How to Export Apple Notes to Bear (Step-by-Step)
Move your notes into Bear on Mac without retyping, and keep your images and formatting on the way.
Quick Answer
To export Apple Notes to Bear on macOS 26 or later, open Apple Notes, select a folder, press Command A to select every note, then choose File, Export As, Markdown. In Bear, choose File, Import From, Markdown Folder and pick that folder. On older Macs there is no native bulk export, so export to Markdown with Apple Notes Exporter Pro first, then import the folder into Bear.
Bear is a Markdown writing app that a lot of people move to when Apple Notes starts to feel closed off. It uses plain Markdown, hashtag tags instead of folders, and it syncs across Apple devices. The catch is getting your existing notes out of Apple Notes and into Bear without copying and pasting each one by hand.
The good news is that macOS 26, called Tahoe, finally added a native Markdown export to Apple Notes. That makes a clean migration possible for the first time without a script. If you are on an older version of macOS, you can still move everything over, it just takes one extra tool to handle the bulk export and keep your attachments.
This guide covers both paths. It walks through the native export on current macOS, the workaround for older Macs, and the small differences in how Bear organizes notes so nothing gets lost or scattered when it lands.
Four ways to move Apple Notes into Bear
Export Apple Notes to Bear, step by step
1. Check which macOS version you are on
Open the Apple menu and choose About This Mac. Native Markdown export from Apple Notes only exists on macOS 26 (Tahoe) and later. If you are on an older version, skip to the older-Mac method below, because Apple never added a built-in way to export several notes at once before macOS 26.
2. Export your Apple Notes as Markdown
Open Apple Notes and click a folder in the sidebar. Click any note in the list, press Command A to select every note in that folder, then choose File, Export As, Markdown and pick a destination folder. Photos and images are included. Apple exports one folder at a time, so repeat this for each folder you want to move.
3. Import the folder into Bear
In Bear, go to File, Import From, Markdown Folder and select the folder you just exported. Bear reads Markdown natively, so headings, lists, checklists, and links carry over without conversion.
4. Rebuild your folders as Bear tags
Bear does not use folders. It organizes notes with hashtag tags and nested tags. After importing, select the migrated notes and add a tag such as #imported/work so the group you had in Apple Notes stays together in Bear.
5. Check attachments and formatting
Open a handful of notes and confirm images, links, and checklists survived. If a PDF or other non-image attachment went missing, re-export those specific notes as a Textbundle, which packs the attachments inside the file, then import that into Bear.
Common Questions
Can you import Apple Notes into Bear?
Yes. On macOS 26 or later, export your Apple Notes as Markdown from File, Export As, Markdown, then in Bear choose File, Import From, Markdown Folder. Bear reads the Markdown directly, so your text and basic formatting come across cleanly.
How do I move Apple Notes to Bear on an older Mac?
macOS before version 26 has no built-in way to export several notes at once. You have two options. Bear publishes an Automator workflow that exports Apple Notes as HTML, but it drops non-image attachments like PDFs. Or you can export to Markdown with Apple Notes Exporter Pro on any macOS version, keeping attachments, then import that folder into Bear.
Does Bear have folders like Apple Notes?
No. Bear organizes everything with hashtag tags and nested tags instead of folders. Your Apple Notes folders do not become Bear folders, so add a tag to the imported notes to keep the same grouping.
Will my images and attachments come across?
Photos usually transfer with the macOS 26 Markdown export. Non-image files such as PDFs, scans, and audio can be left behind, especially with the older HTML export route. Exporting to Textbundle keeps attachments packed with the note so nothing is lost.
What file formats can Bear import?
Bear imports plain text (.txt), Markdown (.md), rich text (.rtf), Textbundle and Textpack, Evernote export (.enex), Bear notes (.bear), and HTML. Markdown and Textbundle are the best choices when moving from Apple Notes.
Does exporting delete my original Apple Notes?
No. Exporting copies your notes into new files and leaves the originals untouched in Apple Notes. Keep them until you have confirmed everything imported correctly in Bear, then delete them if you want.
Do checklists and tables survive the move to Bear?
Mostly. Markdown carries headings, bullet lists, checklists, and links reliably. Bear 2 supports tables, so simple tables come through. Very complex layouts may need a quick tidy after import.
Moving a Large Library or an Older Mac?
Export your full Apple Notes library or specific folders to Markdown with attachments intact, on any macOS version, then import straight into Bear.