Where notes from the Quick Notepad application are stored on Android: paths, backups and restoration

Are you actively using the application Quick notepad on your smartphone, but suddenly you are faced with the need to transfer notes to a new device, restore them after a reset, or just make sure that your data is safe? Unlike standard Android notebooks, where note files are often publicly available, Quick notepad (from the developer Simple Mobile Tools) stores data in its own way - and it is not always obvious where exactly.

In this article we will look in detail at: 1. Where note files are physically stored in the phone's memory (internal memory, SD card, cloud). 2. How to manually find and copy the database with notes. 3. What backup tools the application itself offers and how to use them. 4. What to do if notes are missing after an update or reset. 5. Alternative ways to export notes to other formats (TXT, JSON, XML).

Important: Quick Notepad —this is not the same as the standard application Notes from Google or Samsung. It has a different data storage structure, and the backup approaches are also different. If you use another application, the instructions in this article may not work.

1. Where exactly are notes stored: folder and file structure

The application Quick Notepad (Simple Notepad) saves all notes in SQLite database —this is a standard format for Android applications. The database file is called notes.db and is located in the protected application folder. The exact path depends on the version of Android and the installation method:

• 📁 Internal memory: /data/data/com.simplemobiletools.notes/databases/notes.db is the main storage location for most users.
• 🔄 SD card (if configured): /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Android/data/com.simplemobiletools.notes/files/notes.db (where XXXX-XXXX —a unique identifier of your card).
• ☁️ Cloud (optional): If synchronization via Google Drive or Nextcloudis enabled, notes are duplicated in cloud storage in encrypted form.

⚠️ Attention: The folder /data/data/ is not accessible without root access or special tools (for example, ADB). If you have not unlocked superuser rights, you will not be able to directly copy the file notes.db you will have to use the built-in export functions.

For users with root-access or connected ADB you can manually copy the database with the command:

adb pull /data/data/com.simplemobiletools.notes/databases/notes.db C:\backup\

(replace C:\backup\ to the desired path on your PC).

2. How to backup notes without root access

The developers Quick notepad have provided several backup methods that do not require technical skills. All of them are available in the application menu:

1. Export to JSON:

   Go to ⋮ → Export → JSON. The file will be saved in a folder Download/SimpleNotepad with the name of the view notes_export_2026-05-20.json. This format is suitable for importing back into the application or for transferring to another device.

2. Save to TXT:

   If you need a simple text file without tags and formatting, select ⋮ → Export → TXT. Each note will be saved as a separate file in the same folder.

3. Automatic backup:

   In the settings (⋮ → Settings → Backup) you can enable autosave to the cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox) or locally. The application will create backups on a schedule (for example, once a week).

⚠️ Attention: If you use free version applications, cloud synchronization may be limited. In Pro versions advanced backup settings are available, including encryption.

Check the free space on your device|Open the application and update your notes|Select a format (JSON for a full backup, TXT for compatibility)|Make sure the cloud is connected (if necessary)|Save the file to a safe place (not just on your phone)-->

3. How to transfer notes to another phone

Transferring notes between devices depends on what backup method you used. Let's consider two main scenarios:

Method 1: Through a JSON file (recommended)

1. On the old phone, export notes to JSON (⋮ → Export → JSON).
2. Transfer the file to the new phone (via Google Drive, Telegram, USB cable or SD card).
3. On the new phone, install Fast notepad (preferably the same version!) and import JSON: ⋮ → Import → Select file.

Method 2: Through cloud synchronization

If synchronization with was enabled on your old phone Google Drive:

1. Install Quick Notepad on the new device.
2. Sign in to the same Google account.
3. Go to ⋮ → Settings → Synchronization and enable data downloading.

⚠️ Attention: When importing for the first time on a new phone, the application may ask what to do with conflicting notes (if you already have them). Select "Replace all"if you want to transfer data from the old device completely.

Transfer method	Pros	Cons	Do you need root access?
JSON file	Keeps formatting, labels, colors	Requires manual import	No
Cloud synchronization	Automatic transfer, no need to copy anything	Need Pro version for some clouds	No
Manual copying notes.db	Full copy of the database, including drafts	Require root access or ADB	Yes
Export to TXT	Simplicity, compatibility with any editor	Formatting and labels are lost	No

4. What to do if notes disappear after an update or reset

The situation when notes disappear after updating an application or resetting the phone to factory settings is, unfortunately, not uncommon. Here is the algorithm for recovery:

1. Check the export folder:

   If you previously made backups in JSON, look for files in Download/SimpleNotepad or on the SD card. Even if the application was reinstalled, the files might remain.

2. Recover from the cloud:

   If synchronization with Google Drivewas enabled, go to the application settings and click Restore from the cloud. The application will prompt you to select the latest available backup version.

3. Look for temporary files:

   Sometimes after failures, files like notes.db-shm or notes.db-wal are created in the same folder as and the main base. You can try renaming them to notes.db (root or ADB required).

4. Refer to the cache:

   The folder /data/data/com.simplemobiletools.notes/cache/ can store temporary copies of notes. Check it through a file manager with root access.

