Do you actively use notes on Xiaomi, but suddenly they disappeared from the home screen? Or reinstalled the firmware and can not find where the important records went? POCO Notes can be stored in multiple places โ not always where you expect them to be. In this article, we'll look at all possible locations, from the standard Notes app to hidden system folders to the Mi Cloud cloud storage.
The peculiarity of Xiaomi is that the manufacturer often changes the interface and the location of functions depending on the version. MIUI. For example, in MIUI 12 notes were in a separate appendix, and in MIUI 14 of them could be moved to Notepad or integrated with Google Keep, and we took these nuances into account and collected relevant ways for all modern versions of firmware.
If you don't find notes in obvious places, don't panic. 80 percent of the time, they're not permanently deleted, they're simply moved or hidden. We'll go on to show you how to find them, including how to restore them through backups. MIUI, who few know.
1. Standard Annex "Notes" in MIUI
The first place to look is the Notes app (or Notes in English firmware), which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi, Redmi and other smartphones. POCO, but may be hidden or renamed.
To find him:
- ๐ Swipe down the home screen and search for โNotesโ (or โNotesยป).
- ๐ฑ Open All Apps (the โpointโ icon at the bottom of the screen) and scroll through the list to the letter โZยป.
- ๐ If the application is removed, check the Recycle Bin folder in Settings โ Annexes.
- ๐ In some models (for example, POCO F5) Notes are integrated into Notepad - look for it.
If the app is found but there are no notes inside, check:
- ๐ Archive tab (notes can be archived automatically).
- ๐ Partitions: Sometimes records are โattachedโ to the top of the screen.
- ๐ Sync with Mi Cloud (more on this in the next section).
โ ๏ธ Attention: B MIUI 14+ Notes app can be called Mi Notes or Xiaomi Notes. If you don't find it, try updating the firmware - sometimes after an upgrade, the app returns.
2.Mi Cloud Cloud Storage: How to Return Notes
If you previously logged in to a Xiaomi account and enabled sync, your notes could automatically be saved to Mi Cloud.This is a cloud from Xiaomi that reserves data even after the phone is reset to factory settings.
To check the cloud:
- Open your Settings โ Xiaomi Account โ Mi Cloud.
- Make sure the switch opposite the Notes (or Notes) is on.
- If sync is disabled, turn it on and wait for the data to load (it can take up to 5 minutes).
- Open the Notes app and update the page (pull the screen down).
If you have notes in the cloud but are not displayed on your phone:
- ๐ Reboot your smartphone.
- ๐ถ Check your internet connection (better via Wi-Fi).
- ๐ง Update the Notes app in Google Play.
- ๐ฅ Remove the app cache: Settings โ Annexes โ Notes โ Warehouse โ Clear the cache.
If you delete your notes from the cloud, you can restore them within 30 days:
- Go to i.mi.com and log in.
- Open the section Notes โ Basket.
- Select the required records and click Restore.
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If you don't remember the Mi Cloud password, restore it via email or a linked phone number, and when you restore access, the notes will return automatically the next time you sync.
3. Hidden folders and system storage
Notes in Xiaomi are stored not only in the application, but also in the system folders. If you use a file manager (such as Explorer or Mi File Manager), check the following paths:
| Type of notes | The way to the folder | File format |
|---|---|---|
| Local notes. | /storage/emulated/0/Notes | .json or.db |
| Backup copies | /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Backup/Notes | .bak |
| Cloud notes (cache) | /data/data/com.miui.notes/cache | .tmp |
| Exported notes | /storage/emulated/0/Download/Notes_Export | zip or.txt |
To open these folders:
- Use the conductor (pre-installed in the MIUI) Or install Solid Explorer.
- Enable the display of hidden files: Explorer settings โ Show hidden files.
- If the folder /data/data/ Unavailable, get root access or use ADB.
Note files in.json format can be opened through a text editor (e.g. Notepad).++), But for convenience, it is better to use special utilities:
- ๐ JSON Viewer (to view the structure of the file).
- ๐ง Mi Notes Backup Extractor (extracts notes from backups).
โ ๏ธ Note: Do not edit notes files manually unless you are sure of the format.This may cause data loss.
4.Recover deleted notes without backup
If you deleted your notes and didn't sync with Mi Cloud, you still have a chance of recovery. Xiaomi has a Built Recycle Bin feature that stores deleted records for 30 days.
To restore:
- Open the Notes app.
- Press three points (โฎ) top-right.
- Pick the basket.
- Mark the necessary notes and click Restore.
If the cart is empty or the notes have been deleted for more than a month, try special programs:
- ๐ ๏ธ DiskDigger โ scans internal memory for file residues.
