Fix Notes Not Syncing between iPhone and iPad in iOS 16/17

Problem:  Notes Not Syncing between iPhone and iPad

Are you experiencing the same problem as this user? Notes not syncing between iPhone and iPad after iOS update and you can't find any way to fix or troubleshoot this problem. Well, don’t worry too much, this is a common issue that happens from time to time. Here in this guide, we will tell you why notes not syncing between iPhone and iPad and how to solve this problem.

Why Notes Not Syncing between iPhone and iPad?

Here are some possible causes of the “notes not syncing between iPhone and iPad” issue.

Problems with Apple services. There may be a problem with the notes service or it is under routine maintenance.
Problems caused by iOS 16 update. Software updates may change some settings so that notes cannot be synced.
Software glitch. A minor glitch on iPhone/iPad may lead to the notes not syncing issue.

How to Fix Notes Not Syncing between iPhone and iPad

Here are some solutions that can help you fix the notes note syncing between iPhone and iPad issue in iOS 17/16/15/14. You can try these methods one after another until the problem is solved.

Tip 1. Check Apple System Status Page

First of all, you can go to Apple System Status page to check if there are interruptions of iCloud Notes.

• If it is green, it means that the server is working well, please move on to the next solution.
• If it is not green, it means that there is something wrong with iCloud Notes and you should be patient and wait for Apple to solve it. In this case, there is no need to continue with other methods to troubleshoot the problem.

Tip 2. Check Your Accounts

Make sure that you are using the same Apple ID on both iPhone and iPad. If it is correct, you can tap Sign Out to remove iCloud account from device and then sign in after a few seconds.

In addition, if you have logged in to any mail account and have enabled notes sync, you may turn off the sync to force the iCloud notes to sync correctly. For example, go to Settings > Notes > Accounts > Gmail > Turn off Notes.

Tip 3. Check Basic Settings

As mentioned before, settings may change after software updates. Go to check if all settings are correct.

• Go to Settings > your account > iCloud and make sure Notes is enabled. If it’s already on, you can disable Notes and then turn it on again on both iPhone and iPad.
• Go to Settings > Notes > Default Account and choose iCloud.

Tip 4. Force Restart iPhone and iPad

Sometimes, a force restart may help fix system glitches that caused the notes not syncing between iPhone and iPad problem.

How to Force Restart iPhone:

• iPhone 8 or later: Press the volume+ button and then quickly release. Press the volume- button and then quickly release. Press the side button for seconds until you see the logo of Apple.
• iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus: Press both the power button and volume- button for seconds until you see the logo of Apple.
• iPhone 6s or earlier: Press both the Power button and the Home button for seconds until you see the logo of Apple.

How to Force Restart iPad:

• iPad models with Face ID or with Touch ID in the top button: Press and quickly release the volume button nearest to the top button > Press and quickly release another volume button > Press and hold the top button until the Apple logo appears.
• iPad models with Home button: Press and hold the top button and Home button at the same time until you see the Apple logo.

Tip 5. Refresh Internet Connection

iCloud sync requires a stable internet connection. You can turn off/on Wi-Fi or turn off/on Airplane Mode to refresh the Internet. In addition, you can go to Settings > General > Reset (Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset in iOS 16 and later) to Reset Network Settings.

A Quick Way to Transfer Notes between iPhone and iPad

When notes not syncing between iPhone and iPad, we can choose AirDrop notes. However, it only allows you to AirDrop one note at a time. It will be a time-consuming job if you want to transfer multiple notes.

To transfer multiple or all notes quickly, you can use FoneTool. It’s one AirDrop-like app that can help you easily share notes, photos, videos, contacts and other local data between iPhone and iPad. You can scan the QR code below or go to App Store to get MBackupper.

Here are the steps to transfer notes from iPhone to iPad.

Step 1. Save notes to Files app on iPhone

Go to the Notes app > Choose the notes you'd like to transfer > Tap the three-dot icon > Tap Send a Copy > Tap Send to Files and choose a folder to save your notes. 

Step 2. Connect iPhone and iPad

Open FoneTool on iPhone and iPad > Allow the tool to use the WLAN & access files on the device > Go to Connect Device and tap the avatar on either device to establish a connection.

Step 3. Send notes from iPhone

Go to File Transfer > Tap Files > Tap the Plus icon to find and choose your notes > Tap Send to start.

You can go to the Transfer List to check the progress of receiving and sending.

By the way, FoneTool also has a desktop version. It allows you to back iPhone to iPad, you can choose to selectively back up or full back up your iPhone data. You can click the button to download and install it on your computer.

Also, if you have used iCloud to back up your iOS devices before, FoneTool can also help you manage your iCloud and iCloud drive backups easily. 

Final Words

When notes not syncing between iPhone and iPad, you can try methods in this guide to troubleshoot the problem. If nothing works, you can use AirDrop or FoneTool to help you transfer notes first and then contact Apple support for help when you have time.