Loss of critical data on a Xiaomi smartphone is a situation that almost every user faces. Photos, contacts, messages or app settings can disappear after a factory reset, firmware update or accidental deletion. Fortunately, the manufacturer has provided several ways to back up, but not everyone knows exactly where these copies are stored and how to find them.
In this article, we’ll look at all possible backup locations on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, from hidden system folders to MI Cloud storage, how to distinguish automatic copies from manual ones, which files can be restored, and what to do if the backup suddenly disappears, and pay special attention to the nuances for different versions of MIUI (12 to 14) and smartphone models.
Important: The procedure for finding and recovering backups may vary depending on whether you created a copy manually or relied on automatic backups. If you've never set up a backup, the chances of success are minimal - but it's still worth checking.
1. Local backups: where Xiaomi saves files on the phone
By default, Xiaomi smartphones create local backups in a hidden system folder that is not accessible through a standard file manager.
- 📱 System settings (wallpaper, sounds, network parameters)
- 📞 Contacts and call logs (unless synced with Google)
- 💬 Communications SMS/MMS (only MIUI 12 newer)
- 📁 Data from some applications (e.g. Notes or Calendar)
The main path to the folder with backup copies:
/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/backup/AllBackup/Inside it, you will find folders with names corresponding to the date of creation of the backup (for example, backup_20260515_123456). Each folder contains:
- 📄 Files with.bak extension – system settings
- 🗃️ Folder com.android.providers.contacts – Contacts
- 📱 Folder com.android.providers.telephony — SMS/MMS
💡
If the folder MIUI/backup No, check for backups in an alternate location: /data/media/0/MIUI/backup/. Access to it will require root rights or ADB-team.
⚠️ Note: Files in the AllBackup folder are encrypted. You can't just copy them to another phone - you can only restore them through the standard Settings menu. → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge → Local recovery: Trying to change or move these files manually will damage them.
2.How to find backup in MI Cloud: Xiaomi Cloud Storage
The cloud service MI Cloud automatically creates backups for associated Mi Accounts, which, unlike local copies, is accessible from any device and protected from loss when you drop your phone, to check for cloud backup:
- Open Settings → Xiaomi Account → MI Cloud
- Sign in if you are not already logged in.
- Scroll down to the Device Backup section.
- Click on your phone name and the date of the last backup and the place occupied will be displayed.
In MI Cloud, you can save:
| Type of data | MIUI 12/13 | MIUI 14 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacts | ✅ | ✅ | Synchronized separately from the overall backup |
| Messages (SMS) | ✅ | ✅ | Only if the option is enabled in the settings |
| Notes | ✅ | ✅ | Requires a separate inclusion in the Appendix Notes |
| System settings | ✅ | ✅ | Includes wallpaper, sounds, Wi-Fi settings |
| Application data | ❌ | ⚠️ Partially. | Only for selected applications (e.g. Calendar) |
⚠️ Attention: Cloud backups in MI Cloud is automatically deleted 30 days after detaching your account from your phone. If you sell or dump your device but don't transfer it to your new smartphone, the copy may be lost forever. To avoid this, export important data (contacts, notes) manually through the menu. MI Cloud → Export of data.
3. Manual backup: Where to look for custom backups
If you manually backed up through the Settings menu → About Phone → Backup, the files could be saved in one of the following places:
- 📁 Internal memory: Folder /MIUI/backup/AllBackup/ (as described above)
- 💾 SD-map: Folder /MIUI/backup/AllBackup/ on an external drive (if you chose this option when creating a backup)
- 🖥️ Computer: File with.mbk extension (if copied via Mi) PC Suite)
Manual backup files usually have a name of the species backup_[date] [time].bak or miui_backup_[model [date].mbk. They can be restored:
- Through the Settings menu → Additional → Recovery and Reset → Local Recovery.
- Using Mi PC Suite (for.mbk files).
Look for the file. /MIUI/backup/ inwardly SD-map|
Check your computer for.mbk| files
Make sure that the file creation date matches the backup date|
Do not rename or move files until recovery.-->
⚠️ Attention: Hand backups created on Xiaomi with MIUI 12 and later, incompatible with older firmware versions. For example, a copy with the Redmi Note 10 Pro (MIUI 13) cannot be restored to the Redmi Note 8 (MIUI In such cases, data (contacts, photos) will have to be selectively transferred through other methods.
