Xiaomi Backup: A Complete Guide to Redmi, POCO and Mi

Smartphone data loss is one of the most frustrating situations a user can face. Vacation photos, important contacts, messages or app settings can disappear at once due to a system failure, device theft or failed upgrade. Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi lines) offer several built-in and third-party backup tools, but not all users know how to use them correctly.

In this article, we will analyze 5 proven methods of backup - from standard functions MIUI Advanced methods with the use of ADB and custom recavérie TWRP. You will learn how to save not only media files, but also SMS, Call log, Wi-Fi settings, and application data (including games with progress) will be particularly useful for unlocked bootloaders and Android One models (e.g. Mi Mi One). A3).

Why Regular File Copying on PCs is a Bad Idea

Many users mistakenly believe that you just copy DCIM, Downloads and Pictures folders to your computer and the backup is ready, and in practice, this approach only covers 10-15% of critical data.

• 📱 Contact and SMS — stored in the com.android.providers.contacts database, which cannot be copied.
• ⚙️ System settings - design topics, shortcuts on the desktop, notification parameters.
• 🎮 Application data – progress in games, messenger cache, chat history (for example, in Telegram or WhatsApp).
• 🔑 Wi-Fi passwords – stored in an encrypted file wpa_supplicant.conf, rootless.

Moreover, when you reset to factory settings or flash the device, these hand copies are useless, you can't restore the system from them. The built-in MIUI tools solve this problem, but they have their limitations, which we'll talk about later.

Method 1: Built-in backup in MIUI (local and cloud)

Xiaomi has integrated a backup tool into its MIUI shell, which is available on all devices from the budget Redmi 9A to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Click Create a backup and select the data to save (all items are marked by default).
3. Specify the storage location: internal memory (MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder) or Mi Cloud (Xiaomi cloud).
4. Confirm the action and wait until it is completed (may take 5-20 minutes depending on the amount of data).

Advantages of the method:

• 🔄 Recovery "in one click" after reset.
• 📱 Keeps it. SMS, call log, system settings, and even some application data (e.g. Mi Fit).
• 🔒 Encrypting backup with a password (optional).

Limitations:

• ❌ Does not save application data if they prohibit backup (for example, banking applications).
• ❌ Cloud backup in Mi Cloud is only available for Chinese firmware (global versions have a limit of 5 GB).
• ❌ Does not work on Android One devices (e.g. Mi) A3), where MIUI It is used by “pure” Android.

Battery charge > 50% | Free space on the device > 1 GB| Optimizers turned off (e.g. Greenify) | Background applications closed-->

⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Cloud to store backups, make sure your Xiaomi account is not tied to a phone number from another region. SMS-Confirmation that will not be sent to the Russian number.

Method 2: Backup through Google Account (for contacts, photos and apps)

For users who prefer the Google ecosystem, MIUI has the ability to sync with Google Account.

• 📇 Contacts (synchronization with Google Contacts).
• 📷 Photos and Videos (via Google Photos with unlimited storage for compressed files).
• 📱 List of installed apps (restored via Google Play after resetting).
• 📅 Calendar and Notes (Google Keep).

How to set up:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Select your account and enable sync for the right categories.
3. For photos: open the Google Photos app, click on the avatar → Photo settings → Backup and sync.

Important nuances:

• 🔹 Photos in their original quality take up space in Google Drive (15 GB free). To save space, select the option "High quality" (unlimited storage, but compression).
• 🔹 SMS The call logs are not synced with Google, but need a separate backup (see Method 1 or 3).
• 🔹 On devices with MIUI 14+ Contact synchronization may conflict with Mi Cloud. To avoid duplicates, disable contact synchronization in Settings → Mi Account.

💡

If you use WhatsApp, enable automatic chat backup in Google Drive: Open the app → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup. Optimal frequency once a week.

Method 3: Advanced backup via ADB (for power users)

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) allows you to create a complete copy of user data, including application settings that are not available through standard methods, which requires connecting a smartphone to a PC and basic command line knowledge, but gives you maximum control over the process.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB and Fastboot.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to activate the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (preferably original).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm the debugging permission on the device screen.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and do:

adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f C:\backup\mi_backup.ab

Decoding of flags:

• -apk — retain APK-file.
• -obb — includes additional application data (e.g. game cache).
• -shared - adds files from shared memory (photos, videos).
• -all - backups all applications (without this flag you can specify specific packages, for example, -app com.whatsapp).

After completing the command, a request for backup confirmation will appear on the smartphone screen. Be sure to set a password (even if you plan to store the file locally) - this will protect the data from recovery by third-party tools.

⚠️ Attention: Backup through ADB It does not include system application data (e.g. Mi Browser or Mi Video) and requires root access or custom recavery to save it. TWRP.

Method 4: Full backup via TWRP (for unlocked devices)

TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) is the most powerful backup tool, but it requires an unlocked bootloader and installing the TWRP itself.

• 🔧 Advanced users who often experiment with firmware.
• 📱 Root access devices.
• 🔄 Creating a complete image of the section /data (including root-rights application data).

How to make a backup in TWRP:

1. Boot to TWRP (hold Power + Volume up when turned on).
2. Pick Backup.
3. Mark the backup sections: Data (user data) and Boot (if you plan to restore firmware).
4. Select a storage location (internal memory or microSD) and confirm the action.

Backup in TWRP saves even data that is not available through ADB, including system application files and Magisk module settings (if installed). However, recovery of such backup is possible only on the same device with the same firmware version.

Method 5: Third-party backup applications (without root)

If you don't like the built-in MIUI tools, and ADB and TWRP seem too complicated, you can use third-party apps. We tested 5 popular solutions and selected the best ones:

Selection recommendations:

• 📱 For SMS call — SMS Backup & Restore (Simple and Reliable).
• 🎮 For games and applications, Swift Backup (if root is available) or Migrate (if not).
• ⚙️ For full control - Titanium Backup (despite the outdated, more functional than analogues).

💡

When using third-party backup apps, disable battery optimization for them in Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization, otherwise the backup may be interrupted.

Frequent Backup Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users sometimes have problems creating backups. TOP-5 errors and ways of solving them:

1. Backup is interrupted by 99% Cause: lack of space on the device or PC. Solution: free up at least 20% of the free space and try again. ADB-Check if there is enough space on the C: drive (the.ab file can weigh 10).+ GB).
2. Recovery from the backup causes errors in apps Reason: Incompatibility of Android versions or firmware Solution: Update all apps via Google Play before you restore.
3. No game data is saved (e.g. Genshin Impact or PUBG) Reason: games often block the backup of their data. Solution: use the game's built-in cloud saves or Swift Backup with root.
4. Backup in Mi Cloud is not restored on the new device Reason: different regions of Xiaomi accounts. Solution: link your account to one region (e.g. Russia) in Settings → Mi Account → Country / region.
5. ADB can't see the device, because drivers aren't installed or USB debugging is disabled, solution: reinstall Platform Tools, check if developer mode and debugging permission are on.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi devices with MIUI 13+ When you restore backup through Mi Cloud, Factory Reset Protection can work (FRP). If you forget the password from the Xiaomi account tied to the device, it will be impossible to unlock the smartphone after reset without official confirmation.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions