The Xiaomi Mi 9T, also known as the Redmi K20 in the Asian market, remains a popular device due to its bezel-free design and performance. However, like any digital device, it is not immune to software failures, accidental data loss or the need to flash it back, which is why creating a backup is a critical procedure for any owner.
The MIUI shell storage process has its own characteristics that set it apart from pure Android. Users often underestimate the importance of regular copying until they encounter a sudden system breakdown. The full backup system on the Mi 9T requires about 15-20 GB of free space, which should be considered when planning a procedure.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can store information, from built-in tools to cloud services and PCs, how to secure your photos, contacts, and lists of installed applications, and how to get your phone back on track in minutes.
Preparation of the device for backup
Before you start any data manipulation, you need to make sure that the smartphone is ready to work in high load mode. The process of creating an archive requires stable operation of the processor and constant access to memory. Lack of battery power can interrupt the operation halfway, which will lead to file corruption.
It is recommended to connect the device to a power source or make sure that the charge level exceeds 60%, it is also worth checking the availability of free space in the internal storage, if the memory is full, the system may refuse to create a new archive or make it incomplete.
- 🔋 Charge the battery to minimum. 60-70% ensure completion of the process.
- 💾 Free up at least 20 GB of storage in the device’s internal memory.
- 📶 Make sure you have a stable connection if you plan to use cloud services.
It is important to close all background applications that may be consuming resources, which will speed up the archiving process and reduce the risk of software conflicts, especially for heavy games and navigation programs that actively use geolocation.
The MIUI shell is equipped with a powerful built-in backup module that allows you to save almost all types of data, which is the most preferred method, since it does not require third-party software and works directly with the file system, accessed through the system settings menu.
To run the utility, go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore. Here you will see the option to create a new copy. The system will suggest selecting categories of data: contacts, messages, call log, notes, voice recorder, as well as installed applications and their data.
You should pay special attention to the encryption setting. If you set a password to the archive, no one can access your data without this code. However, if you forget the password, it will not be possible to restore the information, so write the combination in a safe place.
⚠️ Note: When you select the "No Password" option, your data in the archive will not be protected. If the phone falls into the wrong hands, the information can be easily retrieved.
After selecting categories, click the Start button, which can take 10 to 40 minutes depending on the amount of data, during which time the screen may go out, but you should not interrupt the process, and upon completion, you will receive a notification that you have successfully created a backup file.
Where is the MIUI backup file stored?
The backup file is saved along the /MIUI/backup/AllBackup path. To access it via the PC, you need to turn on the file transfer mode (MTP) or use the conductor on the phone itself. The folder name usually corresponds to the date and time of the copy creation.> Synchronization with Mi Cloud and Google Account Cloud technologies allow you to store data remotely, which saves information even in the event of physical loss or complete destruction of the smartphone. Xiaomi ecosystem is closely integrated with Google services. Synchronization takes only a few minutes. To work with Mi Cloud, you need to log into your Mi Cloud, you can download enough information from the cloud, and the data from the data for free messages. 5 Google services are responsible for other types of data. → Google → Backup can save passwords, device settings, SMS and MMS, Photos and videos are best saved through the Google Photos app by enabling the autoload feature". ☁️ Mi Cloud is ideal for contacts, notes and shell system settings. 📸 Google Photos provides unlimited (compressed quality) or high-quality media storage. 📱 Google Drive keeps folder structure and lists of installed programs. It's important to check sync status regularly. Sometimes, because of a network failure, the latest changes are not sent to the server. Make sure that the current date and time are next to the sync points. Photos and video take up the largest amount of memory, and for them, 5 GB clouds may not be enough. The most reliable way to save media files is to copy them to a computer. 9T characterized by high write speed to the internal drive, which allows you to quickly transfer large amounts of data over the USB. Connect your smartphone to your computer using a cable USB Type-C. On the phone screen will appear a request for mode of operation USB. Select the option "File Transfer" or "MTP". After that, the device will appear in My Computer as an external disk. You will need the following folders to copy: Folder Content Importance DCIM Photo and video from the camera Critical Pictures Images from messengers High Download Uploaded files from the browser Average Voice Recorder Audio recordings High Voice Recorder MIUI Screenshots and backups of the Average System Just drag the right directories to the computer hard drive. This method ensures that you will have the original file in the maximum quality, without the compression that sometimes used cloud services. MIUI WhatsApp and Telegram have their own backup mechanisms that need to be activated separately. On WhatsApp, go to Settings → chat → Backup chats. You can select the automatic copy creation frequency and Google Drive account for storage. By clicking on Backup, you create a snapshot of all the correspondence currently. Telegram works differently: the entire story is stored on the cloud servers of the messenger. You don’t have to create backups manually, just log in from a new device and all chats will be automatically downloaded, except for “Secret Chats” that are not stored in the cloud and are tied to a particular device. For users who want full autonomy, it is possible to create a local copy on WhatsApp. → Android → media → com.whatsapp → WhatsApp → Databases. msgstore.db.cryptXX contains the entire message history. ⚠️ Attention: Local WhatsApp backups are only stored for 7 days. If you don't transfer them to your PC or the cloud, old files will be automatically deleted by the messenger system. If you have used the built-in MIUI tool, the system will automatically restore the data from the file you found when you first set up the phone (or after resetting it), you can also manually restore it through the settings menu. When you restore it from the Mi Cloud or Google cloud, you just need to enter the username and password from the account on the new or reset device. The system will automatically start loading contacts, calendar and application list. Photos will appear in the gallery as they are downloaded from the network. If you copy files to the PC, just return them to the original directories. For media files, you just put them in the folder in the DCIM file or file, they will be immediately installed in the first file. In some cases, especially after an update to Android, recovering a full copy of the system can cause conflicts, and in such a situation, it is better to restore data selectively: first contacts and photos, and then reinstall applications from the Play Market. What to do if the phone doesn't see the backup file? Make sure the file is in the folder. /MIUI/backup/AllBackup. Check if the file is corrupted and if the extension matches, sometimes renaming the backup folder into a date format helps, for example, 20231025_120000. Can I restore the backup to another phone? Yes, if both devices have the same version. MIUI But system settings and some specific data may not work, and personal files (photos, documents) will recover without problems. 50 GB? When you recover from a PC via USB 3.0, it takes about 5-10 minutes. When using the cloud, the time depends on Internet speed and can be from 1 to 3 hours. Do you need root rights for a full backup? For a standard user, root is not necessary. You can save almost everything with built-in tools. Root rights are only required for deep cloning of system partitions and data of secure applications, which is not recommended for ordinary users.