud sync to work, both your iPhone and Mac must be logged into the same Apple ID. If the Apple IDs are different on both devices, the notes will not sync.
• Unstable or disconnected network: iCloud sync requires a stable Wi-Fi or cellular connection. If your network is slow or disconnected, the notes may not sync to your Mac.
• Insufficient iCloud storage: iCloud offers 5GB of free storage. If your storage is full, new notes cannot sync.
• Outdated device software: If your iPhone or Mac is running an older version of iOS or macOS, it may cause iCloud functionality issues, preventing notes from syncing.
• iCloud server issues: If there are problems with iCloud servers, notes may fail to sync even if your settings are correct. You can check Apple's system status to see if there are any issues with iCloud.

The Bottom Line

On this page, you learn how to sync notes from iPhone to Mac in 6 ways. To sum up, Coolmuster iOS Assistant functions are more than any other methods mentioned above in the aspect of managing between iPhone and Mac. It efficiently exports iPhone notes to Mac without needing iCloud, ensuring data security. If you want to manage your iPhone data more conveniently, give this tool a try!

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