How to Export Apple Notes to Markdown Effortlessly w/ Obsidian Importer

Name

Jennie Rose

Published on 4/30/2024

Have you ever found yourself stuck in the Apple Notes ecosystem, wondering how to liberate your notes into a more universal format like Markdown? You're not alone. Apple Notes is a fantastic tool for jotting down ideas, but it comes with limitations, especially when you want to export your notes for use in other applications.

That's where Obsidian Importer comes into play. This powerful tool can convert your Apple Notes into Markdown files, giving you the freedom to use your notes however and wherever you like. But before diving into the nitty-gritty, let's understand what we're dealing with.

How to Export Apple Notes to Markdown

Apple Notes is a go-to app for many iOS and macOS users. It's simple, intuitive, and seamlessly integrated into the Apple ecosystem. However, it comes with a significant drawback: the lack of a native export feature. This limitation makes it difficult to migrate your notes to other platforms or even back them up in a non-proprietary format.

Apple Notes uses a unique, undocumented format stored in a local SQLite database. This makes it nearly impossible to export apple notes directly into other applications. Thus, users often find themselves locked into the Apple ecosystem, unable to utilize their notes to the fullest.

But don't lose hope; there's a solution that addresses these issues head-on: Obsidian Importer

Step-by-Step Guide: Exporting Apple Notes to Obsidian

Obsidian Importer is a tool specifically designed to convert Apple Notes into Markdown files. This tool is a part of Obsidian, a popular note-taking app that uses Markdown as its primary format.

If you've decided that Obsidian Importer is the tool for you, here's a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to ensure a smooth transition of your Apple Notes to Markdown files.

Preparing for the Import

1. Download Obsidian: If you haven't already, download and install Obsidian from their official website (opens in a new tab).
2. Open Obsidian: Launch the application and create a new vault where you'll import your Apple Notes.

Installing and Enabling the Importer Plugin

3. Navigate to Settings: In Obsidian, click on the gear icon in the lower-left corner to open the Settings menu.
4. Access Community Plugins: Scroll down and click on 'Community Plugins' on the left sidebar.
5. Search for Importer: In the search bar, type 'Importer' and you should see the Obsidian Importer plugin appear.
6. Install the Plugin: Click 'Install' to download and install the plugin.
7. Enable the Plugin: After installation, an 'Enable' button will appear. Click it to activate the plugin.

Alternatively, you can downoad the Plugin from their GitHub Page (opens in a new tab).

Importing Your Apple Notes to Obsidian as Markdown

8. Open Importer: Access the Importer plugin either by pressing Cmd+P (or Ctrl+P on Windows) to open the command palette and typing 'Importer', or by clicking its ribbon icon on the sidebar.
9. Select File Format: A dropdown menu for 'File Format' will appear. Choose 'Apple Notes'.
10. Initiate Import: Click the 'Import' button. A popup will appear asking you to navigate to the group.com.apple.notes folder. Locate it and click 'Open'.
11. Monitor Progress: A progress bar will appear, showing the status of the import. Once it reaches 100%, a notification will confirm the completion of the import process.

By following these detailed steps, you can ensure a seamless and accurate import of all your Apple Notes into Obsidian.

Alternate Ways to Export Apple Notes: What Else is Out There?

While Obsidian Importer is a powerful tool, it's not the only option for exporting Apple Notes. Here are some alternatives:

• Third-Party Tools: There are specialized software like Exporter by Chintan Ghate that can also export Apple Notes. However, these tools often have limitations, such as not supporting all content types or requiring additional software.
• Manual Export: Another method is to manually copy and paste each note into a Markdown editor. This is extremely time-consuming and not practical for a large number of notes.
• Email or Message Sharing: Apple Notes allows you to share individual notes via email or messages. However, this method is cumbersome for exporting multiple notes.

However, these options have their own shortcomings, especially with:

1. Comprehensive Content Support: Unlike other tools, Obsidian Importer supports a wide range of content types, from tables and images to drawings and PDFs.
2. Ease of Use: The tool is integrated into Obsidian, making it convenient for those who already use the note-taking app.
3. Batch Export: Obsidian Importer allows for batch exporting, which is a significant advantage over manual methods or individual note sharing.

Given these benefits, Obsidian Importer is often the most efficient and reliable method for exporting Apple Notes to Markdown.

How Obsidian Importer Works: A Quick Overview:

Obsidian Importer works by decoding the data stored in Apple Notes' local SQLite database and converting it into Markdown files. This allows for a seamless and accurate conversion of all types of content in Apple Notes.

Conclusion

Exporting Apple Notes to Markdown doesn't have to be a daunting task. With tools like Obsidian Importer, you can easily convert your notes into a more flexible and portable format. Whether you're planning to migrate away from Apple Notes or simply want to back up your data, this guide provides you with all the information you need to make the process as smooth as possible.

FAQ

• How do I convert Apple Notes to Markdown?
  • You can use Obsidian Importer to convert Apple Notes to Markdown. Follow the step-by-step guide provided in this article for detailed instructions.
• Are Apple Notes in Markdown?
  • No, Apple Notes are not in Markdown. They are stored in a proprietary format, which makes it challenging to export them directly.
• Is there a way to export Apple Notes?
  • Yes, you can use Obsidian Importer or other third-party tools to export Apple Notes. However, Apple Notes itself does not provide a native export feature.
• Can you export Apple Notes to txt?
  • Obsidian Importer exports Apple Notes to Markdown, which is a text-based format. You can easily convert these Markdown files to plain text (.txt) if needed.