How to View Apple Notes on Android

If you are part of the Apple ecosystem with multiple Apple devices, you would like interoperability between them. However, the moment you bring in a device with a different OS, all hell breaks loose. You cannot access data from your Apple apps on other platforms, and not even such a basic app as Apple Notes app is spared. Generally, a cross-platform notes application would be preferred. Unfortunately, Apple Notes is not one of them. But if you want to get iCloud Notes on your Android phone or tablet, there is a workaround.

I like to use Apple Notes on my iPad because it works well in split screen mode. At the same time, I also want to sync the notes to my Android phone. Since the Android Apple Notes app does not exist, people are clueless.

Fortunately, you can get and view Apple Notes from your iPhone or iPad on Android using the two methods mentioned in this article. This is possible with the help of Google Chrome browser on Android (even Microsoft Edge will work) or with Gmail. In the first case, you can also edit the notes. But the edit function is missing if you access Apple Notes in Gmail.

Note: We have used Apple and iCloud Notes interchangeably in the article. They refer to the same thing.

Method 1: Sync Apple Notes to Android Using Chrome

In this method, you can open the web version of iCloud by going to iCloud.com through the Chrome browser. Sign in with your Apple account and tap Notes. You should see all of your iCloud notes. However, if you want to access the notes on a regular basis, then opening the website repeatedly would not be appropriate. You can create a home screen shortcut to the website on your Android device. This will open iCloud in a separate window and with just one click.

Here are the steps in detail. We’ve broken down into two sections: open iCloud Notes on Chrome and create a shortcut.

Open and view iCloud notes on Android

Step 1: First, you need to turn on the sync feature for your Apple Notes. Only then can you access the notes on other devices.

To do this, open the settings on your iPhone or iPad. Tap your name at the top. Then go to iCloud.

Activate the toggle next to Notes.

Note: You will not be able to access the “On my iPhone” folder in the Notes application on your Android phone. If you want to view the notes in it on your Android phone, move them to another folder in Apple Notes.

2nd step: On your Android device, launch the Chrome browser and open iCloud.com. You will be prompted to sign in with your Apple ID. Enter your username and password. Make sure to check the box next to “Keep me signed in” if you will be using the Apple Notes app frequently on your Android. The interface will ask you if you want to trust this device. Tap Trust.

Note: Do not check the “Keep me signed in” box and do not trust the device if you are signing in from your friend’s phone.

Step 3: Tap Notes in iCloud. Congratulations! Your iCloud notes are now accessible from Android. Tap any note to open and edit it. You can even create new notes. Likewise, you can access your reminders and photos from Apple on Android.

Note: If you don’t see the notes in iCloud, tap the three-dot icon at the top of Chrome and select Request Desktop Site.

Create an iCloud Notes shortcut on Android

Step 1: With iCloud Notes open in Chrome on your Android phone, tap the three-dot icon. Select Add to Home Screen from the menu.

2nd step: A pop-up window will open. You can rename the shortcut if you want to rename it from iCloud Notes to something else. Then tap Add. Another pop-up will appear. Tap Add.

Step 3: Go to the home screen of your Android phone. You will find the iCloud Notes shortcut. Tap on it to view Apple Notes directly on your Android.

When you open Apple Notes like this, you will notice that the window does not have a search bar. Also, if you open the Recent Apps screen, you will find the iCloud Notes web app there.

For the ignorant, this happens because the Web App for Apple Notes is a Progressive Web Application (PWA). PWAs work like a regular app and provide a faster experience. You can also install PWAs on Chrome in Windows and Microsoft Edge.

Note: The Apple Notes web app struck me as a bit buggy. I couldn’t easily scroll over long notes. For some notes, the keyboard did not appear when I tried to enter new notes.

Method 2: View Apple Notes on Android Using Gmail

If the above method doesn’t work properly, you can also access Apple Notes from Gmail. However, the editing capability is missing in Gmail. You can therefore only consult the notes. But that should be enough if you desperately want to get the iCloud Notes on Android device. Refer to our guide on how to view Apple Notes in Gmail.