How to recover deleted notes on Xiaomi Redmi: everything from the cart to deep scanning

You deleted an important note on Xiaomi Redmi and you don't know how to get it back? Don't panic -- even if you cleared your cart or reset your phone to factory settings, there's a chance of recovery. In this article, we'll look at 7 proven methods, including built-in MIUI tools, cloud backups and low-level memory scanning. The important thing is to act quickly: the less time has passed since deleting, the greater the likelihood of success.

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones (from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 13 Ultra) store notes in the Notes app, which syncs with the Mi Account. But even without synchronization, note files remain in the device's memory β€” they can be extracted using special utilities. We will look at solutions for different scenarios, from accidental deletion to data loss after firmware.

1. Check the basket in the Notes app

The first thing you need to do is to look in the shopping cart of the standard Notes app, where in MIUI, deleted notes are stored there for 30 days (by default), and then permanently erased.

  1. Open the Notes app on the main screen.
  2. Slip on the icon "Basket"** (dumpster icon) in the lower menu.
  3. Find the desired note, click on it and select Restore.

If the cart is empty or notes are missing early, go to the following method. Please note that in some regional versions of MIUI (e.g. Europe), the cart may be disabled - check the settings of the application.

⚠️ Note: If you manually cleaned the cart through Settings β†’ Warehouse β†’ Clearing the cart, it won't work.

πŸ“Š Where do you usually keep important notes?
In the standard annex β€œNotes”
Google Keep.
In a notebook on paper
In the cloud (OneNote, Evernote)
Another option

2.Recovery through Mi Account backup

If your Redmi 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.

  • πŸ“± Open the Settings. β†’ Accounts. β†’ Mi Account and make sure you are authorized.
  • πŸ”„ Check if synchronization is enabled for the Notes app (Data Synchronization section).
  • πŸ“₯ If notes have previously been synced, they will automatically boot when the Notes app first starts after reinstalling.

For enforcement:

  1. Remove the Notes app (not the data, but the app itself) through Settings β†’ Apps.
  2. Reboot the phone.
  3. Install Notes again from the Mi App Store and log in to Mi Account.

If you don’t see any notes, try to restore them through the Mi Cloud web version:

  1. Go to i.mi.com and log in to your account.
  2. Select the Notes section.
  3. Find the desired note and export it to the file.txt or.zip.
ConditionsProbability of recoveryAction
Synchronization was on.90%Restore via Mi Cloud or reinstall the app
Sync is off, but the basket hasn't cleared70%Check the cart in the app
Phone reset to factory settings50%Restore your Mi Account backup when you first set up
The removal occurred more than 30 days ago20%Try deep scanning techniques (sections 4-6)

πŸ’‘

If you don’t remember if sync was enabled, check your activity history in Mi Account: Account Settings β†’ Security β†’ Activity log. It shows all activities, including backup.

3. Use of Google Drive (for notes saved in Google Keep)

Many Xiaomi users install Google Keep instead of standard Notes, and if you have used this app, you can recover data via Google Drive:

  • πŸ” Open Google Drive on your computer.
  • πŸ—‘οΈ In the left menu, select the Recycle Bin - deleted notes are stored there for 60 days.
  • πŸ“€ If the basket is empty, check backups: Settings (cogs) β†’ Backup copies.

To restore the backup copy:

  1. On the phone go to Settings β†’ Google β†’ Backup.
  2. Select an account and click Recover Data.
  3. Make sure that the list has Google Keep or App Data.

Important: Google backups are automatically created only when you connect to Wi-Fi and charge, and if you haven’t updated a copy in a long time, it may not have any up-to-date data.

4. Deep Memory Scanning with DiskDigger

If the notes are not synced with the cloud and the basket is empty, you need to scan the phone's internal memory, which requires root access (not necessarily, but increases the odds) and the DiskDigger app:

Download DiskDigger from the official website|Put the debugging on. USB developer-setting|Connect your phone to your PC (for convenience)|Create a backup of current data-->

Step-by-step:

  1. Install DiskDigger from Google Play.
  2. Launch the application and select Full Scan.
  3. Specify the /data section (where application data is stored) or /sdcard (if notes were saved to a memory card).
  4. Wait until the scan is finished (may take a few hours).
  5. In the results, look for files with.db (Notes database) or.txt extensions.

Critical: DiskDigger only finds fragments of deleted files. If you actively use your phone after deleting (installing apps, downloading files), the chances of recovery fall to 10-30%.

⚠️ Warning: Don’t save recovered files back to your phone – use the cloud or PC. Write new data over old data can irrevocably damage remaining fragments of notes.

How to increase the chances of success with scanning?
1. Do not install new apps after deleting notes. 2. Turn off automatic app updates in Google Play. 3. Use your phone in minimal mode (no games, photos, videos). 4. Scan as early as possible - ideally in the first 24 hours after deleting.

5. Recovery through ADB (for power users)

If you have experience with ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can try extracting notes files directly from system folders, which requires connecting your phone to your PC and enabling USB debugging.

