Cloud reservation on Xiaomi: a full guide to the application and its capabilities

Have you ever lost important data from a smartphone due to a breakdown, theft or accidental reset? Most likely, yes. It is for these situations that Xiaomi has integrated cloud backup — automatically saving copies of settings, applications and files on remote servers — but how does this work in practice? Why does a separate app with that name appear on the phone menu, and how does it differ from the usual Mi Cloud?

In this article, we will discuss in detail what is the application "Cloud reservation" on smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO, How it interacts with other services in the company, and why it is often confused with the standard cloud, you will learn what data you can save, how to set up automatic redundancy, and what to do if the function suddenly stopped working. Compare this to alternatives from Google and other manufacturers.

What is the Cloud Reservation App on Xiaomi and Why You Need It

Cloud Reservation (com.miui.cloudbackup) is a system component of the firmware MIUI, This app saves files, and it's responsible for creating full backups of a device that can be restored on a new phone or after a reset. Unlike Mi Cloud, which syncs individual files (photos, contacts, notes), this application saves the data:

• 📱 System settings (wallpaper, sounds, brightness, gestures)
• 🔧 Application settings (e.g. Lawnchair or Mi Browser configuration)
• 📁 User program data (game saving, chat history in some messengers)
• 📡 Network settings (save Wi-Fi, VPN, point)

The main advantage is automation. You set up redundancy once, and the system creates backups on a schedule (weekly or when connecting to Wi-Fi), which is especially useful before upgrading your firmware or when switching to a new Xiaomi smartphone.

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If you frequently check your phone or test custom ROM, Cloud redundancy will save hours on device setup after each reset.

But there’s a caveat: The Cloud Redundancy app uses the Mi Cloud infrastructure, but it doesn’t duplicate its features—it complements them by creating archives that can’t be manually viewed (only restored in full), which means that even if you turn off photo sync in the Mi Cloud, the app backup will still work.

How to find and run an app on your Xiaomi

On different versions MIUI The path to the application may be different. Here are universal ways to open it:

1. Through System Search: Swipe down the home screen and enter the “Cloud Reservation” query.
2. Through Settings: Go to Settings → The phone. → Backup and reset. Or: Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset (on older versions) MIUI).

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If the app is not on the menu, it can mean:

• 🔄 You have an outdated version. MIUI (Up to 12.0, where the feature has been integrated into the Mi Cloud.
• 🌍 Your region does not support Xiaomi Cloud services (e.g., some EU countries due to the use of the Xiaomi Cloud service). GDPR).
• 🛠️ The app has been disabled or removed via adb or custom firmware.

What data is stored (and not stored) by cloud redundancy

It's important to understand that not all data can be stored through this app, but here's a complete list of what's in the archive:

Here’s what doesn’t last (and it often comes as a surprise):

• 📸 Photos and videos – there is a separate section in the Mi Cloud for them.
• 💬 SMS and call history – they can be backed up only through Settings → Google → Backup.
• 🔐 Wi-Fi passwords – only network names are saved, not access keys.
• 🎮 Some games, such as Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile requires linking to a developer account.

⚠️ Note: If you use two-factor authentication in apps (e.g. Telegram or banking services), their data will not be recovered even from the backup.

Step-by-step: how to create a backup copy

The redundancy process takes 5 to 30 minutes depending on the amount of data, and here's how to do it correctly:

1. Connect to Wi-Fi – backup is not created via mobile Internet.
2. Charge your phone at least 50% or plug in a charger.
3. Open the Cloud Reservation app and click on “Create a Backup”.
4. Select the data to save (we recommend leaving all ticks).
5. Click “Start” and wait until the process is completed (don’t interrupt!).

Once you're done, you'll see the backup date and the size of the backup, to see if it went well.

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset.
2. Slip on the last backup copy - information about its contents should be opened.

⚠️ Note: If you see a “failed to connect to the server” error during backup creation, check if the Internet is working (open the browser and load any page) or if the firewall or antivirus does not block access to the domains api.micloud.xiaomi.net. Is the storage limit in Mi Cloud exceeded (free is only 5 GB).

How to Recover Data from Cloud Backup

Recovery is possible in two scenarios:

1. Same device after reset.
2. On the new Xiaomi smartphone at the first setup.

Method 1: Recovery at first inclusion

1. Turn on a new (or dropped) phone.
2. At the setup stage, select “Restore from backup.”
3. Log in to the same Mi Account that was used for the backup.
4. Select the right backup from the list and confirm the recovery.

Method 2: Restore on an already configured device

1. Open Cloud Reservation and select Restore.
2. Sign in to Mi Account (if not authorized).
3. Select a backup and confirm the recovery of only the necessary data (you can select individual categories).

Important: after recovery, some applications may require re-authorization (for example, banking or instant messengers), and version conflicts may also occur – if you restore the backup from the old firmware to the new, some of the settings may not apply.

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Recovery from the backup does not delete the current data on the phone, but only adds missing ones, but if the backup and phone have the same settings (such as wallpaper), they will be overwritten.

Mi Cloud and Google Drive: Which is Best for Backup

Many users confuse cloud reservation with Mi Cloud or Google Drive.

*SMS synced in Mi Cloud only on Chinese versions MIUI.

So what do you choose? Here are the recommendations.

• 🔄 If you need a full phone recovery after a reset, use Cloud Reservation + Mi Cloud for photo.
• 📁 If you need to manage your files manually, Google Drive or Mi Cloud.
• 🎮 To save games, it is better to be linked to developer accounts (for example, Google Play Games or Game Center).

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even a tool like this has bugs, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to fix them:

1. "Can't connect to the server" error

Reasons:

• 🌐 Internet problems (check Wi-Fi or mobile data).
• 🔒 Lockdown VPN or firewall (turn off temporarily).
• 🕒 Mi Cloud servers are overloaded (try it later).

Solution: Reboot your phone, check the date and time (should be relevant), try connecting via another Wi-Fi.

2. backup is built too long or hangs

Reasons:

• 📱 Little free memory on your phone (needs at least 1 GB).
• 🗃️ Too much data to back up (e.g. 100)+ applications).
• 🔋 Low battery charge (process is suspended when <30%).

Solution: Free up space, plug in charging and leave your phone alone on 30-60 minute.

3.Recovery doesn't work on new phone

Reasons:

• 🔑 Mi Accounts on Old and New Devices.
• 📱 New model on another version MIUI (for example, backup MIUI 13 on MIUI 14 may not be fully recovered).
• ⏳ Backup over 6 months (stopped for limited time).

Solution: Make sure you use the same account and try to restore the backup on a device with the same version MIUI.

⚠️ Note: If you reset your phone to factory settings without being tied to the Mi Account, it will be impossible to restore the backup – the system requires authorization of the same account that created the backup.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions