Jul 06, 2018 The notes you create with Stickies are stored in the Library folder in your Home folder. It is called “StickiesDatabase.” For instance, if your name is “John” the path to see the file is Macintosh HD:Users:John:Library:StickiesDatabase (The name. Mac Stickies backup FAQ: I want to make sure my Mac Stickies are backed up; where are the Mac Stickies files (or database) located? As I wrote about in an earlier article on How to save Mac Stickies, Mac Stickies (sticky notes) are saved in one database file.This file is named StickiesDatabase, and it's located in the Library folder of your home directory. Mac sticky notes reinstated from backup! The dashboard should now be as it was before and your stickies should be reinstated. You can try this now, it shouldn’t need a restart. Interestingly, TeamViewer stayed connected all through for me, even when the dock was tampered with in Terminal.
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Keep notes, lists, and even pictures in sticky notes on your desktop. You see the notes whenever the Stickies app on your Mac is open.
Important: When you first open the Stickies app after upgrading to macOS Catalina or later, follow the onscreen instructions to import any notes you may have had in the Stickies widget in Dashboard.
Create a note
- In the Stickies app on your Mac, choose File > New Note.
- Enter text. To add a picture or PDF, drag a file to your note.Your content is saved automatically. The first line of the note is shown in the title bar when you collapse the note.
- To customize your note, do any of the following:
- Change the note color: Choose a color from the Color menu.
- Change text formatting: Choose Font > Show Fonts. Select text, then use the Fonts window to format it.
- Make the note semi-transparent: Choose Window > Translucent.
- Keep the note in front of other windows: Choose Window > Float on Top.
Tip: If you like how you formatted and customized a note, you can use it as a default template. Select the note, then choose Window > Use as Default.
Add a list to a note
In the Stickies app on your Mac, do any of the following:
- Add a list: Press Option-Tab, enter your first item, then press Return.
- End a list (and add a regular paragraph): Click at the end of the last list item, then press Return twice.
- Increase list level: Click a line in the list, then press Tab.
- Decrease list level: Click a line in the list, then press Shift-Tab.
- Format a list: Control-click in the list, then choose List. You can change the bullet type.
Find text in notes
- In the Stickies app on your Mac, choose Edit > Find > Find, then type text in the Find field.You can also select text, then choose Edit > Find > Use Selection for Find.
- To refine your search, you can:
- Select the current note or all notes.
- Deselect Ignore Case to find text that exactly matches the capitalization of your search term.
- Press Return to start the search.Click Previous or Next to move to another match.
Note: You can also find and replace text. Enter the text in the Replace With field, then choose one of the Replace options.
View notes
In the Stickies app on your Mac, do any of the following:
- Arrange a note manually: Click the top of a note and drag the note where you want it.
- Group multiple notes: Choose Window > Arrange By, then choose an option.
- Keep a note in front of other windows: Choose Window > Float on Top.
- Make a note semi-transparent: Choose Window > Translucent.
- Collapse or expand a note: Double-click the title bar.
- Change the size of a note: Drag the note’s edge (top, bottom, or sides). To maximize the note, click the triangle in the top-right corner. Click it again to reduce the note to its original size.
- See note information: Hold the pointer over a collapsed note—you see when the note was created and last edited.
If you don’t see your note, verify that the Stickies app is still open. When Stickies is closed, notes don’t appear on your desktop.
Import or export notes
You can import a text file as a single note into Stickies or export a note from Stickies as a text file. You can also export all your notes from the Stickies app and import them into the Notes app, where you can write and organize notes in a single window and see your notes on all your devices.
In the Stickies app on your Mac, do any of the following:
- Import or export a single note: Choose File > Import Text or File > Export Text.You can import and export notes in common formats such as plain text, RTF, and RTFD (includes graphics). When you export text, you can choose where to save the file.
- Export all notes from Stickies to Notes: Choose File > Export All to Notes, then click Export All.All your notes are imported to Notes into the Imported Notes folder, which contains subfolders for each color of note. (Your notes also remain in Stickies.)
Delete a note
- Click the box in the top-left corner, then click Delete Note.
Using Stickies is a great way to keep track of the quick notes you jot down during the day, especially if the subject matter is timely or is of the utmost importance.
