Error importing md files with attachments from bear

Support
1

Operating system

macOS

Joplin version

3.6.14

Desktop version info

Joplin 3.6.14 (prod, darwin)

Device: darwin, Apple M2
Client ID: b8e7a65bcbce4a99916d88304feb6531
Sync Version: 3
Profile Version: 49
Keychain Supported: Yes
Alternative instance ID: -
Sync target: File system
Editor: Rich Text

Revision: 7e2765a

Advanced Tagging Rules: 1.4.0
Backup: 1.5.1
Combine notes: 1.2.3
Conflict Resolution: 1.2.3
Easy Backlinks: 1.3.1
Freehand Drawing: 4.3.0
Hotfolder: 1.2.3
Inline tags: 1.3.0
Inline TODO: 2.0.5
Joplin DDDot: 0.4.4
Journal: 2.0.0
KanMug: 1.2.7
Menu items, Shortcuts, Toolbar icons: 1.1.0
New Note To Default Folder: 1.1.2
Note list and sidebar toggle buttons: 1.0.3
Rich Markdown: 0.17.1
YesYouKan: 1.1.3

Sync target

File system

What issue do you have?

I am trying to move over to Joplin after using Bear and Joplin for some time. I export Bear notes with attachments (mostly pdfs) but when I import them into Joplin some of them work perfectly fine and some of them the attachment says it's an unsupported link. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to which ones work and which ones don't.

Any help is appreciated!

Screenshots

Screenshot 2026-06-08 at 4.30.59 PM.png
Screenshot 2026-06-08 at 4.30.59 PM.png614×512 39.5 KB

2

Do you have an example of note that can't be imported?

3

Yes, but I'm unsure how you want me to share that? It's just the embedded pdf that won't work. I did notice that the links seem to be different. I use mostly the rtf editor. So a link that works looks like this:

:/070dbe7ea92144b5b602a3cb82fe069d

And one that doesn't work looks like this:

2025-07-26T01:29:08Z/2023.07.21-11.02%20Minutes.pdf

However I have no idea why they import differently. They exported from bear together.

On both of these links I have link text but I am just showing the underlying link. (At least that's what I'm trying to do)

4

Just in case someone is interested...I figured out what is going on.

When you import an attachment to Bear it can make a "soft title" by which I mean the title shows up in the note list, but the note doesn't actually have a title at the top of the note. These notes are the notes that when exported as .md files they do not import correctly to Joplin. The embedded attachment is unsupported. If you simply add a title to the Bear note before exporting then it works fine.