How to backup Xiaomi to your computer: 5 proven ways

Smartphone data loss is one of the most frustrating situations for any user. Vacation photos, important messages, customer contacts, or personal notes can disappear at once due to a firmware failure, device theft, or trivial negligence. Xiaomi smartphones offer several built-in backup mechanisms, but most of them store data either to the Mi Cloud cloud (where the volume is limited to 5-10 GB) or to the phone itself (which is useless when it breaks).

In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods for transferring data from Redmi, POCO or Mi on the computer: from the official Mi software PC Suite to manually copy hidden folders through ADB. We will pay special attention to saving messages, as they are most often lost when resetting settings, you will also learn what data cannot be reserved by standard means and how to circumvent these restrictions.

Modern smartphones Xiaomi on the basis MIUI (HyperOS for new models automatically creates local backups when you update the system, but these files are not:

• 📍 stored in the phone memory and deleted when reset;
• 🔒 encrypted and not readable on PCs without special tools;
• ⏳ do not include user files (photos, videos, music).

Therefore, for full redundancy requires external storage – hard disk or SSD computer.

1. Method: Official Mi software PC Suite

Mi PC Suite is a free software from Xiaomi that allows you to control your smartphone from a PC, install firmware and, of course, create backups. This method is easiest for beginners, because it does not require technical knowledge. The program does not copy some system settings and does not always work correctly with models on HyperOS (for example, Xiaomi 14 or X-ray). POCO F6).

How to make a backup through Mi PC Suite:

1. Download the latest version of Mi PC Suite from the official website (avoid third-party sources!).
2. Install the program on your PC and run it.
3. Connect your smartphone to your computer through the original USB-cable (cheap cables may not transmit data).
4. On the phone will be a request for permission to debug USB — Confirm it (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI (click 7 times) → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
5. In Mi PC Suite select the Backup tab and click Create Backup.
6. Tick the desired categories (contacts, messages, applications) and start the process.

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Attention: If Mi PC Suite can't see the phone, try it: 🔌 shift USB-port (better to use) USB 3.0 on the back of the PC); 📱 restart your smartphone and computer; 🔄 Update drivers through Device Manager (Portable Devices section).

The finished backup will remain in the folder C:\Users\Your name\MiPhoneManager\Backup Important: These files cannot be opened without Mi PC Suite, but they can be restored to another Xiaomi smartphone through the same program.

2. Method: Manual transfer of files through Windows Explorer

If you only need to save media files (photos, videos, music) or documents, the easiest way to copy them manually works on any Xiaomi model, including the old Redmi. 4X The new Xiaomi 13T Pro and does not require additional software installation.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC through USB-cable.
2. On your phone, select File Transfer Mode: File Transfer (MTP) (plug-in).
3. Open This PC – Your Xiaomi will appear as a removable drive (like the Redmi Note 12).
4. Go to the folders: 📷 DCIM — photo and video; 🎵 Music, Movies, Downloads – Downloads; 📄 Documents – Documents from Office Applications.

D:\Backup_Xiaomi

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Warning: Don’t copy the entire Android folder — it contains an app cache and can weigh tens of gigabytes: 📱 Android/data/com.miui.gallery — gallery-piece; 💬 Android/data/com.android.providers.telephony — MMS (If you don't use Mi PC Suite).

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ No need to install programs;
• ✅ Files are available for viewing immediately after copying;
• ✅ It works even on broken screens (if debugging is enabled). USB).

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Does not save messages, contacts, Wi-Fi settings;
• ❌ Does not copy application data (e.g. saves in games).

Photo and video from the folder DCIM|Downloaded files from Downloads|Documents from Documents|WhatsApp folder (if used)|Calls and SMS (via PC Suite)

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3. Method: Backup through ADB (power-user)

Tool. ADB (Android Debug Bridge allows you to create full backups, including system settings, SMS, Call log and application data, which is suitable for users who are willing to work with the command line, POCO X6 Pro) may require unlocking the loader.

Instructions for creating a backup through ADB:

1. Download Google’s Platform Tools and unpack it into the C:\adb folder.
2. Turn on the phone to debug. USB (as in method 1) and connect it to the PC.
3. Open the command line in the adb folder (click Shift) + right-button → Open the team window).
4. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices If the device is displayed, go further.
5. Create a full backup (all data except media files): adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f C:\backup_xiaomi.ab A confirmation request will appear on the phone - enter the password (if any) and click Create a backup.