Critical information: If notes are missing after updating the application from version 6.x to 7.x, try rolling back to the old version of the APK (can be downloaded from APKMirror). In some cases, this helps to restore access to the database, since the storage structure has changed in new versions.

What to do if notes are encrypted?

If you used the note encryption feature in the Pro version, you will need a password to recover. Without it, the data cannot be returned - it is stored in encrypted form (AES-256). If you forgot your password, try to remember it using the hint in the application settings or restore it from a backup made before encryption.

5. Alternative export methods: XML, Markdown, HTML

In addition to JSON and TXT, Quick Notepad supports export to other formats - this is useful if you want to transfer notes to other applications (for example, Evernote, Notion or Obsidian). Here's how it works:

• 📄 XML: Suitable for importing into Microsoft OneNote or Google Keep (via converters). Exported via ⋮ → Export → XML.
• 📝 Markdown: Ideal for bloggers or users Obsidian. Files will be saved with the extension .md and support for markup (headings, lists, bold text).
• 🌐 HTML: Exports notes as web pages while maintaining formatting. Convenient for publishing on the Internet.

⚠️ Attention: When exporting to Markdown or HTML images inserted into notes will be saved as separate files in the folder SimpleNotepad/exports/images/. Don't forget to copy them along with the main file!

To automate the conversion, you can use scripts on Python (library sqlite3 for reading notes.db) or online services like ConvertCSV. An example of a command for manually retrieving notes from the database:

sqlite3 notes.db "SELECT * FROM notes;" > notes_export.csv

6. How to protect notes from loss: best practices

To avoid losing important notes, follow these rules:

1. Enable automatic backup:

   In settings (⋮ → Settings → Backup) set up weekly export to JSON to an SD card or to the cloud. The minimum interval is once every 7 days.

2. Use cloud synchronization:

   In Pro versions synchronization with Nextcloud, WebDAV or Google Drive. This will protect your data even if your phone breaks down.

3. Duplicate exports:

   Don't rely on one backup method. For example, once a month, export notes to JSON and send the file by email or Telegram Saved Messages.

4. Check the integrity of backups:

   Periodically open the exported files (JSON or TXT) and make sure that the data is readable. Sometimes files can be damaged when copied.

5. Encrypt confidential notes:

   You can encrypt individual notes or the entire database. Use a strong password and store it in a password manager (for example, Pro versions you can encrypt individual notes or the entire database. Use a strong password and store it in a password manager (for example, Bitwarden).

⚠️ Attention: If you store notes on SD card, disable it before formatting or resetting the phone. Android may automatically wipe external media during some operations.

7. and their solutions

Users Quick Notepad sometimes encounter common errors. Here's how to fix them:

• 🔄 "Unable to import JSON":

  Make sure that the file is not damaged (open it in a text editor - it should start with {"notes": [...]}If the file is broken, try restoring it from an earlier backup.

• 🔒 "I don't see the export folder":

  By default, files are saved in Download/SimpleNotepad. If there is no folder, check the permission settings for the application (Android Settings → Applications → Quick Notepad → Permissions → Storage).

• ☁️ "The cloud is not syncing":

  Check your internet connection, sign in to your Google account again and restart the application. If used Nextcloud, make sure that the server URL is entered correctly (without / at the end).

• 📱 "After updating Android, the notes disappeared":

  This may be due to changes in the data storage policy in new versions of Android (for example, Scoped Storage in Android 11+). Try rolling back to an older version of the application or restoring data from the cloud.

If the problem is not resolved, contact the developer's support via ⋮ → Send review. Attach the error log to the message (can be obtained via ⋮ → Settings → Debugging → Export logs).

How to enable debug mode?

To get extended logs for diagnostics, go to ⋮ → Settings → Debugging and enable the option "Developer mode". After this, all actions in the application will be recorded in a file notes_log.txt in the folder SimpleNotepad.

FAQ: Answers to common questions questions

Is it possible to transfer notes from Quick Notepad to Google Keep?

Yes, but directly - no. First export the notes to JSON, then use an online converter (for example JSON-to-CSV) or a script to convert to a compatible format c Google Keep. An alternative is manual copy-paste from TXT files.

Where are notes stored if the application is installed on an SD card?

Even if the application itself is transferred to SD, the database notes.db by default remains in the internal memory (/data/data/...). To store notes on a card, enable the corresponding option in the settings (⋮ → Settings → Storage → Save to SD card).

How to recover a deleted note?

If the note was recently deleted, check folder Recycle bin in the application (available in the latest versions). If there is no recycle bin, try restoring the file notes.db from a backup copy (local or cloud). Without a backup, it is impossible to recover deleted data.

Is it possible to open the notes.db file on PC?

Yes, for this you will need any app for working with databases SQLite, for example:

• DB Browser for SQLite (free, Windows/macOS/Linux),
• SQLiteStudio (cross-platform),
• Extension SQLite Viewer for VS Code.

Open the file notes.db and go to the table notes —all your records will be there.

Why after importing JSON notes are duplicated?

This happens if the JSON file already has notes with the same IDs as in the current database. Before importing, remove all notes from the application or use the option "Replace all" when importing (if available in your version).