Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Backup: A Complete Guide to Data Saving in 2026

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 is still a popular smartphone due to its balanced performance and reliability. But even the most stable device is not immune to failure, loss or theft. Backup is the only way to guarantee that you can save photos, correspondence, settings and documents when you switch to a new phone, reset to factory settings or break down.

In this article — 5 Working Ways to Create a Backup on Redmi Note 5 (codename Whyred, including embedded tools MIUI, We'll look at what data can be saved, how to avoid recovery errors, and why standard backup is through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup isn't always reliable, and you'll also learn how to get around the limitations. MIUI 10/11/12 old-fashioned.

1. Built-in backup via MIUI: pros and cons

The most obvious way is to use the regular MIUI backup feature, which is available on all Redmi Note 5 firmware versions, but has nuances, such as MIUI 10, which creates a backup in.backup format that is not readable on other devices, and MIUI 12+ adds integration with Mi Cloud.

To make a local backup:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Backup (in some versions, the path: Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset).
2. Press Local Backup.
3. Select data to save: system settings, applications, SMS/MMS, call logs.
4. Start the process with the button Create a backup.

The backup file will be saved in /MIUI/backup/AllBackup on internal memory, and can be copied to a PC or flash drive.

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If the backup is interrupted by 99%, clear the backup app cache in the settings or restart the phone.

⚠️ Attention: Built-in backup MIUI It doesn't save photos, videos, or music from the gallery. It needs to be copied separately!

Advantages of the method:

• 🔹 Does not require root rights or third-party programs.
• 🔹 Stores Wi-Fi settings, wallpaper and data of some system applications.
• 🔹 Recovers quickly through the same settings section.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Does not work with user data of applications (for example, saving in games).
• ❌ Backup format is incompatible with other brands (for example, when switching to Samsung or iPhone).
• ❌ Maybe you can’t recover from the new version. MIUI (for example, 10 to 12).

2. Cloud backup via Mi Cloud: settings and limitations

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s official cloud storage, offering 5GB for free. For the Redmi Note 5, it’s a handy way to automatically sync contacts, notes, photos, and even SMS.

To activate the cloud backup:

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 next to the desired categories: Contacts, Notes, Gallery, etc.
4. For the manual backup, press Sync.

Automatic synchronization only works when connected to Wi-Fi and battery charge >20%.

⚠️ Note: If you use Google Contacts instead of Mi Contacts, they are not synced with Mi Cloud. → Settings → Default account.

Mi Cloud does not encrypt server-side backups, which means that Xiaomi employees can theoretically access your data (under the terms of the user agreement).

3. Backup via Google Account: a universal solution

If you plan to upgrade to another Android smartphone (not Xiaomi), a backup via Google is the best choice.

• 📱 Contacts (if linked to Google)
• 📅 Calendar and tasks
• 📎 Data from some applications (e.g. Chrome, Gmail)
• 📱 Wi-Fi settings and wallpaper
• 📱 List of installed applications (without user data)

To include backup in Google:

1. Open Settings → Google → Backup.
2. Activate the Backup Switch in Google Drive.
3. Click Create a backup copy now.

Backup files are stored in Google Drive under Backups and do not take up space in your 15GB of free storage.

• ❌ Not preserved. SMS/MMS (Android only 8+ Google Messages).
• ❌ Photos and videos should be synced separately through Google Photos.
• ❌ Data from games and some apps (such as WhatsApp) are not backed up.

4. Full backup via TWRP: for advanced users

If you need to save all the firmware, including system files, kernel and application data, custom recovery – TWRP – is required.

• 🔧 Firmware Experiments (LineageOS, Pixel Experience).
• 🔧 Recovery after a "brick" (system breakdown).
• 🔧 Transfer data to another Redmi Note 5 with identical firmware.

To make a backup through TWRP:

1. Install TWRP for whyred (instruction: official website).
2. Boot in recovery: turn off the phone → pinch Power + Volume up.
3. Select Backup → mark the Boot, System, Data, EFS sections.
4. Swipe for confirmation.

The backup will be saved to the memory card in the /TWRP/BACKUPS/ folder. It can be restored even to a dead phone if the EFS partition (contains IMEI!) is saved.

⚠️ Attention: Backup through TWRP It does not work on encrypted devices (if you have used them) PIN/To get around this, before the backup, turn off the encryption in Settings. → Lockdown and protection → Encryption (reset will be required!).

Charge your phone at least to 50%|Download the correct version TWRP whyred|Copy firmware files to a memory card|Disable screen lock (PIN/graphical)|Check the vacant space (needs to be checked) ~10-15 GB)-->

5 Third-party applications: Titanium Backup and Swift Backup

Specialized utilities will be suitable for backing up application data (saving games, messaging settings, etc.) on Redmi Note 5 without root rights:

• 📦 Swift Backup (Free version with limitations).
• 📦 Titanium Backup (requires root for full functionality).

Instructions for Swift Backup:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Provide access to storage and ADB Backup (in the developer settings).
3. Select backup apps (such as WhatsApp, Telegram).
4. Press Backup and wait until it is completed.

Files will be saved in the /SwiftBackups folder. To restore, just reinstall the application and select the Restore option.

Titanium Backup is more powerful, but it requires root.

• 🔹 Store data from all applications, including system.
• 🔹 Freeze unnecessary programs (saves charge).
• 🔹 Transfer backups to another phone.

Cons: on MIUI 12+, you need to roll back to MIUI 10 or install Magisk for root access.

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Swift Backup is the only app that can backup data applications without rooting on Android 10 and later (via ADB).

6. Manual backup: copying files to a PC or flash drive

The most reliable (but time-consuming) way is to manually copy important files to an external medium, which ensures that you do not lose data even if the firmware crashes.

What you need to copy:

• 📸 Photos and video: folder /DCIM/Camera and /Pictures.
• 🎵 Music and downloads: /Download, /Music.
• 📄 Documents: /Documents, /Bluetooth (if you accept files).
• 📱 Contacts: export to.vcf file via Contacts app → Settings → Exports.
• 💬 SMS: use SMS Backup & Restore (saves to.xml).

How to copy:

1. Connect Redmi Note 5 to your PC via USB (select File Transfer Mode).
2. Open internal memory in Windows/macOS Explorer.
3. Copy the desired folders to a hard drive or flash drive.

For convenience, you can archive folders in.zip (right click). → Send. → Compressed ZIP-folder).

⚠️ Warning: Do not copy the folder /Android whole -- it contains an app cache that takes up a lot of space and doesn't need a backup: /Android/data — This is where you can save some games (e.g. Genshin Impact).

7 Backup check: how to make sure data is saved

Building a backup is half the battle, and it's important to check its integrity to avoid any unpleasant surprises when you rebuild it.

For the built-in MIUI backup:

• Open the.backup file through Settings → Backup → Local backups.
• Click on the backup → View details. If the file size is >100 MB and there are ticks next to the categories, it's okay.

For Mi Cloud:

• Go to i.mi.com from PC.
• Check that the Gallery, Contacts and Notes sections display current data.

For TWRP-backup:

• Open /TWRP/BACKUPS/ folder on the memory card.
• Make sure you have boot.emmc.win, data.ext4.win, etc. files (several GBs in size).

For the hand backup:

• Open the copied folders on your PC and make sure the files are not corrupted (e.g. photos are opened).
• Import a.vcf contact file to Google Contacts or another manager.

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If the backup weighs suspiciously low (e.g. 50MB instead of the expected 2GB), repeat the procedure - a recording error may have occurred.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the backup on the Redmi Note 5