Why you need a Xiaomi backup on PC and when to make it
Losing contacts, photos or messages due to a setup reset, phone theft or breakdown is a situation that almost every smartphone owner has faced. Xiaomi (including Redmi and POCO sub-brands) offers several ways to back up, but they are not all equally reliable. Building a backup on a computer is the only method that guarantees data security even when the device itself fails or cloud storage fails.
When exactly should you back up? First, before upgrading MIUI (especially beta versions), because new builds sometimes contain critical bugs that lead to data loss. Second, before selling or transferring the phone — even after resetting to factory settings, some of the information can be recovered by attackers. Third, if you notice that the phone has begun to slow down or spontaneously reboot — this can be a sign of damage to the file system. And finally, you need a backup before unlocking the bootloader or installing custom firmware, since these procedures erase all data without the possibility of recovery.
In this article, we will discuss 4 proven ways to transfer data from Xiaomi to a PC: through Mi PC Suite, with ADB (for advanced users), through the Mi Cloud cloud and then download to your computer, and manually copying important files. Each method has its pros and cons – you will find a comparison of them in the table below.
Method 1: Backup via Mi PC Suite – simple and official
Mi PC Suite is the official utility from Xiaomi, which allows you to back up most of the data: contacts, messages, notes, call history, applications (including their data) and even some system settings. The program runs on Windows 7/10/11 and supports all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models based on MIUI (including older versions up to MIUI 8).
To make a backup:
- 📥 Download Mi. PC Suite from the official website pcsuite.mi.com (avoid third-party sources - they may contain viruses.
- 🔌 Connect your phone to your computer through USB-Cable (preferably original) Select File Transfer Mode on your phone (MTP) plug-in.
- 🔑 Allow debugging on USB (If requested, please go to Settings on your phone. → The phone. → Version. MIUI and 7 times click on the version line to activate Developer Mode. → Additionally. → For developers and enable debugging by USB.
- 💾 Run backup. In Mi. PC Suite go to the Backup tab, select data categories (we recommend marking everything), and click Create Backup. The process can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes depending on the amount of data.
The finished backup is saved in the MiPhoneBackup folder on the system disk (C:\). The file has the.mbk extension and takes up about 70-80% of the original data volume (due to compression). Importantly, this format can only be restored through the Mi PC Suite - it will not be possible to manually extract individual files (for example, only photos).
Original connected USB-cable (undamaged)
The phone has enough charge (at least 50%)
File Transfer Mode (MTP) enabled
VPNs and firewalls blocking connection are disabled
Free at least 10 GB on the PC system disk-->
⚠️ Attention: If Mi PC Suite can't see the phone, try: Reconnect the cable to another USB-port (preferably) USB Update drivers through Device Manager (Portable Devices section) Temporarily disable antivirus (e.g., Avast or Kaspersky can block the connection). If the problem persists, try the method with ADB (described below).
Method 2: ADB Backup – Full Backup for Advanced Users
Method ADB Backup allows you to create a full copy of all data, including system settings that Mi does not store. PC This method requires the installation of Android. SDK Platform-Tools and enable debugging by USB, It gives you maximum control over the process. 5.0 and newer (including) MIUI 12/13/14).
Step-by-step:
- Install. ADB-Tools: Download Platform-Tools from Android Developers. Unpack the archive into a folder C:\platform-tools. Open the Command Prompt in this folder (click Shift). + right-button → Open the PowerShell window here).
- Connect your phone: Activate USB Debugging (as in the Mi PC Suite method). In the command line, type: adb devices If the phone appears in the list, go on. If not, check the drivers.
Start the backup:
adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f C:\XiaomiBackup.ab- -apk - saves the installed applications.
- -obb - includes game data.
- -shared - Adds files from the memory card.
- -all - all other data (contacts, SMS, settings).
- Confirm on your phone: A backup request will appear on the screen. Set your password (optional) and click Create Backup.
