Auto-backup notes in Notability

Tags notability

Questions

  • How do I set up Auto-Backup in Notability to save my notes to the cloud?
  • What file formats can I choose when backing up my Notability notes?
  • Can I back up password-protected notes in Notability?
  • If I delete a note in Notability, will it also be deleted from my backup?
  • Does Notability support backing up to iCloud, or only third-party services like Google Drive and Dropbox?

Environment

  • Customers using the Notability app for iPadOS or macOS.

Resolution

Enable Auto-Backup/Third-Party Backup

  1. In Notability's Library, tap the gear icon.
  2. Tap Connected Services
  3. Enable Auto-Backup/Third-Party Backup
  4. Tap a cloud service to select it:
    • Box
    • Dropbox
    • Google Drive
    • OneDrive
  5. Tap Backup Off to disable Auto-Backup/Third-Party Backup.

Destination Folder

Backups go to a folder named Notability by default, but you can choose a different folder.

  1. In Third-Party Backup's settings, tap Destination.
  2. Navigate to the desired destination folder.
  3. Tap Back Up To [folder's name].

File Format Options

You can back up your notes in one of several file formats.

  1. In Auto-Backup/Third-Party Backup's settings, tap File Format.
  2. Tap a format:
    • PDF
      To include background lines and colors, enable the Paper toggle after you select PDF as your file format. Bookmarks and audio recordings will not be included.
    • RTF
      This is a good way to export typed text that you want to edit in another app.
    • Note
      This is Notability's custom file format. It includes audio recordings and keeps everything in a note editable if you import the file back into the app. This is a good way to share notes with others who use Notability.
    • PDF + Recording
      This makes .zip files that contain a PDF and a folder of .m4a audio files. This is a good way to share recordings with people who don't use Notability. Notability can't open .zip files, so you'll have to unzip them to import their contents back into Notability.
    • RTF + Recording
      This makes files that contain an RTF and a folder of .m4a audio files. Notability can't open .rtfd files, so you'll have to unzip them to import their contents back into Notability.

Subjects to Back Up 

By default, Auto-Backup/Third-Party Backup does not back up password-protected notes. You can enable backups for password-protected notes and disable backups for other notes.

  1. In Auto-Backup/Third-Party Backup's settings, tap Subjects to Back Up.
  2. Tap a subject to check or uncheck it.
  3. If a subject is locked, type in its password and tap OK.

Restoring Backups

Notability can't restore subjects and dividers from a backup automatically, so they must be remade manually. You can import an entire subject of backup files into Notability at once by following this guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I delete a note in Notability, is the backup copy deleted?

No. The backup copy stays in your backup service.

When are notes backed up?

  • When you enable Auto-Backup/Third-Party Backup or change its settings, all of your notes are backed up.
  • When you edit a note and return to the Library, that note is backed up.

Can notes be backed up to iCloud?

Auto-Backup/Third-Party Backup only integrates with Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and WebDAV servers. You cannot create a one-way Notability backup with iCloud. You can sync notes across multiple devices via iCloud Sync.

Additional Help

If you need further assistance, please contact the Bowdoin College Service Desk

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