Backup on Xiaomi RedmiBook 4: a complete guide with proven ways

Xiaomi RedmiBook laptop 4 has become a popular choice thanks to the balance of performance and price, but even the most reliable device is not immune to crashes: loss of important files due to viruses, failed system updates or physical damage HDD/SSD This can be a serious problem, especially if you have work documents, photos or projects on your laptop, and backups solve this problem, but many users delay the procedure until the last minute.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways of backup for RedmiBook 4 – from built-in Windows 10/11 tools to cloud services and third-party programs. Particular attention will be paid to the nuances associated with the Xiaomi hardware platform: for example, how to properly reserve drivers for Intel Core i5-11300H or NVIDIA GeForce MX450, so that after restoring the system you do not have to search for them manually.

Why Standard Backup Methods May Not Work on RedmiBook 4

Xiaomi laptops have a number of features that complicate backup creation by standard means:

• 🔧 Proprietary drivers: The company often uses modified versions of drivers for touchpad, backlit keyboard or fan control. Standard backup via Windows Backup may skip them.
• 🖥️ Some versions of RedmiBook 4 have a hidden partition Xiaomi Recovery (volume) ~500 MB), which is not visible in the conductor but is important for recovery.
• 🔄 Updates MIUI for PC. If you have installed branded software from Xiaomi (for example, Mi Smart Share or Xiaomi) PC Suite, its settings may not be saved with a standard backup.

In addition, many users experience error 0x80070002 when trying to create a system image through Control Panel → Archivation and Recovery. This is due to the fact that Xiaomi defaults to disable the service Shadow copying of volume (VSS) to save battery life.

Method 1: Built-in File History tool (for beginners)

The simplest method, which does not require additional software installation, is suitable for backing up personal files (documents, photos, videos), but does not save programs and system settings. It works on Windows 10/11, pre-installed on RedmiBook 4.

Algorithm of action:

1. Connect an external drive (preferably with an NTFS file system and a volume of at least 64 GB).
2. Open Settings → Update and Security → Archival Service.
3. Click Add Disk and select your external HDD/SSD.
4. In the Automatic File Archives section, turn on the switch and set the schedule (we recommend daily or when connecting the device).
5. In Other settings, add folders for archiving (Desktop, Documents, Images are included by default).

Note: File History does not archive executable files (.exe,.msi) or system folders like Program Files. If you need to save installed programs, use Method 3 or Method 4.

Eliminate temporary files from archiving|Check the space on the external disk (at least 20% of the amount of data reserved)|Turn off sleep during the procedure|Make sure that the storage is formatted in NTFS-->

Method 2: Image of the system through the Control Panel (full backup)

This method creates a full cast of the system, including Windows drivers, programs and settings, suitable for recovering a laptop after a major crash or replacing a hard drive. Important: the image takes up a lot of space (from 30 GB or more) and requires an external drive with sufficient volume.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect an external HDD/SSD (we recommend USB 3.0 or faster).
2. Open Control Panel → System and Security → Archiving and Recovery (Windows 7)
3. Select Creating a System Image.
4. Specify the location of the save (external drive or network folder).
5. Select the system drive (usually C:) and additional partitions if necessary.
6. Start the process and wait until it is completed (may take 1-3 hours depending on the amount of data).

⚠️ If your RedmiBook 4 is equipped with SSD with Optane Memory technology (found in some versions), the system image may not recover correctly. In this case, use Method 4 (Macrium Reflect) with Optane caching disabled in the system. BIOS.

Method 3: Cloud backup via Xiaomi Cloud (for Mi Account holders)

Xiaomi offers its own cloud storage, Xiaomi Cloud, which is originally designed for smartphones, but can also be used to back up data from laptops. The advantage of the method is access to files from any device, the disadvantage is a limited free volume (5 GB).

How to set up:

1. Download and install Mi PC Suite (official software from Xiaomi).
2. Sign in under your Mi Account (if not, register on the official website).
3. In the Cloud section, select folders for sync (maximum 5GB free).
4. To increase the volume, purchase a premium subscription (from 100 GB for ~300 rubles / month).

Important: Xiaomi Cloud is not suitable for backup of system files or programs. It is advisable to use it in conjunction with other methods - for example, for backup documents and photos, mientras, which is a complete image of the system to create using Method 2.

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If you use Mi Cloud for backup photos, disable the option “Storage Optimization” in the sync settings. Otherwise, the original files will be replaced with compressed versions with a resolution of 2048×1536 pixels.

Method 4: Third-party programs: Macrium Reflect and AOMEI Backupper

For users who need advanced features (increment backup, encryption, disk cloning), specialized utilities are suitable.

• 🛡️ Macrium Reflect Free – Supports the creation of bootables USB-Disk compression, image compression and task scheduler. Perfect for RedmiBook 4 with UEFI.
• 🔄 AOMEI Backupper Standard – Simple interface, Disk Clone feature to transfer the system to the new SSD, support GPT/MBR.

Instructions for Macrium Reflect:

1. Download the program from the official website and install.
2. Connect an external drive (we recommend an SSD to speed up the process).
3. In the main menu, select Create a backup → Backup Windows system files.
4. Specify the target disk and configure the parameters (compression, encryption if necessary).
5. Start the process and wait until it is completed. The time depends on the amount of data (for example, a 500 GB SSD can take ~40 minutes).

Macrium Reflect has the advantage of creating incremental backups (only changes from the last copy are saved), which saves disk space, and the program can restore the system to different hardware (it is useful if you change RedmiBook 4 to another model).

Method 5: Manual backup of important data (for power users)

If you don't need to save the entire system, but only critical files (like projects, databases, or program configurations), you can do without specialized tools. This method takes longer, but gives you complete control over the process.

What you need to copy manually:

• 📁 Personal files: folders Documents, Images, Videos, Downloads.
• 🔑 Program configurations: files with.ini,.config extension or folders %APPDATA%\Title: Programmes.
• 📋 Drivers: execute the command in CMD (on behalf of the administrator: Dism /online /export-driver /destination:"D:\DriversBackup" where D:\DriversBackup — path.
• 🔄 Windows Registry (optional): export your keys via regedit (e.g, HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software program-setting).

To automate the manual backup, you can use a PowerShell script:

# Script for copying selected folders to an external disk


$source = @("C:\Users\$env:USERNAME\Documents", "C:\Users\$env:USERNAME\Pictures")




$destination = "D:\Backup\"




$date = Get-Date -Format "yyyy-MM-dd"




$backupPath = Join-Path $destination $date





New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $backupPath -Force




Copy-Item -Path $source -Destination $backupPath -Recurse -Force





Write-Host "Backup Complete! Files copied to $backupPath"

⚠️ Note: With manual backup drivers for RedmiBook 4 Make sure you keep the folder. C:\Xiaomi\Drivers (It stores proprietary utilities for controlling keyboard illumination, touchpad and energy saving that are not recognized by standard Windows tools.

Comparison of methods: what kind of backup to choose

The choice of method depends on your tasks and technical skills, and below are recommendations for different scenarios:

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For maximum reliability, use the 3-2-1 rule: 3 copies of data on 2 different types of media (for example, external HDD + cloud), and 1 copy should be stored outside the home (in the cloud or bank box).

FAQ: Frequent questions about backup on Xiaomi RedmiBook 4