Notes are one of the most used applications on an iPhone. You can jot down quick ideas, create to-do lists, save important information for future reference, etc. However, sometimes you may accidentally delete an important note. Losing an important note can be frustrating, but thankfully, there are ways to retrieve it. In this blog post, we will discuss how to retrieve a deleted note on an iPhone.
Video Tutorial:
Why You Need to Retrieve A Deleted Note on iPhone
There are many reasons why retrieving a deleted note on an iPhone is important. Most importantly, notes may contain important information like passwords, phone numbers, etc. Losing that information can be a hassle. Furthermore, notes may contain important ideas that you may not be able to remember later. Thus, it is important to retrieve deleted notes to avoid any inconvenience.
Method 1: Restoring Deleted Notes via iCloud
If you have synced your iPhone with iCloud, you can easily restore the deleted notes from iCloud backup. Here’s how you can restore deleted notes via iCloud.
- Go to Settings on your iPhone and tap on your name at the top.
- Select iCloud and then turn on the switch for Notes.
- Next, go to iCloud.com and login to your account using your Apple ID.
- Click on the Notes icon to access your notes.
- Click on the Recently Deleted folder and select the note you want to recover.
- Click on Recover at the bottom right corner and the deleted note will be back in your notes app on your iPhone.
Pros:
- Free and easy to access if you have an iCloud account.
- You can restore your deleted notes from anywhere without using a computer.
Cons:
- It only works if you have synced your iPhone with iCloud.
- Overwriting data from newer backups may cause loss of data.
Method 2: Retrieve Deleted Notes via iTunes Backup
Another way to retrieve a deleted note is by using iTunes backup. If you have backed up your iPhone to iTunes before, you can retrieve the deleted note from that backup. Here’s how to do it.
- Connect your iPhone to your computer and open iTunes.
- Click on the iPhone icon when it appears on iTunes.
- Select Restore Backup under the Backups section.
- Select the backup file that contains your deleted note.
- Click Restore and wait for the backup to finish.
Pros:
- It’s a good way to backup and restore your iPhone data.
- You can restore your data from anywhere with a computer.
Cons:
- It only works if you have backed up your iPhone to iTunes.
- There may be a version difference between the backup and device.
Method 3: Using a Third-Party Tool to Retrieve Deleted Notes
If you don’t have an iCloud or iTunes backup, don’t worry. You can use a third-party tool to recover your deleted notes. These tools scan your iPhone and recover the deleted notes. One good tool is Dr.Fone – Data Recovery (iOS). Here’s how to recover deleted notes using the software.
- Download and install Dr.Fone – Data Recovery (iOS) on your computer.
- Connect your iPhone to the computer and launch the software.
- Click on Recover and select Recover from iOS Device.
- Select Notes and click on Start Scan.
- Select the deleted notes you want to recover and click on Recover to Device or Recover to Computer.
Pros:
- Can recover data even if you don’t have a backup.
- You can recover selected data only.
Cons:
- It may not be 100% accurate in data recovery.
- Some programs may be expensive.
What to Do If You Can’t Retrieve A Deleted Note
If you can’t retrieve a deleted note using the above methods, don’t lose hope. Try the following fixes to retrieve your deleted note:
- Check the Recently Deleted folder in the Notes app in case the note is recoverable there.
- Check if the deleted note is available in another synced device such as iPad or MacBook.
- Check if the deleted note is stored in an external app like Google Keep, OneNote, etc.
- If you are using third-party cloud storage like Dropbox, OneDrive, etc., check if the deleted note is available in those platforms.
Bonus Tip: Use Good Backup Practice
The best way to avoid losing important notes is to backup your iPhone regularly. Make sure to enable iCloud backup and backup your iPhone to iTunes regularly. That way, if you lose any data, you can easily retrieve it from a backup.
FAQs
Q1: Can I recover a note I deleted months ago?
A: It depends on whether you have a backup or not. If you have a backup, you can recover deleted notes from a previous backup. If you don’t have a backup, it’s less likely to retrieve the deleted note since the data may have already been overwritten.
Q2: How do I access my iCloud backup?
A: To access your iCloud backup, go to Settings > Your Name > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups > Select the device you want to restore > Select a backup.
Q3: Can I restore a single note from an iTunes backup?
A: Unfortunately, you can’t restore a single note from an iTunes backup. You have to restore the entire backup to get back the deleted note.
Q4: Will using third-party tools to recover deleted notes harm my device?
A: If you use a reputable tool, it will not harm your device. Nevertheless, it is always a good practice to backup your data before using any third-party tools.
Q5: Can a deleted note be permanently deleted?
A: Yes, a deleted note can be permanently deleted if it is not recoverable from the Recently Deleted folder, backups, synced devices, or external apps, and it has been removed from the Trash Folder after 30 days.
Final Thoughts
Retrieving a deleted note can be a bit tricky, but hopefully, this guide has shown you some of the ways you can retrieve deleted notes on your iPhone. Always remember to back up your device regularly and use good backup practices to avoid losing important data in the future.
