Transferring notes between Xiaomi smartphones may seem like a trivial task, but in practice users face unexpected difficulties: from the lack of synchronization in the Mi Cloud to problems with export in the.zip format. MIUI 14/15 We'll focus on the nuances that the manufacturer doesn't keep silent about: why some notes don't carry over, how to avoid duplication, and what to do if synchronization is stuck on the device. 99%.
It's important to understand that the transfer method depends on the firmware version, smartphone model and even regional settings. For example, on the Xiaomi 13 Ultra with global firmware, the algorithm will differ from the Redmi Note 12 for the Chinese market. We tested all methods on current devices (2023-2026) and identified 5 working methods, including one little-known one through system data backup. If you tried to move notes through Settings → Additional → Data Transfer and got an error, here you will find an explanation and a solution.
1. synchronization through Mi Cloud: the official method
Xiaomi’s most obvious and recommended method is to use the Mi Cloud cloud service, which works on all devices with MIUI 10 and newer, but there are pitfalls: for example, if an old smartphone has autosynchronization disabled, notes may not be saved to the cloud. Check this out in advance!
To move your notes through the Mi Cloud:
- 📱 Open Notes app on old Xiaomi and swipe to the right to open the side menu.
- ☁️ Select Mi Cloud and make sure the switch is active. If not, turn on sync and wait until it is completed (may take up to 10 minutes).
- 🔄 On the new smartphone, log in to the same Mi Account and wait for automatic upload of notes.
- ⚡ If notes don't appear, go to Settings → Accounts. → Mi Cloud → Synchronize and manually update data.
Make sure both devices have the same MIUI version (or a difference of no more than 2 versions)
Check that there is enough space in the Mi Cloud on the old smartphone (free 5 GB)
Turn off VPN – it can block sync
Restart both devices if notes don't appear longer than 15 minutes-->
⚠️ Note: If you have used password-locked notes, they are not synced through the Mi Cloud, and you will need to use the file-export method to transfer them (see Section 3). Notes created in incognito mode (available on some models) are not stored in the cloud at all.
2. Transfer over Google Drive: The Universal Method
If you don’t want to get attached to the Xiaomi ecosystem or you have problems with the Mi Cloud, you can use Google Drive, which is a way to transfer notes between Xiaomi and other Android devices, as well as create a backup.
Instructions:
- Open Notes on your old smartphone and go to Settings → Note Export.
- Select the.zip format (recommended) or.txt format (if you need to edit notes).
- Specify Google Drive as a place of preservation and confirm export.
- On the new Xiaomi, download the archive from Google Drive and import it through Settings → Import Notes in the Notes app.
| Export format | Pluses | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| .zip | Save formatting, images, attachments | You cannot see without importing. |
| .txt | You can open it on any device. | Formatting is lost, no investments |
| .xml (hidden) | Suitable for recovery through ADB | Requires technical skills |
⚠️ Note: When exporting to.txt, notes with tables, checklists or drawings will turn into an unreadable character set. If you want to keep the structure, choose only.zip. Also note that Google Drive can block archives from downloading more than 50 MB - in this case, break the notes into pieces.
3. Local file transfer: for experienced users
If cloud services are not available (e.g. due to network constraints), you can manually transfer notes through a file, which requires access to the file system, but guarantees 100% control over the data.
Step-by-step:
- Connect the old Xiaomi to your PC via USB (select File Transfer Mode).
- Go to /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.notes/files/backup/ This is where you store backups of notes in.nbak format.
- Copy the files on your PC, then transfer them to the same folder on your new smartphone.
- Open Notes on your new device and wait for automatic import (can take up to 5 minutes).
What to do if the backup folder is empty?
⚠️ Note: Do not edit.nbak files manually, this can cause data corruption. If notes do not appear after transfer, check if the versions of the Notes app on both devices are the same. If the versions differ, you may need to update via Google Play or APKMirror.
4.Bluetooth Transfer: For a Small Number of Notes
If you just need to take a few notes, you can use Bluetooth, which is slow and inconvenient for large amounts of data, but doesn't require Internet or cable.
How to do this:
- 📱 Open the note you want to move and click Share → Bluetooth.
- 🔵 Select a new Xiaomi device from the list and confirm the transfer.
- 📥 On the second smartphone, accept the file and save it to Notes via the Import menu.
Mi Cloud|Google Drive|Local file.|Bluetooth|Other-->
⚠️ Note: When transmitted via Bluetooth, notes are converted to text format (.txt), so all formatting, including bold text, lists and attachments, is lost. MIUI Limits the size of the file transmitted via Bluetooth – if the note is larger than 10 MB, it will not be sent.
5. Transfer through system backup (for advanced)
This method is suitable if you make a full backup of an old smartphone before selling or resetting.It retains all notes, including locked and hidden ones, but requires technical skills.
Instructions:
- On the old Xiaomi, go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
- Create a new backup by selecting Applications and Data and noting Notes.
- Transfer the backup file (usually in /MIUI/backup/AllBackup) to the new device.
- On the new smartphone, restore data from the backup via the same Local Backup menu.
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If you don't see any notes when you restore the backup, try first installing the same MIUI version on the new device as the old one, which increases the chances of successful importation.
⚠️ Warning: Recovery from the backup will overwrite existing notes on the new device. If there are already important records, pre-export them to.zip. MIUI 13 and older may not be able to recover MIUI 15 due to changes in data structure.
Comparison of methods: which one to choose?
To determine the best way, evaluate your priorities:
| Method | Speed. | Reliability | Difficulty | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Cloud | ⚡ Quickly. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (risk of loss when synchronization fails) | ⭐ (simple) | Regular transfer between devices |
| Google Drive | 🐢 Slowly (depending on internet speed) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | Transfer to non-Xiaomi or backup |
| Local file. | ⚡ Quickly. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ (PC) | Lots of notes, no internet. |
| Bluetooth | 🐢 Very slowly. | ⭐⭐ (risk of formatting loss) | ⭐ | 1-2 notes, no cable/internet |
| Backup of the system | 🐢 Long time. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (mistake) | Complete transfer of all data before resetting |
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For most users, Mi Cloud (unless notes are blocked) or Google Drive (if you need a universal solution) is optimal, local file transfer is suitable for power users, and Bluetooth is only for emergencies.
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even when following instructions, users encounter errors, and here are the most common ways to fix them:
- 🔄 Notes are not synced via Mi Cloud: Check that both devices share the same version of the Notes app (update via Google Play). Disable Battery Optimization for the Mi Cloud app in settings. Delete the Notes app cache via Settings → Annexes → Application management.
- 📁 Import.zip: Make sure the archive is intact (try opening it on a PC). If the file is large, unblock it and import notes one at a time. Make sure the device has enough memory (import requires temporary space).
- 🔒 Unblocked notes: Unlock the lock before export (select Remove password in the note menu) Use the local backup method (section 5), as it stores secure data.