What's a Stickie and why would I use it?
Stickies notes are essentially digital Post-its. The app works similarly to the Notes app, in that you make yourself notes so that you remember stuff. But Stickies notes stay on your desktop, as a visual reminder.
If the note is very pressing, you can choose to keep it in front of all windows so that you have a constant reminder. Or if you just need to remember to lock up the office at the end of the day, you can leave it in behind so that you see it when you close all your apps for the day.
If you need to remember important tidbits of information, you'll want to use Stickies so that you're not cluttering your desk with real-life Post-its, only to waste paper and/or lose a phone number from time to time.
How to create a new Stickies note
- Launch Stickies from the Dock or Finder. A new note should just pop up; if so, skip to step
- Click File in the menu bar on the top left of your screen.
- Click New Note. Alternatively, you can just press Command-N on your keyboard.
- Type your note.
That's it; you've made a Stickie!
How to make a Stickies note float on top of all windows
If you want your note to follow you wherever you go on your Mac, you can make it float on top of every window, so that even when you change apps, you'll see your Stickie.
- Launch Stickies from the Finder or Dock.
- Create a new note or click on an existing one.
- Click Note in the menu bar at the top of your screen.
- Click Floating Window.
Now you'll see your note all the time, no matter which app you're in.
How to make a Stickies note translucent
If you have your Stickies note as a floating window, but feel like it's a bit obtrusive, you can make it translucent so that it doesn't feel like it covers up too much of your screen.
- Launch Stickies from the Dock or Finder.
- Create a new note. Or click on an existing one.
- Click Note in the menu bar at the top of your screen.
- Click Translucent Window.
Now your Stickies note will become translucent, like the ghost of future tasks!
How to collapse Stickies notes
Maybe you want your Stickies to follow you everywhere on your Mac, but you don't want to the full note shown all the time. You can collapse them into little bars to help keep your screen clutter free!
- Launch Stickies from the Finder or Dock.
- Create a new note or click on an existing one.
- Click Window in the menu bar at the top of your screen.
- Click Collapse. Alternatively, you can press Command-M on your keyboard to quickly collapse or expand the note you're clicked on.
How to change a note's color
If you like to color-code you Stickies notes based on subject matter or just so you can remember which is which more quickly, you can change the color of each note.
- Launch Stickies from the Finder or Dock.
- Create a new note or click on an existing one.
- Click Color in the menu bar at the top of your screen.
- Click the color you'd like to use for that note.
How to arrange Stickies notes in a specific order
Do you make a ton of Stickies throughout your day? It can be difficult to keep track of them all, which is why you can arrange them in certain orders so you can get to what you want more quickly.
- Launch Stickies from the Dock or Finder.
- Click Window at the top of your screen.
- Click Arrange By.
- Click an Arrangement option:
- Color: Arranges notes by color in reverse order of how they appear under Color
- Content: Arranges notes alphabetically by the first let in the note
- Date: Arranges notes by the time they were created — most recent at the bottom
- Location on Screen: Arranges notes based on their location from left to right. Leftmost Stickies go at the top.
Upon arrangement, all of your Stickies will be collapsed into a tight stack of bars on the upper left of your screen.
How to expand Stickies notes
After you're arranged your Stickies into a nice neat stack, you may want to open them all up again and read them. Here's how:
- Launch Stickies from the Finder or Dock.
- Click on a collapsed note.
- Click Window in the menu bar at the top of your screen.
- Click Expand. You can alternatively press Command-M on your keyboard.
If you've just arranged your Stickies notes but want to open them again, you can also hit Command-Z on your keyboard to undo the arrangement. This will only work if arranging them was the last thing you did.
How to save Stickies notes
If you'd like to save your Stickies for good or want to save them to share with friends, you can absolutely do so, though they only save as Plain Text (.txt) files.
- Launch Stickies from the Finder or Dock.
- Create a new note or click on an existing one.
- Click File on the top left of your screen.
- Click Export Text…
- Name your note and choose where you want to save it.
- Click Save.
Questions?
Recovering Stickies App Notes On A Mac Computer
Got a question about using Stickies that we didn't cover here? Let us know in the comments below!
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