Sync in Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: a complete guide to setup and fix errors

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is still one of the most popular smartphones of the brand due to its balanced characteristics and reliable platform. However, many users face problems with synchronizing data from missing contacts to backup errors. In this article, we will analyze how synchronization works on the Redmi Note 8 Pro, which services are responsible for it, and what to do if the process is not going as planned.

Syncing in Xiaomi smartphones isn’t just about copying files to the cloud; it’s a complex mechanism that links your data to your Mi Account, Google services, and third-party apps. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro (begonia model), this process has its own nuances due to the features of the firmware. MIUI and the Mediatek Helio hardware platform G90T. If you notice that photos are not uploaded to Google Photos, contacts are duplicated, or the backup freezes by 99% – this guide will help you understand the reasons and correct the situation.

It’s important to understand that synchronization isn’t limited to cloud services; it affects local backups, data exchanges between Xiaomi devices (e.g., Mi Share), and even some system features, such as smart search or second space mode, so sync settings are not a one-time procedure, but part of regular smartphone maintenance.

What is synchronization and why you need it on the Redmi Note 8 Pro

Synchronization is the process of exchanging data between your smartphone and external servers (cloud storage) or other devices. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, it performs several key functions:

• 🔄 Backup: Keeping copies of contacts, messages, photos and settings in case of a phone reset or replacement.
• 📱 Data exchange between devices: for example, transfer contacts from an old phone to a new one or synchronize notes between a smartphone and a tablet.
• 🌐 Access data from any device: view photos taken on your phone from your computer via Google Photos or Mi Cloud.
• 🔒 Reset recovery: Quickly set up your phone after a hard reset with a previously created backup.

On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, synchronization works through two main channels:

1. Mi Account (Mi Cloud) is a Xiaomi cloud that automatically reserves contacts, notes and other information, SMS, system settings and even some application data (e.g. Mi Fit or Mi Browser).
2. Google Account – syncs email, contacts, calendar, tasks, and photos and videos through Google Photos.

In addition, some applications (for example, WhatsApp, Telegram, VK) They have their own synchronization mechanisms that are independent of system settings, which means that even if you turn off sync in your phone's settings, these apps can continue to communicate with their servers.

What data can be synced to Redmi Note 8 Pro

Not all data on your smartphone is synchronized, but here is a complete list of what you can reserve and exchange through system services:

Pay attention to several important nuances:

• 📌 Photos in Mi Cloud are synced only if you use the standard Gallery app. If you installed Google Photos as the default app, sync will only go through Google.
• 📌 WhatsApp messages are not backed up via Mi Cloud or Google – there is a separate backup mechanism in the messenger itself.
• 📌 Data from certain games (e.g. Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile) synced through their own developer accounts, not system services.

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If you use two cloud services (Mi Cloud and Google) at the same time, turn off the synchronization of contacts in one of them to avoid duplication of records.

How to enable and configure sync with Mi Account

The branded Mi Account is the backbone of Xiaomi's ecosystem, and without it, you won't be able to use many of the features, including cloud backup. Here's how to properly configure sync through Mi Cloud:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account (or Mi Account).
2. If you are not already logged in, click Login and enter your account details. If you do not have an account, register (it is advisable to link a phone number for recovery).
3. After you enter, go to the Mi Cloud section.
4. Activate the Synchronization slider at the top of the screen.
5. Below you will see a list of data that can be synchronized, including the ones you need (recommended to leave everything but unnecessary applications).

Synchronization features via Mi Cloud on Redmi Note 8 Pro:

• 🔹 Free cloud storage – 5 GB (can be expanded for a fee).
• 🔹 Synchronization of photos works only in the original resolution (without compression), which quickly consumes space.
• 🔹 Data is only reserved when you connect to Wi-Fi (by default). To change this, go to Settings Mi Cloud → Synchronization settings → Synchronize through the mobile network.

If the data does not appear in the cloud after synchronization is enabled, check:

• 🔸 Internet connection (synchronization does not work in the plane mode).
• 🔸 Is there enough space in the cloud (when overflowing, new data is not loaded).
• 🔸 Does the battery optimizer block background work of Mi Cloud. For this, go to Settings → Battery and productivity → Manage battery consumption with applications and set Mi Cloud mode No restrictions.

Log in to Mi's account|Enable synchronization in Mi Cloud|Check the available location in the cloud|Disable battery restrictions for Mi Cloud|Reboot your phone after the changes-->

Syncing through your Google account

Google’s Redmi Note 8 Pro account is responsible for syncing email, contacts, calendar and other services. Unlike the Mi Cloud, there are no strict limits on volume (for example, Google Photos offers 15 GB for free), but there are some nuances.

