Have you accidentally deleted an important note on Xiaomi Redmi or suspect someone has hidden it from your eyes? the standard Notes app has an archiving feature and a shopping cart, but not everyone knows about hidden system folders, MIUI backups or ADB capabilities. This article will help you find lost records – even if they were deleted months ago or hidden through third-party apps.
We will look at both official methods (like recovering from the cart or the Mi Cloud) and advanced ones with access to system files via Root or ADB. Particular attention will be paid to the Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10 models and the flagships of the K series, where the logic of storing notes may differ. If you do not find the answer in the first sections, read to the end: at the end of the article there is an FAQ with solutions for rare cases (for example, notes hidden through Second Space or Private Mode).
1. Check the basket in the Notes app
The most obvious, but often ignored, way is that the Notes app automatically sends deleted records to the bin, where they are stored for up to 30 days (starting with MIUI 12), after which the files are irretrievably erased — if you don't have time to recover them.
How to open the basket:
- 📱 Open the Notes app on the home screen.
- 🗑️ Swipe the basket icon in the lower right corner (or swipe left on some versions) MIUI).
- 🔍 Find the desired note, click on it and select Restore.
If the basket is empty or the note has disappeared from it before 30 days, proceed to the following method. MIUI 14 basket can be hidden behind an additional swipe or be on the menu ⋮ → Basket.
2.Recovery from the MIUI archive or backup
Xiaomi automatically backs up notes in two places: locally (in the MIUI/backup/Notes folder) and in the Mi Cloud, and if synchronization is enabled, the chances of returning data are high.
Method 1: Local Archives
- 📁 Connect your phone to your PC and open internal memory through MTP (Use the file manager on your phone).
- 🔍 Going the Way: Internal Storage → MIUI → backup → Notes.
- 📄 Look for files with the.nbk or.json extension – they can be opened through a text editor (for example, Notepad).++).
Method 2: Cloud Mi Cloud
- 🌐 Visit i.mi.com from your PC or phone.
- 🔑 Sign in with the same Mi Account as Redmi.
- 📝 Go to the Notes section – synchronized copies can be stored here.
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If there are no notes in the cloud, check your phone’s sync settings: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Notes. The feature may have been disabled.
3.Search for hidden notes via Second Space or Private Mode
Second Space and Private Mode features in MIUI allow you to hide applications and data, including notes. If you suspect that this is how the record is hidden, follow the instructions:
How to check out Second Space:
- 🔄 Go to Settings. → Special facilities → Second Space.
- 🔐 Enter your password (if set) or use your fingerprint.
- 📱 In the second space, open the Notes app – there may be hidden entries there.
How to check out Private Mode:
- 🔒 In the file manager (Files) tap on the ⋮ → Private Mode.
- 📂 Check Notes or Documents folder – exported notes may be stored here.
What to do if you forget your Second Space password?
4. Access to system note files via ADB
If notes are not found in the cart or cloud, you can try extracting them directly from MIUI system folders using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that requires enabled USB debugging and basic command-line knowledge.
Step 1: Preparation
- 🖥️ Install. ADB Tools on PC.
- 📱 On your phone, turn on Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Tap 7 times to activate the developer mode).
- 🔌 Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB and turn it on.
Step 2: Removing Note Files
adb pull /data/data/com.miui.notes/shared_prefs/ notes_backup/
adb pull /data/data/com.miui.notes/databases/ notes_db/After completing commands on the PC will appear folders notes_backup and notes_db You can open them with database files (.db) and settings (.xml) via SQLite Browser or text editor.
Debugging is on. USB|Installed drivers Xiaomi on PC|Scud ADB Tools|Phone connected via cable (not Wi-Fi)|Backup copy of data created-->
5. Recovering deleted notes through third-party utilities
If system methods don't work, you can use data recovery software like DiskDigger, EaseUS MobiSaver, or Dr.Fone to scan your phone's internal memory for deleted files, including notes in.txt,.json, or.db formats.
How to use:
- 📥 Install the program on a PC (for example, DiskDigger).
- 📱 Connect Redmi through USB (file transfer mode).
- 🔍 Start a deep scan (may take several hours).
- 📄 Look for files with keywords: note, miui_notes, com.miui.notes.
⚠️ Warning: Do not install recovery programs directly on your phone – this can overwrite deleted data, making it impossible to recover.
| Programme | Xiaomi support | Scan depth | Free version |
|---|---|---|---|
| DiskDigger | Yes (including MIUI) | Deep scanning. | Limited. |
| EaseUS MobiSaver | Yes. | Average. | Yes (up to 2 files) |
| Dr.Fone | Yes. | Deep. | No (only trial) |
| Recuva | Partially (Root required) | Superficial | Yes. |
6 Manual recovery via Root access
If you have Root rights (for example, through Magisk), you can manually scan the system folders where MIUI stores notes.
- 📁 /data/data/com.miui.notes/databases/ — Here are the databases with notes (notes.db).
- 📁 /data/data/com.miui.notes/files/ — exported or temporary files.
- 📁 /sdcard/MIUI/backup/Notes/ — backup copies (if they were created).
To view the notes.db database, use SQLite Editor (available in the Play Market). Open the file and query:
SELECT * FROM notes;⚠️ Attention: Incorrect actions with Root can lead to loss of all data or locking the phone.
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Root access is the best way to recover, but the risk of damage to the system is higher. Always back up before working with system files!
7. Alternative ways: export and sync with Google
If you’ve used Google Account Note Sync (via Google Keep or Google Drive), check:
- 🌐 Google Keep – This can be used to duplicate notes from MIUI Notes, if the synchronization has been configured.
- 📁 Google Drive → Backup copies → Apps – Look for files called com.miui.notes.
Some users also export notes manually through:
- 📤 Application settings “Notes» → Exports (available in MIUI 13+).
- 📧 Sending to email via Share → Send by mail.
If the note was exported, it could be saved in the Download folder or on a memory card in.txt or.zip format.