How to make a backup (backup) on Xiaomi: all the ways of 2026

Why backup on Xiaomi is not a luxury, but a necessity

Imagine dropping your smartphone in a puddle, it stops turning on, and it has all the photos from your last vacation, correspondence with loved ones and work documents. Or suddenly MIUI offers to update, but after the reboot, the device “hangs” on the logo. Without a backup, data recovery can cost thousands of rubles (if at all possible). Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones offer several backup methods, from built-in tools to cloud services. But most users do not even know about their existence until it is too late.

The statistics say that 68% of Xiaomi owners have never backed up, although 9 out of 10 have experienced data loss. The reasons are trivial: some find the process difficult, some trust the “automatic” features (which are often disabled by default), and some just don’t know where to start. This article closes all the gaps from basic methods to advanced life hacks to save contacts, messages, photos, apps and even MIUI settings.

Important: Xiaomi backup is different from other Android devices, like MIUI firmware, which has a unique Local Backup tool that isn't available in pure Android, and the Mi Cloud syncs data differently than Google Drive, so let's see which one works for you.

Method 1: Local backup via built-in MIUI function

The most reliable method is to save a copy to a memory card or internal memory of the phone. It works without the Internet, does not depend on cloud services and is suitable for devices from Xiaomi Mi 8 to Redmi Note 13 Pro+. The main disadvantage is that if the phone breaks physically (for example, memory damage), the data can be lost.

To create a backup copy:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Click Create a backup and select data to save: 📱 System data (wi-fi settings, wallpaper, sounds) 📞 Contacts and call log 💬 Communications (SMS/MMS) 📷 Multimedia (photo, video, audio) 📱 Annexes (APK-files)

Internal memory.

SD-map

Confirm the action and wait until it is completed (may take up to 15 minutes).

The finished backup will be in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder, which can be copied to a PC or other media, and use the same section in the settings to restore it.

Battery charge > 50%|Free space on SD-card (minimum 2-3 GB)|Memory optimizers are disabled (for example, Clean Master)|Closed all applications that work in the background-->

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi with an unlocked bootloader or custom firmware, the local backup may not recover correctly. TWRP Titanium Backup (see Method 5).

Method 2: Cloud backup via Mi Cloud

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s proprietary cloud that offers 5GB of free space (compared to Google Drive, which gives 15GB, but doesn’t sync all MIUI data), and the advantage of the method is that it can be accessed from any device, even if the phone is lost or broken, and the disadvantages are limited volume and dependence on the Internet.

How to set up Mi Cloud:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Sign in or create an account (if you don’t have one).
3. Turn on the switches opposite: 📱 Contacts (synchronized with the phone book) 📅 Notes and Calendar 📷 Gallery (photo and video) 🔧 Settings (themes, wallpaper, sounds) MIUI)

Synchronize

To recover data on a new device, just log in to the same Mi Cloud account and enable synchronization. Please note that application files and SMS are not saved in the cloud by default – they need a local backup or third-party services.

Mi Cloud|Google Drive |Yandex Disc |iCloud |Other |Not using cloud-->

Method 3: Backup through Google Drive

If you prefer the Google ecosystem, this is a better method than Mi Cloud.

• 📱 Contacts, calendar and notes (via Google Account)
• 📷 Photos and videos (via Google Photos)
• 📱 Device settings (Wi-Fi, wallpaper, brightness)
• 📱 List of applications (but not their data!)

Cons: SMS, call log and application data are not saved (you need a local backup or Titanium Backup).

How to enable backup in Google Drive:

1. Open Settings → Google → Backup.
2. Activate the Backup Switch in Google Drive.
3. Click Create a copy now.
4. To recover when you configure a new device, select Copy Data from another device.

💡

To save space in Google Drive, open Google Photos → Settings → Free up space. The service will remove photos from your phone that are already uploaded to the cloud, but leave them thumbnails to view.

