Is anyone else experiencing problems with their notes following the iOS 18 update? Until yesterday my notes app was working fine and I was able to use it like I’ve always done. Since yesterday on September 17, 2024, the app’s been completely unusable and you can’t click on your notes without the app freezing or crashing.
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iPhone 7, iOS 15
I had the same problem on my iPhone 11 Pro Max since yesterday when I updated to IOS 18 and the notes app appeared to be unresponsive and none of my notes would open. I had one large notes file which I desperately needed.
I tried all the solutions online and non worked. This included locking the note and applying a password. No good.
Some people suggested turning off syncing to iCloud but I never was using iCloud. I tried enabling and then disabling but that didn’t work. I tried logging out of iCloud then restarting the phone and logging back in to no avail.
I realised that even though the notes app appeared to be frozen some functionality was still working in that I was able to move the notes file to and from iCloud and between folders locally on the iPhone.
I realised that I could create a brand new test note file and this worked perfectly and would open and close and could be edited perfectly normally as long I kept away from my existing file. Having created a new file I disabled iCloud syncing and turned off 4G mobile data and clicked on my existing note and just left the app open apparently hung but after about twenty minutes it finally opened complete with all my data much to my relief.
I immediately copied all the text into an email that I sent to myself as a backup.
Problem Solved.
Notes now works fine as it did before the update. Just to be sure as I am an IT engineer I decided to delete my notes from both iPhone and iCloud and removed and reinstalled the notes app from the App Store to have a clean start recreating a new note from the data I copied out of the old file.
Everything now back to normal with no data loss but I really don’t like the new layout of IOS 18 and it’s caused a major headache with notes.
Hope that helps.
Good luck.
Puznavi wrote: "18.1.1"
Puznavi ~ Update to the current iOS 18.2:
Update your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support
About iOS 18 Updates - Apple Support
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I had the same problem when I updated to iOS 18.1.1 yesterday: my large notes froze, I couldn’t open them, the small ones still worked. I was too afraid to stop syncing to iCloud and delete all notes, But what worked for me was:
now I’m back in online mode and it still works.
Just an update to my previous post:
Unsyncing and resyncing did nothing. It made it worse because it jumbled up my notes out of their assigned folders. That was another few hours trying to sort a new mess.
Still lags and freezes every 2 seconds, making it unsuable.
Best thing to do is to report to Apple Support. I’ve just done so and shared this forum with them as so many people are affected.
The support person said they’ll pass this info and the forum link onto a specialist to look at who will contact me to discuss in a few days.
Also they said once the report from Apple Support is validated by their engineers, it’s usually included in the next ios update.
At least it’s visible to Apple Support as a few people have started reporting. Please report as that’s the only way the issue will be put to the attention of Apple.
I have the same issue, but looks like it got fixed after I recorded a call and left it in Notes. Call a number where a machine answers you. For example, your Bank’s Customer Care. Hit call record button on the top left corner of the screen. Record the call for 10 seconds and exit. The recording will remain in your Notes. Recheck its there. Close everything and re-launch the Notes app. See what happens! This fixed my issues with Notes!
iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB. iOS 18.1.1
I’ve been experiencing this exact same thing over the past month
i thought of trying the latest software update
I downloaded 18.3.1 and it resolved the issue
I changed the note name of my largest file in iCloud this solution solved the issue on my iPhone 15 using ios18
no more issues
What finally fixed it for me is- I backed up to the cloud and then I erased my phone (all but the SIM). Then I restored everything from the cloud. And now Notes is working fine again.
I have the same issue i followed some suggestions here to login to iCloud on a laptop and copy and paste the notes into emails for storage. Then delete the longest note then it’s back to normal.
I just notices how Note has degenerated on iOS 18. If I have my iPad connected to the Internet, Notes will not write tp the cloud - then write to the screen. That is like 1980s telnet. If I turn off Internet, then it is OK.
NOTE for EVERYONE. APPLE Does not pay attention to these forums. If you have a problem, call Apple Support, get a ticket, reference this list.
Otherwise the issues are never logged, never get to the product managers, never get to customer support.
I’ll get my ticket in this afternoon and share (sharing each other tickets is one way to building community support to get Apple to fix problems.).
Same. I tried all the suggestions on here and nothing worked. I took a the proverbial shot in the dark and turned off airplane mode. I shutdown my iPhone, waited for 5 minutes and restarted my iPhone. I then opened the notes app and it worked albeit a little glitchy. I then went and turned airplane mode back on and I could open my notes app (still a little glitchy but working).
I had the same issue. I should also add that I am a tech dummy. I turned my phone off for 5 mins and then turned it back on. I still had the same issue where my notes would not allow me to click on them and open then. Then I clicked on the "circle with the 3 dots" icon in the top right corner of the screen and everything started working properly with my notes again. I hope this helps!
Download 18.3.1
Tgat seemed to resolve the issue
The solution is to change the note name or file name I iCloud. Worked perfectly for my iPhone 15 iOS 18
Did you check the web version? I found that I was able to fix a lot of the problems through the web version. Mainly, renaming notes which somehow fixed things.
I had the same problem tonight when I decided to open the Notes app. There was a padlock icon on everything notes that I had, and it made it impossible to edit or write anything. I solved it by clicking on the unlock/lock that shows up on the menu at the upper right hamburger bar.
iPhone 14 pro updated to ios18
Notes app is crashing after iOS 18 update on my iPhone
