How to transfer notes from Xiaomi to iPhone: all ways with explanations

Moving from Xiaomi to iPhone is not just about changing the ecosystem, it’s also about transferring important data, among which notes occupy a special place. Unlike contacts or photos, notes often contain personal information, passwords, ideas or work records, the loss of which can be a serious inconvenience.

In this article, we’ll break down 5 current ways to transfer – from simple (via mail or cloud) to advanced (using third-party apps and a computer, POCO X5, Mi 13 et al.), how to avoid loss of formatting and attachments, and what to do if notes are not synchronized. Particular attention will be paid to transfer notes with a lock password - this nuance is often missed in standard instructions.

1.Preparation for the transfer: what to do on Xiaomi before you start

Before you start migrating, make sure your notes are ready for export.This stage will take no more than 5 minutes, but save you hours of correcting errors.

First, check where your notes are stored:

• 📱 Locally on the device -- if you've never set up sync, the notes are only in the phone's memory. They need to be exported manually.
• ☁️ In the Mi Cloud – if sync is enabled via Xiaomi account, you can download notes from the web version of the service.
• 🔒 Password encrypted – these notes will require additional actions (see Section 4).

To check sync status, open the Notes app on Xiaomi, tap three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings. → Synchronization: If the switch is active, your notes are already backed up in the Mi Cloud. If not, turn it on and wait until the process is complete (may take up to 10 minutes depending on the number of records you have).

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi with custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the standard Notes app may not be available.In this case, notes are stored in third-party software (like Google Keep or ColorNote) and their portability is simplified - see Section 5.

We also recommend:

• 📌 Back up notes in.zip or.txt format via the application settings (path: Settings) → Exports).
• 🔄 Updating the Notes app to the latest version in Google Play will eliminate export bugs.
• 📱 Make sure there is enough room for import on your iPhone (especially if the notes contain attachments, PDF).

Synchronization with Mi Cloud is confirmed|Backup of notes created|Updated app "Notes" on Xiaomi|Checked free space on the iPhone (minimum 500 MB)|Passwords from encrypted notes are recorded (if any)

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2. Method 1: Transfer over Mi Cloud (the easiest method)

If your notes are synced with the Mi Cloud, you can transfer them to your iPhone without additional apps, a method that works for most Xiaomi, Redmi and other models. POCO, issued after 2018.

Instructions:

1. On Xiaomi, open Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud and make sure that note synchronization is enabled.
2. On your computer or iPhone, go to i.mi.com and log in to the same account.
3. In the Mi Cloud web version, select the Notes section.
4. Tick the notes you want (or click All) and click Export. Choose.txt or.html.
5. Send your downloaded archive to your own mail or upload to iCloud Drive/Google Drive.
6. On your iPhone, open a note file and copy the text to Apple’s Notes app.

⚠️ Note: If you see a “Not able to download notes” error when exporting from Mi Cloud, clear your browser cache or try another one (e.g. Chrome instead of Safari). Also check if your Mi Cloud account traffic limit is exceeded (free rate – 5 GB).

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If there are many notes, export them in parts by 20-30 So you're going to reduce the risk of a failure when you download the archive.

3. Method 2: Sync through Google Account

If you’ve used Google Keep or synced notes from Xiaomi’s standard app to Google Drive, migrating to your iPhone takes just a few steps, a method that’s ideal for those who already use Google services.

How to move:

1. On Xiaomi, open Settings → Accounts. → Google and make sure that syncing notes is enabled.
2. If notes are stored in Google Keep, install this app on your iPhone from the App Store and log in under the same account.
3. For notes from the standard Xiaomi app: Export them to.txt (see section 1). Upload files to Google Drive. On iPhone, open files via Google Drive and copy the text to Apple's Notes.

Advantages of this method:

• 🔄 Automatic synchronization between devices.
• 📱 Support for all Xiaomi models, including old ones on Android 8-9).
• 🔒 Structure of notes (lists, color of text) is preserved).

But there are nuances:

• 🚫 Google Keep on iPhone does not support widgets on the home screen (unlike standard Notes»).
• 📎 Attachments (photos, audio) are displayed as links, not embedded files.

Method 3: Transfer of encrypted notes

If your notes are password protected in Xiaomi’s Notes app, standard export methods won’t work.

