How to get into locked notes!?

I recently upgraded from an iPhone 8 Plus to a 12 Pro & I’m having trouble accessing my locked notes. I always used my Touch ID to get into these notes and NEVER set up a physical password. Now that I’m trying to open them on my new phone I’m being asked to put in a password that doesn’t exist... I’ve tried any possible password that I could’ve used & still nothing. I even tried to reset the password and turn on Face ID with no luck. Are these notes just lost forever?