How to Backup Sticky Notes in Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

Easy Ways to Keep Your Sticky Notes Safe on Windows 11

Protecting your Sticky Notes on Windows 11 isn’t just convenient — it’s essential. Knowing where those notes are stored and keeping a backup can save you a lot of hassle later on. Nothing’s more frustrating than losing your important reminders due to a glitch or accidental deletion. So, here’s a simple way to keep your notes safe with just a bit of effort.

How to Back Up Sticky Notes on Windows 11

First, you need to locate where Windows keeps your Sticky Notes. Spoiler: it’s not in the obvious spot. Let’s go through the straightforward process to back up that file without overcomplicating things.

Open File Explorer

Start by opening File Explorer. You can find it on the taskbar or press Windows key + E. This is your gateway to the Sticky Notes data file.

Navigate to the Storage Folder

Enter this path into the address bar: %LocalAppData%Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState and press Enter. If that’s not working, you can also find it through setting some menus:
Settings > Apps & Features > Microsoft Sticky Notes, then click on Advanced options to see where it’s stored. Because, naturally, Windows tends to make things trickier than necessary.

Locate the Notes Database

Within that folder, look for the file named plum.sqlite. That’s the core of your Sticky Notes — all your memos stored in one file. If that gets corrupted or deleted, it’s a real pain to recover your notes.

Copy the Database for Backup

Right-click on plum.sqlite and select Copy, or simply press Ctrl + C. Then, navigate to where you want to save the backup — like an external drive, cloud storage, or a USB stick — right-click and choose Paste. If you prefer using PowerShell, here’s a quick command you can run:
Copy-Item -Path "$env:LocalAppData\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\plum.sqlite" -Destination "D:\Backups\StickyNotesBackup\plum_$(Get-Date -Format 'yyyyMMdd').sqlite"

Store Your Backup in a Safe Spot

Make sure your backup is stored somewhere reliable — an external drive or credible cloud service works well. Using the command line? You can even automate the backup process:
Move-Item -Path "$env:LocalAppData\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\plum.sqlite" -Destination "D:\Backups\StickyNotes\plum.sqlite"

Creating a dedicated folder like V:\Backups\StickyNotes\ is a smart move to keep everything organised.

Keep Your Backup Up to Date

• Set a regular schedule — maybe weekly — to update your backup.
• Or automate it with a script that copies the plum.sqlite automatically.
• Cloud services like OneDrive make it easy to access your notes from anywhere.
• Add dates to your backup filenames to keep track of different versions — it helps when you need to find an old note.
• And don’t forget to test restoring a backup now and then — better safe than sorry.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sticky Notes Backup

What format does Windows use for Sticky Notes?

They’re stored in a file named plum.sqlite, which is a SQLite database. Knowing this makes backing up and restoring easier.

Can backing up be automated?

Definitely. You can set up a PowerShell script combined with Windows Task Scheduler to do it automatically. Here’s a sample script:

# PowerShell script to backup plum.sqlite
$source = "$env:LocalAppData\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\plum.sqlite"
$destination = "D:\Backups\StickyNotes\plum_backup_$(Get-Date -Format 'yyyyMMddHHmmss').sqlite"
Copy-Item -Path $source -Destination $destination

Can I transfer my Sticky Notes to another device?

Absolutely. Just copy your plum.sqlite backup to the same folder on the new device — which is:
%LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState. After closing Sticky Notes on the new machine, replace the existing file with your backup and restart the app. Your notes should appear just as before.

What if the plum.sqlite file goes missing?

If that happens and you don’t have a backup, your notes are gone for good. That’s why regular backups are so vital.

Can I access backups from different devices?

Yes. If your backup’s stored in the cloud, you can restore your notes on any Windows 11 device — hassle-free.

Quick Summary of Backup Steps

1. Open File Explorer (or PowerShell if you prefer).
2. Navigate to:
   %LocalAppData%Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState.
3. Find plum.sqlite.
4. Copy the file using right-click or commands.
5. Save your copy in a safe spot — on the cloud or an external drive.

Why Regularly Backing Up Your Digital Notes Matters

Backing up your Sticky Notes isn’t just good practice — it’s essential. The plum.sqlite file contains everything — from reminders to important info. Losing it during a Windows update or a system crash can be a real headache. Spending a few moments to back up regularly can save you hours of trying to recover lost notes down the track.

Consider scheduling automatic backups with Task Scheduler, and using cloud storage like OneDrive for easy access wherever you go. Making backing up a regular habit is the best way to avoid future headaches. Trust me, it’s a small investment of time that pays off big time.