How to Transfer On My iPhone Notes to a New iPhone
To transfer “On My iPhone” notes to a new iPhone, move the notes into an iCloud folder before switching devices. After iCloud Notes sync finishes, sign in to the same Apple Account on the new iPhone and enable Notes under iCloud settings. Local notes not in iCloud will not appear automatically.
Steps
- Enable iCloud Notes on the old iPhone. Open Settings > Apple Account > iCloud > Notes, then turn on Sync this iPhone.
- Move local notes to iCloud. Open the Notes app, select Folders, open On My iPhone, tap Edit, select the required notes, choose Move, and select an iCloud folder.
- Wait for synchronization. Keep the old iPhone connected to Wi-Fi and power until the notes appear inside the selected iCloud folder.
- Set up the new iPhone. Sign in with the same Apple Account, open Settings > Apple Account > iCloud > Notes, and enable Sync this iPhone.
- Confirm the transfer. Open the Notes app on the new iPhone and check the iCloud folder. Notes may take several minutes to download.
Common Issues and Fixes
- Local notes do not appear: Notes remain under On My iPhone instead of iCloud. Move each note or folder into an iCloud folder before changing devices.
- iCloud Notes is unavailable: iCloud syncing is disabled or the wrong Apple Account is active. Check the Apple Account and enable Notes synchronization.
- Only some notes transferred: Selected notes may belong to Gmail, Outlook, or another account. Enable the matching account under Settings > Apps > Notes > Notes Accounts.
- Notes remain missing after setup: Synchronization may be incomplete. Connect the new iPhone to Wi-Fi, keep Notes open, and allow additional time.
- Recently deleted notes are missing: Deleted notes remain recoverable only for a limited period. Check Recently Deleted on the old iPhone or iCloud account.
Quick Tips
- Create a dedicated iCloud folder before moving notes to simplify verification.
- Notes containing attachments, scans, or large drawings may require longer synchronization.
- An iCloud backup alone does not guarantee visibility when local notes are not moved to iCloud.
- Avoid deleting notes from the old iPhone until every required note appears on the new iPhone.
Related Questions
How can local notes not in iCloud be transferred?
Move local notes from On My iPhone into an iCloud folder, then enable iCloud Notes on the new iPhone. Notes stored only locally require manual relocation or a full device restoration.
Can iPhone notes be moved to iCloud without losing folders?
Yes. Use the Move command in the Notes app and select an iCloud folder. Folder structures may need manual recreation when notes are stored across multiple accounts.
💡Protip:
For a larger iPhone-to-iPhone transfer involving notes and other device data, MobileTrans can provide an alternative transfer workflow alongside iCloud synchronization.
