Where to look for the folder “Notes” on Xiaomi smartphones: access paths and hidden nuances of MIUI

You're actively using the standard Notes app on Xiaomi, but it stopped working, or you accidentally deleted an important entry? Or you just want to back up your notes, transfer them to another phone, but you don't know where these files are physically stored? Unlike many other applications, the Notes folder in MIUI doesn't lie in a prominent place — its path depends on the firmware version, the smartphone model, and even the way you sync it.

In this article, we’ll look at all possible note storage locations on Xiaomi, including hidden system directories, cloud backups, and alternative access methods. You’ll learn how to find note files through File Manager, ADB, or even manually through Windows Explorer when connecting your phone over USB. And if the notes are missing, we’ll checklist them for recovery without losing data.

1. Standard location of the Notes folder in MIUI

By default, the Notes app (com.miui.notes) stores data in a secure system folder that is not accessible through a regular file manager. MIUI:

• 🔄 Cloud sync: If sync is enabled via Mi Account, notes are duplicated on Xiaomi Cloud servers (available via i.mi.com).

⚠️ Attention: Folder /data/data/ It's hidden from the user without root permissions, and you'll need to either root or connect to a PC to see it. ADB (guideline).

If you just need to transfer notes to another phone, it’s easier to take advantage of the built-in export:

1. Open the Notes app.
2. Press three points (⋮) → «Settings»** → «Export of notes».

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If exporting doesn’t work, try disabling sync with Mi Account in note settings – sometimes this solves the hang problem.

2. How to access the Notes folder without root rights

If you don’t have root but need to get your notes files out, there are two ways to work:

Method 1: Through ADB (without root)

Connect your phone to your PC, enable USB debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times press to unlock Developer Mode, then Settings → Additional → For Developers → USB Debugging) and execute the commands:

adb shell


run-as com.miui.notes




ls /data/data/com.miui.notes/databases/




pull /data/data/com.miui.notes/databases/notes.db /sdcard/Download/




exit

The notes.db file is copied to the Download folder on your phone and can be opened through any SQLite editor (e.g. DB Browser for SQLite).

Method 2: Through a backup of MIUI

Create a local backup through Settings → About Phone → Backup by selecting the Notes app only. The copy file will be located in /MIUI/backup/AllBackup/. It can be unpacked on a PC using an archiver (e.g., 7-Zip) and found inside a notebook folder.

3.Where Notes Are Stored in Xiaomi Cloud

If you are logged in to Mi Account and have enabled synchronization, the notes are automatically copied to Xiaomi Cloud servers.

• 📱 On another Xiaomi device: Sign in to the same Mi Account and notes will be automatically downloaded.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi periodically clears the cloud of inactive accounts.If you haven’t logged in to Mi Account for more than 6 months, notes can be deleted without recovery.

4. How to Recover Deleted Notes on Xiaomi

If your notes are missing, don’t panic – they can be returned in one of these ways:

Check the Recycle Bin folder in the Notes app (available in MIUI 13+)

Turn off and enable sync with Mi Account again

Try to recover from local MIUI backup

Use ADB to retrieve notes.db (if the phone is still working)

Contact Xiaomi for support (if notes were in the cloud)-->

In MIUI 13 and later, a shopping cart has been added to the Notes app, where deleted records are stored for 30 days, to open it:

1. Run Notes.
2. Click on the “Basket” icon** (the bin icon) in the bottom menu.
3. Select the necessary notes and click "Restore".

If the cart is not there or it is empty, try rolling back the app update:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Notes.
2. Press three points (⋮) → «Remove updates».
3. Restart the app – sometimes it returns lost data.

Yeah, and I couldn't restore it.|Yeah, but I managed to get it back.|No, I always do backups.|I use third-party appendices to take notes.-->

5. Alternative Notes Applications and Their Folders

If you don't like the standard Notes, you can use third-party apps. This is where they store data:

• 🔐 Evernote: Local Base — /data/data/com.evernote/, but without a rue, it's not available.

⚠️ Note: When you delete a third-party app (such as ColorNote), its folders on your phone may remain. To free up space, check the directories manually through the file manager.

If you decide to switch to another app, remember to export notes from the standard Notes** before deleting. The.txt or.zip format is suitable for most alternatives.

6. Frequent Note Problems on Xiaomi and Their Solutions

Xiaomi users often face these problems:

• 🔄 Notes not synced: Check your internet connection, log in again to Mi Account, update the Notes app** via Play Market.

If the notes are not displayed correctly (characterized instead of text), the problem may be the encoding of the database.

1. Make a backup copy of notes.db.
2. Open the file in DB Browser for SQLite.
3. Select UTF-8 encoding when importing.

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Before any manipulation of the note database, always back it up. A damaged note.db file can result in the total loss of all records!

7 How to Transfer Notes from Xiaomi to Another Phone

Transferring notes to a new device depends on which phone you have now:

On another Xiaomi

The easiest way is to sync through Mi Account:

1. On your old phone: Log in to Mi Account and enable synchronization of notes.
2. On a new phone: log in to the same account – notes will be downloaded automatically.

On a phone of another brand (Samsung, iPhone, etc.)

Use export in a universal format:

1. On Xiaomi: export notes to.txt or.zip (Settings → Export).
2. Transfer the file to a new phone (e.g., via Google Drive or cable).
3. Import to a note-taking app (like Google Keep or Apple Notes).

To transfer attachments (photos, audio) copy /sdcard/MIUI/Notes/ (if any) to your new phone.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions