Apple Notes Upgrade Migration

Pre-Upgrade Backup

#!/bin/bash
# Run BEFORE upgrading macOS
BACKUP_DIR="$HOME/notes-pre-upgrade-$(sw_vers -productVersion)-$(date +%Y%m%d)"
mkdir -p "$BACKUP_DIR"

echo "Backing up Apple Notes before macOS upgrade..."
echo "Current macOS: $(sw_vers -productVersion)"

# Full export with metadata
osascript -l JavaScript -e '
  const Notes = Application("Notes");
  const data = Notes.accounts().map(a => ({
    account: a.name(),
    notes: a.notes().map(n => ({
      id: n.id(), title: n.name(), body: n.body(),
      folder: n.container().name(),
      created: n.creationDate().toISOString(),
      modified: n.modificationDate().toISOString(),
      attachments: n.attachments().length
    }))
  }));
  JSON.stringify(data, null, 2);
' > "$BACKUP_DIR/full-backup.json"

NOTE_COUNT=$(jq '[.[].notes | length] | add' "$BACKUP_DIR/full-backup.json")
echo "Backed up $NOTE_COUNT notes to $BACKUP_DIR/full-backup.json"

# Also record current automation state
echo "macOS: $(sw_vers -productVersion)" > "$BACKUP_DIR/system-info.txt"
echo "Xcode CLT: $(xcode-select -p 2>/dev/null)" >> "$BACKUP_DIR/system-info.txt"
echo "Node: $(node -v 2>/dev/null)" >> "$BACKUP_DIR/system-info.txt"
echo "osascript: $(osascript -l JavaScript -e '"JXA OK"' 2>/dev/null)" >> "$BACKUP_DIR/system-info.txt"

Post-Upgrade Validation

#!/bin/bash
# Run AFTER upgrading macOS
echo "=== Post-Upgrade Apple Notes Validation ==="
echo "New macOS: $(sw_vers -productVersion)"

PASS=0; FAIL=0

check() { if [ "$2" = "PASS" ]; then echo "[PASS] $1"; PASS=$((PASS+1)); else echo "[FAIL] $1"; FAIL=$((FAIL+1)); fi }

# Test basic JXA access (TCC may need re-approval)
NOTE_COUNT=$(osascript -l JavaScript -e 'Application("Notes").defaultAccount.notes.length' 2>/dev/null)
check "JXA access (${NOTE_COUNT:-DENIED} notes)" "$([ -n "$NOTE_COUNT" ] && echo PASS || echo FAIL)"

# Compare note count with pre-upgrade backup
if [ -f "$1" ]; then
  BACKUP_COUNT=$(jq '[.[].notes | length] | add' "$1")
  check "Note count matches backup ($NOTE_COUNT vs $BACKUP_COUNT)" \
    "$([ "$NOTE_COUNT" = "$BACKUP_COUNT" ] && echo PASS || echo FAIL)"
fi

# Test folder access
FOLDER_COUNT=$(osascript -l JavaScript -e 'Application("Notes").defaultAccount.folders.length' 2>/dev/null)
check "Folder access ($FOLDER_COUNT folders)" "$([ -n "$FOLDER_COUNT" ] && echo PASS || echo FAIL)"

# Test write capability
TEST_NOTE=$(osascript -l JavaScript -e '
  const Notes = Application("Notes");
  const n = Notes.Note({name: "__upgrade_test_" + Date.now(), body: "test"});
  Notes.defaultAccount.folders[0].notes.push(n);
  n.id();
' 2>/dev/null)
check "Write access" "$([ -n "$TEST_NOTE" ] && echo PASS || echo FAIL)"
# Cleanup
[ -n "$TEST_NOTE" ] && osascript -l JavaScript -e "Application('Notes').notes.byId('$TEST_NOTE').delete()" 2>/dev/null

echo ""
echo "Results: $PASS passed, $FAIL failed"
[ "$FAIL" -gt 0 ] && echo "ACTION REQUIRED: Fix failures before resuming automation"

Common Post-Upgrade Issues

# TCC permissions reset after upgrade — re-approve
tccutil reset AppleEvents
osascript -l JavaScript -e 'Application("Notes").name()'  # Triggers re-prompt

# launchd agents may need reload after upgrade
launchctl unload ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.yourorg.notes-automation.plist
launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.yourorg.notes-automation.plist

# Command Line Tools may need reinstall
xcode-select --install

Error Handling

Resources

• macOS Release Notes
• Mac Automation Scripting Guide
• Apple Platform Security Updates

Next Steps

For full migration between platforms, see apple-notes-migration-deep-dive. For production readiness after upgrade, see apple-notes-prod-checklist.