Deleted a note by mistake or want to restore one you thought you didn’t need any more? Find out here how to recover a deleted note in Apple Notes on Mac, iPhone and iPad ⤓.
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How to Recover a Deleted Note in Apple Notes for Mac, iPhone and iPad
Recover a Deleted Note on a Mac
Time needed: 2 minutes
To recover a note you have deleted in Apple Notes for Mac:
- Go to the folder Recently Deleted for the notes account in Apple Notes for Mac.
Here’s how: Select Recently Deleted in the folder list; If you do not see the folder list, click the Folders button in the toolbar or select View | Show Folders in the menu.
Immediate recovery: Press Command Z immediately after deleting a note to recover it just as immediately; you can also select Edit | Undo Trash Note from the menu. - Click on the note you want to recover with the right mouse button.
More than one: You can also select multiple notes, of course, and right-click on any to recover them in bulk.
- Select Move from the context menu that appears and select the folder to which you want to recover the note.
To the original folder: You can also restore the note to its original location; see below.
Their word: Apple include information on recovering deleted notes in the Mac User Guide.
Note headed for the Recently Recovered folder?
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Restore a Note to Its Original Folder on a Mac
To recover a note to its original location without choosing the folder manually:
- Find the note in the Apple Notes app’s Recently Deleted folder.
- Click in the note and start editing it.
- Select Recover in the Recently deleted notes can’t be edited. dialog.
Forgot the password to a note? What to Do If You Forgot Your Notes Password
Recover a Note on an iPhone or iPad
To restore a recently deleted note in Apple Notes for iPhone and iPad:
- Open the folder Recently Deleted in the Notes app.
Here’s how: Swipe in from the left border until you see the Folders screen, then tap Recently Deleted. - Open a note to recover it.
- Tap in the note
- Select Recover from the Recently Deleted Note dialog that has appeared.
Restore Multiple Notes on iPhone or iPad
To recover more than one note from the Apple Notes Recently Deleted folder:
- Go to the Recently Deleted folder in Notes.
- Tap Edit.
- Now tap all notes you want to restore.
- Tap Move.
- Select the folder where you want the recovered notes to appear.
How to Recover Deleted Notes (Mac and iPhone Notes): FAQ
How long can I restore a note?
Apple Notes keeps notes in the Recently Deleted folder for 30 days after it is deleted. During this time, you can recover a note.
Can I restore a note after it has been removed also from “Recently Deleted”?
No
You cannot restore notes you no longer find in the folder Recently Deleted.
Will linked notes also be recovered?
No.
Only the notes you move from Recently Deleted will be recovered. You can still open notes through links while they are in the Recently Deleted folder.
(Tested with macOS Tahoe 26.0–26.4, Sequoia 15.1–15.4 and Sonoma 14.1–14.3 as well as iOS 17.1 and 26; first published December 2023, last updated April 2026)