How to see hidden notes on Xiaomi: all ways for MIUI

Hidden notes on Xiaomi smartphones are a useful feature for sensitive information, but sometimes users forget where they hid important records. Unlike standard notes, hidden files do not appear in the main list of the Notes app, which causes confusion, and a particularly pressing problem for owners of devices with MIUI 14/15, where the note interface has undergone changes.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to access hidden notes, from official methods through app settings to alternative solutions for cases where standard functionality doesn’t work. It’s important to understand that some methods require knowing the password from your Mi Account account or the screen lock pin, and if you forget this data, additional steps will be required to restore access.

Official method: through the menu of the app “Notes”

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in hidden note feature in the standard app, which works on all Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and Black Shark devices with MIUI 12 and later, including the latest versions of HyperOS.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the Notes app** (icon with pencil on yellow background).
• 🔍 In the upper right corner, tap the Search icon** (magnitude) or click on three dots. ⋮ → «Hidden notes».

If you don’t have Hidden Notes on the menu, you’ve never hidden your posts or are using an outdated version of the app, in which case you can try updating Notes via Google Play or App Gallery (for devices without Google services).

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If you have forgotten your Mi Account password, restore it through account.xiaomi.com before trying to access hidden notes. Without authorization, the system will not show protected data.

Alternative method: through the file manager

Hidden notes are stored encrypted in the system folders of a smartphone, accessible through a file manager, but require permission to view hidden files and knowledge of the exact path, a method suitable for advanced users, as the wrong actions can lead to data loss.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Files** (the standard Xiaomi file manager) or install a third-party manager (such as Solid Explorer).
2. Enable the display of hidden files: In the “Files” Xiaomi: tap on three dots ⋮ → «Settings» → «Show hidden files. In Solid Explorer: go to ☰ → Settings → Enable Root access (if there are root rights) or Show hidden files.

/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.notes/files/notes/private/

It stores encrypted note files with the.db or.json extension.

Mi Account

MIUI Notes Decryptor

Warning: Attempting to manually modify or delete files from /com.miui.notes/files/ folder may cause the Notes app to crash and all data to be lost.

Access via backup (backup)

If you have previously backed up notes, you can recover hidden records from the backup. This method is relevant for users who sync data with Mi Cloud or locally save copies through Settings → System & Device → Backup.

How to restore:

• 📲 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Backup.
• 🔄 Select the last backup that guaranteed hidden notes (check the date of creation).
• 📋 Click Restore and confirm the action. The system will request the password from Mi Account.

If the backup was created on another device, log in to the same Mi Account first, then restore it. Note that when you restore old backups, current notes can be overwritten.

Use MIUI Notes Decryptor (for PC)

For users who have not been helped by previous methods, there is a specialized software — MIUI Notes Decryptor. This Windows utility allows you to decrypt note files extracted from your smartphone's system folder. IMEI device.

Instructions:

1. Download MIUI Notes Decryptor from the official repository on GitHub (check reviews to avoid malware).
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC in file transfer (MTP) mode and copy /com.miui.notes/files/notes/private/ to your computer.
3. Run MIUI Notes Decryptor and specify the path to the copied files.
4. Enter the usernames/passwords from Mi Account and IMEI device (you can find out in Settings → About Phone → General information).
5. Press "Decrypt" and wait until the process is complete. Decrypted notes will be saved in.txt or.html format.

⚠️ Attention: Use of third-party software always involves risks. MIUI Notes Decryptor check all downloaded files with antivirus. Also note that the utility may not support the latest versions. MIUI 15/HyperOS Due to changes in the encryption algorithm.

Resetting Mi Account Password and Restoring Access

If you forget the password from your Mi Account, without which you can not open hidden notes, you will have to restore access, the procedure depends on the data associated with the account (phone number, email, backup email).

Step-by-step recovery:

1. Go to account.xiaomi.com and select “Forgot your password?”
2. Please provide an email or phone number.
3. Confirm your identity through: 📧 Code on email (if linked). 📱 SMS-phone-code. 🔑 Backup email (if configured).

Create a new password and save it in a safe place (such as a password manager).

Log in on your smartphone with a new password and try again to access hidden notes.

If neither email nor phone is linked to your account, recovery is possible only through a request to support Xiaomi with confirmation of purchase of the device (check, warranty card), in some cases it may be necessary to unlock the bootloader and reset the device to factory settings, which will lead to loss of all data.

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Without access to Mi Account, it is almost impossible to recover hidden notes. All encryption methods are tied to your account, so keep your passwords safe.

What do you do if nothing works?

If none of these methods have worked, consider the following options:

As a last resort, contact the Xiaomi service center with your passport and documents on the device. Experts can help with the restoration of access, but there are no guarantees for success - it all depends on the privacy policy and technical capabilities.

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Export important notes in.txt or.pdf format regularly through the app menu: open the note → ⋮ → Export it, it protects the data from failure.

FAQ: Frequent questions about hidden notes on Xiaomi