Question
"I accidentally deleted notes on my iPhone, but I cannot find a Recently Deleted folder. How can I recover a deleted note on my iPhone, and why is the folder missing?"

If you are wondering how to recover deleted notes on iPhone, start by checking every Notes account, not just the folder currently open. For iCloud notes, open Notes, return to the Folders screen, and look for Recently Deleted. Apple says this folder appears only when it contains recently deleted notes. Notes synced with Gmail or Yahoo may instead be in that account's Trash folder in the Mail app. This guide explains each option, including search, shared notes, backups, and D-Back, so you can choose the method that fits where your note was stored.

Video Guide: How to Recover Deleted Notes on iPhone

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Part 1: Check the Correct Notes Account

A missing Recently Deleted folder does not necessarily mean your note is gone. In the current Notes app, the folder appears only after you delete a note from an account that supports it, and only while deleted notes remain there. Apple says iCloud notes stay in Recently Deleted for up to 30 days before they are permanently removed. Open Notes and tap the back arrow until you reach the Folders screen. Check the iCloud, On My iPhone, and email-account sections separately.

If your notes sync with Gmail, Yahoo, or another email service, Apple advises checking that account's Trash folder in the Mail app. A deleted note from a third-party account may be moved there instead of appearing in the Notes app's Recently Deleted folder. To restore it, open the note in Mail and copy its contents into a new note.

How to Find Missing or Deleted Notes on iPhone

Before using a backup or recovery tool, work through this checklist:

  • Open Notes, return to the Folders screen, and check Recently Deleted under each available account.
  • Use the Notes search bar, select All Accounts, and search for a distinctive word, phrase, or title from the missing note.
  • Go to Settings > Apps > Notes > Notes Accounts, open each account, and confirm that Notes is turned on.
  • Check every Notes folder manually. Search can find only the title of a locked note, so review locked notes separately if needed.
  • For Gmail or Yahoo notes, check the corresponding account's Trash folder in the Mail app.

The iCloud Photo Library is an ideal solution to sync photos

Part 2: Recover a Shared Note

If the missing note was shared with you by someone else, deleting it removes it from your Notes list but does not delete the owner's original note. It will not appear in your Recently Deleted folder.

Open the original sharing link if you still have it. If the link is unavailable or no longer works, ask the owner to share the note with you again. Only the owner can restore access to the original shared note.

Notes that Someone Shared With You won't go to recently deleted folder

Part 3: How to Recover Deleted Notes on iPhone

If the note is not in Recently Deleted, search, an email Trash folder, or a shared link, your remaining options depend on whether a suitable backup exists. iMyFone D-Back can scan an iPhone for recoverable data and can preview and selectively extract notes from supported iTunes or iCloud backups. It can also attempt to recover deleted notes without a backup. Recovery is not guaranteed: results depend on the device, the available data, and whether deleted information has been overwritten.

Before you start, download and install D-Back on a compatible computer. Avoid creating unnecessary new data on the iPhone until you have checked your recovery options.

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Scenario 1: Recover Notes Without a Backup

If you do not have a backup, D-Back can scan the connected iPhone and show any notes it identifies as recoverable.

  • Step 1: Launch D-Back, choose "iOS Data Recovery," connect the iPhone, and click "Next." Select "Notes" as the file type, then start the scan.
  • Step 2: Keep the iPhone connected to the computer while D-Back scans the device.
  • Step 3: Preview the results, select the notes you need, and click "Recover" to save the available data to your computer. If a note does not appear in the results, the tool cannot recover it through this scan.

If You Don't Have Any Backup

Scenario 2: Extract Notes From an iTunes Backup

If your computer has an iTunes backup created before the note disappeared, D-Back can scan that backup and let you preview notes without first restoring the entire backup to your iPhone.

  • Step 1: Open D-Back, select "Recover from iTunes Backup," and choose the relevant backup from the list.
  • Step 2: Select "Notes" as the data type and click "Scan."
  • Step 3: Preview the notes found in the backup, select the ones you need, and click "Recover" to save them to your computer.

If You Have a Backup of the Notes in iTunes

Scenario 3: Extract Notes From an iCloud Backup

If an iCloud backup from before the deletion contains the note, D-Back can analyze a supported backup and display available notes for selective recovery. The backup must actually contain the missing note.

  • Step 1: In D-Back, select "Recover from iCloud Backup," sign in when prompted, and choose the relevant backup.
  • Step 2: Select "Notes" as the data type and allow the program to analyze the backup.
  • Step 3: Preview the notes found, select the ones you want, and click "Recover" to save them to your computer.

If You Have Backed Up Your Note via iCloud

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Part 4: Contact Apple for Help

Contact Apple Support if Notes is enabled for the correct account but your synced notes are still missing across devices. Before contacting support, update your devices, note which account stored the missing note, and complete the account, folder, Trash, and search checks above. Apple can help troubleshoot account or sync issues, but permanently deleted notes that are absent from Recently Deleted and all available backups may not be recoverable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How can I recover a deleted note on iPhone from Recently Deleted?

Open Notes and tap the back arrow until you see the Folders list. Tap Recently Deleted, tap Edit, select the note, tap Move, and choose a destination folder. Apple states that the folder appears only if you have recently deleted notes.

Q2. Why can't I see the Recently Deleted folder in Notes?

The folder may be missing because it is empty, the note was deleted too long ago, or the note belongs to Gmail, Yahoo, or another service that handles deleted notes through its own Trash folder. You may also be viewing the wrong Notes account. Return to the Folders screen and check every account.

Q3. How do I recover notes on iPhone without a Recently Deleted folder?

First search All Accounts, check every Notes folder, confirm Notes is enabled for each account, and look in the Mail app's Trash folder for third-party accounts. Ask the owner to reshare a shared note. If those steps fail, check a backup or use D-Back's "iOS Data Recovery" mode to scan for recoverable notes by following the steps above. No recovery method can guarantee a result after data has been permanently deleted or overwritten.

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