How to make a backup (backup) on Xiaomi Redmi 9T: all working ways

Xiaomi Redmi 9T is a popular smartphone with a balance of price and performance, but even it is not immune to crashes, data loss or the need to reset to factory settings. Without a backup (backup), you risk losing contacts, photos, messages and application settings. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to create a backup on the Redmi 9T, including built-in MIUI tools, cloud services and advanced methods for power users.

The Redmi 9T features a hybrid firmware based on Android 10/11 with a MIUI 12/13 shell, which offers its own backup tools, but they do not always cover all needs: for example, the standard MIUI backup does not store data from some third-party applications. So we will consider alternatives from Google Drive to custom TWRP (for users with an unlocked bootloader).

Important: the backup procedure depends on the target, if you're planning a factory reset, cloud redundancy is enough, and if you're going to have to run a Fastboot or replace a motherboard, you'll need a full backup via TWRP or ADB.

1. Standard backup via MIUI (no root)

The easiest way is to use the built-in Backup feature in MIUI. It saves:

• 📞 Contacts, call log and SMS
• 📷 Photos and videos (optional)
• ⚙️ System and application settings (Wi-Fi, wallpaper, sounds)
• 📱 Data from some system applications (e.g. Notes or Calendar)

To create a backup:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Backup.
2. Click Create a backup and select the data to save.
3. Specify storage location: internal memory or Mi Cloud (requires Xiaomi account).
4. Confirm the action and wait until it is completed (may take 5-15 minutes).

⚠️ Note: This method does not store data from third-party apps (such as WhatsApp, Telegram or games) and will require separate backups or the use of Titanium Backup (requires root).

At least 30% of the battery is loaded

Enough free space (backup weighs 1-3 GB)

Wi-Fi connection (if you use Mi Cloud)

Memory optimizers are disabled (they can interrupt the process)-->

2. Backup through Google Drive

If you use Google, this way you can recover data on any Android device, and unlike MIUI Backup, it saves:

• 📱 Contacts, calendars and tasks (via Google Contacts)
• 📎 Files and photos (via Google Photos)
• 🎮 Data of certain games and applications (if the developer supports Google Play Games)
• ⚙️ Wi-Fi settings, wallpaper and system language

You can activate the backup as follows:

1. Go to Settings → Google → Backup.
2. Turn on the backup switch in Google Drive.
3. Click Create a backup copy now.
4. Wait for synchronization (time depends on the amount of data and Internet speed).

⚠️ Attention: Free storage on Google Drive is limited to 15GB per account. If you have a lot of photos/video, they will take up this space quickly.

3. Local backup to the computer (via ADB)

For users who want full control of the backup, the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) method is suitable, which allows you to create a full picture of the system, including:

• 📱 All user data (/data)
• 🔧 System settings (/system)
• 📁 Internal memory (/sdcard)
• 🔒 Encrypted partitions (unless the phone is locked)

Instructions for Windows:

1. Install ADB and Fastboot Tools.
2. Turn on USB Debugging on your phone (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times click on the version, then go back to Additional Settings → For Developers).
3. Connect Redmi 9T to your PC and confirm your trust in your computer.
4. Open the command line in the adb folder and type: adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f C:\backup_redmi9t.ab Where -f — backup.
5. On the phone will appear a request for confirmation – enter the password (if any) and click Create a backup.

🔹 Pros of the method: full control, backup is stored on PC, works without root.

🔸 Cons: Does not save data of some applications (for example, WhatsApp), requires technical skills.

4. Full backup via TWRP (for advanced)

If you have a bootloader unlocked and a custom TWRP recap is installed, you can create a complete system image, including:

• 📱 Section /data (all user data)
• 🔧 Section /system (firmware)
• 📁 Section /boot and /recovery
• 🔒 EFS (IMEI and serial numbers)

Step-by-step:

1. Install TWRP for Redmi 9T (model lime).
2. Load the phone into Recovery mode: Turn off the device, then press Power + Volume up.
3. In TWRP, select Backup.
4. Check the boxes for Boot, System, Data, EFS.
5. Select a storage location (internal memory or storage). OTG-accumulator).
6. Swipe for confirmation and wait for completion.

⚠️ Attention: Backup through TWRP Incompatible with standard recovery MIUI. To restore the data, you will need to re-install TWRP And then I can run the backup through it.

💡

If you backup before firmware, save the EFS folder separately — it contains unique IMEI data. Losing this partition can lead to a network being missing after firmware!

5. backup of specific data (contacts, photos, messages)

If a full backup is not needed, only critical data can be saved:

📞 Contacts

Export to the.vcf file:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Press. ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports.
3. Select Export to file and save to memory card or cloud.

📷 Photographs and videos

Use Google Photos or manually copy DCIM and Pictures folders to your PC.

1. Install Google Photos from the Play Market.
2. Enable Backup and Synchronization in the application settings.
3. Choose the quality (original or high).

💬 Communications (SMS/MMS)

The Backup & Restore SMS app (available in Play Market) saves the SMS to.xml:

1. Install the application and provide access to SMS.
2. Click Backup and select the save location (Google Drive, locally).
3. Use the Restore option to restore.

💡

For WhatsApp and Telegram, use the built-in backup features: in WhatsApp it is Settings → Chat → Backup, in Telegram – Settings → Data and memory → Export of history.

6.Recovery of data from backup

The recovery process depends on the backup method:

🔄 Recovery through MIUI

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup.
2. Select a backup file (local or from Mi Cloud).
3. Click Restore and confirm the action.

☁️ Recovery via Google Drive

When you first set up your phone after resetting, select Copy Data from your device and log in to your Google account.The system will prompt you to recover data from the last backup.

🖥️ Recovery through ADB

Use the command:

adb restore C:\backup_redmi9t.ab

On the phone, confirm recovery.

🛠️ Recovery through TWRP

1. Download to TWRP.
2. Select Restore and specify the folder with backup.
3. Mark the desired sections and swipe for confirmation.

⚠️ Note: When restoring through TWRP Do not restore the System partition if you have flashed a new version. MIUI — This can lead to bootloop (a looped boot load).

FAQ: Frequent questions about backup on Redmi 9T