Evernote Backup with Revert: Step-by-Step Guide

This guide shows you how to create a complete backup of your Evernote data and how to revert to an earlier state if something goes wrong. You’ll learn the built-in export options, where to store backups safely, and the exact steps to restore your notes, notebooks, and attachments.

What You’ll Need

• An Evernote account (free or paid) with the desktop app installed on Windows or Mac.
• Enough free disk space for the backup file (usually a few hundred MB, but can be larger for heavy users).
• An external drive or cloud storage service (like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive) for storing the backup separately from your computer.
• Internet connection to sync your latest changes before exporting.

Step-by-Step

1. Sync Evernote to the latest state. Open the Evernote desktop app and click the sync icon (circular arrows) in the top toolbar. Wait until it says “Synced” and the icon is no longer spinning. This ensures your backup includes all recent edits.
2. Open the export dialog. Go to File > Export in the menu bar. On Windows, it may be under File > Export Notes.
3. Choose what to export. A dialog appears asking what to export. Select All notes to back up everything, or choose specific notebooks if you only need a subset. For a full backup, pick “All notes” and include tags and attachments.
4. Select the format. Choose ENEX (Evernote XML) as the file format. This is the standard format that preserves note content, tags, and attachments. You can also export as HTML or PDF, but those don’t retain all metadata.
5. Choose a destination. Click Next and browse to a folder on your computer. Name the file something like EvernoteBackup_2025-01-15.enex.
6. Start the export. Click Export and wait for the progress bar to complete. The time depends on the number of notes and attachments.
7. Copy the backup to safe storage. After the export finishes, copy the .enex file to an external drive or cloud storage. This protects against hard drive failure.
8. To revert to this backup later: If you ever need to restore, go to File > Import in Evernote. Select the .enex file, choose a notebook (or let Evernote create one), and click Import. This will add the notes to your account, but it does not delete current notes.
9. For a full revert (replace everything): Evernote does not have a one-click “restore from backup” that wipes your account. To revert completely, you would need to delete all existing notes first, then import the backup. To do this, select all notes (Ctrl+A on Windows, Cmd+A on Mac) in the note list, right-click and choose Delete. Then import the .enex file as in step 8. Be careful: this permanently deletes current notes.

Common Mistakes

• Not syncing before export. If you haven’t synced, your backup may miss the latest edits made on other devices.
• Exporting only a single notebook. Many users think they’ve backed up everything when they only exported one notebook. Always double-check the selection.
• Saving the backup only on the same hard drive. If your computer crashes, you lose both Evernote data and the backup. Always use external storage.
• Choosing HTML format. HTML exports lose tags, attachments, and note metadata. Use ENEX for a true backup.
• Not testing the backup. After exporting, try importing the .enex file into a new, empty Evernote account to verify it works.

Tips

• Set a recurring reminder to back up monthly or quarterly, depending on how often you add notes.
• Use a naming convention that includes the date, so you know which backup is the most recent.
• If you have a large account, export in batches by notebook to avoid timeouts or crashes.
• Keep at least two backups: one local and one in the cloud.
• Before a major update or migration, always do a fresh backup.

Troubleshooting

• Export fails with an error. Try exporting smaller batches (e.g., one notebook at a time). Also, close other applications to free up memory.
• The .enex file is too large to import. Evernote has a limit on import file size (often around 25 MB for free accounts, higher for paid). Split the backup into multiple exports by notebook.
• Import seems to hang. Wait a few minutes; large imports can take time. If it doesn’t progress, cancel and try again with a smaller file.
• Notes are missing after import. Check if the import created a new notebook. Also, verify that the original export included all notes by checking the file size and note count in Evernote’s export summary.
• Can’t find the export option. In the web client, there’s no export feature. You must use the desktop app. If you don’t have it, download it from Evernote’s official website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Evernote have an automatic backup feature?

No, Evernote does not automatically create local backups. You must manually export your data. However, your notes are synced to Evernote’s servers, so you can always access them online.

Can I revert to an earlier version of a single note?

Yes, Evernote keeps version history for notes. In the desktop app, right-click a note, select Note History, and choose a previous version to restore.

Will importing a backup duplicate my notes?

Yes, importing an .enex file adds those notes to your account. To avoid duplicates, delete existing notes before importing if you want a clean restore.

Can I back up Evernote on my phone?

The mobile app does not have an export option. You need to use the desktop app to create a backup. On mobile, you can only view and edit notes.

How long does an export take?

It depends on the number of notes and attachments. A few hundred notes may take a minute; thousands with large files can take 10-20 minutes.

Is the .enex file readable by other apps?

Yes, many note-taking apps (like Notion, OneNote, and Joplin) support importing ENEX files, making it a good format for migration.

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