How to see hidden notes on Xiaomi: system folders, backups and ADB-team

Why Xiaomi Notes Can Be Hidden – and Where to Look for Them

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones running MIUI store notes not only in visible folders but also in protected areas of the system. Most often, users experience a situation where the record disappears after a firmware update, resetting or accidental deletion. However, in 80% of cases, the data is not deleted irrevocably - it can be restored through system tools or third-party utilities.

The main reasons why the notes become invisible are:

• 📁 Hidden system folders — MIUI automatically hides some notes in the type directories /data/com.miui.notes, rootless.
• 🗑️ Notes Recycle Bin – Deleted records are stored there for up to 30 days, but many users don’t know how to open them.
• ☁️ Sync with Mi Account – If notes are linked to an account, they can only be displayed in the cloud or on other devices.
• 🔄 Conflicts after update - change of version MIUI Sometimes resets the visibility of notes due to database errors.

In this article, we'll look at everything from simple (checking the cart) to advanced (working with ADB and backups). Importantly, some methods require unlocking the bootloader or root access, which can void the warranty. Let's start with the safest options.

Method 1: Checking the basket in the application “Notes”

The fastest way to get back "disappeared" notes is to look into the shopping cart of the standard Notes app. MIUI automatically sends deleted notes there and stores them for up to 30 days.

1. Open the Notes app** (yellow notebook icon).
2. Tap on three points (⋮) top-right.
3. Select the item "Basket"** (Trash).
4. Find the desired note, click on it and select "Restore"**.

If the cart is empty or your record is not there, move to the following method. Note: after manual cleaning of the cart or after 30 days, the files are deleted without the possibility of recovery through standard means.

Check sync with Mi Account|Make sure the note is not hidden in the archive.|Try to find it by searching for keywords.|Check other devices linked to the same account-->

Method 2: Search through Mi Account (Xiaomi Cloud)

If your Xiaomi has Mi Account sync enabled, the notes could be saved to the cloud, and this method works even after you reset your phone to factory settings.

1. Open "Settings» → «Accounts and sync (Accounts & Sync).
2. Select “Mi Account” and make sure the Notes switch is on.
3. If the synchronization is disabled, turn it on and wait for the process to be completed.
4. Open the Notes app and check if old posts have appeared.

If you don’t have any notes, try to access the cloud via your browser:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. In the "Services" section, find "Notes".
3. Check if you have the right records and export them if necessary.

⚠️ Note: If you don’t remember the Mi Account password or the phone was purchased by hand, it can take up to 30 days to restore access due to Xiaomi’s security policy.

Method 3: Access to hidden folders through file manager

MIUI hides note files in system directories that are not displayed by default, and to see them, you will need a root-access-enabled file manager (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer) or a standard Explorer** with hidden file mode enabled.

The way to notes:

/data/data/com.miui.notes/databases/notes.db


/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Notes/

How to find it:

1. Open the file manager and enable the display of hidden files (in Explorer** Xiaomi: Settings → Show hidden files).

If you find a note.db file, you can open it with SQLite database applications (e.g. DB Browser for SQLite), and you can have tables with note text, creation dates, and other metadata inside.

Method 4: Recovery through ADB (without root)

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) allows you to access some system files without fully unlocking your phone, which is suitable if the notes are not in sync with the cloud and are not in the cart.

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 📱 Xiaomi smartphone with enabled debugging USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap; then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the adb folder.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices must appear serial number of the device.
4. Create a backup of notes: adb backup -f notes.ab -noapk com.miui.notes A confirmation request will appear on the phone - allow reservations.
5. Unclick the notes.ab file with Android Backup Extractor (download here).
6. Inside the archive will be the folder apps/com.miui.notes/db/ with the file notes.db.

⚠️ Note: The method does not work on all versions MIUI. Starting with MIUI 12.5, Xiaomi tightened restrictions on backups ADB. If the command produces an adb: unable to create backup error, try an alternative adb pull method (see spoiler above).

1. Reinstall Xiaomi drivers (download from the official website).

2. Use another USB-cable.

3. Enable the debugging option in the developer settings USB (Security settings) and Allow debugging (charging only).-->

Method 5: Using third-party recovery applications

If system methods didn't work, you can use specialized data recovery tools that scan the phone's internal memory for deleted files, including notes.

How to use (for example, DiskDigger):

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Run the Full Scan (it can take 10 to 30 minutes).
3. In the results, select the filter "Text documents"**.
4. Find files with the.db extension or containing the text of your notes.
5. Save them to your device or to the cloud.

Importantly, the less you use your phone after you delete your notes, the better the chances of recovery, and the new data can overwrite old files.

💡

Third-party apps don’t guarantee 100% recovery, but they increase the chances of finding notes if they haven’t been overwritten with new data.

What to do if nothing helps: extreme measures

If all of these methods fail, radical methods remain, requiring technical skills and can affect the stability of the system.

• 🔓 Unlock the bootloader and get root permissions. This will open access to the system folders, but void the warranty. 4PDA.
• 📀 Firmware via Fastboot. In some cases, flashing to an older version MIUI Can return lost data (unless it has been overwritten).
• 💻 Xiaomi official services have tools to extract data from damaged memory sections, but the service is paid (from 1,500 rubles).

Before you use these methods, consider the importance of lost notes. If you're talking about critical data (passwords, financial information), you should consult a professional. For regular records, it's easier to create new notes and set up automatic synchronization in the future.

⚠️ Warning: Unlocking a bootloader on modern Xiaomi (such as the Redmi Note 12 or Xiaomi 13) requires an account to be tied to the device for 72 hours. IMEI.

FAQ: Frequent questions about hidden notes on Xiaomi