Sticky Notes is an application that has been around for many years, but it became a modern app with Windows 10, and it's a software approach to the physical paper sticky notes you usually post around your monitor.
The only caveat to using Sticky Notes is that your notes don't sync to the cloud (although the app integrates with Cortana), and there's no way to save them outside your device. As a result, when you reinstall Windows 10, or if your machine breaks, your notes are gone for good.
Related: How to use the Windows Sticky Notes to remind you all the things
However, using the right set of instructions, you can make a copy of the database, which you can then restore on any device to get your notes back.
In this Windows 10 guide, we show you the steps to create a backup of your notes and the process to restore them.
How to create a backup of your Sticky Notes
To backup your Sticky Notes on Windows 10, do the following:
- Open the Run command using the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut.
Type the following path and click the OK button:
%LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState
Right-click the plum.sqlite file, and select Copy.
Using File Explorer (Windows key + E), open a folder location that you want to use to export the backup.
- For example, you can use a USB flash drive, or you can save the file in your OneDrive folder, which makes it easier to move your Sticky Notes to other devices or to restore them after reinstalling Windows 10.
Right-click in the folder location, and select Paste (Ctrl + V).
Once you complete these steps, you can restore your notes on the same computer, or you can move them to another device.
How to restore a backup of your Sticky Notes
To restore your Sticky Notes to the same or different Windows 10 machine, do the following:
- Open File Explorer (Windows key + E).
- Navigate to the folder location with the backup file.
Right-click the plum.sqlite file, and select Copy (Ctrl + C).
- Open the Run command using the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut.
Type the following path and click the OK button:
%LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftStickyNotes_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState
Right-click the folder, and select Paste (Ctrl + V).
Important: You can replace an existing plum.sqlite, but if you do you'll delete any previous notes already stored on the device.
After completing these steps, open Sticky Notes, and all your notes should now appear on your desktop exactly in the same location where you left them.
More Windows 10 resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:
- Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know
- Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
- Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

Will World of Warcraft ever come to consoles?
Could World of Warcraft ever come to consoles? Probably not, but there's always a chance. Let's analyze the latest information, together.

Check out the best laptops for those heading to college
If you're going away to college and you want to take an amazing laptop with you, grab yourself a Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (Gen 7) or one of our other picks of best laptops for students.

The XPS 13, XPS 15, or XPS 17: Which Dell laptop would you choose?
Dell now has three different sizes for its XPS notebook. Each excels in its own right, so you might be wondering exactly which one is the best choice to suit your needs.

Check out these must-have Windows apps for Super Bowl LVI
Super Bowl LVI is finally here. To make sure you get the best experience for the big game, make sure to grab these apps for Windows 11 and Windows 10.