Location of the Notes folder on Xiaomi smartphones

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices often face the need to transfer their records to another phone or simply want to find a backup of important data in the file system.The standard Notes app is one of the most popular tools in the MIUI and HyperOS shells, however, its files are hidden from the eyes of the average user. This is done to secure data and prevent accidental removal of system components.

Many users mistakenly believe that texts are saved as simple.txt files in the root directory. In fact, the structure of information storage on Android devices is more complex and requires access to system folders through an advanced guide or special ADB commands. In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible ways, methods of data extraction and nuances of working with the application database.

Before you start manipulating files, it’s important to understand that direct access to a folder can be restricted by access rights, especially on newer versions of Android (11, 12, 13, 14). Scoped Storage has significantly changed the rules of the game, closing direct access to the catalog Android/data For standard file managers, below we will look at current ways to solve this problem.

The standard path to note files in Android

Traditionally, all data from Android apps is stored in a special directory designed for user data. In the case of the standard application from Xiaomi, the path to the database is as follows: internal_storage/MIUI/notes or, in newer versions of the system, within the catalog Android/data. However, simply copying the readable file from here will not work, since it stores binary data from the SQLite database.

To access these files, you’ll need a root-enabled file manager or a computer connection with Android Debug Bridge installed. If you’re using the standard File Manager, you’ll only see shortcuts or shared sync folders, not the database itself, an important point that novices often miss.

If your goal is to simply find a file to transfer to another Xiaomi phone, then using cloud sync through Mi Cloud will be much more effective than manually copying files. But if you want a physical file for backup or analysis, the main interest is the note.db file.

• 📂 The main path is often hidden in the depths of system partitions. Android/data.
• 🔒 To access the folder, you may need root rights or a special file manager.
• 💾 A database file usually has a.db extension and weighs a little.
• 🔄 Direct file editing without knowledge SQL It can lead to data loss.

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Before any manipulation of system files, create a complete backup of data through the Mi Cloud or computer to avoid losing important information.

Search through built-in Explorer and File Managers

The standard Xiaomi Explorer, which is simply called Files, has limited functionality for viewing system directories. To try to find traces of notes, open the app and go to Documents, or search internal storage. Type the word notes or notepad into the search to see which folders the system will find.

Note that on Android 11 and above, access to the Android/data folder through standard Explorer is closed. You will see the folder, but when you try to log in, the system will give an error or show an empty directory. To circumvent this limitation, you can use third-party file managers such as Total Commander, Solid Explorer or MT Manager, who are able to request special permissions from the system.

If you find the com.miui.notes folder, you'll be interested in the files subfolder, which is where export files are often located if you've used the Send feature within the application, but the database of live notes may be in a secure databases partition that is difficult to access without root permission.

Using Root Rights to Access System Folders

Having a superuser (Root) license gives you full access to your smartphone file system. It's the only guaranteed way to access your note.db file in its native location. If your phone is unlocked and you have Magisk or root access installed on it, you can copy the database without restriction.

The full path to Xiaomi’s root-based note database usually looks like this:

/data/data/com.miui.notes/databases/note.db

To copy this file, use a root-enabled file manager, such as Root Explorer or MT Manager. Once you copy the file to your computer or public folder, you can open it with a SQLite database program, such as DB Browser for SQLite, which will allow you to read the text of notes in readable form.

⚠️ Note: Getting root rights voids the device warranty and may cause banking applications and Google Pay services to fail.

Export and import of notes by staff funds

Instead of complex file system manipulations, Xiaomi has a convenient export mechanism: you can save an important note in image, text or PDF format directly from the application. To do this, open the desired entry, click on three dots in the corner of the screen and select "Send" or "Export".

For export in format PDF or Text, file is saved to the download folder or Documents, from where it is easy to get through USB-This is the safest way to transfer information to a computer or other smartphone that is not Xiaomi. PDF.

For mass export of all notes, you should use synchronization immediately. Go to your note settings, select Synchronization and make sure it's enabled. Once the process is complete, all your data will be available on i.mi.com, where you can copy it in one or in groups.

• 📤 Export important documents to PDF formatting.
• ☁️ Synchronization through Mi Cloud is the most reliable way to backup.
• 📩 Sending a note to yourself in Telegram or on Email works like a fast export.
• 📂 Export files are saved to the Download folder or MIUI/Notes.

Synchronize with Mi Cloud and access via web interface

Xiaomi's ecosystem offers a powerful tool for working with notes, the Mi Cloud cloud service, which, if you have synchronization enabled, a copy of all your records is stored on the company's servers, which allows you to access data even if your phone is lost or broken.

To view and manage your notes, go to i.mi.com, log in to your Mi Account that you use on your smartphone, and in the web interface, you'll see a complete list of folders and records, and you can copy text, delete what you don't need, or create a new note that will instantly appear on your phone.

The web interface also allows you to export notes. Although there may not be a direct Download Everything button, you can highlight text and copy it to the clipboard, which is especially convenient for transferring large amounts of information to devices of other brands, where the Notes app from Xiaomi may not work correctly or missing.

Table: Comparison of methods of access to notes

To make it easier for you to choose the right way to work with note files, we have prepared a method comparison table that will help you assess the risks and complexity of each option.

As you can see from the table, export and cloud synchronization methods are the most secure and convenient for the average user. Direct access to database files is only suitable for advanced users who understand the structure of SQLite and the risks of tampering with system files.

Frequent problems and their solution

Users often experience a situation where, after flashing or resetting settings, notes disappear, which happens if the synchronization was not enabled before reset. It is almost impossible to restore data from a note.db file without root rights on a new phone, since the application does not know how to import this file from external memory.

Another common problem is desynchronization. If you created a note on a tablet but it didn't appear on your phone, check the Notes app version on both devices. Different versions of MIUI can use different storage formats, which leads to conflicts.

⚠️ Note: If you change region in your phone settings (e.g. China to Global), note sync may stop or data may stop showing.

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The most reliable way to save notes is to sync regularly with the Mi Cloud and periodically export important PDF entries to your computer.

Additional features and hidden functions

Xiaomi's note app hides some useful features that not everyone knows about, like the ability to create checklists, draw by hand, and add voice recordings, all of which are also stored in a database or in the folder of the app's media files, increasing its size.

For those who like automation, there is the possibility of using scripts for backup databases through ADB without root rights, if the device debugs over USB. the command adb backup com.miui.notes allows you to create a backup of the application, which can then be unpacked on the computer.

Using note widgets on the desktop also speeds up access to information, so you can configure the widget to display a specific to-do list or important information, eliminating the need to open the app every time you search for the right file.

• 🎤 Voice notes are stored as audio files inside the database or separately.
• 🎨 The images are converted into images and take up more space.
• 🔍 Searching for notes works even inside the handwritten text (on new versions).
• 🔒 Individual notes can be hidden in a “Secure folder” with a password.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions