Transfer Evernote to Apple Notes: Full Guide

To transfer your notes from Evernote to Apple Notes, you have two practical routes: export your Evernote data as ENEX files and import them into Apple Notes via a Mac, or use a third-party migration tool. The direct import method works only on a Mac (not iPhone or iPad) and is free, while third-party tools can handle the transfer automatically but may cost money. Below, we explain both methods step by step, what you can expect to carry over, and common pitfalls to avoid.

Why People Leave Evernote

Evernote has been a popular note-taking app for over a decade, but many users are switching to Apple Notes for a few reasons: Apple Notes is free, pre-installed on all Apple devices, and syncs seamlessly via iCloud. Evernote’s free tier limits you to 60 MB of new uploads per month, and its premium plans are relatively expensive. Apple Notes also offers strong privacy with end-to-end encryption for notes containing certain data, and its interface is simpler and faster on modern Apple hardware. However, Evernote has features that Apple Notes lacks, such as advanced search with saved searches, PDF annotation, and a web clipper that works on all browsers. Understanding these differences helps you decide what you’re willing to give up.

What Transfers and What Doesn’t

When you move notes, not everything comes along perfectly. Here’s what typically transfers:

• Text content – All your typed text, including formatting like bold, italics, and headings.
• Images – Images embedded in notes are usually preserved as attachments.
• Attachments – PDFs, audio files, and other files are imported as separate attachments in Apple Notes.
• Tags – Evernote tags are converted to folders (or “tagsâ€� in Apple Notes, depending on the method).
• Checkboxes – To-do checkboxes become checklist items in Apple Notes.

What often does not transfer cleanly:

• Notebook structure – Evernote notebooks become folders in Apple Notes, but nested notebooks (stacks) are flattened.
• Web clipper formatting – Complex layouts from web pages may look messy.
• Attachments inside tables – Tables with embedded files can break.
• Evernote’s “contextâ€� data – Related notes, activity history, and other metadata are lost.
• Encrypted text – Any text you encrypted in Evernote will not transfer; you must decrypt it first.

Method 1: Export ENEX and Import on Mac (Free)

This method uses Evernote’s built-in export and Apple Notes’ import feature. It works only on a Mac because Apple Notes on iOS does not have an import function.

1. On your computer (Windows or Mac): Open Evernote, select the notebook you want to export, go to File > Export, choose “ENEX� format, and save the file.
2. On your Mac: Open Apple Notes, then go to File > Import Notes.
3. Select the ENEX file you exported. Apple Notes will import each note as a new note in a folder named after the file.
4. Repeat for each notebook you want to move.

Important: The import may take a while for large notebooks. Also, if you have many notebooks, you’ll need to export each one separately—Evernote does not allow exporting all notebooks at once in ENEX format.

Method 2: Use a Third-Party Migration Tool

Several apps and services specialize in transferring notes between platforms. These tools typically offer a more automated process, often preserving more metadata and handling large volumes. Some popular options include:

• CloudHQ – A web-based service that syncs Evernote to Apple Notes (or other apps) continuously.
• MultCloud – A cloud-to-cloud transfer service that supports Evernote and iCloud Notes.
• Zapier – Can automate note creation in Apple Notes when new notes appear in Evernote, but it’s not a bulk import.

How these tools generally work: you give the service read access to your Evernote account and write access to your Apple Notes (via iCloud), and it copies notes over. Some offer a one-time migration, others offer ongoing sync. Be aware that granting third-party access to your data carries privacy risks, so choose a reputable service and revoke access after the transfer.

Comparing the Two Methods

Method	Pros	Cons
Manual ENEX import	Free, no third-party access, works offline	Mac-only, time-consuming for many notebooks, may lose some formatting
Third-party tool	Automated, handles large volumes, often preserves more data	Costs money, requires giving access to your accounts, potential privacy concerns

If you have fewer than 50 notes and one or two notebooks, the manual method is perfectly fine. If you have hundreds of notes with complex attachments, a paid tool might save you hours.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Here are typical issues people encounter during the transfer and their solutions:

• Import fails or crashes: Make sure your ENEX file isn’t corrupted. Try exporting a single notebook first. If the file is huge (over 100 MB), split it by exporting notebooks separately.
• Images not showing: In Evernote, some images are stored as separate resources. When importing, Apple Notes may place them as attachments at the bottom of the note instead of inline. You can manually move them if needed.
• Tags become folders: In the manual import, Evernote tags are converted to folders (one folder per tag). If you have many tags, you’ll get many empty folders. You can delete them after import.
• Encrypted text is lost: You must decrypt any encrypted text in Evernote before exporting. Go to the note, select the encrypted text, and choose “Decryptâ€� (you’ll need your password).
• Checkboxes become plain text: If your Evernote notes use HTML checkboxes, they may not convert to Apple Notes’ checklist style. You can manually re-create them.

After the Transfer: Cleaning Up

Once you’ve imported your notes, you’ll likely need to organize them. Apple Notes uses folders and tags (in macOS and iOS 15+). You can create folders to mirror your Evernote notebook structure. Tags are added by typing “#tagname� in a note or via the tag button. Also, check for duplicate notes—if you imported multiple times, you may have duplicates. Use the search function to find and delete them. Finally, consider whether you want to keep Evernote as a backup for a while. Many users keep Evernote for a few months until they are confident everything is in Apple Notes.

Alternatives to Apple Notes

If you’re leaving Evernote but Apple Notes doesn’t meet your needs, consider other cross-platform options:

• Notion – More powerful for databases and project management, but has a steeper learning curve.
• OneNote – Free, works on all platforms, good for free-form note-taking, but can be clunky.
• Obsidian – Uses local Markdown files, great for linked thinking, but requires more setup.
• Bear – Beautiful Markdown editor for Apple devices, but no Windows version.

Each has its own import tools or you can use ENEX export with a converter. For most Apple users, Notes is the simplest, but if you need advanced features, explore these.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer from Evernote to Apple Notes on my iPhone?

No, Apple Notes on iOS does not have an import feature. You must use a Mac to import ENEX files. Alternatively, you can use a third-party service that works from any device with a browser.

Will my Evernote attachments (PDFs, audio) come over?

Yes, most attachments are imported as file attachments in Apple Notes. They appear as icons at the bottom of the note. You can tap them to open. However, inline images may become attachments if they were not embedded properly.

How long does the transfer take?

For a few hundred notes, the manual import on a Mac may take 10-30 minutes. For thousands of notes, it could take hours. Third-party tools are usually faster because they run in the cloud, but they still depend on your internet speed.

Is there a way to keep tags in Apple Notes?

Yes, Apple Notes supports tags (iOS 15 and later, macOS Monterey and later). In the manual import, Evernote tags become folders, not tags. To get tags, you can use a third-party tool that maps tags to Apple Notes tags, or you can manually add tags after import.

What happens to Evernote’s “stacks� (nested notebooks)?

Stacks are not preserved. All notebooks are imported as top-level folders in Apple Notes. You can manually recreate the hierarchy by creating folders and moving notes.

Can I go back to Evernote after transferring?

Yes, you can export your Apple Notes back to ENEX format (on Mac) and import into Evernote. However, you may lose some Apple Notes-specific features like tags and smart folders.

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