As someone who uses the Notes app in all my Apple devices, I can imagine how scary it might be to suddenly lose access to all my notes. This actually happened to me a few beta versions of macOS ago. I temporarily lost all of my Notes app content on my Mac, so I know that feeling of panic that follows a discovery like this.

Apparently there is currently a bug of this type on the iPhone. Some people have found that Notes app notes disappear after upgrading to iOS 18. The bug does not seem to be fixed and may occur even in the latest iOS 18.2 beta. Fortunately, there is a simple solution since the iPhone did not delete any content in the Notes app.

The bug appears to occur after accepting the new iCloud terms of service on the iPhone. The Notes app will then briefly disconnect from iCloud, where most or all of your notes are likely stored. The result is an app that shows no ratings, as if it had been deleted.

By writing For 9to5MacBenjamin Mayo says he discovered the bug on his iPhone running a beta version of iOS 18.2. The bug appeared shortly after he agreed to iCloud’s new terms, although he didn’t initially realize the connection between the two events.

Mayo says the bug appears to be widespread, affecting iPhones running different versions of iOS 18. I’m also using the latest iOS 18.2 beta on my iPhone 16 Plus, although I haven’t had this issue on my iPhone. I’ve been using the beta versions of iOS 18 since Apple first made them available earlier this summer, and I’ve never lost access to my Notes.

The solution is very simple. It’s not as simple as quitting the app and restarting it, but it’s close. Simply re-enable Notes sync from the iCloud section of the Settings app:

• Go to Settings application
• Faucet Your name
• Faucet iCloud
• Faucet Remarks
• Wait for it Sync this iPhone toggle to appear and make sure it’s enabled (image above)

Wait a few minutes, then reopen the Notes app. All your content should be back. Obviously, if it didn’t work the first time you tried, you should try again. The Notes bug should eventually be fixed.

From the looks of it, this must be some sort of iCloud issue that Apple will likely fix in a future version of iOS 18.