Method 4: Backup to your computer via Mi PC Suite

Official Mi utility PC Suite allows you to create a full copy of your phone on a PC, including SMS, Call log, applications and their data. This is one of the most reliable ways, because the files are stored on your computer, not in the cloud. USB-cable.

Instructions:

1. Download Mi PC Suite from the official website and install it on PC.
2. Connect your phone to your computer via USB (enable File Transfer in the notification curtain).
3. Run the Mi PC Suite and wait for the device to connect.
4. Go to the Backup section.
5. Select the data to copy and click Create a backup.
6. Specify the folder on the PC for saving (recommended on the system drive C: do not store).

Recovery is similar: plug in your phone, select the backup file in Mi PC Suite, and click Restore. Importantly, the version of MIUI on your phone must match the version on which the backup was made, otherwise errors may occur.

Method 5: Advanced backup via TWRP or ADB (for experienced)

If you use custom firmware or want maximum backup control, this method is for you. TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) is an alternative recovery that allows you to create full /data partition images (including all applications and their data).

The short instructions for TWRP are:

1. Unlock the bootloader on Xiaomi (instructions on the official website).
2. Install TWRP via fastboot (TWRP command: fastboot flash recovery twrp.img).
3. Boot to TWRP (hold Volume Up + Power when turned on).
4. Select Backup and select the following sections: System, Data, Boot.
5. Click Swipe to Backup and wait until it is completed.
6. Copy the TWRP folder from internal memory to your PC.

For backup via ADB (without TWRP), use the command:

adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f backup.ab

This command saves all applications (-apk), their data (-obb), shared files (-shared), and settings (-all) to backup.ab file on PC. Recover: adb restore backup.ab.

⚠️ Attention: Backup through TWRP or ADB It may not work on devices with encrypted memory (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or Redmi K50 In this case, you first need to disable encryption in the settings or use OrangeFox Recovery instead. TWRP.

Method 6: Automatic backup with third-party applications

If embedded MIUI tools don't suit you, try third-party apps that offer more flexibility, such as setting up automatic copies on a schedule or selectively saving only the data you need.

Top.-3 Backup apps on Xiaomi:

• 📱 Swift Backup (paid, but with a free trial period) - saves applications and their data without root rights. Supports downloading to Google Drive.
• 📱 Titanium Backup (requires root) is the most powerful tool for a full backup, including system settings.
• 📱 SMS Backup & Restore (Free) – Specializes in SMS, MMS And call logs. You can export to XML or CSV.

Example of Swift Backup configuration:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Provide access to Special Features (required for a backup without root).
3. Select copying apps (such as WhatsApp, Telegram, games).
4. Click Create a backup and specify the location of the save (internal memory, SD-map).
5. For automatic backup, set the schedule in Settings → Planner.

💡

The side of the application is convenient for selective backup, but does not replace the full copy of the system. For example, Swift Backup does not save MIUI settings or desktop wallpaper - this requires a local backup or Mi Cloud.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users have problems building backups, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions.

• 🔴 There's not enough room for SD-map → Clear unnecessary files or use a card with a volume of 32 GB. MIUI It can weigh 5-10 GB.
• 🔴 Backup interrupted at 99% → Check the power stability (connect charging) and do not use your phone while copying.
• 🔴 Mi Cloud does not sync photos → Enable the Autoboot option in the Gallery app.
• 🔴 Recovery from Google Drive is Hanging → Make sure the phone has the same version of Android as the device that backup was made from.
• 🔴 TWRP Does not see the internal memory → It may have encryption enabled. Try disabling it in the settings or use OrangeFox Recovery.

If the backup is created but not restored, check:

• Compatibility of MIUI versions (e.g., a copy with MIUI 14 may not be suitable for MIUI 13).
• Backup file integrity (try opening it on a PC – if the archive is corrupted, recreate the copy).
• root rights (if you restore system data through Titanium Backup)

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions