Owning the Xiaomi ecosystem involves accumulating a huge amount of data, among which notes occupy a special place. Users often face the need to change the device, whether it is an upgrade to the flagship Xiaomi 14 or a transition to the budget model Redmi, at which point the question of saving important information, shopping lists or working drafts arises.
The data migration process may seem complicated, but the developers have come up with several efficient mechanisms: Xiaomi notes sync almost automatically when you set up your account correctly, but there are nuances that depend on the version of MIUI firmware or the new HyperOS that need attention.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at all the portability options available, from cloud services to local file copying, and learn how to avoid data loss and set up your system so that your records are accessible from any device at any given time.
Preparing a Mi Account for Synchronization
The foundation of the entire ecosystem is your personal profile, and without authorization in Mi Account, you can't use native cloud storage features, and it's this account that connects all your devices into a single network, allowing instantaneous data exchange.
To get started, you need to make sure that the old device is synced, go to the phone's settings and find the account section, and it shows the connection status and the list of services that are sending data to the server.
Make sure the switch opposite the Notes item is activated, and if it's turned off, your records are stored only in your phone's memory and have no copy in the cloud, which is a critical point before you start the transfer procedure.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure your Mi Account is linked to the phone number you have access to otherwise it may be difficult to restore access to cloud data.
Once synchronization is activated, the system will automatically upload all text files to the cloud, the speed of the process depends on the amount of information accumulated and the quality of the Internet connection, and it is recommended to use a stable Wi-Fi channel to speed up the download.
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Without the synchronization enabled in Mi Account, the transfer of notes by standard system means is impossible.
Using Mi Cloud for Automatic Transfer
The easiest and most reliable way to migrate is to use the Mi Cloud cloud service, which does not require cables or third-party software, but is done through the company's Internet connection and servers.
Once you have verified that you have an actual copy of the data on your old phone, take a new device. When you first set up or through the settings menu, log in to the same Mi Account.
During the recovery process, select the Note Sync option. The Notes app on the new device will automatically pull up all records, including attached images and task lists, and the folder structure and color marking will also be saved in full.
- 📱 Open Settings on a new Xiaomi or Redmi device.
- ☁️ Go to the “Mi Account” section and log in to your profile.
- 🔄 Include the “Synchronization” slider for the “Notes” section».
- ⏳ Wait for the process of updating the list of records to be completed.
It is important to understand that Mi Cloud has a free space limit, usually 5 GB. If your notes contain a lot of heavy attachments, the space may run out, in which case you will need to clean the storage or buy an additional subscription.
Transfer via Google Keep and third-party apps
Not all users trust vendor cloud services or plan to migrate to other brands, and the ideal solution is to use cross-platform applications such as Google Keep or Evernote, which are not tied to the MIUI shell.
Xiaomi’s standard Notes app has an export or integration feature, but the most flexible option is manual or semi-automatic content transfer to Google Keep, which is pre-installed on most Android smartphones and syncs with your Gmail account.
To transfer, you can use the "Send" feature inside the Xiaomi note. Select text, click the (Share) button, and select Google Keep from the list of apps. The record will instantly appear in the application on any device where you log in to Google.
How to transfer notes to Google Keep?
The advantage of this method is that it's brand-independent, so if you buy a Samsung or an iPhone tomorrow, your records will stay with you, just install the app and log in.
⚠️ Note: When exported via Google Keep, formatting complex lists or specific checklists by Xiaomi can be simplified to plain text.
Local Copying and Working with XML Files
For advanced users who prefer full control of data, there is a method of working with local files. All notes in the Xiaomi system are stored as a database or individual files in hidden directories of the system.
The path to storage is usually: /data/data/com.miui.notes/databases/notes.db. However, access to this folder requires root rights that not all users have, and without the superuser's rights, you cannot copy this file using standard means.
A more affordable option is export of individual notes in format XML or HTML. Open the desired entry, select the export menu and save the file to internal memory or to the SD-This file can then be transferred to a new device via Bluetooth or cable.
| Export method | Requirements | Preserving formatting | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Cloud | Internet, Mi Account | Complete. | Low. |
| Google Keep | Google account | Partial | Medium |
| XML Export | File manager | Complete. | Tall. |
| Mi Mover | Both Xiaomi phones | Complete. | Low. |
Once you transfer the file to a new device, you need to put it in the appropriate directory or open it through the Notes app for import, which ensures that the data stays on the Internet and remains in your personal property.
Use of Mi Mover utility for migration
If you change one Xiaomi phone to another, there's no point in manually setting up syncs. The Mi Mover app is built specifically for this kind of thing, and it sends data directly over the Wi-Fi channel between devices, bypassing cloud servers.
Run the app on both devices. On the old phone, select Sender mode and on the new one, Receive mode. QR-code or code connection, the system will prompt you to select data types to transmit.
Make sure to tick System Data or Notes specifically if selective mode is available, and transfer rates can reach tens of megabytes per second, allowing you to flip gigabytes of information in minutes.
☑️ Check before using the Mi Mover
What makes this method unique is that it copies not only text, but also application system settings, shortcuts, and even recently deleted entries from the cart, if they are not already cleaned, making Mi Mover the most complete cloning tool in the system.
The solution: synchronization problems
Sometimes the transfer process may be interrupted or the data is not updated on a new device, most often due to an unstable Internet connection or time desynchronization on devices, check that the date and time are set to automatic mode.
If you don't see any notes, try forcefully updating the app. Go to the Mi Account sync settings, turn off the Notes slider and turn it on again, and the system will suggest combining local data with cloud data.
In some cases, cleaning the Notes app cache helps. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Notes and select Clear Cache. Don't confuse it with Clear Data, otherwise you can delete local drafts that haven't gone to the cloud yet.
⚠️ Before clearing the application data, make sure the latest version of the notes is successfully downloaded to Mi Cloud, otherwise local changes will be lost.
It’s also worth checking the firmware version. Very old versions of MIUI may use outdated synchronization protocols that conflict with new servers. Updating to the current version often solves the compatibility problem.
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If sync is 99% down, try switching from Wi-Fi to mobile internet (4G/5G) or vice versa to trigger a server reconnection.