Where Xiaomi Stores Notes: All Ways to Find and Recover Records

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:

  • ๐Ÿ” Swipe down the home screen and search for โ€œNotesโ€ (or โ€œNotesยป).
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Open All Apps (the โ€œpointโ€ icon at the bottom of the screen) and scroll through the list to the letter โ€œZยป.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ If the application is removed, check the Recycle Bin folder in Settings โ†’ Annexes.
  • ๐Ÿ“Œ 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:

  • ๐Ÿ“ Archive tab (notes can be archived automatically).
  • ๐Ÿ”’ Partitions: Sometimes records are โ€œattachedโ€ to the top of the screen.
  • ๐ŸŒ Sync with Mi Cloud (more on this in the next section).

โš ๏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.

๐Ÿ“Š What version? MIUI You're using it?
MIUI 12 or older
MIUI 13
MIUI 14
HyperOS
I don't know.

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:

  1. Open your Settings โ†’ Xiaomi Account โ†’ Mi Cloud.
  2. Make sure the switch opposite the Notes (or Notes) is on.
  3. If sync is disabled, turn it on and wait for the data to load (it can take up to 5 minutes).
  4. 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:

  • ๐Ÿ”„ Reboot your smartphone.
  • ๐Ÿ“ถ Check your internet connection (better via Wi-Fi).
  • ๐Ÿ”ง Update the Notes app in Google Play.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฅ 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:

  1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
  2. Open the section Notes โ†’ Basket.
  3. Select the required records and click Restore.

๐Ÿ’ก

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 notesThe way to the folderFile 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_Exportzip or.txt

To open these folders:

  1. Use the conductor (pre-installed in the MIUI) Or install Solid Explorer.
  2. Enable the display of hidden files: Explorer settings โ†’ Show hidden files.
  3. 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:

  • ๐Ÿ“„ JSON Viewer (to view the structure of the file).
  • ๐Ÿ”ง Mi Notes Backup Extractor (extracts notes from backups).

โš ๏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:

  1. Open the Notes app.
  2. Press three points (โ‹ฎ) top-right.
  3. Pick the basket.
  4. 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:

  • ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ DiskDigger โ€“ scans internal memory for file residues.
  • ๐Ÿ” EaseUS MobiSaver โ€“ Recovers Notes, Photos and Contacts.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ 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:

  1. 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).
  2. Use it. ADB To access the backup folder: Adb pull /data/media/0/MIUI/Backup/AllBackup/
  3. Downloaded archive (.mbk) can be opened via Mi PC suite 7-Zip.
  4. Look for files with the.notes or.db extension.

If you donโ€™t have access to a PC, try recovering notes through Mi. PC Suite:

  • ๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ Install the program from the official Xiaomi website.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Connect your phone and select Data Recovery.
  • ๐Ÿ” Check Notes and click Scan.
  • ๐Ÿ“‹ After scanning, select the required records and restore them.

โš ๏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?
You'll need Python and a mi-backup-unpack library. Install it with the command: pip install mi-backup-unpack Then unpack the backup: mi-backup-unpack AllBackup_20260501.mbk output_folder In a file. output_folder Note files in.json or.db format.

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:

  • ๐Ÿ“ Google Keep โ€“ syncs with your Google account. check at keep.google.com.
  • ๐Ÿ“’ Microsoft OneNote โ€“ If you used it for notes, data is stored in the Microsoft cloud.
  • ๐Ÿ“Œ Evernote or Notion are popular services that are often installed instead of standard ones.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ ColorNote โ€“ a popular third-party app for notes on Android.

To check which note-taking apps are installed on your Xiaomi:

  1. Open Settings โ†’ Applications โ†’ Application Management.
  2. In the search bar, enter โ€œnotesโ€ or โ€œnotesโ€.
  3. View the list and open each app you find.

If you found the app, but donโ€™t remember if you used it:

  • ๐Ÿ” Check out Last or Favorites within the app.
  • ๐Ÿ“… Sort notes by date of creation โ€“ you may find your notes.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Export data (if there is such a feature) and view the file on PC.

๐Ÿ’ก

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:

  • ๐Ÿ”„ Resetting the app cache Notes.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฆ Database version conflict.
  • ๐Ÿ”ง Changes to the Structure of Data Structure in the New Version MIUI.

To return notes after the upgrade:

  1. Check out Mi Cloud (as described in Section 2).
  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).
  3. 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.

  • ๐Ÿ” Try resetting your password through Settings โ†’ Security โ†’ Application passwords.
  • ๐Ÿ“ง Contact Xiaomi Support (Please include screenshots of the error).

โš ๏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.
  • ๐Ÿ“ค Export notes once a month: Notes โ†’ โ‹ฎ โ†’ Exports โ†’ Select the format (TXT/HTML)
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Create local backups through Settings โ†’ System system โ†’ Backup.
  • ๐Ÿ“Œ Stick to important notes (click on the note) โ†’ โ‹ฎ โ†’ Secure).
  • ๐Ÿ” Use a password to protect confidential records.

For security, keep copies of notes in several places:

Storage areaPlusesCons
Mi CloudAutomatic synchronization, access from any deviceLimited space (5GB free)
Google Drive15GB free, integration with other Google servicesRequires 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-platformThey can be paid.

๐Ÿ’ก

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.

FAQ: Frequent Questions About Notes in Xiaomi

โ“ Why the notes disappeared after resetting to factory settings?
When reset, all local data, including notes, are deleted if it was not synced with Mi Cloud or another cloud. To recover it, log in to your Xiaomi account and check the Mi Cloud section. โ†’ Notes โ†’ Recycle bin: If synchronization has been disabled, you can only restore notes through a backup (if it was created manually).
โ“ Can I transfer notes from Xiaomi to another phone (not Xiaomi)?
Yes. For this: Export notes in.txt or.html format through the app menu. Send the file to a new phone via email or messenger. Import notes to the app on a new device (like Google Keep or Samsung Notes). If notes are synced with Mi Cloud, you can log into your Xiaomi account on your new phone and install the Mi Notes app from Google Play.
โ“ Where are the notes stored if I used the "Drafts" modeยป?
Notes are stored in the same database, but in a separate table. They are not synchronized with the cloud and are deleted through the cloud. 30 To find them, open the Notes app. Click on the icon. โ‹ฎ โ†’ If there are no drafts, check the folder. /storage/emulated/0/Notes/drafts/ via file manager.
โ“ Why Notes Are Displayed in Hieroglyphics After Recovery?
This is due to encoding incompatibility when manually editing notes files or recovering from a damaged backup. To fix: Try opening the file in another encoding (e.g, UTF-8 instead ANSI). Use Notepad.++ for conversion of encoding (coding) โ†’ convert into UTF-8). If notes have been encrypted, restore them through the original Mi Notes app.
โ“ How to turn off synchronization of notes with Mi Cloud?
If you donโ€™t want notes to be saved in the cloud: Go to Settings โ†’ Xiaomi account โ†’ Mi Cloud. Find Notes and turn off the switch. Confirm action (data will be deleted from the cloud but will remain on your phone). To completely delete notes from Mi Cloud, go to i.mi.com, highlight all records and click Delete.