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Note:.ab (Android Backup) file cannot be opened by standard means. Use the android-backup-extractor utility (requires Java) to extract data. -jar abe.jar unpack C:\backup_xiaomi.ab C:\backup_extracted

Critical detail: backup through ADB does not include files SD-map and data of some system applications (for example, Mi Fit or Xiaomi Cloud.

1. Press Win + X → Startup options → Reboot.

2. Select Diagnostics → Additional parameters → Loading parameters → Reboot.

3.Push it. F7 to disable the driver signature verification.

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4. Method: Cloud backup via Mi Cloud with PC synchronization

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s cloud storage that automatically syncs contacts, notes, photos, and even some settings. Plus the method: data is available from any device. Minus: only 5GB is available for free, and for a full backup (especially with high-resolution photos), this is not enough.

How to set up Mi Cloud and download backup on PC:

1. On the phone go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on synchronization for the desired categories (contacts, gallery, notes).
3. On PC, open the web version of Mi Cloud and log in.
4. Select a section (such as Gallery) and click Download All to Save to Disk.

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Note: Mi Cloud does not save: 📱 message SMS (Only if you do not have sync enabled through Google Messages); 🎮 Game data and some applications; 📂 files from Download or Documents folders (only if you manually upload them to the cloud). For a full backup, combine Mi Cloud with other methods (for example, for a full backup, ADB for SMS and manual copying for media files).

If 5GB is not enough, you can:

• 💰 Buy an additional seat (from 100 GB per ~$2 a month);
• 🗑️ Remove old backups in Settings → Mi Cloud → Storage management;
• 🔄 Use Mi Cloud only for contacts and notes, and backup the rest of the data in other ways.

5. Method: Third-party backup applications

If Xiaomi's built-in tools don't suit you, you can use third-party apps that often offer more flexibility, like selective backup or backup encryption.

1.Swift Backup (for rooted devices)

• 🔓 Requires root rights;
• 📦 Stores application data (including games);
• 🔄 Supports automatic backup on schedule.

How to use:

1. Install Swift Backup from Google Play.
2. Provide root access (via Magisk or SuperSU).
3. Select backup apps and specify the folder on the PC as the target.

2. SMS Backup & Restore

• 💬 Keeps it. SMS, MMS call logs;
• 📤 Exporting to formats XML or CSV (PC-readable);
• 🔒 No root (works for all Xiaomi).

3. Titanium Backup (obsolete but functional)

• 🛠️ The most powerful backup solution, but requires root;
• 📊 Allows you to freeze unnecessary system applications;
• ⚠️ Not updated since 2018 (may not work on Android 13)+).

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Note: When using third-party applications: 🛡️ Check permissions (some people ask for access to personal data for no reason); 📥 Download. APK Official sources only (Google Play, APKMirror); 🔄 Update backups regularly – some apps don’t automatically do it.

1. Mi PC Suite for contacts and SMS.

2. Manual copying of media files.

3. Mi Cloud for synchronizing notes and calendar.

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Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even when you follow instructions, users have problems. TOP-5 errors and ways of correcting them:

1 Computer cannot see Xiaomi via USB

• 🔌 Check the cable (try the original from charging).
• 📱 On the phone, select File Transfer Mode (MTP).
• 🖥️ Update drivers through Device Manager (Portable Devices section).

2. Mi PC Suite gives an error "I failed to connect"

• 🔄 Reinstall the program from the official website.
• 🛡️ Disable the antivirus (it can block the connection).
• 📡 Connect to another Wi-Fi network (sometimes the firewall blocks the local connection).

3. ADB The error is called "adbd cannot be open")

• 🔧 Reset the service ADB Adb kill-server adb start-server
• 📱 Turn on the debugging. USB (security parameters in the developer settings.
• 🔄 Try another version of Platform Tools (sometimes new versions are glitzy).

4.The backup in Mi Cloud is not complete

• 📶 Check your internet connection (backup requires stable Wi-Fi).
• 🗃️ Free up space in the cloud (remove old backups).
• 🔄 Log out of your account and log in again.

5.Backup files damaged

• 💾 Check the hard drive for errors (chkdsk C: /f command-line).
• 📁 Don't copy backups on FAT32-discs (use) NTFS exFAT).
• 🔄 Repeat the backup process with the antivirus disabled.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions