Where Xiaomi Stores Backups: Local Files, Cloud, and Hidden Folders

You backup Xiaomi, but you don't remember where the data was stored, or you want to see if it's backed up after you reset your phone, or in devices with a phone. MIUI Backups can be stored in multiple places, from visible folders to hidden system directories, and in the Mi Cloud cloud. The problem is that the path depends on the firmware version, the smartphone model and how you create a copy.

In this article, we will analyze all possible backup storage locations on Xiaomi, Redmi and other sites. POCO, including:

• 📁 Standard folders in internal memory (/MIUI/backup/, /Backup/)
• 🖥️ Cloud storage Mi Cloud and how to get there without access to the phone
• 🔍 Hidden system directories that are not visible in the default conductor
• 📱 Features of backups for different versions MIUI (12-to-14)
• 🔄 How to recover a copy if your phone is not turned on or locked

Important: Some methods require root rights or a PC connection. If you're looking for a hard reset backup, check the cloud first, local files may have been deleted.

1. Standard folders for local backups in MIUI

If you have created a backup through the Settings menu → The phone. → Backup, files must be in internal memory. MIUI:

• 📂 /MIUI/backup/ — backup folder MIUI 12–14. It stores archives with the.bak or.mbk extension (for older versions).
• 📂 /Backup/AllBackup/ — alternative path used in the MIUI 10–11. Files may have names of a kind backup_20231015_123456.
• 📂 /MIUI/backup/AllBackup/ — Combined catalogue on some models (Redmi Note) 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro).

To find these folders:

1. Open any file manager (e.g., Mi File Explorer or Total Commander).
2. Go to the root directory of internal memory (not on the memory card!).
3. Enable the display of hidden files (in Mi File Explorer: ⋮ → Settings → Show hidden files).
4. Look for the folders. MIUI backup.

Important: If the folder is not, maybe the backup is saved to the cloud or you used a third-party app. Also check if the memory card was connected when you created the copy - sometimes the files are saved to the cloud. /storage/XXXX-XXXX/MIUI/backup/ (where XXXX-XXXX — ID yours SD-map).

2.Mi Cloud Cloud Storage: How to Find and Download Backup

Mi Cloud is a Xiaomi cloud service that automatically or manually backs up, and can be accessed even if your phone is broken or lost.

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in to the same Mi Account you used on your phone.
2. In the menu, select Devices → [Your Xiaomi model] → Backup copies.
3. This will show all the backups available with the dates of creation. Click on the right one to view the content.
4. To recover to a new phone, log in to the same Mi Account and select Settings → The phone. → Backup → Restore from Mi Cloud.

⚠️ Note: If you don’t remember the password from Mi Account or the phone was sold with a linked account, it will be extremely difficult to restore access to cloud backups. Xiaomi requires proof of identity through a linked phone number or email, and in some cases even scans of documents.

Critical information: Backups in Mi Cloud are only stored for 30 days from the last sync, and if you haven't used your phone for more than a month, the data could be deleted automatically.

3. Hidden system directories: where MIUI backup

Some backups MIUI They're stored in hidden folders that don't show up in standard Explorer:

• 🔧 Root rights (if folder in the /data/ or /system/).
• 💻 ADB-Access (for viewing without root).
• 📱 Root-enabled conductor (e.g., root-enabled conductor, FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer).

The main hidden paths:

• 🔒 /data/media/0/MIUI/backup/ — alternative location for backups on some models (Xiaomi) 12T, Redmi K50).
• 🔒 /data/com.android.backup/ — System backups created through adb backup.
• 🔒 /system/backup/ — rarely used, but may contain factory copies (on the POCO F3, Xiaomi Mi 11).

To view these folders without root:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and enable debugging. USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press → Additional settings → For developers → Debugging by USB).
2. Open the command line on the PC and type: adb shell ls /data/media/0/MIUI/backup/ If the folder exists, you will see a list of files.

⚠️ Note: Modifying files in /data/ or /system/ If you are not sure about your actions, it is better to contact the service center.

4. Backups through third-party apps: where files are searched

If you have used third-party backup tools (such as Titanium Backup, Swift Backup, or Migration), files may be stored in non-standard locations.

To recover from these backups:

• 🔄 Titanium Backup and Swift Backup require root rights for full recovery.
• 📲 Migration works without root, but only on Xiaomi devices.
• 🛠️ Nandroid is being rebuilt through TWRP (You need an unlocked bootloader).

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If you've been backing up Migration but can't see the files in the folder, try reinstalling the app from the Mi App Store, which sometimes hides copies in its internal storage, which only becomes visible after it's re-installed.

5. How to restore the backup if the phone does not turn on

If Xiaomi doesn’t respond to the power button or is stuck on the logo, local backups may not be available.

1. Try to boot up to Fastboot or Recovery: 🔌 Connect your phone to charge for 10-15 minutes (sometimes helps with discharge). 🔘 Squeeze the power. + Loudness down for Fastboot or Nutrition + Loud up for Recovery.

ADB

Fastboot

fastboot devices

If the device is determined, you can try to copy backups by the command:

adb pull /sdcard/MIUI/backup/ C:\Xiaomi_Backup\

Mi Flash Tool

• Download the firmware for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware website.
• In the Mi Flash Tool, select Clean All mode (delete all data!) or Save User Data (save files in memory).

⚠️ Warning: If the phone is locked (Mi Account Lock), firmware recovery will not remove the lock.

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If the phone doesn’t turn on, but you backed up in the Mi Cloud, restore data on another Xiaomi device under the same account. Local backups in this case are likely lost if you didn’t have access to memory via the PC.

6. Features of backups on different versions MIUI

The structure and location of backup copies changed with the release of new versions. MIUI. Here are the key differences:

• 📱 MIUI 12–14: Backups are kept in /MIUI/backup/.mbk (encrypted) Supports cloud backup with select data (contacts, SMS, In Mi Cloud you can download individual elements (photos, notes), but not system settings.
• 📱 MIUI 10–11: folder /Backup/AllBackup/ There is no separate backup of applications, only a full copy. The cloud saved fewer types of data (for example, there was no backup of Mi Home).
• 📱 MIUI 8–9 (Older: The backups were created in /backup/ The file format is.ab (Android Backup), compatible with the standard adb backup tool. 5 GB and did not support automatic synchronization.

To find out the version MIUI dead-phone:

1. Connect the device to the PC in Fastboot mode.
2. Enter the command: fastboot getvar all In the conclusion, find the line version-miui:.

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If you are updating with MIUI 12 on MIUI 14, backup manually before upgrading. Automated data migration doesn't always work correctly, especially for applications with local databases (like WhatsApp or Telegram).

7.How to check the integrity of a backup

Before you recover data from the backup, make sure the files are not corrupted. Here's how to do it:

• 🔍 For local backups (.mbk,.bak): Try opening the file via Mi Backup (in the recovery menu). If the copy is corrupted, the application will show an error "The backup file is invalid".
• 🌐 For cloud backups: On the Mi Cloud site, check the size of the archive. If it is 0 bytes, the copy is empty. Try to restore individual elements (for example, contacts) - if the process ends with an error, the backup is corrupted.
• 📦 For Titanium Backups: Open the folder /TitaniumBackup/ Check if there are files with the.properties extension if there are no files or if they are suspiciously small (e.g., metadata, 1 KB), incomplete backup.

If the backup is damaged, try:

1. Create a new copy (if the phone is still working).
2. Recover data from an earlier backup (Multiple versions are stored in the Mi Cloud).
3. Use tools like this. 7-Zip Retrieval of data from archives (not for all formats!).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)