Synchronization in the phone Xiaomi Redmi: why you need and how to set up

Have you ever lost your phone or accidentally deleted important contacts? If so, could the sync feature in Xiaomi Redmi save your data? This process automatically stores information from your device to cloud servers or other gadgets, protecting it from loss. But exactly how does sync work on Redmi smartphones, what data does it affect and how to set it up correctly? Let's get a look at it.

In this article, we will explain in detail what is behind the term “synchronization” in the context of Xiaomi, what types of sync exist (cloud, PC, between devices), and why it can lead to unexpected consequences, and you will learn how to avoid common configuration errors and what to do if sync suddenly stops working.

Now, Redmi sync isn't just about backing up, it's a complex mechanism that brings data together between devices, updates it in real time, and even helps restore the phone to work after a reset, and if you haven't used this feature yet, after reading this article, you'll understand why it's worth activating today.

What is synchronization in Xiaomi Redmi: a simple explanation

Synchronization in Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is the process of automatically exchanging data between your phone and other devices or cloud services. Simply put, it is a way to keep important information (contacts, photos, notes) in a safe place so that it does not disappear when your phone breaks down, resets or buy a new gadget.

For example, if you add a new contact to your phone book on Redmi Note 12 and sync with Mi Account is enabled, that contact will automatically appear on your Redmi 10 or even on your Xiaomi Pad tablet. The same goes for photos in the Gallery, notes in Notes, and even call history.

It is important to understand that synchronization in Xiaomi can be of several types:

• 📱 Between Xiaomi devices – data is synchronized via Mi Account (for example, between a smartphone and a fitness bracelet Mi Band).
• ☁️ With the Mi Cloud – backup photos, contacts, SMS and other data on the Xiaomi server.
• 💻 From PC or Mac – through the Xiaomi program PC Suite or web version of Mi Cloud.
• 🔄 With Google Services – if you use a Google account, sync can be duplicated via Google Drive or Google Contacts.

Redmi syncs work independently of the backup, backing up the phone for a specific date, and syncing only updates the selected data in real time. For example, if you delete a photo from the Gallery, it will disappear from the cloud (if Mi Cloud sync is enabled). → gallery).

What data is synced in Redmi by default

By default, Xiaomi Redmi smartphones offer synchronization of the following types of data via Mi Account:

In addition, some Redmi models (e.g., Redmi) K60 or POCO F5) synchronization:

• 📅 Calendar - events, reminders, tasks.
• 🎵 Music – playlists and downloaded tracks (if Mi Music is used).
• 📍 Location data – history of visited locations (requires separate permission).
• 🔧 System settings - wallpaper, sound circuits, screen brightness (when restored on a new device).

However, not all data is synchronized automatically, such as Wi-Fi passwords, saved games or application settings (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) require separate backups, and it is worth remembering that synchronizing call records may be prohibited by law in some countries (such as the EU), so this option is often absent on Redmi’s European firmware.

⚠️ Note: If you use Redmi with custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience), sync through Mi Cloud may not work properly or at all.

How to turn on or off sync on Xiaomi Redmi

To manage sync on Xiaomi Redmi, you will need a Mi Account (or Google Account if you prefer Google services), if you do not already have an account, you can create it directly in your phone settings.

Step 1 Log in to Mi Account

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
2. Choose Mi Account (or Add an account if you are not logged in).
3. Enter your login and password or register a new account.

Step 2: Set up synchronization

1. In the Mi Account section, tap on Synchronization.
2. You will see a list of data that can be synchronized (contacts, gallery, notes, etc.).
3. Activate or deactivate the switches near the desired points.
4. To automatically sync, enable Autosynchronize data (may be called Auto Sync).

Step 3: Checking sync with Google

If you use a Google Account:

1. Return to Settings → Accounts and Synchronization
2. Select Google and log in to your account.
3. Activate synchronization for Contacts, Calendar, Google Drive and other services.

Make sure your phone is connected to Wi-Fi or mobile internet

Make sure that there is enough free space in the Mi Account.

Open the application (such as Contacts) and wait for the data update

Reboot your phone if synchronization is not started-->

If synchronization does not work after turning on, try the following steps:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📶 Check your internet connection (synchronization requires a stable connection).
• 🗃️ Free up space in Mi Cloud (free available 5 GB, then - paid extension).
• 🔧 Update the Mi Cloud app on Google Play.

⚠️ Note: If you log out of Mi Account on your phone, all unsynchronized data (such as new contacts or photos) may be lost. Before logging out, make sure that the last sync is successful (check the date in the Mi Cloud settings).

Why synchronization may not work and how to fix it

Sometimes Xiaomi Redmi users find that sync suddenly stops working, and the reasons can vary from account ban to technical failures, and consider the most common problems and their solutions.

1. Synchronization is “hang” or not updated

If the data has not been updated for several days:

• 📱 Check if Autosynchronization is enabled in Settings → Accounts. → Mi Account → Synchronization.
• 🔋 Make sure the phone has enough charge (at low battery levels, the system can pause background processes).
• 📡 Switch from mobile internet to Wi-Fi (some data types are only synced over Wi-Fi).
• 🔄 Manually run synchronization by clicking on the Sync button in the Mi Cloud settings.

