Apple Notes on Windows: What Works in 2026 (and What Doesn't)
Short answer: there is no Apple Notes app for Windows. To read and edit your Apple notes on a PC, sign in at iCloud.com in Chrome or Edge and open Notes. It works, but only online, in a browser tab. If you want a real notes app on both your iPhone and your PC, use one that ships for both.
Below is every option that actually works, what you give up with each one, and how to move your notes if you decide to switch.
Option 1: Apple Notes on iCloud.com
This is the only official way. Go to iCloud.com, sign in with your Apple Account, and open Notes. You get your folders, checklists, tables, search and shared notes, and anything you change syncs back to your iPhone and Mac.
- Good for: reading and editing notes now and then on a work or school PC.
- Limits: it needs an internet connection, there's no offline mode, and it lives in a browser tab you have to sign in to.
- Tip: in Chrome or Edge you can install the page as an app (menu, then Install or Apps). It gets its own window and a spot in the Start menu, which makes it feel closer to a real app.
Two catches. If you've turned on Advanced Data Protection, iCloud.com can't show your data until you allow web access in your iCloud settings. And notes stored in On My iPhone never leave your phone, so move them into an iCloud folder first.
Option 2: iCloud for Windows (doesn't include Notes)
Apple's iCloud for Windows app syncs Photos, iCloud Drive, passwords, and mail, contacts and calendars through Outlook. Notes isn't on that list. Installing it won't put your notes on your PC.
Option 3: Keep notes in a Gmail or Outlook account
Apple Notes can store notes in an email account instead of iCloud (turn on Notes for that account in your iPhone's settings). Those notes show up in that account on the web. It's an old trick and a limited one: notes stored this way lose checklists, tables, drawings and tags, and your existing iCloud notes don't move over on their own. Most people find it more hassle than it's worth.
Option 4: Use a notes app that runs on both
If you're on a PC every day, a browser tab gets old fast. The simpler fix is a notes app with real apps on both sides, so the note you type on your iPhone at lunch is in a proper window on your PC in the afternoon.
| App | iPhone and Mac | Windows | Free to start | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BrainDump | Yes | App in the Microsoft Store, plus web app | Yes | Fast capture, write first and sort later |
| Microsoft OneNote | Yes | Yes | Yes | Big notebooks, school and work |
| Google Keep | iPhone app, web on Mac | Web | Yes | Short notes and reminders |
| Notion | Yes | Yes | Yes | Wikis, databases, team docs |
| Obsidian | Yes | Yes | Yes (sync is paid) | Linked notes stored as local files |
BrainDump is the closest to how people use Apple Notes day to day: open it and type, no setup. It runs on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro, has a Windows app in the Microsoft Store, and works in any browser at app.getbraindump.com. Notes sync through a free BrainDump account. The base plan is free; the paid Focus plan adds more AI tools. For a side-by-side, see Apple Notes vs BrainDump.
OneNote is the pick if you live in Microsoft 365 and want large, structured notebooks. Google Keep is great for quick lists, but on Windows and Mac it's web only. If you want a full workspace, Notion or Obsidian, though both take more setup than Apple Notes ever did.
How to move your Apple notes to another app
- On a Mac, select the notes in Apple Notes and choose File, Export as, Markdown. On iPhone, open a note, tap Share and send it to the other app.
- Import the Markdown files into the new app. In BrainDump that's Settings, Import notes; the import guide has the steps.
- Keep Apple Notes around for anything you don't move. Nothing breaks if you use both for a while.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an Apple Notes app for Windows?
No. Apple has never released Apple Notes for Windows, and the iCloud for Windows app doesn't include Notes. The only official way to open your Apple notes on a Windows PC is iCloud.com in a web browser.
Can I edit Apple Notes on iCloud.com?
Yes. On iCloud.com you can create, edit, search and delete notes, and work with folders, checklists and shared notes. You need an internet connection, and if Advanced Data Protection is on, you have to turn on web access in your iCloud settings first.
Why can't I see some of my notes on Windows?
Notes saved in the On My iPhone or On My Mac folder stay on that device and never reach iCloud. Move them into an iCloud folder on your iPhone or Mac and they'll show up on iCloud.com.
What's the best Apple Notes alternative for Windows?
If you want one notes app that works the same on iPhone, Mac and Windows, pick an app with a native Windows version. BrainDump has a Windows app in the Microsoft Store plus a web app, and is free to start. OneNote and Google Keep are other free options that work across both systems.
The Bottom Line
If you only need your Apple notes on a PC once in a while, iCloud.com is enough. If you switch between an iPhone and a Windows PC every day, use a notes app that has real apps on both. BrainDump is free to start on iPhone, Mac and Windows, and opens straight to a blank page, so you can start typing right away.