diff --git a/packages/core/__tests__/notes.test.js b/packages/core/__tests__/notes.test.js
index 7d92e9d01..32f135539 100644
--- a/packages/core/__tests__/notes.test.js
+++ b/packages/core/__tests__/notes.test.js
@@ -261,6 +261,21 @@ test("deleting a colored note should remove it from that color", () =>
     // TODO expect(color.noteIds.indexOf(id)).toBe(-1);
   }));
 
+test("note's content should follow note's localOnly property", () =>
+  noteTest().then(async ({ db, id }) => {
+    await db.notes.note(id).localOnly();
+    let note = db.notes.note(id);
+    expect(note._note.localOnly).toBe(true);
+    let content = await db.content.raw(note._note.contentId);
+    expect(content.localOnly).toBe(true);
+
+    await db.notes.note(id).localOnly();
+    note = db.notes.note(id);
+    expect(note._note.localOnly).toBe(false);
+    content = await db.content.raw(note._note.contentId);
+    expect(content.localOnly).toBe(false);
+  }));
+
 test("grouping items where item.title is empty or undefined shouldn't throw", () => {
   expect(
     groupArray([{ title: "" }], {
diff --git a/packages/core/api/sync/__tests__/collector.test.js b/packages/core/api/sync/__tests__/collector.test.js
index c9d930da3..a15b021c3 100644
--- a/packages/core/api/sync/__tests__/collector.test.js
+++ b/packages/core/api/sync/__tests__/collector.test.js
@@ -43,11 +43,12 @@ test("note edited before last synced time should not get included in collector",
     expect(data.notes.length).toBe(0);
   }));
 
-test("localOnly note should not get included in collector", () =>
+test("localOnly note should get included as a deleted item in collector", () =>
   databaseTest().then(async (db) => {
     await db.notes.add({ ...TEST_NOTE, localOnly: true });
 
     const data = await db.syncer._collector.collect(0);
 
-    expect(data.notes.length).toBe(0);
+    expect(data.notes.length).toBe(1);
+    expect(data.notes[0].cipher.includes(`"deleted":true`)).toBe(true);
   }));
diff --git a/packages/core/api/sync/collector.js b/packages/core/api/sync/collector.js
index 31682f971..c4ee2295f 100644
--- a/packages/core/api/sync/collector.js
+++ b/packages/core/api/sync/collector.js
@@ -45,9 +45,15 @@ class Collector {
   _collect(array) {
     if (!array.length) return [];
     return array.reduce((prev, item) => {
-      if (!item || item.localOnly) return prev;
-      if (item.dateModified > this._lastSyncedTimestamp || item.migrated)
+      if (!item) return prev;
+      if (item.localOnly) {
+        prev.push({ id: item.id, deleted: true });
+      } else if (
+        item.dateModified > this._lastSyncedTimestamp ||
+        item.migrated
+      ) {
         prev.push(item);
+      }
       return prev;
     }, []);
   }
diff --git a/packages/core/api/sync/merger.js b/packages/core/api/sync/merger.js
index f480b1aeb..f850c9e99 100644
--- a/packages/core/api/sync/merger.js
+++ b/packages/core/api/sync/merger.js
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ class Merger {
   async _mergeItem(remoteItem, get, add) {
     remoteItem = await this._deserialize(remoteItem);
     let localItem = await get(remoteItem.id);
+    if (localItem.localOnly) return;
 
     if (!localItem || remoteItem.dateModified > localItem.dateModified) {
       await add(remoteItem);
@@ -64,6 +65,7 @@ class Merger {
   async _mergeItemWithConflicts(remoteItem, get, add, markAsConflicted) {
     remoteItem = await this._deserialize(remoteItem);
     let localItem = await get(remoteItem.id);
+    if (localItem.localOnly) return;
 
     if (!localItem) {
       await add(remoteItem);
diff --git a/packages/core/collections/content.js b/packages/core/collections/content.js
index 431dd0135..9c5ac8001 100644
--- a/packages/core/collections/content.js
+++ b/packages/core/collections/content.js
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ export default class Content extends Collection {
         await this.extractAttachments(content)
       );
 
-    const oldContent = await this.raw(content.id, false);
+    const oldContent = await this.raw(content.id);
     if (content.id && oldContent) {
       content = {
         ...oldContent,
diff --git a/packages/core/collections/notes.js b/packages/core/collections/notes.js
index de918bc50..e2fb8ce18 100644
--- a/packages/core/collections/notes.js
+++ b/packages/core/collections/notes.js
@@ -63,6 +63,13 @@ export default class Notes extends Collection {
       if (oldNote) note.dateEdited = Date.now();
     }
 
+    if (noteArg.localOnly !== undefined) {
+      await this._db.content.add({
+        id: note.contentId,
+        localOnly: !!noteArg.localOnly,
+      });
+    }
+
     const noteTitle = getNoteTitle(note, oldNote);
     if (oldNote && oldNote.title !== noteTitle) note.dateEdited = Date.now();
 
diff --git a/packages/core/models/note.js b/packages/core/models/note.js
index b7dc7bc63..51dc0a2e3 100644
--- a/packages/core/models/note.js
+++ b/packages/core/models/note.js
@@ -163,6 +163,10 @@ export default class Note {
     return this._db.notes.add({ id: this._note.id, [prop]: !this._note[prop] });
   }
 
+  localOnly() {
+    return this._toggle("localOnly");
+  }
+
   favorite() {
     return this._toggle("favorite");
   }