2. the error "Can not synchronize data"

This error often occurs due to:

• 🔒 Account locks – check if your Mi Account is blocked (for example, due to suspicious activity). SMS email.
• 📅 Wrong date and time - if the phone has lost its time settings, the sync may not work. → Additionally. → Date and time.
• 🚫 Region restrictions – some Mi Cloud features are not available in certain countries, for example, call recording synchronization may be disabled in the EU.

3. the data is not fully synchronized

If not all contacts or photos are synced:

• 📂 Check if the storage limit in Mi Cloud is exceeded (5 GB for a free account).
• 📸 For photos: Open the Gallery → Settings → Sync with Mi Cloud and make sure you select Original Quality (not Traffic Saving).
• 🔍 Use a search in Mi Cloud (web version or app) to make sure the data isn’t actually loaded.

💡

If syncing photos is slow, try uploading them over Wi-Fi at night. → Gallery enable Wi-Fi Only and Download at night

If none of these methods worked, try:

1. Exit the Mi Account and log in again.
2. Clear the cache of the Mi Cloud application (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Mi Cloud → Clear the cache).
3. Update your phone to the latest version (in some older versions) MIUI There were synchronization bugs).

Synchronization between Xiaomi Redmi and other devices

One of the key features of the Xiaomi ecosystem is the ability to synchronize data between different devices of the brand, for example, you can:

• 📱 Transfer contacts and photos from the old Redmi 9 to the new Redmi Note 13 Pro+.
• ⌚ Get notifications from your phone on Mi Band 8 or Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro.
• 💻 Manage phone files from your computer via Xiaomi PC Suite.
• 🔊 Sync music between Redmi and Xiaomi Smart Speaker.

How to sync data between two Xiaomi phones:

1. On both phones, log in to the same Mi Account.
2. On your old phone, open Settings. → Mi Account → Synchronize and enable synchronization for the data you need (contacts, gallery, etc.).
3. On the new phone, do the same thing. The data will sync automatically.
4. For quick transfer of all data, use the Cloning function (Settings) → The phone. → Cloning of the device).

Synchronization with PC or Mac:

To manage your phone data from your computer:

1. Download and install the Xiaomi program PC Suite from the official website.
2. Connect Redmi to your computer via USB-cable (select File Transfer Mode on your phone).
3. Sign in to Mi Account in the program.
4. Select the Sync section and specify what data to update (contacts, photos, music).

If you use a Google Account, synchronization between Redmi and other Android devices (such as Samsung or Pixel) will work through Google services (Google Contacts, Google Photos, Google Drive).

Synchronization security: What you need to know

Many users worry about data security when synchronizing, and indeed, transferring information to the cloud always carries risks, but Xiaomi uses several layers of protection:

• 🔐 Encryption of data – all files in Mi Cloud are encrypted using the protocol TLS (analogue HTTPS site).
• 🛡️ Two-factor authentication – you can enable login confirmation SMS or through the Google Authenticator.
• 📍 Geosecurity – when you try to log in from a new device or from another country, the system will request additional confirmation.
• 🗑️ Delete data – when files are deleted from Mi Cloud, they are erased from servers without the possibility of recovery (unlike Google Drive, where files are stored in the Recycle Bin for 30 days).

However, there are potential vulnerabilities:

• 🕵️ If someone accesses your Mi Account (for example, through phishing or password leakage), they will be able to view and download all synchronized data.
• 📡 In some countries (e.g. China), Mi Cloud users’ data may be subject to local data retention laws, which theoretically allows authorities to request access to it.
• 🔄 When you reset your phone to factory settings, local data (not synchronized with the cloud) will be lost irretrievably.

How to protect your data:

1. Use a complex password for Mi Account (at least 12 characters, with numbers and special signs).
2. Enable two-factor authentication in your account settings.
3. Check active sessions in Mi Account (Settings) regularly → Mi Account → Account management → Security → Devices) and remove suspicious.
4. For sensitive data (such as document scans), use local encryption (applications like Cryptomator or Veracrypt).

⚠️ Note: If you sell or transfer your Xiaomi Redmi to another person, be sure to log out of the Mi Account and reset to factory settings. Otherwise, the new owner will be able to access your data through the cloud, even if you delete it from your phone!

💡

Syncing through Mi Cloud is convenient, but not completely anonymous. If you care about privacy, use alternative backup methods (for example, encrypted archives on an external drive).

Alternative synchronization methods for Xiaomi Redmi

If you don't like Mi Cloud or Google Account, you can use third-party services and tools.

How to set up Syncthing on Xiaomi Redmi:

1. Download Syncthing from Google Play or the official website (for F-Droid).
2. Install Syncthing on the second device (PC, other phone, NAS).
3. Open the app on both devices and add each other through ID device.
4. Create a shared folder and choose which files to sync.
5. Set up automatic synchronization over Wi-Fi (in Syncthing settings on your phone).

Use of Nextcloud:

If you have a server or a rented hosting service:

1. Install Nextcloud on the server (instructions are available on the official website).
2. On the phone, install the Nextcloud apps, DAVx⁵ (For contacts/calendar) and Nextcloud Notes (for notes).
3. Enter your server address and login details.
4. Set up synchronization of the necessary data (files, contacts, calendar).

For most users, Mi Cloud or Google Accounts are the best choice, but if you’re interested in privacy or working with large amounts of data, Syncthing or Nextcloud is a good idea.

FAQ: Frequent questions about synchronization in Xiaomi Redmi