4. Hidden backups: system files and cache
In addition to standard backups, Xiaomi creates temporary copies of some data in the system folders, which are not designed for manual recovery, but in rare cases can help to recover lost information.
/data/data/com.miui.cloudservice/ # MI Cloud Data (root rights required)
/data/media/0/Android/data/com.miui.backup/# Backup cache
/data/system/backup/# System backups (available only through ADB)🔍 How to view these folders without root:
- Connect your phone to your PC and activate USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times on version number).
- Use the ADB command: adb shell ls /data/data/com.miui.cloudservice/
- To copy files to PC: adb pull /data/data/com.miui.cloudservice/C:\Backup\
⚠️ Attention: Files in the folder /data/data/ They are linked to a specific user and device, and their recovery on another phone or after resetting can lead to errors in the work. MIUI, Use this method only if other options have been exhausted.
What if there are no backups in the system folders?
5. Search for backups through file manager: step-by-step instruction
If you are not sure if your Xiaomi has backed up, follow the following steps to find them:
- Open the standard Files application (or any other file manager, such as Solid Explorer).
- Enable the display of hidden folders: In Files: click on three dots in the upper right corner → Settings → Show hidden files. In Solid Explorer: swipe to the right → Settings → Hidden files.
/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/backup/AllBackup/
/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/backup/
/storage/emulated/0/Backup/Pay attention to the date of creation of folders - it corresponds to the date of backup.
🔎 What to do if there is no folder:
- 📲 Check it out. MI Cloud (as described in Section 2).
- 💾 Connect your phone to your PC and use the Mi program PC Suite for finding backups.
- 🔄 Try to create a new backup through Settings → The phone. → Backup – Sometimes it wakes up old copies.
💡
If you can’t find the AllBackup folder but are sure you’ve backed up, try searching for files under the.bak or.mbk extension through the built-in file manager search.
6. Data recovery from backup: possible problems and solutions
Even if you find a backup, it can be difficult to recover, and consider the typical mistakes and ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Probable cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| File corrupted error | Incomplete copying or interrupted backup process | Try to restore a copy on another device or via Mi PC Suite |
| "Impossible to recover: MIUI version doesn't match" | Backup is created on a newer version of firmware | Update your phone to the current version of MIUI or selectively restore data (contacts, notes) |
| There is no "Restore" button. | Backup file moved or renamed | Return the file to /MIUI/backup/AllBackup/ with the original name |
| Backup is partially recovering | Not all data were included in the copy | Check your backup settings in MI Cloud or create a new copy with the right options |
🛠️ Alternative methods of recovery:
- 📱 For contacts: export them to.vcf file via Contacts → Settings → Imports/exports.
- 📷 For photos: check the folder DCIM/.thumbnails (Miniatures can be preserved even after the originals are removed).
- 💬 For messages: use applications like SMS Backup & Restore (if backup is created through them).
⚠️ Note: If the phone hangs on the logo when restoring the backup MI If you go to bootloop, immediately reset via Fastboot (fastboot erase userdata command). MIUI After resetting, try to restore the data selectively (for example, only contacts through the reset). MI Cloud).
7. How to protect backups from loss: tips for reliable storage
To avoid situations where the backup suddenly disappears or becomes unavailable, follow these guidelines:
- ☁️ Use multiple clouds: Set up sync contacts with your Google Account in parallel with your Google Account MI Cloud, you'll get dual protection.
- 💾 Regularly copy backups to PC: Folder /MIUI/backup/AllBackup/ You can copy it to a computer through USB or Wi-Fi (Mi Drop app).
- 🔄 Update backups before important actions: Always create a fresh copy before updating your firmware, resetting your settings, or repairing your phone.
- 📝 Keep a backup log: Write down the dates of the creation of copies and their location (for example, in Google Keep or notebook).
🔐 Additional protection:
- Enable two-factor authentication for Mi Account to avoid hacking and loss of access to MI Cloud.
- Encrypt local backups with archivers (e.g. 7-Zip with password).
- Keep copies on the outside. SSD Or a flash drive, not just a flash drive. SD-phone.
💡
If you frequently reflash your phone or test custom firmware, create a separate folder on your PC for backups of each device: Xiaomi_Backups\Redmi_Note_12_Pro\MIUI_14\. This will help to avoid confusion during recovery.