Where WhatsApp Backups Are Stored on Xiaomi: Search and Recovery

Xiaomi smartphone users often face the need to transfer their correspondence history to a new device or restore data after reinstalling the application. The question of where exactly these files are stored on an Android smartphone becomes critical when the system crashes or purchases a new gadget. Local databases of the messenger occupy a significant place and require the right approach to management.

The Android operating system has seen changes in file storage structure, especially with the release of new versions of Android 11, 12 and 13. On Xiaomi devices with MIUI or HyperOS shells, these changes affect access to system folders. Understanding the logical structure of directories will allow you to manually copy the backup or verify its availability.

There are two main ways to store data: cloud-based through Google Drive and local on the phone’s internal memory. If cloud storage is convenient for automatic storage, local files give full control of the backup. We will discuss both methods, paying special attention to the specifics of file managers on Xiaomi.

Local Storage: Structure of folders on Android

Since Android 11, Google has changed its file system access policy to improve security. On Xiaomi smartphones, this means that the path to backups has become deeper and more difficult for an inexperienced user to discover.

The main path where database files physically reside is as follows: Internal Memory → Android → media → com.whatsapp → WhatsApp → Databases. It is in the Databases folder that the messenger stores daily copies of your chats. If you don’t see the Android folder in a standard Explorer, you may need to give special permissions or use a file manager with extended rights.

⚠️ Attention: Folder Android/media newer MIUI It can be hidden from view by standard means. Access to it often requires the use of third-party file managers, such as Total Commander or Files by Google, who are given full file management rights.

Inside the Databases folder, you'll find files with names like msgstore.db.crypt14 (the number at the end denotes the encryption version). A file called msgstore.db.cryptXX with no date in the title is the most recent backup. Files with dates in the titles (e.g., msgstore-2023-10-25.1.db.crypt14) are archival copies from previous days.

Features of the MIUI and HyperOS file system

MIUI shells and the new HyperOS have an aggressive memory management and garbage cleanup system. The built-in Cleanup tool sometimes mistakenly labels old backups as unnecessary files, suggesting they be deleted to free up space.This can lead to the loss of important correspondence history if you rely only on local storage.

The standard Files Explorer on Xiaomi groups data by type (Images, Videos, Documents) that hides the real folder structure. To find a way to backups, you need to switch to file viewing mode or use the Folder category. In some cases, system restrictions require confirmation of action through a fingerprint scanner or pin code when you log into the system directories.

It is important to consider that when you update your firmware or reset to factory settings, the partition of internal memory where application data is stored is completely cleared. Therefore, storing an important copy exclusively in the memory of a Xiaomi phone without duplication to an external medium or to the cloud is risky.

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MIUI and HyperOS systems can automatically clear cache and temporary application files, so don’t store a single copy of important data only in internal memory without protection from cleaning.

Set up automatic backup in Google Drive

The most reliable way to save data on Android devices is to use Google Drive cloud storage, which is independent of the physical integrity of the smartphone, and if the phone crashes or gets lost, you can restore correspondence simply by logging into your account on a new device.

To set up, open WhatsApp, go to the menu (three dots in the corner) and select Settings → Chats → Backup Chats. Here you will see the Backup button and frequency settings. It is recommended to set the frequency “Daily” and choose the Wi-Fi network to avoid spending mobile traffic, especially if you have a lot of media in correspondence.

• 📂 Account: Make sure you select the right Google account associated with your Xiaomi phone.
• 📶 Network: Wi-Fi Only helps save traffic, but requires a wireless connection to start copying.
• 🎥 Video: Enabling the Add Video option will significantly increase the backup size, but will save all sent videos.

The process of creating a copy in the cloud can take a long time depending on the amount of data and the speed of the Internet connection, at which time the phone screen may go out, but the process will continue in the background if the Xiaomi energy saving system does not limit the activity of the application.

Manual copying and data transfer

If the automated services are not trusted or you need to transfer data to a phone without the Internet, you use a manual copying method, you will need to find the backup file in the Databases folder, which was discussed above, and copy it to your computer or external drive.

When recovering from a local file on a new Xiaomi phone, it is important to follow the sequence of actions. First, install the application, but do not open it. Copy the backup file to the corresponding folder on the new device, saving the path structure. Only then start the installation and follow the instructions on the screen.

⚠️ Note: When recovering from a local copy, make sure that the phone number to which the recovery is being made matches the number used to create the backup. Otherwise, the messenger will not be able to decrypt the database.

The file name for recovery should be strictly msgstore.db.cryptXX (without a date in the title).If you copy an archive file with a date, rename it by removing the date part, otherwise the application will ignore it when searching for the current database.

Comparison of methods of storing backup copies

The choice between on-premises storage and cloud depends on your priorities: speed of access, amount of free space or data security. Below is a table that helps determine the best method for your situation, taking into account the characteristics of Xiaomi smartphones.

For most users, the combination of cloud storage for daily copies and periodic manual copying to a computer is the “gold standard” that provides protection against accidental file deletion and Google account issues.

Solving the problems with the recovery on Xiaomi

Often users are faced with a situation where the phone does not see the backup. On Xiaomi, this may be due to the restriction of the application's access rights to the file system. In the phone settings, go to Apps → All Apps → WhatsApp → Access Rights and make sure that permission for Memory or Files and Media is enabled.

Another problem is that encryption versions are incompatible. If you transfer a copy from a very old phone to a new one, the format of the database encryption may differ, in which case the messenger will suggest creating a new copy because it cannot read the old file. Also check for free memory: it requires a volume that is 2-3 times larger than the size of the copy file itself to deploy the archive.

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If the recovery is hanging during the backup check phase, try turning off mobile internet and only leaving Wi-Fi, or vice versa. Sometimes changing the network type helps bypass the download lock.

In rare cases, MIUI Security antivirus databases can block access to database files, considering them suspicious due to encryption. Add the WhatsApp folder to the virus scanner exceptions if you constantly encounter errors when working with backups.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)