---
title: "How to: Ensure data is safe when joining an Organization with Goodnotes Teams"
description: Information relating to data safety and the transition of License Key to Goodnotes Teams
---

[Skip to content](https://go.goodnotes.com/support/will-users-notebooks-be-deleted-when-joining-my-organization-with-goodnotes-admin-console#main-content)

- [English](https://go.goodnotes.com/support/will-users-notebooks-be-deleted-when-joining-my-organization-with-goodnotes-admin-console)
- [Deutsch](https://go.goodnotes.com/de/will-users-notebooks-be-deleted-when-joining-my-organization-with-goodnotes-admin-console)
- [日本語](https://go.goodnotes.com/ja/will-users-notebooks-be-deleted-when-joining-my-organization-with-goodnotes-admin-console)

English

Show submenu for translations

[![Combination\_black\_secondary](https://go.goodnotes.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Combination_black_secondary.png?width=250&height=65&name=Combination_black_secondary.png)](https://go.goodnotes.com/support?hsLang=en)

Open main navigation

Close main navigation

- - [English](https://go.goodnotes.com/support/will-users-notebooks-be-deleted-when-joining-my-organization-with-goodnotes-admin-console)
    - [Deutsch](https://go.goodnotes.com/de/will-users-notebooks-be-deleted-when-joining-my-organization-with-goodnotes-admin-console)
    - [日本語](https://go.goodnotes.com/ja/will-users-notebooks-be-deleted-when-joining-my-organization-with-goodnotes-admin-console)

  English
  
  Show submenu for translations
- [Contact us](https://26813687.hs-sites-eu1.com/get-support-with-our-dedicated-support-team)

[Contact us](https://26813687.hs-sites-eu1.com/get-support-with-our-dedicated-support-team?hsLang=en)

 How can we help you?

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

1. [Goodnotes Business Support Site](https://go.goodnotes.com/support?hsLang=en)
2. [Set up & Manage your Goodnotes Organization](https://go.goodnotes.com/support/set-up-manage-your-goodnotes-organization?hsLang=en)
3. [Onboarding your Goodnotes Organization](https://go.goodnotes.com/support/set-up-manage-your-goodnotes-organization?hsLang=en#onboarding-your-goodnotes-organization)

# How to: Ensure data is safe when joining an Organization with Goodnotes Teams

If you're worried about data loss, it's important to note that Notebooks will not be deleted when joining an Organization. However, it is still best practice to to back up your data before joining, especially if you have previously been deploying the app using a License Key. You can backup your data through [iCloud Sync](https://support.goodnotes.com/hc/en-us/articles/7353726793999-Sync-Goodnotes-documents-between-iPhones-iPads-Macs), [Auto Backup](https://support.goodnotes.com/hc/en-us/articles/7352786555279-Use-auto-backup-to-automatically-create-a-copy-of-your-documents-in-a-supported-cloud-storage) or a [Manual Backup](https://go.goodnotes.com/support/manually-back-up-and-restore-your-documents-teams-enterprise?hsLang=en).

For information that may be helpful in aiding your transition from License Key to Goodnotes Teams, please [see our dedicated help article](https://go.goodnotes.com/support/transitioning-from-a-license-key-to-the-goodnotes-admin-console?hsLang=en).

#### Context

If you previously deployed the app using our License Key model instead of the Admin Console, and are transitioning over, you may find that after using the invite link to join and creating an account, your existing users are confronted with the following messages if already logged into another account with Notebooks syncing to iCloud. 

| ![banner in GN](https://go.goodnotes.com/hs-fs/hubfs/banner%20in%20GN.png?width=500&height=697&name=banner%20in%20GN.png) | ![banner in GN-2](https://go.goodnotes.com/hs-fs/hubfs/banner%20in%20GN-2.png?width=500&height=695&name=banner%20in%20GN-2.png) | ![banner in GN-1](https://go.goodnotes.com/hs-fs/hubfs/banner%20in%20GN-1.png?width=670&height=932&name=banner%20in%20GN-1.png) |
| --- | --- | --- |

This warnings will appear in particular scenarios, dependent on how the user was using Goodnotes before. 

- **License Key**: If you were using the License Key or were on trial and did not turn on iCloud sync, local documents would continue to live on the device after they accept the invitation and create a Goodnotes account. Since the files aren't synced to cloud storage, we strongly recommend [manually backing](https://support.goodnotes.com/hc/en-us/articles/7353694866831-Back-up-and-restore-your-library-manually) up your data first, just to be safe.
- **Personal Users**: When inviting users with existing personal Goodnotes accounts on verified work domains, their documents remain on the device. Users with iCloud sync will be prompted to migrate to Goodnotes Cloud for cross-platform access and collaboration features.

#### What should I recommend to my users?

You should always recommend to your users to perform a backup whenever there is a possibility of changing accounts or devices. Your team do not need to sign out and back in, but prior to getting started on the Admin Console, you should advise them to backup using either of the two following methods available to you: 

- [Auto Backup](https://go.goodnotes.com/support/how-to-use-auto-backup-to-automatically-create-a-copy-of-your-documents-in-a-supported-cloud-storage?hsLang=en)
- [Manual Backup](https://support.goodnotes.com/hc/en-us/articles/7353694866831-Back-up-and-restore-your-library-manually)

#### I still have questions about this!

If you are still unsure, our dedicated support team is here to help, and you can contact us [here](https://share-eu1.hsforms.com/1B4xHUNdVTOqtThm3i_q-OAfypkn).

- [Set up & Manage your Goodnotes Organization](https://go.goodnotes.com/support/set-up-manage-your-goodnotes-organization?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Onboarding your Goodnotes Organization](https://go.goodnotes.com/support/set-up-manage-your-goodnotes-organization?hsLang=en#onboarding-your-goodnotes-organization)
    - [Authentication & Identity](https://go.goodnotes.com/support/set-up-manage-your-goodnotes-organization?hsLang=en#authentication-identity)
    - [Managing your Organization](https://go.goodnotes.com/support/set-up-manage-your-goodnotes-organization?hsLang=en#managing-your-organization)
    - [Subscription & Billing](https://go.goodnotes.com/support/set-up-manage-your-goodnotes-organization?hsLang=en#subscription-billing)
    - [Joining an Organization](https://go.goodnotes.com/support/set-up-manage-your-goodnotes-organization?hsLang=en#joining-an-organization)
- [Support & FAQs](https://go.goodnotes.com/support/support-faqs?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Get Support](https://go.goodnotes.com/support/support-faqs?hsLang=en#get-support)
    - [Goodnotes Features](https://go.goodnotes.com/support/support-faqs?hsLang=en#goodnotes-features)
    - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://go.goodnotes.com/support/support-faqs?hsLang=en#frequently-asked-questions)
    - [Troubleshooting](https://go.goodnotes.com/support/support-faqs?hsLang=en#troubleshooting)
- [License Keys](https://go.goodnotes.com/support/license-keys?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Installation and Management](https://go.goodnotes.com/support/license-keys?hsLang=en#installation-and-management)

[![Combination\_black\_primary@2x (2)-2](https://go.goodnotes.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Combination_black_primary@2x%20(2)-2.png?width=250&height=43&name=Combination_black_primary@2x%20(2)-2.png "Combination_black_primary@2x (2)-2")](https://go.goodnotes.com/support?hsLang=en)

Copyright © 2026, Goodnotes