How to Move Sticky Notes to a New PC

1. Save a backup on the old PC

1. Open Settings → Backup & Data and click Save a backup.
2. If you use a PIN, type it so locked notes are included.
3. Save the file to a USB stick, or to a cloud folder you can get to from the new PC.

The backup has every note, archived notes and pictures too. It isn't encrypted, so delete it once you're done moving.

2. Restore it on the new PC

1. Install Stickies from the download page or the Microsoft Store.
2. If you locked notes with a PIN, set up a PIN first in Settings → PIN Lock. Then your locked notes stay locked when they come in. Without a PIN, they come in as normal notes.
3. Open Settings → Backup & Data, click Restore from a backup and pick the file.
4. If some of the notes are already on the new PC, Stickies asks which version to keep: Keep mine, add the rest or Use the backup's version. On a fresh install there's nothing to choose.

3. Move your license

One license works on 3 PCs at the same time, so you may not need to do anything: paste your key in Settings → License on the new PC. If you're at the limit, click Deactivate this PC on the old PC first. If the old PC is already gone, remove it at polar.sh/eigenlabs/portal, or email me and I'll sort it out.

Why you can't just copy the notes file

Your notes are encrypted for your Windows account on the old PC, so the stickies.db file can't be read anywhere else, even when you sign in with the same Microsoft account. The backup file exists for exactly this. The same goes for a notes file kept in OneDrive or on a NAS. There's more on that in keeping sticky notes in OneDrive, Dropbox or on a NAS.

Coming from Microsoft Sticky Notes?

Stickies can't import notes from Microsoft Sticky Notes directly. If you only have a handful, copying them over by hand takes a few minutes. Paste each one into a new note with Win+Alt+N.