How to Transfer Notes from Samsung to Xiaomi: A Complete Guide with 5 Verified Ways

Why moving notes between Android devices of different brands is a separate task

At first glance, it may seem like a trivial operation to move notes between two Android smartphones, but in practice, users face three key challenges:

First, Samsung and Xiaomi use their own ecosystems with unique note-taking apps, Samsung Notes and Mi Notes respectively. These programs do not have built-in synchronization with each other, unlike cross-platform solutions like Google Keep or Evernote. Second, even when using cloud services (such as Samsung Cloud or Mi Cloud), data exports are often limited to formats that are incompatible with competing platforms. Third, Xiaomi actively blocks the background activity of third-party applications in new versions of MIUI (starting with 14+), which can interrupt the synchronization process.

In this guide, we will discuss 5 current portability methods, from standard tools to workarounds for complex cases (for example, when notes are stored only locally or password protected). All methods are tested on Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (One UI 6.1) and Xiaomi 14 Pro (MIUI 15) devices in 2026, but are also suitable for models 2018-2023.

Method 1: Exporting through Samsung Notes to a universal format

The most reliable method if you used the standard Samsung Notes app, which allows you to save notes in.snb (for backups) or.pdf/.txt (for general use), here is a step-by-step instruction:

1. Open the Samsung Notes app on your Samsung device.
2. Press three points (⋮) top-right → Select Settings → Export of notes.
3. Select the necessary notes (or click Select All) → click Export.
4. Choose the format: 📄 PDF — It saves formatting but is not edited in Mi Notes. 📝 TXT — Simple text without formatting, but easily imported. 🔄 SNB — Backup for Samsung (not suitable for Xiaomi).

Internal memory.

SD-map

Xiaomi

Nearby Share

Bluetooth

On Xiaomi, open the file via Mi Notes (for.txt) or any PDF viewing app. Limitation: formatting (colors, highlights, attachments) may be lost. If the notes contain pictures or audio, use Method 3 or Method 4.

All necessary notes (including archival ones) are selected

Enough space on the device to create a file

Export format compatible with target application on Xiaomi

MIUI limitations for file manager disabled (Settings → Applications → Permissions)

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Method 2: Sync with Google Keep (for notes without media files)

If you use Google Keep on Samsung, it takes less than 5 minutes to migrate to Xiaomi, which is suitable for text notes, lists and reminders, but does not support:

• 🎨 Handmade drawings (turned into static images).
• 🎵 Audio recordings (will have to be kept separately).
• 📎 Included files (PDF, DOCX etc.).

Instructions:

1. Make sure that on Samsung, login to Google Keep is done under the same account as on Xiaomi.

1. Internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data).

2. sync settings in Google account (Settings → Accounts → Google → Data Sync).

3. Permissions for Google Keep in MIUI (Settings → Applications → Permissions → Auto Run).

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The advantage of the method is that it does not require manual file transfer and works even if Samsung has already been sold or dropped.

Method 3: Move over Samsung Cloud + workarounds for Xiaomi

Samsung Cloud allows you to back up notes, but it doesn't officially support export to other ecosystems, but there's a workaround through the web version of the service.

• 📱 You have a Samsung Account with an active cloud subscription.
• 🔒 Notes are not password protected (otherwise, Method 5 will be required).
• 🌐 Have access to a computer with a browser.

Step-by-step:

1. On Samsung, go to Settings → Accounts and Archiving → Samsung Cloud.
2. Make sure Samsung Notes are included in the backup (click Data Backup → Notes).
3. Wait until the synchronization is complete (it can take up to 10 minutes).
4. On your computer, open the web version of Samsung Cloud and log in.
5. Go to the Notes section → select notes → Press Export (Icon) ⤓).
6. Download the archive in.zip format (the.snb files will be inside).
7. Use the SamsungNotesExporter converter (a free open source tool) to convert.snb to.pdf or.html.
8. Transfer the received files to Xiaomi and open them in Mi Notes or browser.

⚠️ Note: Samsung Cloud only stores backups of notes for 30 days for free accounts. Once the device is deleted from the account or expires, data may be lost without recovery.

Method 4: Use of third-party applications (for notes with media files)

If your notes contain:

• 🖌️ Hand drawings (e.g. from S Pen).
• 🎵 Audio or video recordings.
• 📎 Enclosed documents (PDF, Excel, etc.).

Cross-platform applications like Evernote, OneNote or Notion, which support all types of content and have versions for both brands, will be the best solution.

Recommended algorithm:

1. Install Evernote on Samsung from Google Play.
2. In the Samsung Notes app, export notes to PDF (as in Method 1).
3. Open PDF in Evernote via the option Create a Note → From a File.
4. Wait for the synchronization (sign) ☁️ should be blue).
5. On Xiaomi, install Evernote and log in under the same account.
6. If necessary, export notes from Evernote to Mi Notes: Open a note → press ⋮ → Exports → Text file. Import.txt to Mi Notes.

⚠️ Note: When using Notion on Xiaomi with MIUI 14+ You may need to manually add the application to the AutoRun list (Settings) → Annexes → Permits → Auto-run, otherwise synchronization will only work when the application is open.

Samsung Notes

Google Keep

Mi Notes

Evernote/OneNote

Other/not using-->

Method 5: Manual transfer for secure or local notes

If the notes are:

• 🔐 Protected by password or fingerprint.
• 📱 Stored locally (without synchronization with the cloud).
• 🚫 Not exported through standard methods.

— You'll have to use a manual method to extract data from the system folders, which requires root rights or ADB-It works, but it works for even the most “stubborn” notes.

Instructions for users without root:

1. Connect Samsung to your computer and enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → Assembly Number (click 7 times) → Developer Options → USB Debugging).
2. Install Android SDK Platform-Tools on your computer.
3. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with the platform-tools.
4. Follow the command to extract notes: adb pull /data/data/com.samsung.android.app.notes/databases notes.db If the folder is not available, try: adb backup -f notes.ab com.samsung.android.app.notes (on the phone confirm backup).
5. Download SamsungNotesExporter and convert notes.db or notes.ab to readable format.
6. Transfer the files to Xiaomi.

For users with root rights:

1. Use Root Explorer or FX File Explorer to access /data/data/com.samsung.android.app.notes/databases.
2. Copy notes.db and notes.db-journal files SD-map.
3. Convert them through SamsungNotesExporter (as described above).

💡

ADB-The method is the only way to transfer biometrically protected notes (fingerprint/face) without losing data, but it requires technical skills and may violate warranty on some Samsung models (if Knox is enabled).

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even when following the instructions, users encounter common errors, and here's how to fix them:

• 🔄 "Notes are not synced with Samsung Cloud": Check if the Note Sync option is enabled in the Samsung Notes app itself. Update the app via the Galaxy Store (not Google Play!).Reboot the device and try again.
• 📱 "Mi Notes does not open exported files": Try renaming the file extension from.snb to.zip and retrieve the content. Use a third-party app like Simple Note to import.txt.
• 🔒 "Notes are password protected and not exported": Unprotect in Samsung Notes (Settings) → If you have forgotten your password, use Method 5s ADB.
• ☁️ "Google Keep is not synced to Xiaomi: Add Google Keep to Auto Run and No restrictions in settings MIUI. Disable Battery Optimization for the App.

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 📅 Relevance of the version MIUI (On some firmware Xiaomi blocks background activity of third-party applications).
• 🛠️ Updates for Samsung Notes or Mi Notes.
• 📡 Internet connection stability (synchronization can be interrupted on slow Wi-Fi).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions