Where in the Xiaomi phone are stored notes: file search, backup and recovery

Why Users Search for Notes and Where to Look for It

Notes in Xiaomi smartphones are one of the most popular tools for quickly capturing ideas, to-do lists or important information. However, many people face the problem: where did the saved records go after resetting, updating MIUI or accidentally deleting? Unlike photos or music, notes are not always visible in a standard file manager, and their backups are stored in non-obvious folders.

In this article, we will look at the physical location of note files in your phone’s memory, including paths for different MIUI versions (12 to 15), and how to export, back up, and restore them, and focus on synchronization nuances through Mi Account and cloud services that often cause data loss.

If you're looking for a specific instruction, use the table of contents. If you want to understand the principles of keeping notes in Xiaomi, read sequentially, from basic paths to advanced recovery methods.

Where to store notes in your phone’s memory: standard paths

By default, notes in Xiaomi are stored in two places: in the device’s internal memory and (when synced) in the Mi Cloud. Physical note files are.json or.db extensions and stored in hidden system folders.

The main paths to note files:

• 📁 Local notes (without synchronization): /data/data/com.miui.notes/files/notes/ or /data/data/com.miui.notes/databases/notes.db
• 📁 Cash and temporary files: /data/data/com.miui.notes/cache/
• 📁 Backup copies (for manual export): /MIUI/Backup/Notes/ or /Download/Notes_Backup/

⚠️ Attention: Folder /data/data/ available only through root or through ADB. Without them, you won’t see these files in standard Explorer. To get around the restriction, use the built-in Note Export feature (about it in the next section).

If you connect Mi Account, notes are duplicated in the cloud, but local copies of them still remain on the phone, and when you delete a note from the application, it disappears from the cloud (if sync is enabled), but can remain in the cache for up to 30 days.

How to find and copy notes without root rights

If you don’t have superuser rights but need to save notes, use the built-in export feature, which works on all Xiaomi models (including the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11, etc.) and does not require technical skills.

Instructions for export of notes:

1. Open the Notes app (yellow notebook icon).
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner → select “Settings”.
3. Scroll down to the Export and Import section → click on Export Notes.
4. Choose the format:.txt (for reading on PC) or.json (for importing back to Xiaomi).
5. Specify the folder to save (recommended /Download/) and confirm.

Exported files will have type names notes_20260515_123456.json. They can be copied to a PC, mailed or uploaded to the cloud (e.g. Google Drive).

💡 Useful tip: If you have a lot of notes, export them in one folder (for example, “Work”, “Personal”) to avoid losing structure..json files save time, color and formatting, and.txt only text.

Synchronizing notes with Mi Cloud: how it works

By default, Xiaomi offers to sync notes with the Mi Cloud cloud. This is convenient, but has nuances:

• 🔄 Automatic synchronization: enabled in account settings (Settings) → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Notes).
• 📱 Device Restriction: Notes are synced only between Xiaomi phones (on iPhone or Samsung they are not visible).
• 🗑️ Delete: If you delete a note on one device, it will disappear in the cloud (if sync is enabled).
• 🔒 Security: Data in Mi Cloud is encrypted, but only you can access it (provided that your account is not hacked).

To check if synchronization is enabled:

1. Open "Settings» → «Mi Account».
2. Go to "Mi Cloud."
3. Find the Notes item and make sure the switch is active.

⚠️ Note: If you log out of Mi Account or reset your phone to factory settings without turning off sync, all notes will be deleted from the cloud after 30 days.

How to Recover Deleted Notes: 3 Working Ways

If you accidentally delete a note, don't despair, it can be returned. How to restore it depends on whether the synchronization was enabled and how long ago the deletion occurred.

Method 1. Recovery from the basket (up to 30 days)

The Notes app in MIUI has a built-in shopping cart where deleted records are stored for a month:

1. Open the Notes app.
2. Slip on the icon "Basket" (the bin icon in the bottom menu).
3. Select the desired note → click “Restore”.

Method 2: Restore from Mi Cloud backup

If sync has been enabled, try recovering notes from the cloud:

1. Go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Notes.
2. Turn off synchronization (move the switch to the left).
3. Wait 1-2 minutes and turn it on again.
4. Open the Notes app and wait for the synchronization to complete.

Method 3: Use of third-party utilities (for advanced users)

If notes are not synced and left in the basket, you can try to restore them through ADB or specialized programs like Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver. However, success is not guaranteed, it depends on whether the memory sectors were overwritten.

Critical information: If you delete a note and then create many new files (photos, videos, apps), the chances of recovery tend to zero. The faster you act, the higher the probability of success.

Comparison of Note Storage Methods in Xiaomi

To choose the best method of saving notes, compare the available options:

💡 Conclusion: Use Mi Cloud combination for maximum reliability + For example, sync notes to the cloud for convenience and export them to.json once a month, copying the file to your PC or Google Drive.

Frequent Note Problems and Their Solutions

Xiaomi users often encounter common notes errors, and let’s look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

Problem 1: Notes are not synchronized with Mi Cloud

• 🔌 Check your internet connection (synchronization only works with a stable connection).
• 🔄 Update the Notes app on Google Play.
• 📱 Restart your phone – sometimes helps to reset the hanging processes.
• 🔧 In Mi Cloud settings, turn off and back on synchronizing notes.

Problem 2: Disappeared notes after MIUI update

When major updates (e.g., from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14) are made, application settings are sometimes reset to return notes:

1. Check the cart in the Notes app.
2. If synchronization has been enabled, wait for automatic recovery (may take up to a day).
3. If you don’t have notes, try importing them from a previously made backup (.json).

Problem 3: You can't edit notes (gray screen or error)

This may be due to:

• 📵 Memory Lack: Free up space in the internal storage.
• 🐞 Cache failure: clear the app's cache in Settings → Annexes → Notes → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
• 🔄 Update Conflict: Remove Notes app updates in Google Play and reinstall it.

⚠️ Warning: If notes are only stored locally and you plan to reset your phone to factory settings, be sure to export them in advance. /data/data/com.miui.notes/ will be cleaned without the possibility of recovery.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions about notes in Xiaomi