To set up synchronization:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Select your account (or add a new one by clicking Add Account).
3. Click on the account name, then go to the account Sync section.
4. Turn on sliders opposite the data you want to sync (contacts, calendar, disk, Gmail, etc.).
5. To sync photos, install the Google Photos app and enable Backup and Sync in its settings.

Important points:

• 📌 If you use Google Contacts and Mi Contacts at the same time, you may experience duplicate contacts. To avoid this, choose one sync service (Google recommends, as it is more versatile).
• 📌 Google Photos by default uploads high quality photos (compressed) to save space.To download the originals, go to the app's settings and select Original Quality.
• 📌 Synchronizing Google Drive can slow down your phone if large files are stored in the cloud.In this case, turn off automatic downloading of files to your device.

If syncing through Google is not working:

⚠️ Note: Redmi Note 8 Pro with firmware MIUI 12+ There is sometimes a conflict between Google and MIUI. If the data is not synchronized, try it:

1. Delete your Google account and add it again.
2. Clear the cache of the Google Play Services app in Settings → Annexes → Application management.
3. Update Google Play Services and Google Play Store to the latest version.

Local Backup: An Alternative to the Cloud

Not all users are comfortable storing data in the cloud. The Redmi Note 8 Pro has a built-in local backup feature that allows you to save copies of data on the cloud. SD-This is useful if you have slow internet or don't trust cloud services.

To create a local backup copy:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Click Backup and select the data to save (contacts, messages, system settings, etc.).
3. Specify the location of the storage (internal memory or SD-map).
4. Confirm the copy. The process can take a few minutes.

The advantages of local backup:

• ✅ No dependence on the Internet.
• ✅ Data is stored only on your device (more privacy).
• ✅ You can recover data without accessing your Mi or Google accounts.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Risk of data loss in case of a phone or memory card breakdown.
• ❌ No automatic synchronization – you need to create a copy manually.
• ❌ Takes up space on the device (especially when you reserve photos).

To recover data from a local copy:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Click Restore and select the desired backup file.
3. Mark the data you want to recover and confirm the action.

Common synchronization problems and their solution

Even with the right setup, sync on the Redmi Note 8 Pro can fail, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

If none of these methods worked, try resetting your network settings:

1. Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Network Reset.
2. Confirm the reset and restart the phone.
3. After rebooting, re-enter your Mi and Google accounts.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI For the Redmi Note 8 Pro, a bug occurs in which sync is disabled after the system update. To avoid this, turn off automatic sync in Settings before updating. → Accounts. → Autosynchronize data and turn it on again after installing the update.

How to transfer data from another phone to Redmi Note 8 Pro

If you upgrade to the Redmi Note 8 Pro from another smartphone (even not Xiaomi), you can transfer data without loss.

Method 1: Mi Mover (recommended for Xiaomi devices)

Mi Mover is a proprietary application for transferring data between Xiaomi devices. It works over Wi-Fi Direct and does not require Internet.

1. Install Mi Mover on both phones (available from Google Play or App Store).
2. On the old phone, choose I am the sender, on the new phone, I am the receiver.
3. Scan it. QR-code from a new phone on an old one.
4. Select data for transfer (contacts, photos, apps, etc.) and confirm the transfer.

Method 2: Through Google Account

If you’ve used Google on your old phone, the data will automatically sync to your new device:

1. When you first turn on the Redmi Note 8 Pro, sign in to the same Google account as your old phone.
2. During the setup process, select Restore Data from a backup.
3. Wait for the synchronization to be completed (it can take up to an hour depending on the amount of data).

Method 3: Through a computer (for large amounts of data)

If you need to transfer a lot of photos, videos or music, the easiest way to use a computer is to use the following:

1. Connect your old phone to your PC and copy the files to your hard drive.
2. Connect Redmi Note 8 Pro and transfer files to the appropriate folders (DCIM for photos, downloads for downloads, etc.).
3. To transfer contacts, export them to the.vcf file on your old phone and import them on your new one.

If you’re porting data from your iPhone, use the Move to iOS app (available from the App Store), but note that not all data (such as notes or call history) will be transferred correctly.

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When transferring data via Mi Mover, both phones must be charged at least 50% – the process can take up to 30 minutes and consumes battery life.

FAQ: Frequent questions about synchronization on Redmi Note 8 Pro