The XiaomiBackup.ab file will be saved to the C:\ drive. To recover data, use the command:
adb restore C:\XiaomiBackup.abWhat does ADB Backup not save?
⚠️ Attention: MIUI 12 Xiaomi is blocking the creation of ADB Backup for some sections (e.g, /data/app). If the command returns the adb: unable to open backup file, try: Use the adb pull method. /sdcard/ (Disable Mi Cloud Sync in the phone settings before the backup. Repeat the root command (requires an unlocked bootloader).
Method 3: Cloud backup via Mi Cloud + PC download
Mi Cloud is Xiaomi's cloud storage that automatically syncs contacts, notes, photos and even SMS. Free storage is 5GB, but it can be expanded to 200GB for a fee. The main plus of the method is that data is available from any device and can be downloaded on a PC in original quality.
How to make a backup to the cloud and transfer it to your computer:
- Activate sync on your phone: Go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud. Enable sync for the desired categories (contacts, gallery, notes, etc.). Wait for the download to complete (progress is displayed in the same menu).
Download the data to the PC:
- Open i.mi.com in your browser and log in.
- Go to the Gallery, Contacts or Notes section.
- Select files and click Download (for photos available download in the form of a ZIP-archive).
To automatically sync photos, turn on the option Autoload in the Mi Cloud settings. Please note: videos in the original quality are not saved - they are compressed to 720p resolution. For a full media backup, it is better to use Google Photos (15 GB free) or manual copy (method 4).
| Backup method | What keeps | Pluses | Cons | Time of creation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mi PC Suite | Contacts, SMS, applications, settings, notes | Simplicity, official tool | Does not save media files,.mbk format is not edited | 10.30 minutes |
| ADB Backup | Full copy (including system data) | Maximum completeness, works without root | Hard for beginners, errors on new MIUI versions are possible | 20–60 minutes |
| Mi Cloud | Contacts, photos (compressed), notes, SMS | Automatic synchronization, access from any device | 5GB limit, video compressed, no app backup | 5-15 minutes (depending on internet speed) |
| Manual copying | Photos, videos, music, documents | Complete control, original quality | Does not save applications and settings | Depends on the amount of data. |
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For a full backup, it is recommended to combine methods: for example, use Mi PC Suite for applications and settings + manual copying of media files.
Method 4: Manual file copying – secure and without software
If you only need to save photos, videos, music or documents, it’s easiest to copy them manually through Windows Explorer or macOS. This method requires no additional software installation and works even on phones with corrupted firmware (if enabled). MTP-regime).
Instructions:
- 📂 Connect your phone to your PC through USB and select File Transfer.
- 🖥️ Open the conductor (Win) + E) and go to this computer section → [Your phone name].
- 📁 Copy the right folders: DCIM — Photos and video from the camera. Downloads - uploaded files. Pictures, Music, Movies - media files. WhatsApp/Media — Backups of chats (if you use WhatsApp).
- 💾 Insert files into a folder on your computer (for example, D:\Xiaomi_Backup\).
To speed up the process, you can use an archiver (such as 7-Zip or WinRAR) to compress folders before copying. If the phone does not appear in the explorer, check:
- Cable (try another one).
- Connection mode (should be MTP, not Charging).
- Drivers (update through Device Manager).
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To avoid missing hidden files (such as Telegram or Viber backups), turn on the display of hidden elements in the Explorer: View → Hidden elements.
How to recover data from the backup to a new phone
The recovery process depends on the method by which the backup was created:
- 🔄 Mi PC Suite: Connect the new phone to the PC. in Mi PC Suite select Restore and specify the.mbk file. Confirm the Recovery on your phone.
ADB Backup:
adb restore C:\XiaomiBackup.abEnter your password (if you have set it) and wait until it is completed.
Mi Cloud:
- On the new phone, log in to the same Mi Account.
- Go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization.
- Turn on synchronization for the desired categories.
- 📂 Manual files: Just transfer the copied folders back to the phone through the Explorer.