jeremylongshore Apple Notes Common Errors
Error Reference
| Error | Code | Root Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not authorized to send Apple events | -1743 | Missing automation permission | System Preferences > Privacy > Automation |
| AppleEvent timed out | -1712 | Notes.app busy or not running | Activate Notes first; increase timeout |
| Notes is not running | N/A | App closed | Add Application("Notes").activate() |
| Can't get folder | -1728 | Folder name mismatch | Check exact folder name including case |
| Connection is invalid | -609 | Notes crashed during operation | Restart Notes.app |
| User canceled | -128 | Security dialog dismissed | Re-run and click Allow |
Diagnostic Script
#!/bin/bash
echo "=== Apple Notes Diagnostics ==="
echo -n "Notes.app running: "
pgrep -x Notes > /dev/null && echo "Yes" || echo "No"
echo -n "Note count: "
osascript -l JavaScript -e "Application(\"Notes\").defaultAccount.notes.length" 2>/dev/null || echo "ERROR"
echo -n "Folder count: "
osascript -l JavaScript -e "Application(\"Notes\").defaultAccount.folders.length" 2>/dev/null || echo "ERROR"
echo -n "Accounts: "
osascript -l JavaScript -e "Application(\"Notes\").accounts().map(a => a.name()).join(\", \")" 2>/dev/null || echo "ERROR"
echo "=== Done ==="
Common Fixes
# Reset TCC permissions (if automation denied)
tccutil reset AppleEvents
# Force quit and restart Notes
killall Notes; sleep 2; open -a Notes
# Check iCloud sync status
defaults read com.apple.Notes