Changing your smartphone or accidentally resetting your settings is always stressful, especially if you’ve spent weeks perfecting the MIUI or HyperOS space. Users often forget that standard backup methods don’t always preserve the layout of desktop icons and folder structure. Xiaomi device owners have unique tools to save exactly the visual part of the interface, but they’re hidden in the depth of the menu.
In this article, we will look at all the ways you can back up your desktop, and learn how to transfer your app layout to a new phone or restore it after flashing it over without wasting time manually configuring it.
What exactly is saved when the backup interface
Many users mistakenly believe that a full copy of the system automatically includes the location of shortcuts. In fact, Google's standard backup often ignores the location of widgets and folder structure on screens. Android stores this data in a separate launcher database system file, which access is limited.
With Xiaomi’s specialized tools, you can save not only the apps themselves, but also their grouping, which is critical for those who are used to a certain algorithm for using a smartphone. An exact copy of the desktop includes even the transparency of folders and the size of the icon grid, if you use a standard launcher.
It’s worth noting that third-party launchers like Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher have their own built-in backup features that work independently of the system, but native MIUIs need to use standard tools or special scripts.
Using Mi Cloud to Save the Layout
The easiest and most integrated way to save desktop settings is the Mi Cloud cloud service, which requires a Mi Account account and an active Internet connection, and syncs are done in the background, but for reliability, it is better to manually start the process before changing the device.
To activate the function, you need to go to the system settings. Find the Mi Account section at the top of the settings menu or through the Security app, and that's where the key to restoring your personalization is stored.
Inside the account menu, select Cloud or Mi Cloud. You will need to find the switch that synchronizes the system settings. Make sure the slider is activated, and press Sync to force the server to update the data.
- 📱 Open Settings and go to Mi Account profile.
- ☁️ Select the Mi Cloud section and find the Desktop or System Applications item.
- 🔄 Activate the switch and wait for the synchronization to complete.
- ✅ Check the status of the last sync at the bottom of the screen.
Once these steps are done, the app location data will be uploaded to the cloud, and when you log in to the same account on a new Xiaomi device, the system will prompt you to restore the data, including the desktop structure.
⚠️ Warning: Free space in the Mi Cloud is limited to 5GB. If you have a lot of photos and documents, there may not be enough space for a full backup of the system.
Local backup through settings
If you don’t trust cloud storage or you don’t have a stable internet connection, Xiaomi offers a powerful tool to create a local copy, which allows you to save the full image of your settings, including your desktop, right into your internal memory or on your computer. SD-map.
Find the About Phone section in the settings menu. You will need to click multiple times on the MIUI or HyperOS version to activate additional features, although in newer versions, login to the extended menu is often available directly through the menu button (three dots) in the upper right corner.
Select Backup and Restore. The system will request a screen unlock password to confirm the operation, a security measure to prevent outsiders from accessing your data.
In the menu that opens, select System Data, and here you'll see a list of the components that are available to save. Make sure that the checkmark is next to Desktop or Launcher. Without this, no icon layout will be saved.
The path to the backup files:
MIUI/backup/AllBackup/Once the process is complete, the backup file will be saved to the directory specified, and it is recommended that you copy this folder to your computer or external drive for greater reliability.
☑️ Check before creating a local copy
Comparison of backup methods
The right method depends on your goals and the resources available. Cloud solutions are easy to automate, while on-premises give you complete control over the data. Below is a table to help you decide on the best option.
| Parameter | Mi Cloud | Local backup | Google One |
|---|---|---|---|
| Icon preservation | Yes. | Yes. | Partially. |
| Internet is required | I'll be sure. | No. | I'll be sure. |
| Speed of operation | Depends on the network. | Tall. | Medium |
| Security | Tall. | Depends on the user. | Tall. |
For most users, the combination of cloud and on-premises is ideal: the cloud saves in case of loss of a device, and local copy allows you to quickly deploy the system without long loading large amounts of data.
Recovering data on a new device
The recovery process is as important as copy creation, and if you're using Mi Cloud, just log in to your account when you first set up your new smartphone, and the system automatically prompts you to recover data from the last save point.
When using a local file, it must be pre-placed in the same directory on the new device: MIUI/backup/AllBackup/. After that, the Restore button will appear in the recovery menu.
It’s important to understand that it can take some time to restore your desktop, especially if many apps are installed.The system will first restore shortcuts and then start the background download of the apps themselves from the GetApps store or Google Play.
- 📂 Copy the backup file into the folder MIUI/backup/AllBackup new phone.
- 🔓 Enter the password used to create the copy.
- ⏳ Wait for the process to end without turning off the device screen.
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone to apply launcher changes.
What to do if the recovery is made with errors?
Synchronization problems and their solution
Even well-functioning systems sometimes fail, and the most common problem is desynchronizing data when the new device has a desktop that is empty, which is often the case with different versions of Android or MIUI.
If you don't recover, check the operating system version. Switching from Android 11 to Android 14 can cause file structure conflicts, and in such cases, it's recommended to update the software on both devices to the latest available version before copying.
Another reason could be a launcher cache overflow. Before recovering, try clearing the Desktop application data in the Apps -> All Apps section. This will reset the current settings and allow you to cleanly import new ones.
⚠️ Note: When you restore from a local copy on a device with a different firmware version, some widgets may not display correctly or disappear.
💡
Use the Mi Share app to quickly transfer a local backup file between Xiaomi phones without using cables or the internet.
Alternative methods for advanced users
For those who like full control, there is an ADB (Android Debug Bridge) method, which allows you to download the launcher database directly, bypassing the standard interface constraints, which requires a connection to the computer and the presence of drivers.
Using the adb pull command, you can copy the launcher database file, which is usually located in a secure directory. /data/data/com.miui.home/databases/. However, root rights are required to access this path, which may void the warranty.
A more secure but challenging option is to use automation scripts like Tasker or MacroDroid, which can export launcher configuration files in a readable format, allowing you to manually recreate the structure on any device, even not from Xiaomi.
💡
The most reliable way for the average user is to combine Mi Cloud sync to set up and manually copy important files via USB.