How to find an archive on Xiaomi: hidden folders, backups and system data

You may be looking for where the archive is stored on a Xiaomi smartphone or other device, but you can’t find the files you need? You may have lost important data after resetting, want to restore a backup, or just understand the storage structure of the brand’s devices. In this article, we will detail all the possible places where Xiaomi stores archives, from system folders to cloud storage, and also explain how to access them.

Xiaomi devices (including Redmi, POCO, tablets, and smartwatches) use several levels of archiving: automatic backups in Mi Cloud, local backups in hidden folders, and system logs and cache. The paths to this data are often hidden from the user or require special actions to access. For example, after updating the firmware or resetting to factory settings, many can not find old photos or application settings – precisely because they do not know where and how Xiaomi stores archives.

Home > Local Archives on Xiaomi Device: Where to Look for Hidden Folders

To start with the obvious, the device's internal memory, Xiaomi creates several hidden folders that store backups, system logs, and temporary files.

• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/backup/ — This is where local backups created through Settings → About Phone → Backup. The folder can be empty if you've never backed up manually.
• 📁 /data/data/com.miui.cloudbackup/ is a system folder with cloud backup data (available only with root rights or via ADB).
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.cloudservice/ — cache and temporary Mi Cloud files.
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Download/rom/ – Downloaded firmware (.zip files) can be stored here for manual updates.

To see hidden folders, you’ll need a file manager that supports system file display, such as Mi File Explorer (enable the “Show Hidden Files” option in the settings) or Solid Explorer. Note: some folders (e.g. /data/) are not available without superuser rights.

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If you don’t see the MIUI/backup folder, try backing up manually through your phone’s settings – the system will automatically create a directory.

It's important to understand that local archives take up space in internal memory. If you haven't cleaned your device in a long time, the MIUI/backup folder can weigh several gigabytes. To free up space, delete old backups through the same Settings section → About Phone → Backup → Managing Backups.

2.Archives in Mi Cloud: How to find and download backups

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s cloud storage that automatically saves contacts, notes, photos, call records, and even some system settings, but not everyone knows how to access complete archives, not just individual files.

To find archives in Mi Cloud:

1. Open the Mi Cloud app on your phone or go to i.mi.com.
2. Sign in with the same Xiaomi account that was used to create the backup.
3. Go to Backups, which will show all available archives with the date of creation and model of the device.
4. Click on the desired copy and select Restore or Download (for individual files).

Note that full recovery from the Mi Cloud is only possible on a device of the same model or with a similar version of MIUI. For example, a backup with the Xiaomi Mi 11 will not be able to restore to the Redmi Note 10 without errors, and not all data is stored in the cloud - for example, Wi-Fi passwords or some application settings may not be saved.

3. Firmware and Update Archives: Where Downloaded Files Are Stored

If you’ve ever updated your firmware on Xiaomi manually, downloaded files (.zip) may have stayed in your device’s memory. They can be used to re-install or roll back the MIUI version.

• 📱 /storage/emulated/0/Download/rom/ — Standard folder for downloaded firmware via Settings → About Phone → System Update → Three Dots → Select a firmware file.
• 📱 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/ota/ — This is where update files downloaded over the air (OTA are stored.
• 💻 C:\Users\ Username\Downloads\ — if you downloaded firmware on your PC through the official Xiaomi website.

Firmware files usually have names of the type:

• miui_VERSION MODEL Global/Chinese version.zip (e.g., miui_GLOBAL_23.4.12_cmi_14.0.zip for Xiaomi 12).
• fw_ Model version.zip - files for recovery via Fastboot.

If you plan to reflash your device, always check the model and version. Installing firmware from another model (e.g. Redmi Note 11 instead of Redmi Note 11 Pro) will result in a device breaking down. Also pay attention to the region: global (Global) firmware is incompatible with Chinese (China) without unlocking the bootloader.

4. Message and Call Archives: Where Logistics and History Are Stored

Xiaomi stores texting, calls, and even conversation records (if enabled) in databases that can be exported or reserved.

