Notes Made with Siri Don't Sync

If you are syncing your notes between your Mac and your iPhone 4S, you have probably run into this. New notes created by Siri do not sync. At least, they do not sync without your separately opening the Notes App and making some kind of change.

I don't know about you, but for me, hands free note taking is useless without syncing back to my computer. If I have to remember to review and edit my notes just to make them sync to my inbox, it fails to be helpful as a reminder system. Plus, it is pretty clear that syncing notes is only done on a note-by-note basis. Thus, editing one note won't make the other non-synced notes sync.

Here is a method that works for me every time:

1) Tell Siri to take a note (memo, etc.) and give it a subject, so say something like:

"Take a memo that says 'Notes from meeting with Bob'.

Alternatively, just say "take a memo" and wait for Siri to ask you what you would like it to say, then just give it a short subject.

Now is the tricky part, after Siri is done, and while the Siri version of the note is still showing on the screen:

2) Tap on the note to open the note in the Notes App.

3) Immediately tap the "Notes" button in the top left, which returns you to your list of notes.

4) Then tap on the new note in the notes list to go BACK to your note.

5) Once it opens, tap anywhere below the first line to bring up the keyboard.

6) Tap the microphone button — dictate to your hearts content. (By the way, if you say "new line" as the first thing, your new text will start on the next line.)

7) When done, tap the Notes button in the top left.

That's it, when you return to your computer and open Mail, your note will be there.

If I skip any of these steps, especially the first one of tapping the Notes button to go to the notes list, the note does not sync. My theory is that the note as created by Siri, but Siri isn't actually "talking" to the Notes app so much as simply sending it a memo, which appears to Notes as already synced (or not needing to be synced).

If that is all too much for you, then just bypass Siri altogether and do the following:

1) Open the Notes App.

2) Hit the + to create a new note.

3) Tap the Microphone.

4) Dictate.

5) Tap Done.

6) Tap the Notes button on the left to return to the list of notes.

Both methods require require much more direct screen interaction than should be necessary, especially for quick notes.