Where Are Apple Notes Stored on Mac?
Apple Notes NoteStore.sqlite database location on Mac, and why iPhone notes have no file path.
Last updated
On Mac, Apple Notes lives in a NoteStore.sqlite database inside the group.com.apple.notes container, with attachments in sibling folders. Older macOS used different Containers paths, so vintage guides disagree.
Read copies, never the live database. Notes syncs constantly, and locking or half copied SQLite files read as corrupt.
Where Apple Notes stores this, by platform
~/Library/Group Containers/group.com.apple.notes/NoteStore.sqlite
Attachments under Accounts and other siblings in the same container. Exact layout may vary by macOS version. iPhone notes have no browsable path; export or sync through iCloud instead.
Frequently asked questions
How do I back up Apple Notes properly?
Use Time Machine or export notes individually. Copying the live container by hand while Notes runs risks a split database.
Where are On My Mac versus iCloud notes?
Both live in the same container database under different accounts. The app separates them; the folder does not.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.