Redmi series smartphones have long proven to be reliable devices with excellent autonomy, and the 4X model is no exception. However, like any electronics, the phone can suddenly fail, lose control or simply require firmware to correct software errors, and it is at these moments that users regret not taking care of their data in advance.
The backup process on the Xiaomi Redmi 4X takes no more than 15 minutes, but can save hundreds of hours of work, lost photos and important contacts. There are several ways to save information: built-in MIUI, through the Mi Cloud cloud service or using a computer. The choice of the specific method depends on the amount of data and the availability of free space in the cloud.
In this article, we will take a look at each of the options available so you can choose the most convenient one for yourself. We will look at the nuances of working with the file system of this device and the peculiarities of synchronizing your account. It is important to understand that backup is the only guarantee that your data will remain with you in all circumstances.
Preparation of the smartphone for the copying procedure
Before you start directly creating an archive, you need to make sure that the device is ready to work in high load mode. Backup is a resource-intensive process that actively uses the processor and memory. If the battery is dead, the phone can turn off at the most inopportune moment, which will damage the file being created.
Also worth checking is the amount of free memory. Redmi 4X's built-in storage is often filled to the fullest, especially if the user is actively shooting videos or installing heavy games. To create a local copy requires free space equal to about 110% of the volume of data being copied.
β οΈ Warning: Do not start the process if the battery power is below 40%.Abrupt power outage during system file writing can lead to a software failure.
It is recommended to close all background applications to speed up the process and avoid conflicts, this can be done through the menu of running tasks, and also make sure that the screen does not have aggressive themes or widgets that can cause the interface to freeze while working with system utilities.
Local backup with MIUI
The fastest and most reliable way to save data is to use the built-in MIUI function, which does not require an Internet connection and allows you to create a full cast of the phoneβs status, including the settings and location of the icons on the desktop.
To start the process, you need to go to the settings menu. Find the Advanced Settings section and select Recover and Reset. This is where the utility that manages data archiving on Xiaomi devices is hidden.
- π± Click on the βBackupβ button at the top of the screen.
- π Enter the screen unlock password or pattern lock to confirm access.
- π Check the categories of data that you need to save: contacts, messages, call log, notes.
- πΌοΈ Separately, select βOther System Settingsβ to save Wi-Fi passwords and alarms.
Once you select categories, the system will show you the approximate size of the future archive, which is useful information to assess whether there is enough space on the internal drive, and if there is not enough space, you can eliminate heavy categories, such as photos, and save them separately.
βοΈ Check before launching the local backup
When you click Start, you start scanning and packing files, and the speed depends on the amount of data and the speed of flash recording. On Redmi 4X, this process can take anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes. It's absolutely impossible to interrupt.
Work with multimedia and files through the Explorer
The local backup is easy to set up, but photos, videos and documents often require a more flexible approach.The built-in Explorer allows you to manually copy important folders to an external medium or to a third-party cloud storage.
Photo files are saved by default to the DCIM/Camera folder, and downloads are in the Download directory. For instant messengers like WhatsApp or Telegram, there are separate folders at the root of internal memory or along the Android/media path.
| Type of data | The way to the folder | Recommended method |
|---|---|---|
| Photos and videos | /DCIM/Camera | Copying on PC |
| Documents | /Download | Cloud disk |
| Audio recordings | /MIUI/sound_recorder | Manual copying |
| WhatsApp Media | /Android/media/com.whatsapp | Internal backup |
To copy files, open Explorer, press your finger on the folder you want, and select Copy. SD-cards (if installed) or connect your phone to your computer in file transfer mode (MTP) And put the data in there.
Using a memory card is a great way to free up the interior space of Xiaomi Redmi 4X. But remember that SD-The cards are less reliable than the internal memory and can fail, so it is better to duplicate critical files onto a computer.
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Use a file manager with size-sorting function to quickly find and remove unnecessary heavy files before creating a backup.
Synchronizing data through Mi Cloud
Xiaomiβs cloud service offers a convenient way to automatically save contacts, notes, photos and voice recordings, not only backing up, but instantly recovering data on any other device with a Mi Account.
To activate the function, go to Settings β Mi Account. You must log in. After you log in, select "Mi Cloud" and activate the desired switches. The system will offer 5 GB of free space for free.
- βοΈ Gallery: Allows you to automatically upload new photos to the cloud when connected to Wi-Fi.
- π Notes: syncs text files and to-do lists in real time.
- π Contacts and Calendar: Instant updates to changes across all devices.
- π· Recorder: Preserving audio recordings that are critical for students and journalists.
The main advantage of this method is transparency for the user, you just use the phone, and the data is stored by yourself, but it requires a stable Internet connection to work properly. If traffic is limited, set up sync only over Wi-Fi.
β οΈ Attention: When cloud storage overflows, synchronization of new data will stop. Regularly check the status of the place in the Mi Cloud storage.
Use of the computer and the Mi PC Suite
For those who prefer to keep data under full control, there is the possibility of creating a backup on the computer. the official Mi PC Suite program (or alternative tools like the Mi Assistant) allows you to manage your smartphone files from the big screen.
First, you need to connect the phone to the PC through USB-In the connection notification, select File Transfer mode or Β«USB-debugging, if you use advanced tools, the computer recognizes the device as an external drive.
adb backup -f backup.ab -apk -shared -allThis ADB (Android Debug Bridge) team creates a complete backup of all applications and data if you have drivers and developer tools installed, a more complex but more powerful method that allows you to save even data from some secure applications.
How to enable debugging on USB?
When you use your computer, you get a physical copy of your data, which protects against loss of information in the event of account lockdown or cloud server problems, and update those copies regularly, for example, once a month.
Data recovery after resetting or changing the phone
Copying is only half the story. The second part, equally important, is the right recovery. If you did a local backup through MIUI, then once you reset the settings, when you set up the original setup, the system will suggest that you restore the data from the file you found.
The local backup files are on the MIUI/backup/AllBackup path. If you've dropped your phone, remember to copy that folder back to your phone first, otherwise you won't be able to recover it. For cloud data, just log in to your account.
Restore apps can take time, as the phone needs to re-download installation files from Google Play or GetApps. Make sure the phone is connected to fast Wi-Fi and is on charge during this process.
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Always check the integrity of the recovered data immediately after the process is complete to make sure no file has been corrupted.
Once you have your contacts and messages restored, check your messengers. WhatsApp and Telegram have their own internal backup mechanisms that often block your system. Make sure you remember the password from the Google account to which the chat backup is attached.