How to sync Notes for iPhone and iPad

All of us have been in this situation — you need to quickly jot something down, but don't have a notepad or pen with you, just your phone. Thankfully, the best iPhone and best iPad come with a convenient Notes app in iOS 14, allowing you to keep snippets of text, sketches, notes, lists, and more, and all of this can be kept across all iPhones, iPads, and Macs linked to you. Thankfully, you're not out of luck if you don't use iCloud, either. While syncing is limited to text notes, users of services like Gmail and Exchange can still keep their notes up-to-date across multiple devices if they wish.

Here's everything you need to know about how to sync Notes for iPhone and iPad.

How to sync notes for iPhone: How to turn on Notes sync with iCloud

This option offers the most versatility in the types of notes you can create and the formatting options at your disposal.

1. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.

2. Tap on the Apple ID banner.

   Source: iMore

3. Tap iCloud.
4. Sign into iCloud if you haven't already done so.

5. Tap the toggle to ON (green) for Notes syncing in the iCloud services list.

   Source: iMore

If you're just looking to sync notes between an iPhone and iPad, you just need to use these steps on both devices. Just remember that you'll also need to set up Notes syncing on your Mac as well.

• How to sync Notes for Mac

How to sync notes for iPhone: How to turn on Notes sync for Gmail or Exchange

If you only use basic text notes and aren't a heavy iCloud user, syncing through an email service like Gmail or Exchange might be a good option for you.

1. Launch Settings on your iPhone or iPad.

2. Scroll down and tap Notes.

   Source: iMore

3. Tap Accounts.
4. Tap the account that you'd like to use to sync notes.

5. Tap the toggle to green so that it is enabled.

   Source: iMore

If you do not already have your Gmail or Exchange account added, you'll need to add it first before the steps above will work, or you can just tap on Add Account in the Notes' Accounts section. The steps to add the account will be the same as if you are setting up an email account.

How to set up mail on iPhone and iPad including contacts and calendars

Remember that to sync between Macs and iOS devices, you'll need to sign in to the same email accounts on every device and enable notes sync on those devices as well.

How to sync notes for iPhone: How to switch between accounts in Notes for iPhone and iPad

If you've got multiple accounts set up in Notes, switching between them is actually pretty easy.

1. Open Notes on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap the Folders button at the top left of the screen to get back to your Folders.

3. Tap Notes under the account you want to use.

   Source: iMore

Questions about syncing Notes on iPhone?

That's all there is to it when it comes to how to sync notes for iPhone. If you have any more questions about Notes on iPhone, don't forget to check out our Notes App Ultimate Guide. If you still have questions about syncing specifically, drop them in the comments below.

January 2021: Updated for iOS 14.