• 💬 /data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/mmssms.db is an SMS database and MMS (root rights required).
• 📞 /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/contacts2.db Contacts and Call History.
• 🎤 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ — Recording of telephone conversations (if the function is enabled in Settings → Recording conversations).
• 📊 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.yellowpage/files/ — Cache and Temporary Files of the Contacts app.

To access these files without root, you can use applications like SMS Backup & Restore or Call Logs Backup, which export data to a readable format (.xml or.csv). Xiaomi also allows you to back up SMS and calls through Mi Cloud (includes in Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup).

Download the app SMS Backup & Restore from Google Play|Open the application and select "Backup"|Specify the folder to save (for example, /storage/emulated/0/Download/)|Export the file to your PC or cloud|To recover, use the "Restore" option in the same application.-->

Important: Records of conversations take up a lot of space and can be automatically deleted after 30 days (set up in Settings → Record conversations → Autoclean). If you want to save important records, copy them regularly to your PC or to the cloud.

5. archives from Xiaomi smart devices (watches, bracelets, speakers)

In addition to smartphones, Xiaomi also makes smartwatches (Mi Band, Xiaomi Watch), fitness bracelets and speakers (Mi Smart Speaker), which also create archives of data, but access to them is organized differently:

• ⌚ Mi Band/Xiaomi Watch: Step, pulse and sleep data are stored in the Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit. To export the archive, go to Profile → Settings → Data Export. The file will be in.zip format with.csv tables.
• 🔊 Mi Smart Speaker: Voice command recordings and settings are saved in the XiaoAI cloud and can be accessed via Xiaomi’s home.mi.com account.
• 🏠 Smart Home: The history of sensors and cameras is stored in the cloud. It can be exported through Profile → Settings → Smart Home → Event log → Export.

Note that Xiaomi smart devices don’t store data locally (except for a temporary cache). All archives are synchronized with the cloud, and when you delete a device from your account, information may be lost. If you sell or transfer a gadget to another person, be sure to untie it from your account via Mi Home or Mi Fitness.

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Data from Xiaomi smart devices (watches, sensors, speakers) are stored only in the cloud. Locally, the device only has cache for the last 1-2 days.

6.How to recover data from Xiaomi archive

Finding an archive is only half the battle, and the key is to restore it properly so you don't lose the data, and here are the step-by-step instructions for different types of archives:

Recovery from local backup (MIUI/backup)

If you have a MIUI/backup folder with files:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup → Restore.
2. Select the desired archive from the list (if the folder does not appear, copy it to the root of internal memory).
3. Check the data for recovery (contacts, messages, applications).
4. Click Restore and wait until the device is completed (rebooted).

Recovery from Mi Cloud

For the cloud backup:

1. Reset the phone to factory settings (Settings → Additional → Resetting).
2. When you first set up, select Restore from backup and log in to Mi Cloud.
3. Select the desired archive from the list (sort by date).
4. Confirm the recovery and wait until it is completed (may take up to 30 minutes).

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If recovery from Mi Cloud is 99% frozen, don’t interrupt the process – it’s normal behavior.

Recovery of firmware from the archive

To install firmware from the.zip file:

1. Move the downloaded firmware file to /storage/emulated/0/Download/rom/.
2. Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update → Three Dots → Select a firmware file.
3. Select the file and confirm the installation.
4. Wait until the phone is finished (it will reboot several times).

⚠️ Warning: If you restore firmware through Fastboot (for example, after a blink), use the official Mi Flash Tool utility and never interrupt the process - this can lead to irreversible device breakdown.

7. Frequent problems and mistakes when working with Xiaomi archives

When searching for or restoring archives, users often encounter common mistakes, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

If none of these methods worked, try contacting Xiaomi’s support team through the official website or forum, and be prepared to provide:

• 📱 Device model and version MIUI (Settings → About Phone).
• 🔗 Error logs (can be obtained through Settings → About Phone → Debugging Information → Report Collection).
• 📁 Screenshots of folders with archives (if any).

⚠️ Warning: If you sell or transfer a Xiaomi device to another person, be sure to delete all archives and backups from MIUI/backup and untie your Mi Cloud account. Otherwise, the new owner will be able to recover your personal data (photos, messages, contacts).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions