Notes on Xiaomi smartphones are one of the most popular tools for quickly capturing ideas, to-do lists or important information. But when it comes to finding those records in the file system or recovering them after resetting, users often face difficulties. Where exactly are the notes stored? Can they be extracted without root rights? How to transfer data to a new phone? These questions arise for beginners and experienced owners of Redmi, POCO or Mi devices.
In this article, we’ll take a look at all possible Xiaomi storage locations, from standard internal memory paths to Mi Cloud services, and learn how to find notes manually, export them in different formats, and recover lost data. We will pay special attention to the differences between the models MIUI different versions and nuances of working with the application Notes (Notes) from Xiaomi.
Standard Ways to Storage Notes in Internal Memory
By default, notes on Xiaomi are stored in a protected area of internal memory that is not accessible for direct changes without special tools, but knowing the exact paths will help when backing up or transferring data.
The main catalogs where the notes are stored:
- 📁 /data/data/com.miui.notes/files/ — This is a database (.db) with notes, metadata and attachments (images, audio) available only with root rights.
- 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.notes/files/ — external application cache where exported files or thumbnails may be temporarily stored.
- 📁 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Notes/ — version MIUI (for example, MIUI 12-14) backup copies are created here for manual export.
It's important to understand that working directly with these folders without root access is fraught with errors, such as trying to copy the notes.db database manually can damage it, and that it's better to use built-in export features or third-party utilities like Mi PC Suite to safely extract notes.
Mi Cloud Storage: Synchronization and Recovery
The most reliable way to save notes is to activate sync with Mi Cloud, which automatically backs up data and allows you to restore it to any Xiaomi device under the same account, to check if sync is enabled:
- Open the Notes app.
- Slap the icon. ⋮ (three points) in upper right corner.
- Select Settings → Sync with Mi Cloud.
- Make sure the switch is active and the correct account is indicated.
If the sync was disabled, but you had used it before, the notes could be saved to the cloud to recover them:
- Go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud.
- Select Notes and click Sync.
- Wait until the process is completed (may take a few minutes).
💡
If no notes appear after synchronization, check if the password from the Mi Account has changed. When changing the password, you sometimes need to re-authorize in the cloud.
The limitations of Mi Cloud:
- 🔒 Free account provides only 5 GB of space, which is enough for ~10,000 notes (without attachments).
- 📱 Synchronization works only between Xiaomi devices (on Samsung or iPhone notes will not be transferred).
- ⏳ When synchronization is first enabled, it may take up to 24 hours to fully load data.
Hand-exported notes: formats and instructions
If you need to transfer notes to another phone or save them to your computer, use the built-in export function. The Notes app supports several formats:
| Format | Expansion | Contents | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Text file | .txt | Notes only (without formatting) | Any device. |
| HTML | .html | Text with saved formatting (bold, italics) | Browsers, text editors |
| Mi Notes Backup | .mnb | Full copy (text + attachments + metadata) | Only Xiaomi. |
| Formatted document (easy to print) | Any device. |
To export notes:
Open the app Notes|Select a note or folder (long press)|Press. ⋮ → Exports|Specify the format and the way of saving|Confirm the export-->
Note:.mnb files can only be imported back on Xiaomi devices through the same Notes app. For other formats (.txt,.html), use third-party programs like Evernote or Google Keep.
Lost Notes: What to Do When Data is Lost
If the notes suddenly disappear, don't panic -- they can often be restored.
- Check the cart: there is a Recycle Bin section in the Notes app (available 30 days after removal: ⋮ → Basket.
- Restore from Mi Cloud: If sync has been enabled, try reinstalling the app or logging into an account on another device.
- Use backup: If you have backups through Settings → System → Backup, recover data from there.
- Check hidden folders: sometimes notes are duplicated in /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/backup/Notes/.
What to do if the basket is empty?
If you deleted your notes more than 30 days ago and didn't sync with the cloud, you have minimal chances of recovery, and you can try specialized programs like DiskDigger or GT Recovery, but they require root rights and don't guarantee results.
💡
Check the contents of the shopping cart regularly in the Notes app – you have 30 days to recover deleted records without loss.
Differences between models: Redmi, POCO, Mi and MIUI versions
The logic of keeping notes may vary depending on the phone model and firmware version.
- 📱 Older models (Redmi Note) 4/5, Mi A1/A2): They use a stripped-down version of the Notes app without cloud sync. Data is stored only locally in the app. /data/data/com.miui.notes/.
- 📱 POCO F1/F2/F3: In these devices, the notes are integrated with Google Keep by default: /data/data/com.google.android.keep/.
- 📱 Mi flagships 10/11/12 s MIUI 12+: Support advanced features (e.g., text recognition in images in notes) backups are created in /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/Notes/backup/.
- 📱 HyperOS devices (2026): Notes are stored in a new format.mnb2, incompatible with older versions MIUI.
To check the MIUI version, go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. If your device is running Android One (like the Mi A3), default notes are saved to Google Keep, not the standard Xiaomi app.
Transfer notes to another phone or PC
If you are planning to change your smartphone or want to work with notes on your computer, use one of the following methods:
Method 1: Mi Cloud (for Xiaomi devices)
- On your old phone, enable synchronization of notes with Mi Cloud.
- On the new device, log in to the same Mi Account.
- Open the Notes app and wait for the synchronization to complete.
Method 2: Export to file and import to PC
- Export notes to.html or.txt (instruction above).
- Connect your phone to your PC via USB and copy the file.
- Open the file on your computer using Notepad++, Word or browser.
Method 3: Through Mi PC Suite (for Windows)
- 🖥️ Install the Mi program PC Suite from the official Xiaomi website.
- 📱 Put the phone on. USB (Turn on the debugging. USB developer-setting).
- 🔄 In the Backup section, select Notes and create a backup.
- 💾 Save the backup file to your PC (extension.mbk).
💡
To transfer notes to your iPhone, use the intermediate format.html or.txt, and then import them to Apple Notes via iCloud Drive.
Frequent mistakes and their solutions
When working with notes on Xiaomi, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Notes are not synchronized with Mi Cloud | There is no Internet or incorrect account information | Check your network connection and re-authorize to Mi Cloud |
| When exporting, an empty file is created. | Insufficient rights or damaged database | Reinstall the Notes app or clear its cache |
| No attachments are displayed (photo, audio) | Files deleted from phone memory | Restore attachments from the cart or backup |
| Error "Can't open the note" | Damage to the.mnb file | Try importing a note on another device |
If none of the methods helped, try resetting the Notes app settings:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find Notes and select Warehouse.
- Click Clear Data and Clear Cache.
- Restart the phone and check the app.
💡
Before resetting your app settings, make sure all important notes are exported or synced with Mi Cloud!