Notes App Folders Always Expanded on macOS Tahoe 26.0.1

FWIW in slightly earlier macOS some users had Notes glitches which could be fixed by resetting Notes preferences like below. But I'd backup and maybe also export (or copy & paste) important notes elsewhere before doing anything, just in case.

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Q: Notes.app is showing folder list and notes list, but not showing the notes themselves.

A: Choose Finder > Go > Go to Folder..., paste the following line, and press the Return key (*):

~/Library/Containers/com.apple.Notes/Data/Library/Preferences/

There should be "com.apple.Notes.plist" -- move it to the Desktop. Reboot the Mac and open Notes. If it then works, trash that old "com.apple.Notes.plist" from the Desktop.

Some setups might have the file in the following folder so you might try that:

~/Library/Preferences/

(*) Another way to find that preference file is to Option-click Finder > Go > click Library. Then open Containers. There are three (sic!) Notes folders, open the topmost (make sure you are sorting as List A to Z) and open Data > Library > Preferences.

I am not seeing this. Do you sync notes via iCloud? See if the problem is present when you boot in safe mode, which disables 3rd party extensions and performs some system cleanup.

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

In the Notes sidebar, folders behave like they do in Finder windows using list view in this respect:

⌥-right arrow expands the folder/subfolder hierarchy, and ⌥- left arrow collapses the folder/subfolder hierarchy.

gokbali wrote:

Thanks for your reply. I checked — Notes is not listed under “Open at Login,” and I also tried relaunching it while holding the Shift key. Unfortunately, the issue still happens — every time I open Notes, all folders appear expanded again.

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/53af436d-bea8-40e4-ad0a-ce2cb90a4e82

I do not have 'nested' folders like your example; so I can add no further insight here.

Known issue tend to get prioritized in point-updates... therefore

To be proactive you can file a bug report / submit your Apple Feedback direct to the Product Team here: 

Feedback - Notes - Apple

The current stable release of Tahoe  including bug fixes,  security updates  is macOS 26.0.1

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support

If it only happens when launching the App, then the alternative is don't quit the app. Leave it in full screen mode, a swipe away in Mission Control for you issue.

Don't restart your Mac, simply let it sleep and pickup where you left off, this is what sleep (or close the lid on a notebook) is for...so you do not have to restart.

Apologies, like leroydouglas I did not have nested folders. So I made some and sure enough, they are all expanded when the Notes app is opened even though they were all closed before quitting it.

I can see where that would be annoying with lots of nested folders as you have.

To have Apple consider your feedback, submit it here:

Feedback - Notes - Apple

Zig Zagg wrote:

In the Notes sidebar, folders behave like they do in Finder windows using list view in this respect:

⌥-right arrow expands the folder/subfolder hierarchy, and ⌥- left arrow collapses the folder/subfolder hierarchy.

Goos computing Zig Zagg ! Appreciate this insightful post.

gokbali wrote:

I’m using macOS Tahoe 26.0.1.

When I open my computer and go into the Notes app, all folders appear expanded one under another.

I have to manually collapse them each time.

This happens every time I start my Mac.

I am unclear what this means exactly....I certainly never experienced an anomaly here.

You can try quitting the Note.app and relaunch it holding the Shift key down, and compare your results.

If you do not want Notes to open when you restart your Mac— remove Notes from "Open at Log-in items list"

Command Q will quit most open applications if in doubt.

The red pill button will simply close open windows on most apps

ref: Notes User Guide for Mac

Ugggh, except now the problem persists any time I close the app. If I have folders open and close the app a single time, they will always remain open upon re-opening the app, even if I close them again and again. Definitely a bug to be fixed. Thanks for this band-aid fix though.

I'm having the exact same issue and it's driving me mad. Happy to see someone else has experienced this bug. Apple, please fix it!

Yeah... same thing here. Notes app does not remember that I "collapsed" the folder so its not showing sub-folders. Quite annoying.

Thank you! This solved the problem for me. I've been trying to find the right plist file to delete, but you finally got it for me. Much appreciated.