Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to transfer data to a new device or secure information before flashing. Backup is the only guarantee that your photos, contacts and app settings are safe in the event of an unexpected reset. However, after creating a backup, many users are lost, not realizing where exactly the system saved the archive.
The location of files depends on the chosen method of backup: local storage, cloud service Mi Cloud or external computer. Understanding the structure of the file system shell MIUI or HyperOS is critical for manually copying or recovering data through the file manager. In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible ways and nuances of storing your data.
Local storage: search for files in the memory of the smartphone
The most common way to create a backup is to use an embedded system function, which is stored directly in the device's internal memory, and by default, the system creates a hidden or standard folder that can be accessed through any file manager, such as Explorer or MI File Manager.
The path to data can vary depending on the version of the operating system. Most current firmware archives are down the MIUI/backup/AllBackup path. Inside this directory, you'll find folders with creation dates and timestamps containing database files and media.
Keep in mind that when you reset your internal memory to the factory, the internal memory content will be completely destroyed. The local backup will be stored in the same memory partition as the system, so it will disappear with the rest of the files when you completely reset, which is why it is critical to periodically transfer these archives to a computer or external media.
- 📂 Standard path: /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/backup/AllBackup
- 📂 Alternative path (on older versions): /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/backup/Backup
- 📂 For the extended backup: /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.miui.backup/files/AllBackup
⚠️ Note: Files in the AllBackup folder often have an encrypted format or specific extensions that are not opened by standard viewers. Attempting to edit their contents manually can damage the archive and inability to restore them.
For easy access to hidden system folders, some file managers will need to enable the display of hidden files in the application settings. If you can’t see the MIUI folder at the root of the memory, check the visibility settings.
Cloud storage Mi Cloud: access via the Internet
The second layer of data protection is provided by the Mi Cloud, which, unlike the local method, stores files on remote Xiaomi servers, allowing you to recover contacts, notes, voice recordings, and even desktop layout when you log in to your account on any device.
Physically, files in the cloud do not have the usual file structure available to the user for direct download via FTP. They are accessed exclusively through the phone settings interface or the web version of the service. To activate synchronization, you need to log into your Mi Account and select the desired data categories.
It is important to distinguish between synchronization and full backup. Synchronization works in real time for contacts and notes, whereas a full backup system in the cloud is created on schedule or manually and takes up more space. The free storage limit is limited, usually 5 GB, which may not be enough for a complete system image.
The cloud web interface allows only certain types of data, such as gallery, contacts and notes, to be viewed. The full system copy cannot be downloaded through the browser, it is only designed to be automatically deployed on a smartphone when initially set up.
Backup to your computer via USB
The most reliable way to save data is to transfer it to an external medium. USB-cable (MTP). After connecting, the device is displayed as a removable disk in My Computer».
The process of creating a copy on a PC often requires the use of third-party software, since the standard Windows Explorer can not do full backups of the Android system. However, if you have already created a local copy in the phone’s memory (as described in the first section), you can simply copy the AllBackup folder to the computer’s hard drive.
An alternative method is to use Mi PC Suite (official or modified), which allows you to create complete system images that are stored in the directory on your computer, and the default path is often hidden deep in Windows system folders or set by the user when you install them.
- 💻 Use the original cable to transfer large amounts of data.
- 💻 Make sure there is enough free space on your PC drive (the copy can weigh) 20-50 GB).
- 💻 Do not turn off the cable during the process of creating or restoring the archive.
When copying folders manually through a conductor, make sure the process is complete. Interrupting the transfer can cause the archive to become unreadable.
☑️ Checking before transferring files
Use of Google Services for Backup
And remember, the Google ecosystem is built into every Android smartphone, and Google One automatically backs up your device's settings, app list, Wi-Fi passwords, and call history, and it's tied to your Google account.
Photos and videos are most often saved through Google Photos. If you have sync enabled, your photos are in the Google cloud and do not take up space on your phone (when using the Free Space feature), and you can find them at photos.google.com or in the app.
Unlike Xiaomi, Google’s backup is less detailed in terms of shell-specific system settings, but more versatile. When you switch to a smartphone from another brand, you can restore the basic configuration and applications without losing data.
| Type of data | Mi Cloud | Google Account | Locally (Memory) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Yes. | Yes. | Yes (in the system) |
| Photo/Video | Yes (limit 5GB) | Yes (15GB limit) | Yeah (depends on memory) |
| SMS and Journal | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. |
| System settings | Partially. | Basic. | Completely. |
| Application data | No. | Depends on the app. | Yes (if supported) |
The combination of methods allows you to create the most reliable protection, for example, keep contacts in Google, photos in the cloud, and store full system images locally or on a PC.
Recovery of data from different sources
The Restore process depends on where your backup is located. If you're using a local file, you need to go to the Restore menu and point the way to the archive, and the system will find the backups available in the standard directories.
When you restore from the Mi Cloud or Google cloud, the process starts automatically when you first turn on the phone after the reset, you will need to enter the username and password from the corresponding account, and after authorization, the system will prompt you to select a restore point.
Recovery from a local file on a new device may require manually moving the AllBackup folder to the root of internal memory if the automatic search fails. Sometimes you need to rename the folder or change the access rights, but in modern versions of MIUI this is rarely required.
⚠️ Note: When restoring a full copy of the system to a device with another version of Android or MIUI There may be a conflict of versions of applications. Some programs may stop opening or require reinstallation.
The duration of the process depends on the amount of data. 30-40 GB of information may take away from 30 It's better not to use the phone at this time.
Frequent problems and their solution
Users often experience a phone that doesn't see a backup, and most often the problem is that the files are not in the right place, so if you moved the backup folder manually, try to return it to the original MIUI/backup/AllBackup position.
Another common mistake is the lack of space: to deploy a 10GB copy on the device, at least 15-20GB must be free. The system needs time space to unpack archives and install applications.
If the recovery process is stuck at a certain percentage, try restarting the device and starting the process again, and in rare cases, cleaning the Service and Feedback or Backup app cache through the application settings menu helps.
- 🔍 Check if the file is damaged (try opening it on PC if the format allows it).
- 🔍 Make sure the battery is more than 50% charged before the procedure.
- 🔍 Turn off the lock screen (password/pattern lock) before restoring if the system requires.
In case of critical errors in the recovery of system partitions, you may need to flash the device through the computer using the Mi Flash Tool utility.