Introduction: why you need cloud redundancy in Xiaomi smartphones
Losing contacts, photos or important documents due to a phone reset to factory settings is a familiar situation for many users. Cloud reservation in Xiaomi solves this problem by automatically storing critical data on remote servers. But how exactly does this feature work, what data can be reserved, and how reliable is it? In this article, we will examine all the nuances from basic settings to recovering information after a breakage or replacing a device.
Xiaomi’s cloud backup service is integrated into the Mi Account ecosystem and is available on all of the brand’s modern smartphones, including the Redmi, POCO and Mi series. Unlike local backups (which are saved to a memory card or PC), the cloud backup is protected from physical damage to the phone and is always available when the Internet is available. However, the service has limitations – for example, not all types of files are synchronized automatically, and the amount of free storage is strictly limited.
If you have never set up a reservation or doubt its effectiveness, this article will help you understand the key aspects:
- 🔄 What data can be stored (contacts, SMS, settings, photographs, etc.)
- ☁️ How to sync with Mi Cloud and how it differs from Google Drive
- ⚙️ Step-by-step setting up automatic and manual reservations
- 🔍 How to recover data on a new phone or after a reset
- ⚠️ Common Errors and How to Resolve Them
What is cloud redundancy in Xiaomi and how does it work
Cloud backup is a feature that automatically or manually saves copies of your data to Xiaomi servers (Mi Cloud service). Unlike local backups that are stored on the device itself or external drive, cloud copies:
- 🌍 Available from any device via Mi Account;
- 🔒 Protected against loss when your phone is stolen, broken or dropped;
- 🔄 You can restore a new Xiaomi smartphone in a few minutes.
Technically, the process works like this: when you activate the backup, the system encrypts the selected data (such as contacts or notes) and sends it to the Mi Cloud servers. When you restore the information, it downloads back to the device and decrypts it. It is important to understand that Xiaomi does not provide unlimited cloud storage - only 5 GB is available for free, and you will have to pay for expansion.
Synchronization can occur:
- 🔄 Automatically (on schedule or when connecting to Wi-Fi);
- 📱 Manually (at the request of the user);
- 🔌 When connecting to charging (optional).
⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Cloud and Google Drive at the same time, some data (such as contacts) may be duplicated.
What data can be reserved in Mi Cloud
Not all files and settings sync with Mi Cloud, but here is a complete list of supported data types, with the amount of data they occupy:
| Type of data | What exactly is being preserved | Approximate volume | Autosynchronization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Names, numbers, email, notes to contacts | 1-5 MB | ✅ Yes. |
| SMS and MMS | Text of messages, attachments (photo, video) | 5-50 MB | ✅ Yes. |
| Call logs | History of incoming/outgoing calls | 0.5–2 MB | ✅ Yes. |
| System settings | Wi-Fi, wallpaper, sounds, brightness, accounts | 2-10 MB | ✅ Yes. |
| Photographs and videos | Pictures from the gallery (optional) | From 100MB to several GB | ❌ Only manually. |
| Notes | Text and attachments from the Mi Notes app | 1-10 MB | ✅ Yes. |
Note that apps, music, and documents (such as PDF or DOCX) are not backed up in the Mi Cloud, but you will need to use other services such as Google Drive or Dropbox.
- 🎮 Game data (progress, preservation);
- 📁 Files from user-generated folders (e.g. Download);
- 🔐 Wi-Fi passwords (network names only).
💡
To save space in Mi Cloud, remove unnecessary SMS and duplicate contacts before booking. Use the built-in tools in the Settings menu → Applications → SMS and Contacts → Management
Step-by-step: how to turn on cloud redundancy
The backup in Mi Cloud takes no more than 5 minutes to set up, and the main condition is the presence of a Mi Account (if you do not have one, register at account.xiaomi.com).
- Open the Settings. → Mi Account.
- Select Mi Cloud (if you request a password, enter it).
- Slip on the item Backup of the device.
- Activate the Automatic Backup Switch.
- Select the Backup Settings to specify: 🔄 Automatic backup frequency (daily/weekly); 📶 Terms (only over Wi-Fi or also over mobile network); 🔋 Starting on charging (optional).
Click Backup Now to create the first copy.
If you want to manually select which data to save, go to Backup Settings → Select data and tick the desired items, for example, you can turn off SMS reservations if they are not critical.
☑️ Preparation for reservations
⚠️ Warning: If you reset your phone to factory settings without being tied to Mi Account, it will be impossible to recover data from Mi Cloud. Always check that your account is active and synced!
How to Recover Data from Cloud Redundancy
Recovery from Mi Cloud may be required in two cases:
- After resetting the phone to factory settings;
- When switching to a new smartphone Xiaomi.
The recovery process is the same for both scenarios:
- When you first turn on your phone, select a language and connect to Wi-Fi.
- At the stage of setting up an account, log in to your Mi Account (the same one used for backup).
- The system will prompt you to recover data – click Restore and select the latest backup.
- Wait for the process to be completed (it can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour depending on the amount of data).
- After restarting, check the recovered data (contacts, SMS, settings).
If the phone is already set up but you want to restore the backup later:
- Go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Restore from backup.
- Select the desired copy and confirm the restoration.