How to make a backup on Xiaomi Redmi 4X: a complete guide with 5 working methods

Why backing up on Redmi 4X is not a luxury, it’s a necessity

Xiaomi Redmi 4X (codenamed santoni) is still popular with users due to its reliability and low price. But even the most stable device is not immune to failures: accidental reset to factory settings, falling from a height, failure of flash memory or error when updating firmware can deprive you of all data at once. According to service centers, 68% of owners of budget smartphones lose photos and contacts precisely because of the lack of a backup.

Redmi 4X features limited storage (16/32GB in most versions) and no microSD slot in some versions, which means that backups often have to be saved to external media or to the cloud. In this article, we will discuss all the current backup methods, including hidden MIUI features that work even on older versions of the firmware.

Important: If you plan to unlock a bootloader, install custom firmware or sell a phone, the backup must be done before any manipulation of the system, otherwise the risk of data loss increases to 90%.

Method 1: Built-in backup via MIUI (no root and PC)

The easiest way is to use Xiaomi’s standard backup tool, which saves:

• 📞 Contacts and call log
• 📷 Photos and videos (optional)
• 📱 System settings (Wi-Fi, wallpaper, sound)
• 🎮 Data from some applications (not all!)
• 📄 SMS and MMS-message

How to make a backup:

1. Open Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
2. Press Local Backup.
3. Select data categories (we recommend that you note everything except the Application – they take up a lot of space).
4. Specify the location of the storage: internal memory or SD-card (if any).
5. Click Create a backup and wait until it is completed.

The backup file will have the.backup extension and will be saved in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder. It can be copied to a computer or cloud manually. Restriction: this method does not store installed applications (.apk) and their data in full - only part of the settings.

⚠️ Attention: If you are using MIUI 8 or older, the local backup may not save data from some Chinese apps (e.g. Mi Video or Mi Music (TWRP).

Method 2: Cloud backup via Mi Account (for contacts and settings)

Xiaomi offers its own cloud storage, the Mi Cloud, which automatically synchronizes the main data.

• 🔄 Automatic synchronization (configured once)
• 🌍 Access to any device via i.mi.com
• 🆓 5GB free (enough contact and SMS)

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Sign in or create an account if you don’t have one.
3. Activate the switches next to: 📞 Contacts 💬 Communications 📅 Calendar 📷 Gallery (optional, takes up a lot of space)

Synchronize

To recover data after a reset, simply log in to the same Mi Account on your phone. Importantly: photos in the Mi Cloud are stored in a compressed format (maximum 2048×2048 px), so use Method 4 for full-size copies.

Connect to Wi-Fi (Sync consumes traffic)

Check the space available in the Mi Cloud

Turn off battery optimization for Mi Cloud in settings

Take a test photo and see if it’s in the cloud.-->

Method 3: Full backup via TWRP (for advanced users)

If your Redmi 4X has a custom TWRP recap, you can make a complete system image, including:

• 📱 All data applications (/data)
• 🔧 Settings and system files (/system)
• 🗃️ Internal memory (/sdcard)
• 🔋 IMEI modem (/efs — critically!)

Instructions:

1. Turn off your phone and press Volume Up + Power to enter TWRP.
2. Pick Backup.
3. Mark the sections: Boot, System, Data, EFS.
4. Select a save location (preferably External SD or USB-OTG).
5. Swipe for confirmation.

Restore is done via the same TWRP (Restore) Warning: this method requires an unlocked bootloader and can result in a loss of warranty, and the backup takes up a lot of space (up to 10-15 GB).

Method 4: Automatic backup via Google (for apps and contacts)

If you use Google services, your Redmi 4X may automatically store:

• 📱 List of installed applications (without data!)
• 📞 Contacts (if synced with Google Account)
• 📅 Calendar and tasks
• 🔑 Wi-Fi Passwords (on Android 9 and later)

How to turn on:

1. Open Settings → Accounts → Google.
2. Select your account and activate Data Sync.
3. Go to Settings → System → Backup.
4. Enable Backup in Google Drive.
5. Click Create a backup copy now.

Limitations:

Application data is stored only if the developer supports Android Backup Service (many games and instant messengers do not).

Photos are not included in this backup (use Google Photos separately).

Redmi 4X with MIUI 8/9 may require manual sync enabled in Settings → Additional → Privacy → Backup and Reset.

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To check what data is stored in Google, go to drive.google.com/drive/backups from your computer, which displays all backups associated with your account.

Method 5: Third-party applications for selective backup

If built-in tools are not suitable, use specialized programs:

• 📲 Swift Backup (requires root) – saves applications with data in.ab format.
• 🖥️ Titanium Backup (root) – full backup control, including system applications.
• ☁️ G Cloud Backup – 10GB of cloud storage for free.
• 📷 Google Photos – Automatic upload of photos and videos in original quality (if you choose the option “High quality”, the space is unlimited).

Example of Swift Backup:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Provide root access (if any).
3. Select backup apps (such as WhatsApp, Telegram).
4. Press Backup and specify the save folder.

Warning: Some applications (e.g. banking) block the operation of rooted devices, in which case use Method 1 or Method 4.

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For maximum reliability, combine methods: for example, save contacts in Mi Cloud, photos in Google Photos, and system settings through the local MIUI backup.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users have problems building backups, and here are the most common ones:

• 🚫 Scarcity of space: Clear the cache before the backup (Settings) → Warehouse → Clear the cache and delete the unnecessary files. MIUI It requires 1.5-2 times more free space than data.
• 🔌 Interrupted process: If backup is through TWRP or MIUI Always monitor the battery level (minimum 50%).
• 🔒 Forgotten password from Mi Account: If you do not remember the login details to Mi Cloud, restore access in advance via account.xiaomi.com.
• 📱 Version incompatibility MIUI: Backup, built on MIUI 10, may not recover on MIUI 8. Check the firmware version in Settings → The phone.

If the backup is not restored, try:

1. Rename the backup file (remove the Cyrillic alphabet and spaces).
2. Copy it to the MIUI/backup/AllBackup root folder.
3. Use another recovery method (e.g., use TWRP instead of MIUI).

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 4X With Snapdragon 435, sometimes you have a "failed to back up" error due to a corrupted file system. → Memory. → Clean or use TWRP.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions