How to Back Up and Restore Your Sticky Notes on Windows

Sticky Notes is a simple yet powerful tool on Windows that helps you jot down quick reminders, to-dos, and important thoughts. But what happens if your notes suddenly disappear due to a system crash, accidental deletion, or device reset?

Backing up your Sticky Notes ensures you never lose valuable information. In this post, we’ll show you how to back up and restore Sticky Notes on Windows — step by step.

📝 Where Are Sticky Notes Stored?

On modern Windows systems (Windows 10 and Windows 11), Sticky Notes data is stored in a database file named plum.sqlite.

Location:

C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState

Make sure you enable hidden folders in File Explorer to access the AppData folder.

🔄 How to Back Up Sticky Notes

Step 1: Close Sticky Notes

Before backing up, make sure the Sticky Notes app is closed to avoid file corruption.

Step 2: Navigate to Sticky Notes Folder

1. Press Win + R, type %LocalAppData%, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to: \Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState

Step 3: Copy the Backup File

• Find the file named plum.sqlite.
• Copy this file and save it to a secure location, such as an external drive or cloud storage.

Optional: You can also back up settings.dat if you want to save note sizes, positions, and app preferences.

💾 How to Restore Sticky Notes

Step 1: Ensure Sticky Notes Is Closed

Close the Sticky Notes app before restoring the file.

Step 2: Paste the Backup File

1. Navigate to the same folder again: \Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState
2. Paste the backed-up plum.sqlite file here.
3. If prompted, overwrite the existing file.

Step 3: Launch Sticky Notes

Open the Sticky Notes app. Your notes should now appear exactly as they were during the last backup.

🛡️ Tips for Managing Sticky Notes Safely

• Schedule regular backups if you use Sticky Notes for important information.
• Use OneDrive sync to store Sticky Notes in the cloud (requires Microsoft account sign-in).
• Export notes manually for long-term storage using Notepad or other text tools.

🧠 Final Thoughts

Sticky Notes can be a digital lifesaver — but only if your notes are protected. With these backup and restore methods, you can ensure your ideas, reminders, and important info are never lost, even in a system crash or reset.