8 Ways to Fix the Notes App Not Working on Mac

Not long after updating to macOS Sonoma and macOS Sequoia, many users reported that the Notes app stopped working on their Macs. Even after trying to reopen it or troubleshoot with support, Notes still didn’t function properly. This can be a frustrating issue, especially for those who rely on the Notes app to record important information, organize tasks, or manage meeting notes.

If you encountered the same issue when using Notes on your Mac, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we will explain why your Notes app is not opening or is unresponsive on Mac. Despite following the basic steps, such as restarting the app, you can also try several other solutions to regain control over the Notes app on your Mac.

Why Is My Notes App Not Working on My Mac?

It’s frustrating to discover that the Notes app still doesn't work after working through basic solutions provided by Apple Support. The causes for this problem are diverse, ranging from bugs in macOS versions to iCloud syncing errors. To restore the function of the Notes app, you should understand the potential causes of the Notes app not working on your Mac.

• The Notes app’s configuration or preferences files have become corrupted.
• Corrupted local data can cause the Notes app to crash.
• Your Mac may run out of RAM.
• Bugs in macOS cause the Notes issue.
• Other apps you have open and running might be conflicting with it.
• Insufficient storage space can also cause the Notes app to crash.
• The Notes app may be restricted in its permission to access some data.
• iCloud syncing issues can also lead the Notes app to crash or not even open.

How to Force Quit Notes on Mac

If the Notes app has become unresponsive or isn’t functioning correctly, use the following methods to force quit and restart it. However, before force-quitting the Notes app, you should be aware that force-quitting an app may result in data loss.

Force Quit Notes via the Keyboard Shortcut

1. Press Command (⌘) + Option (⌥) + Esc simultaneously.
2. Locate the Force Quit Applications window.
3. Select Notes from the list of running applications.
4. Click the Force Quit button.

Force Quit Notes via the Dock

1. Locate the Notes app icon in the Dock.
2. Right-click on the Notes app icon.
3. Select Force Quit from the context menu.

Force Quit Notes via the Apple Menu

1. Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen.
2. Select Force Quit.
3. This will open the Force Quit Applications window.
4. Select Notes from the list of running applications.
5. Click the Force Quit button.

Force Quit Notes Using Terminal

1. Open Terminal by navigating to Applications, Utilities, and Terminal.
2. Type the command - pkill Notes, and press Return.
3. This command will force quit the Notes app.

How to Fix the Notes App Not Working or Responding Issue on Mac

If the Notes app consistently crashes or becomes unresponsive, follow the solutions below to resolve the problem.

Restart Your Mac

If your Notes app doesn’t open with a single click, perform a restart on your Mac. When an app becomes unresponsive, it might be due to a software glitch or conflict with other processes running in the background. The restarting process can exactly clear temporary files and reset system resources. To restart your Mac, you can

1. Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen.
2. Select the Restart button from the menu.
3. Click the Restart button to initiate the process.

You can also press Command (⌘), Control (⌃), and the power button at the same time. This will bring up a dialog box asking you to restart your Mac.

Check Free Space on Your Mac

Additionally, the app may misbehave if your Mac doesn’t have enough storage space. When your Mac runs low on available storage, it can lead to performance issues, such as apps becoming slow or unresponsive. Like other apps, the Notes app also requires some free space to function properly. Without enough room for temporary files and data processing, the Notes app may fail to work correctly on your Mac.

To check and free up storage space on your Mac, you can use BuhoCleaner. As one of the best Mac cleaners in 2025, it can also delete cached files, clear DMG files, uninstall unwanted apps, and delete other large files. By getting more internal space, you can restore the Notes app to the way it should work.

Step 1. Free download and install BuhoCleaner on your Mac.

Step 2. View your Mac’s performance and condition under the menu bar monitor.

Step 3. On the main interface, click on the Flash Clean mode from the left panel. Choose the files you want to delete.

Sign Out and Back into iCloud for Notes

You may also face the Note app not working issue when there is a syncing issue with your iCloud account. If you sync notes to iCloud, you can try to fix the problem by signing out and back into iCloud. This allows the app to reset its connection with iCloud, eliminating the glitches or issues with the iCloud syncing process. By signing out and then signing back in, you effectively make the Notes app establish a new connection with iCloud and resolve the Notes not working issue.

1. Click on the Apple menu on the home screen and select System Settings.
2. Click your Apple ID in the sidebar and tap on iCloud.
3. Locate the Notes icon and toggle it off, and click the Turn Off button to proceed.

Before resyncing with iCloud, you can also delete the Notes data on your Mac.

1. After disabling iCloud syncing for Notes, force quit the Notes app.
2. Open Finder and press Command + Shift + G.
3. Enter the path ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.Notes and copy and paste your current notes.
4. After backing up the Notes data, delete all the folders and files in the com.apple.Notes folder.
5. Open Finder again and go to: ~/Library/Group Containers/group.com.apple.notes
6. Back up the content and delete all files.

Now, you can resync the Notes app to iCloud.

1. Restart your Mac.
2. Navigate to System Settings, Apple ID, your name, and iCloud
3. Check the Notes box to enable the syncs.

Update Your macOS

If you fail to resolve the Notes app not working on Mac via the mentioned methods, you can go to update your macOS. Software updates usually contain bug fixes, performance updates, and security fixes. These updates fix specific issues, like the Notes app not working. Here's how to update your macOS:

1. Tap on the Apple menu and select the System Settings option.
2. In System Settings, click on General and Software Update.
3. Let the system automatically check for updates.
4. If an update is available, click the Update Now or Upgrade Now button to initiate the process.
5. Restart your Mac after installing the update.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are several ways to resolve the Notes app not working issue on your Mac. If you occasionally encounter this problem, you can force quit the Notes app or restart your computer. However, if your Notes app frequently freezes or crashes, check the available storage space or resync your notes to iCloud. To keep your Notes app running smoothly, always ensure that your macOS is up to date.