# Migration from Apple Notes

**URL:** <https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/migration-from-apple-notes/22362>\
**Category:** Lounge\
**Created:** [13 December 2021 14:20 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/migration-from-apple-notes/22362 "2021-12-13T14:20:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![graphit0](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/graphit0/32/3435_2.png) [@graphit0](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/graphit0)\
**Post date:** [13 December 2021 14:20 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/migration-from-apple-notes/22362/1 "2021-12-13T14:20:47Z")

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> **Origin of the thread**
>
> This is a somewhat haphazard continuation of the topic started at this support thread [New to Joplin - import question](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/new-to-joplin-import-question/22349)
> 
> As the migration was successful, I thought maybe it is derailed enough to start a new thread.

There are not many tools to migrate from Apple Notes yet the migration itself is rarely discussed. Turns out there are few exporters able to do it.

## Easy

> [@New to Joplin - import question](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/new-to-joplin-import-question/22349/6):
>
> [‎Exporter on the Mac App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/exporter/id1099120373?mt=12)

## Intermediate

> [@Apple notes liberator](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/apple-notes-liberator/30199):
>
> Just found this tool that might be another option for people to get their data out of apple notes.

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### Apple ID

UPD: I got my hands on an apple device and in the end couldn't find the export option from Apple ID suggested by the following comment

A random comment ([credit to Adam Shand](https://mjtsai.com/blog/2018/08/10/exporting-apple-notes-to-markdown/#comment-3207623)) claiming that now notes can be exported directly from Apple ID. Is it true? can anyone confirm this?

> I'm trying to figure out how to get Notes off my Mac and into an open source, Linux (probably Markdown) based solution.  
> If anyone else stumbles across this page looking for a solution you can now download all your notes, and all their attachments, directly from: [https://appleid.apple.com/](https://appleid.apple.com/)

## Hard

> **[GitHub - KrauseFx/notes-exporter: Because GPDR exists for a reason, oh hi Apple](https://github.com/KrauseFx/notes-exporter)**
>
> Because GPDR exists for a reason, oh hi Apple

Another similar but somewhat abandoned open source exporter. Unfortunately, I don't have any Apple device, so I cannot test if it still works. So, if someone could help me out, that would be great.

* * *

> **[GitHub - activescott/apple-notes-export](https://github.com/activescott/apple-notes-export)**
>
> Contribute to activescott/apple-notes-export development by creating an account on GitHub.

Another recent but less documented exporter

* * *

Keywords: export, iCloud, iOS, iPhone, iPad

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**Author:** ![Daeraxa](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/daeraxa/32/6172_2.png) [@Daeraxa](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/Daeraxa)\
**Post date:** [13 December 2021 14:43 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/migration-from-apple-notes/22362/2 "2021-12-13T14:43:26Z")

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Personally I would be in favour of removing specific details from the readme altogether (with just a generic line saying that if the app can export to a markdown directory or enex then it can be imported with no issues) then for specific notebook formats it should link to a forum wiki post that can be as detailed as it wants for each category rather than the concise instructions to avoid making the readme unwieldy.

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**Author:** ![graphit0](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/graphit0/32/3435_2.png) [@graphit0](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/graphit0)\
**Post date:** [13 December 2021 14:48 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/migration-from-apple-notes/22362/3 "2021-12-13T14:48:55Z")

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From the perspective of tidiness, I agree 100% yet I worry about search engine optimizations and how people are going to discover that Joplin actually supports migration from X app.

That stems from me being not sure if search engines could attribute guide of a migration to the [joplinapp.org](http://joplinapp.org) if it's hosted on [discourse.joplinapp.org](http://discourse.joplinapp.org). Although, if they could, that's would be neat.

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**Author:** ![Wimvan](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/wimvan/32/12536_2.png) [@Wimvan](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/Wimvan)\
**Post date:** [18 December 2021 06:55 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/migration-from-apple-notes/22362/4 "2021-12-18T06:55:39Z")

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I recently discovered, that on a mobile device (iPad, iPhone) you can convert apple notes into rich text easy on the device itself. You can then export the files as you are used to on iOS:

Simply open the notes and files app side by side on the iPad and select all to be copied (2 fingers) with dragndrop into the desired directory - voila .rtfd saved. You can use the share button to export the new rich text files.