- ๐ EaseUS MobiSaver โ Recovers Notes, Photos and Contacts.
- ๐ฑ GT Recovery โ works without root rights (but with restrictions).
To improve the chances of recovery:
Turn off the internet immediately (so that data is not overwritten)
Do not save new files to your phone.
Use a charged battery (minimum 50%)
Connect your phone to your PC for deep scanning-->
If you reset your phone to factory settings, you can only restore notes from a backup of the Mi Cloud or through the phone. ADB (if the copy was made before the reset, see the next section for more details.
Backup copies MIUI: note-taking
Xiaomi automatically backs up data, including notes, when you update your firmware or reset, and these copies are stored in a hidden folder and can contain your records even after you delete them.
To find and recover notes from the backup:
- Connect your phone to your PC and enable USB Debugging (Settings โ About Phone โ MIUI version โ press 7 times, then go back to Additional โ For Developers).
- Use it. ADB To access the backup folder: Adb pull /data/media/0/MIUI/Backup/AllBackup/
- Downloaded archive (.mbk) can be opened via Mi PC suite 7-Zip.
- Look for files with the.notes or.db extension.
If you donโt have access to a PC, try recovering notes through Mi. PC Suite:
- ๐ฅ๏ธ Install the program from the official Xiaomi website.
- ๐ฑ Connect your phone and select Data Recovery.
- ๐ Check Notes and click Scan.
- ๐ After scanning, select the required records and restore them.
โ ๏ธ Note:.mbk backups are encrypted. If you don't remember the password from your Xiaomi account, you won't be able to recover backup data.
How to open.mbk without Mi PC Suite?
6. Alternative Note-taking Apps in Xiaomi
If you did not use the standard Notes app, your records may have been saved to one of the alternative services:
- ๐ Google Keep โ syncs with your Google account. check at keep.google.com.
- ๐ Microsoft OneNote โ If you used it for notes, data is stored in the Microsoft cloud.
- ๐ Evernote or Notion are popular services that are often installed instead of standard ones.
- ๐ฑ ColorNote โ a popular third-party app for notes on Android.
To check which note-taking apps are installed on your Xiaomi:
- Open Settings โ Applications โ Application Management.
- In the search bar, enter โnotesโ or โnotesโ.
- View the list and open each app you find.
If you found the app, but donโt remember if you used it:
- ๐ Check out Last or Favorites within the app.
- ๐ Sort notes by date of creation โ you may find your notes.
- ๐ Export data (if there is such a feature) and view the file on PC.
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If you used a third-party note-taking app but deleted it, you can only recover data through a backup of that app (if it was created) or through the cloud (if sync was enabled).
7 What to do if the notes are missing after the update MIUI
Firmware updates are a common cause of missing notes, and they happen because:
- ๐ Resetting the app cache Notes.
- ๐ฆ Database version conflict.
- ๐ง Changes to the Structure of Data Structure in the New Version MIUI.
To return notes after the upgrade:
- Check out Mi Cloud (as described in Section 2).
- Install the old version of the app Notes: adb install com.miui.notes_12.0.4.apk (download APK from a trusted source, such as APKMirror).
- Reverse the firmware to the previous version (if notes are critical).
If the notes have been encrypted (for example, password protected), they may not open after the update.
- ๐ Try resetting your password through Settings โ Security โ Application passwords.
- ๐ง Contact Xiaomi Support (Please include screenshots of the error).
โ ๏ธ Note: If the notes appear empty or with characters after updating, don't try to edit them. This is a sign of database damage.
8 How to Prevent Loss of Notes in the Future
To avoid losing important records, follow these guidelines:
- โ๏ธ Enable automatic sync with Mi Cloud or Google Drive.
- ๐ค Export notes once a month: Notes โ โฎ โ Exports โ Select the format (TXT/HTML)
- ๐ Create local backups through Settings โ System system โ Backup.
- ๐ Stick to important notes (click on the note) โ โฎ โ Secure).
- ๐ Use a password to protect confidential records.
For security, keep copies of notes in several places:
| Storage area | Pluses | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Mi Cloud | Automatic synchronization, access from any device | Limited space (5GB free) |
| Google Drive | 15GB free, integration with other Google services | Requires manual export |
| Local folder. | It doesn't depend on the Internet. | Risk of losing a phone when resetting |
| Third-party applications (Evernote, Notion) | Extended functions, cross-platform | They can be paid. |
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Create a separate email (e.g. notes.backup)@gmail.com) And you can send important notes through the Share feature, so you'll always have a backup in your emails.