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How to Backup and Recover Sticky Notes in Windows 10 / Windows 11

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Long-time users of Sticky Notes will notice that it's had some upgrades over the past few years, and one major addition is the ability to backup Sticky Notes and restore them to the same or a different PC.

Reasons to Restore Sticky Notes in Windows 10 / Windows 11

Though it may not be a major deal for some, this ability can be incredibly useful for those changing account (as cloud sync only works if you log in) or people who need the extra .

Today we're going to show you how to backup Sticky Notes, and then how to restore Sticky Notes should you need to. All you'll need to follow this tutorial is Sticky Motes installed and the Anniversary Update or higher. If you're on an earlier version of Windows 10, below 1511, or Windows 7, 8, or 8.1, you should instead look for the StickyNotes.snt file in the Sticky Notes AppData folder. 

⚠️ Please note: The process described below is the same in as it is in Windows 10. However, bear in mind that we'll be using screenshots from Windows 10, so your UI may look a little different. We'll point out any changes you need to be aware of as they come up.

How to Backup Sticky Notes via File Explorer

Backing up Stick Notes is as simple as copying a single file from its AppData folder.

  1. Backup Sticky Notes


    In File Explorer, navigate to %LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState. Look for the file “plum.sqlite”, and copy it to your back up device, whether it's a cloud service like OneDrive or a USB stick.

    Windows 10 - File Explorer - Copy and Paste the Folder Location - Copy the plum.sqlite file

How to Recover Sticky Notes in Windows 10 / Windows 11

These days it's a bit more fiddly to restore Sticky Notes, and you should know that doing so will replace any current notes you have on the PC. If you're okay with that, here's how to do it:

  1. Open


    Press “Start”, and type “Task Manager”, then click on the top result.

    Windows 10 - Open Task Manager

  2. End the Sticky Notes process


    In Task Manager, switch to the “Details” tab and press “M” until you find the service “Microsoft.Notes.exe”. With it selected, click “End task”.

    Windows-10-Task-Manager-Details-Microsoft.Notes_.exe-End-Task.jpg

  3. Click “End process”


    Windows 10 - Task Manager - Details - Microsoft.Notes.exe - End Task - End Process

  4. Open settings


    Press “Start”, then click the settings cog above the power button.

    Windows 10 - Open Settings

  5. Click “Apps”


    Windows 10 - Settings - Open Apps

  6. Open Sticky Notes advanced options


    In the left sidebar, click “Apps & features”, then find Sticky Notes in the main pane and click “Advanced options”.

    Windows 10 - Settings - Apps - Apps & Features - Sticky Notes - Open Advanced Options

  7. Choose “Reset”


    Windows 10 - Settings - Apps - Apps & Features - Sticky Notes - Open Advanced Options - Reset

  8. Confirm the reset


    Windows 10 will surface another dialog to make sure you want to reset Sticky Notes. Click “Reset” again to continue.

    Windows 10 - Settings - Apps - Apps & Features - Sticky Notes - Open Advanced Options - Reset
  9. Go to your Sticky Notes folder location


    In your File Explorer top bar, paste %LocalAppData%\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState to enter your app data folder.

    Windows 10 - File Explorer - Paste the Folder Location - Copy and Paste the Backed up plum.sqlite

  10. Recover Sticky Notes in Windows 10


    Drag your Sticky Notes backup into the Sticky Notes location and click “Replace the file in the destination” to perform the Sticky Notes recovery. When you next start the app, your backed up notes should appear.

    Windows 10 - Open File Explorer - Copy the Folder Location - Copy andPaste the Backed up plum.sqlite - Replace the file

 

Extra: How to Backup the Windows Registry in Windows 10 / Windows 11

If something goes wrong in Windows, you might easily get back to normal functioning if you have a registry backup. Windows will even do this for you automatically, and the feature can be configured as well.

How to Enable Automatic Registry Backup in Windows 10 or Perform a Manual Save

Extra: How to Create and Restore a System Image in Windows 10 / Windows 11

It's all too easy to forget to perform a Windows backup and all too quick to realize you don't have one when you experience hardware or software failure. Forgetting to backup Windows can mean the loss of important documents, priceless images of family, or game saves with countless hours.

As a result, it's a good idea to backup your computer regularly, and the most fool-proof way is to manually create a disk image in Windows and save it to an external hard drive.

Windows 10 How to Create and Restore a System Image

Extra: How to use File History in Windows 10 / Windows 11

If you found this tutorial useful, you may also want to know how to use File History. File History is a Windows backup feature that saves each version of files in the Documents, Pictures, Videos, Desktop, and Offline OneDrive folders. Though its name implies a primary focus on version control, you can actually use it as a fully-fledged backup tool for your important documents.

 
Ryan Maskell
Ryan Maskellhttps://ryanmaskell.co.uk
Ryan has had a passion for gaming and technology since early childhood. Fusing the skills from his Creative Writing and Publishing degree with profound technical knowledge, he enjoys covering news about Microsoft. As an avid writer, he is also working on his debut novel.

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