iOS 4: Syncing Notes

Summary

Using iOS 4 or later, you can sync Notes over the air using MobileMe or an IMAP email account. This article explains certain sync behaviors and shows how to enable Notes syncing.

Products Affected

iPad, iPhone, iPod touch

To sync Notes over the air you need one of the following devices with iOS 4 installed:

  • iPhone 3GS or later
  • iPod touch (3rd generation or later)
  • iPad (all models)

 Note: Over-the-air Notes syncing is not supported on iPhone 3G or iPod touch (2nd generation). You can sync notes over a USB connection using iTunes.

To sync Notes, enable it for each MobileMe or IMAP account:

  1. Tap Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars.
  2. Select a MobileMe or IMAP account.
  3. Slide to turn on Notes syncing.

Note: If you are using MobileMe and you were previously syncing Notes with iTunes, MobileMe Notes syncing is automatically enabled. This can result in duplicate notes. See below for more information.

Additional Information

Tips when syncing notes

  • When you enable Notes sync for an email account, the Notes folder will no longer appear as a mailbox in the Mail application. To create or view notes, use the Notes application instead.
  • If notes are not syncing as expected, check to ensure that the feature is enabled for that account in Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Mail Account.

Duplicate notes

Syncing Notes both over the air and with iTunes can result in duplicate notes appearing in the Notes application. Use the following steps to resolve the issue:

  1. Connect your device and select it in iTunes.
  2. Click the Info pane and deselect the option to Sync Notes.
  3. When prompted, select Delete Notes to remove the duplicates from the device.

If you want to sync notes with iTunes instead of using the over-the-air feature, disable Notes sync for the account using Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Mail Account.

Unable to sync notes with Outlook

If notes are not syncing from Outlook, verify that you do not have any notes with no content or subject in Outlook. These notes can prevent Outlook from syncing as expected; removing them or adding a subject should allow syncing to resume.

Unable to sync notes with Mac OS X v10.5 Mail

If you are unable to sync Notes to your iOS 4 device when using Mac OS X v10.5 Mail, verify that your mail account is not configured to store Notes in your inbox. Use the following steps to ensure this setting is disabled:

  1. On your Mac, open Mail and select Mail > Preferences.
  2. Click Accounts and select your email account.
  3. Click Mailbox Behaviors and uncheck "Store notes in Inbox".

Uncheck "Store notes in Inbox"

Note: This does not affect Mac OS X v10.6 or later.

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