Instructions for Windows:

  1. Download and install Google’s Platform Tools.
  2. Connect Redmi to your PC and allow debugging (a request will appear on your phone screen).
  3. Open the command line in the adb.exe folder and do:
adb shell


su




cd /data/data/com.miui.notes/shared_prefs




ls

Look for files with names notes_db.xml or miui_notes_preferences.xml. Copy them on a PC:

adb pull /data/data/com.miui.notes/shared_prefs/notes_db.xml C:\Notes_Backup\

Use any text editor (e.g. Notepad++) to view content. The data will be encrypted or structured β€” look for lines of text in your notes.

Limitations of the method:

  • πŸ”’ Root rights are required (most Xiaomi needs to unlock them via Mi Unlock Tool).
  • πŸ“ Files can be encrypted – more tools will be needed to decrypt them.
  • ⚠️ Wrong teams ADB could damage the system.

6.Recovery after reset to factory settings

If you do a Hard Reset, the standard methods won't work, the data is erased at the file system level.

  1. Restore from Mi Account Backup: When you first set up your phone after you reset, select Restore from backup. Log in to Mi Account and wait for the process to complete. Check Notes app – data must return if a copy was created.

Use of professional tools:

Programs like Dr.Fone or EaseUS MobiSaver can scan memory after a reset, but:

  • πŸ’° Paid (free versions only show previews of files).
  • πŸ› οΈ Requires PC connection and often doesn’t work on newer versions MIUI.
  • πŸ” Efficiency below 50% – depends on the phone model and the extent of data overwriting.

Important: If the reset was made via Fastboot (fastboot erase userdata command), it is almost impossible to recover notes - the data is erased at a low level.

πŸ’‘

Once reset to factory settings, never create new notes or files – this reduces the chances of recovering old data.

7. Contact Xiaomi Support

If none of these methods worked, the last chance is to call Xiaomi’s official support.

  • πŸ“± You have a warranty phone (up to 1-2 years from the date of purchase).
  • πŸ’Ύ Notes were critical (e.g. legal or financial data).
  • πŸ”§ You are ready to provide proof of possession of the device (checks, IMEI).

How to apply:

  1. Go to the Xiaomi support website.
  2. Select the Contacts section and click Online Chat or Send a request.
  3. Describe the situation in as much detail as possible: Phone model (Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G, Xiaomi 11T, etc.) MIUI version (you can find out in Settings β†’ About phone), date and time of deleting notes, whether synchronization with Mi Account was enabled.

The timeframe for processing the request is 3 to 7 days, and in rare cases Xiaomi can recover data from server logs, but this depends on the storage policy in your region.

⚠️ Warning: Don't trust "specialists" who promise to recover data for money without guarantees. Fraudsters often exploit vulnerabilities in the security system. MIUI access to personal data.

FAQ: Frequent questions about retrieving notes

Can I recover notes if my phone is not turned on?
Yes, but only if: You have a backup in Mi Cloud or Google Drive β€” restore it to another device. The phone is recognized by the computer in Fastboot mode β€” try retrieving data through ADB (section 5). The problem is the firmware β€” reflash the phone through the Mi Flash Tool with the Clean All option (but this will delete all data!). If the phone is physically broken (for example, a broken screen or a faulty motherboard), contact the service center β€” sometimes the data can be retrieved by interlocking the memory.
Why doesn't DiskDigger find my notes?
Possible causes: πŸ—‘οΈ Data was overwritten with new files (photos, videos, applications). πŸ” You are scanning the wrong section (notes are stored in the /data/data/com.miui.notes). πŸ›‘οΈ MIUI encrypts application data – without root access, DiskDigger will not see them. ⏳ It has been too long (more) 1–2 weeks after removal. Try alternative programs: GT Recovery or Undeleter.
How to protect your notes from accidental deletion in the future?
5 Ways to Prevent Data Loss: ☁️ Enable automatic sync with Mi Account or Google Drive. πŸ“€ Regularly export notes manually: open the note β†’ More. β†’ Exports β†’ keep in PDF or TXT. πŸ” Use third-party cloud backup apps: Google Keep, OneNote, Evernote. πŸ“± Set a password for the Notes app (in the app settings). πŸ”„ Create local backups through Settings β†’ Memory. β†’ Backup.
Do these methods work on Redmi with custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience)?
Partly, if you installed custom firmware: βœ… Cloud backups (Mi Cloud, Google Drive) will remain available. ❌ Xiaomi’s standard Notes app may not work or require manual installation APK. ⚠️ ADB-DiskDigger methods and scans may not work due to altered folder structure. πŸ”§ To restore the data will have to temporarily return to the official MIUI. If you have done backup through TWRP before you run the firmware, restore it, and it'll bring back the notes along with other data.
Can I recover notes from a memory card (microSD)?
Yes, but only if: Notes were saved directly to the card (notes should be chosen /sdcard/... in the Notes app settings). The card was not formatted after deletion. You did not write new files to it. Use DiskDigger or Recuva (on a card reader PC) by selecting the FAT32/exFAT file system scan. Look for files with.txt,.md or.db extensions.