Step-by-step:

1. On Xiaomi, unlock all secure notes (enter a password for each).
2. Export them to.txt via Settings → Exports (see section 1).
3. If export is blocked, use Mi Cloud: Go to i.mi.com from your computer. Unlock notes in the web version (the password is the same as on your phone). Copy the text manually or export to.html.
4. To automate, use the NoteShelter app (available on Google Play): Install it on Xiaomi. Access notes and export to.json. Send the file to your iPhone and import through NoteShelter for iOS.

⚠️ Note: When manually copying encrypted notes from Mi Cloud, don’t use the “copy everything” feature – this can lead to loss of formatting. Copy each note separately and paste it into a text editor (such as Pages or Google Docs) and then into Notes on your iPhone.

If you have forgotten the password for your notes:

• 🔑 Try to restore it through your Xiaomi account (if notes are synced with Mi Cloud).
• 📱 On some models (Redmi Note 10 and later) you can reset your password through Settings. → Security → Application passwords.
• 🚫 If nothing helps, contact Xiaomi with proof of ownership of the device.

Locally on the phone.|In Mi Cloud|Google Keep.|In another annex (specify in the comments)|I don't use notes.

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5. Method 4: Use of third-party applications (NoteShelter, Evernote)

If standard methods do not work (for example, you have custom firmware or notes are stored in a non-standard format), use specialized applications.

NoteShelter (recommended for most users):

1. Install NoteShelter on Xiaomi from Google Play.
2. Launch the app and give access to notes.
3. Press Backup and save the file. noteshelter_backup.json Google Drive or send it to the mail.
4. On iPhone, install NoteShelter from the App Store (paid version).
5. Import the.json file and select Export to Apple Notes.

For Evernote:

1. Install Evernote on Xiaomi and log in.
2. In the standard Notes app, export entries to.txt and import them to Evernote.
3. On your iPhone, install Evernote and sync your account.
4. Open each note and copy the text to Apple’s Notes (or use Share). → Copy to Notes).

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Apps like NoteShelter or Evernote are the only way to transfer notes from Xiaomi’s local storage (without syncing with Mi Cloud) without losing data.

Method 5: Transfer over a computer (for advanced users)

If you have a lot of notes with attachments or prefer manual control, use a computer (Windows/Mac) This method takes longer, but it guarantees 100% transfer.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with iTunes installed (for Windows) or Finder (for Mac).
• 📱 USB-Type C Cable (or Lightning for iPhone Connection).
• 📂 Android File Transfer (for Mac) or access Xiaomi internal memory via this computer (Windows).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your computer and allow file transfer (USB for transmitting files in the notification curtain).
2. Go to the note folder: For the standard application: Internal Storage → Miui → Google Keep: Internal Storage Review → Android → data → com.google.android.keep (root access required).

.db

.json

miui-notes-decrypt

.db

.txt

.html

iPhone

iTunes

Finder

⚠️ Note: If you are using a Mac, Android File Transfer may not show hidden folders (such as Miui). To see them, run the command at the terminal: defaults write com.google.android.mtpviewer ShowHiddenFiles -bool After that, restart the Android File Transfer.

Alternative for Mac users:

• 📲 Install a file manager on Xiaomi FX File Explorer.
• 🌐 Get on the phone. FTP via Finder (Transitioning) → Connect to the server, address: ftp://IP-address-Xiaomi:2221).
• 📁 Copy note files directly into iCloud Drive.

7 Problem Solving: What to do if notes are not transferred

Even if you follow the instructions, you can get errors, and let's look at the typical problems and their solutions.

If you see the error "Can't import notes" on your iPhone:

• 🔄 Try a different file format (.html instead of.txt).
• 📱 Update iOS to the latest version (older versions have import bugs).
• 📧 Send notes to the mail and copy the text manually.

For notes with Chinese characters or emoji:

• 🌍 Make sure your iPhone has Chinese (simplified) or Japanese (Settings) installed. → Mainstream → Language and region).
• 📄 Export notes to.html – this format better retains special characters.

8. Comparison of methods: which way to choose

The choice of method depends on your priorities: speed, preservation of formatting or automation. Below is a comparison table for quick decision-making.

Our choice:

• 🥇 For most users: NoteShelter (saves formatting and attachments, but paid on iOS).
• 🥈 For quick transfer: Mi Cloud + manual copying (free, but formatting is lost).
• 🥉 For tech savvy: Transfer over a computer (maximum control, but takes time).

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If you have notes with a password or attachments, avoid methods via email or text files – use NoteShelter or a computer.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the transfer of notes