diff --git a/@packages/inotes/Sources/INoteSync/Reader.swift b/@packages/inotes/Sources/INoteSync/Reader.swift
index af7b29f..05c0cab 100644
--- a/@packages/inotes/Sources/INoteSync/Reader.swift
+++ b/@packages/inotes/Sources/INoteSync/Reader.swift
@@ -57,7 +57,12 @@ public final class NotesReader {
     /// System Settings → Privacy & Security → Automation. We prime the
     /// prompt with a trivial script; if it fails we mark unauthorized.
     public func requestAuthorization() async -> Bool {
-        let probe = "tell application \"Notes\" to get name"
+        // Probe with a command that actually reads Notes data. `get name` returns
+        // the app's bundle name WITHOUT sending an Apple event to Notes, so it never
+        // triggers the TCC Automation prompt — the bug that left Notes ungranted and
+        // unsynced. `count notes` sends a real automation event, surfacing the prompt
+        // and registering MacSync → Notes.
+        let probe = "tell application \"Notes\" to count notes"
         let (ok, _) = await runAppleScript(probe)
         isAuthorized = ok
         if !ok {
diff --git a/src/client/MacSyncApp.swift b/src/client/MacSyncApp.swift
index 700f512..03a40db 100644
--- a/src/client/MacSyncApp.swift
+++ b/src/client/MacSyncApp.swift
@@ -484,10 +484,17 @@ final class AppDelegate: NSObject, NSApplicationDelegate {
         // pane — the bug that left Notes/Mail ungranted while Messages worked. Sending
         // one harmless event per app registers MacSync against each independently and
         // surfaces each first-time "Allow" prompt regardless of the others' outcome.
-        for app in ["Messages", "Mail", "Notes"] {
+        // Each probe must send a REAL Apple event (read data) to surface the
+        // Automation prompt. `get name` resolves from the app bundle without an
+        // event, so it never registers the app — use a data-reading command.
+        let probes = [
+            ("Messages", "tell application \"Messages\" to count chats"),
+            ("Mail", "tell application \"Mail\" to count accounts"),
+            ("Notes", "tell application \"Notes\" to count notes"),
+        ]
+        for (app, source) in probes {
             var errorInfo: NSDictionary?
-            _ = NSAppleScript(source: "tell application \"\(app)\" to get name")?
-                .executeAndReturnError(&errorInfo)
+            _ = NSAppleScript(source: source)?.executeAndReturnError(&errorInfo)
             if let err = errorInfo { NSLog("MacSync: automation probe \(app) error=\(err)") }
         }
         NSWorkspace.shared.open(