Where Xiaomi saves backups: a full guide to finding backups in the MIUI

Have you ever tried to recover data from a Xiaomi smartphone but couldn't find any saved backups? The situation is familiar to many: the phone suddenly resets to factory settings, and the backup "disappears" in an unknown direction. MIUI Distributes backups across multiple hidden folders – and not all of them are accessible through a standard file manager.

In this article, we will not only list all possible backup locations on Xiaomi (including cloud, internal memory, and even removable drives), but also show how to find them on different versions of firmware – from the cloud to the storage of internal memory and even removable drives. MIUI 12 to MIUI 14.We will pay special attention to the pitfalls: why backups may not appear in the Mi Cloud, how to restore access to encrypted copies and what to do if files are damaged, POCO X5 Xiaomi 13 flagship – instructions are suitable for all models with current versions MIUI.

1.Mi Cloud Cloud Storage: Where and How to Look for Backups

The first place to look is the Mi Cloud, which Xiaomi automatically backs up contacts, notes, messages, and even some of the system settings if you're syncing, but there's a nuance here:

• 📱 Automatic backups: included in Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Backup: The system saves data once a day when you connect to Wi-Fi.
• 🔒 Manual copies: they must be created manually through the same menu, stored separately from automatic ones and can take up to 5 GB (free of charge).
• ⚠️ Limitations: Mi Cloud does not reserve installed APK-files, data from some third-party applications (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) and files from the Download folder.

To find backups in Mi Cloud:

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select the Backup section.
3. Slip on the last copy to see details (date, size, types of data saved).

⚠️ Warning: If you reset your phone to factory settings without first disabling your Mi Account, access to cloud backups can be blocked for 72 hours.This is Xiaomi's security measure against data theft.

2. Local backups in internal memory: hidden folders MIUI

MIUI Creates local backups in multiple system folders that are not visible through a standard File Manager, and to find them, you will need either root access or a file manager that supports the display of hidden files (for example, Solid Explorer or Solid Explorer). FX File Manager).

Main locations:

To open these folders without root:

1. Install Solid Explorer from Google Play.
2. Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings.
3. Cross the path. /storage/emulated/0/ and find the folders. MIUI Xiaomi.

⚠️ Attention: Backup files in the AllBackup folder are encrypted. Without the password (as specified when you created the copy), you can't restore them. If you forgot the password, try using Mi. PC Suite on your computer – sometimes the program resets the protection.

Install a file manager with root support|Enable the display of hidden folders|Check the folders. MIUI/backup and Xiaomi/backup|Try to restore it through Mi. PC Suite (if backup is encrypted)-->

3. backups on memory card and external drives

If you have created a backup to a microSD card or connected USB-The storage device, files can be stored in the following places:

• 📁 folder MIUI/backup on SD-map: full copies of the system (similar to internal memory).
• 🔄 folder Xiaomi/backup: backups of individual applications.
• 💾 Root drive catalog: sometimes MIUI saves backups as files backup_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.mbk right-to-the-bottom.

To check the external drive:

1. Connect the memory card or USB-computer-to-computer.
2. Open it through Windows Explorer or Finder (macOS).
3. Use the search for keywords: backup,.mbk, MIUI.

If the backup is not there, try:

• 🔍 Connect the drive to another device (for example, a TV or tablet).
• 🛠️ Use file recovery software (such as Recuva or Disk Drill) if data has been deleted.

💡

If you regularly create backups for SD-Format it into the exFAT file system – this will save files larger than 4 GB (relevant for full copies of the system).

4. How to restore backup if file is corrupted

Sometimes backup files (.mbk) can be corrupted due to improper storage extraction, write failures or viruses. MIUI Refuses to restore the backup with the error "File is corrupted", try the following methods:

Method 1: Recovery through Mi PC Suite

Official Mi utility PC Suite can sometimes repair damaged backups:

1. Connect your phone to your computer via USB.
2. Launch Mi. PC Suite and select Backup → Restore.
3. Please specify the path to the damaged.mbk file.
4. If the program gives an error, try renaming the file by removing the # or % characters from the name.

Method 2: Use ADB (for advanced users)

If the backup is stored in internal memory but not recovered via the interface MIUI, You can try to extract data through ADB:

adb pull /sdcard/MIUI/backup/AllBackup/your_backup.mbk C:\backup\


adb shell am start -n com.miui.backup/.ui.RestoreActivity

This command will copy the file to the computer and attempt to manually start the recovery process.

⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to open.mbk files through archivers (e.g. WinRAR or.mbk files) 7-Zip). They use proprietary encryption Xiaomi, and an attempt to decompress can permanently damage the data.

5. Where app backups are stored (APK + data)

MIUI It allows you to back up not only the system, but also individual applications, and these copies are stored separately from the full backups and include:

• 📦 APK-Files: Application installers themselves.
• 🗃️ Application data: game saves, cache, settings.
• 🔑 Permits: information on the rights granted (access to camera, microphone, etc.).

Where to look:

To restore the backup of the application:

1. Go to Settings. → Annexes → Backup.
2. Select the desired application from the list.
3. Click Restore and confirm the action.

If the application is not restored:

• 🔄 Remove it and install it from Google Play, then re-restore it.
• 🔧 Check if the folder structure has changed after the update MIUI (for example, MIUI 14 path to backups may differ from MIUI 12).

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Application backups through MIUI Not always include account data (such as browser logins and passwords or messengers). For critical data, use specialized tools like Titanium Backup (requires root) or export through the applications themselves.

6. Google Automatic Backups: An Alternative to the Mi Cloud

If you use a Google account on your Xiaomi, some of the data is automatically backed up in Google Drive – regardless of the Mi Cloud.

• 📇 Contacts (synchronized with Google Contacts).
• 📅 Calendar and reminders.
• 📱 Wi-Fi settings and desktop wallpaper (on some models).
• 🎮 Game data (if the developer supports Google Play Games).

To check out Google backups:

1. Open Google Drive on your computer or phone.
2. Go to the Backups section (in the side menu).
3. Find the Xiaomi device in the list – there will be the date of the last backup.

It's important to remember:

• 🔄 Google backups don't include SMS, Call log and files (photos, videos, documents) for this you need to use Google Photos or Google One separately.
• 📶 Automatic backup only works when connected to Wi-Fi and charging the device.

7. Hidden backups: what keeps MIUI without your knowledge

MIUI It creates hidden backups of some of the system data that users often don't know about, and these backups help restore the phone to a crash, but they don't show up in the standard menu:

• 🔧 folder /data/system/backup: Here are stored copies of network settings, APN and other system settings.
• 📡 folder /data/misc/wifi: Backups of saved Wi-Fi networks (including passwords).
• 🔑 folder /data/misc/keystore: certificates and security keys.

These backups are automatically created and are not designed to be manually repaired, but can be used in emergency situations:

1. After the update MIUI Wi-Fi is missing, copy files from /data/misc/wifi New device (root required).
2. If your network settings are reset, check the folder. /data/system/backup Availability of apn.bak files.

⚠️ Note: Do not edit files in these folders manually, this can lead to bootloop.If you are not sure about your actions, contact the service center.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi backups