How to make a full backup of Xiaomi on your computer: 3 proven ways

Why you need a Xiaomi backup and what it saves

Losing data on a smartphone is one of the most frustrating situations a user can face. Photographs from a vacation, important correspondence on WhatsApp or Telegram, customer contacts or personal notes can all disappear at once due to a firmware failure, theft of a device or a banal fall of a phone into the water. Xiaomi’s full backup to a computer solves this problem, allowing you to restore data to its original form even on a new device.

But what exactly is saved when you create a backup? Depending on the chosen method (we will discuss them below), the archive may include:

• 📱 System settings: wallpaper, sound circuits, network settings (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth), accounts
• 📞 Contacts and call logs (including tags and select numbers)
• 💬 Messages (SMS/MMS) and correspondence in messengers (using specialized tools)
• 📸 Media files: Photos, videos, audio recordings (including hidden folders)
• 📁 Documents and downloads (PDF, Excel, Word, and other files)
• 🎮 Application data (game progress, program settings, cache of some services)

It is important to understand that not all backup methods are equally effective. For example, cloud backup via Mi Cloud does not store the installed APK- application files, and local copy through Mi PC Suite can skip the data of some system applications.

Method 1: Backup via Mi PC Suite (official Xiaomi software)

Mi PC Suite is Xiaomi’s official utility that allows you to control your smartphone from a computer, including creating backups. The program supports most Redmi, POCO and Mi models, but has limitations: for example, it does not save data from some system applications (for example, Mi Fit or Mi Home).

To make a backup through the Mi PC Suite, follow the instructions:

1. Download and install Mi PC Suite from the official website (version for Windows).
2. Connect your smartphone to your computer via the original USB- cable (using uncertified cables can cause connection errors).
3. On the phone, allow access to data by clicking Allow in the window that appears (if the request does not appear, check the settings for developers → Debugging over USB).
4. In Mi PC Suite, go to the Backup tab and select Create a Backup.
5. Tick the data you want to save (it is recommended to select all items), and click Start.

The process can take 10 to 30 minutes depending on the amount of data. The finished backup will be saved in the folder C:\Users\Your Username\MiPhoneManager\Backup. The backup file has the.mbk extension and can only be restored through the same program.

Smartphone battery charge > 50%| Used original USB- cable| On PC enough free space (minimum 2x of the amount of data on the phone)| Disabled VPN and firewalls that can block the connection-->

⚠️ Warning: If your smartphone is running MIUI 12.5+, turn off MIUI Data Protection in Privacy → Special Permits before creating a backup. Otherwise, some files may not be saved.

Method 2: Local backup via ADB (for power users)

If you need to save all data without exception, including system files and application settings that the Mi PC Suite does not capture, use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires the development mode and work with the command line, but gives the fullest backup.

Preparation for backup through ADB:

• 🔧 Install ADB and Fastboot Tools on your computer.
• 📱 Enable Developer Mode on your smartphone: go to Settings → About Phone and tap on MIUI 7 times.
• 🔌 Enable Debugging by USB in the Developer Menu.
• 🖥️ Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your trust in the window that appears.

Now run the following commands in the terminal (Windows or Terminal command line on macOS/Linux):

adb devices

(Checks that the device is connected. If the list is empty, repeat the connection steps.)

adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f C:\backup_xiaomi.ab

Where:

• -apk — retain APK-file;
• -obb – includes additional application data
• -shared captures files on the SD- card (if any);
• -all - reserves all applications and their data;
• -f C:\backup_xiaomi.ab indicates the path and name of the backup file.

On the screen of the smartphone will be a request for confirmation of backup. Set the password (required!) and wait for the process to be completed..ab file can be restored by the team:

adb restore C:\backup_xiaomi.ab

Method 3: Cloud backup via Mi Cloud (for quick save)

If you don’t need a full backup, but you need to save basic data (contacts, photos, notes), use Mi Cloud. This method does not require a connection to a computer and works automatically, but has a volume limit (free 5 GB, additional space is paid).

How to set up a cloud backup:

1. Open your smartphone Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Sign in to your Mi Account (if not registered, create one).
3. Go to Backup and enable Automatic Backup.
4. Select data to save (contacts, messages, photos, calendar records, etc.).
5. Click Start backup.

Important: Mi Cloud does not store installed applications (APK), their data (for example, game progress) and files in folders not related to system services (for example, downloads from the browser). For a full backup, use this method in combination with Mi PC Suite or ADB.

To download a cloud copy to your computer:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select the Backups section.
3. Find the copy you want and click Download (the data will be packed in the ZIP- archive).

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If you don’t have enough space in Mi Cloud, clear unnecessary data before creating a backup: go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup and delete the application cache, temporary files and duplicate photos.

How to restore data from a backup to a new smartphone

Building a backup is half the job, and the main thing is that it can be successfully restored, and the process depends on the method you've used.

For the Mi PC Suite:

• Connect your new smartphone to your computer.
• Open Mi PC Suite and go to the Backup tab.
• Select the.mbk file and click Restore.
• Confirm the action on the phone and wait for the completion.

For ADB:

• Connect the device to the PC and execute the command: adb restore C:\backup_xiaomi.ab
• On the smartphone, enter the password (if installed) and confirm the recovery.

For Mi Cloud:

• Sign in to the new phone under the same Mi Account.
• Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup.
• Select the last copy and click Restore.

⚠️ Warning: When you restore a backup to a smartphone with another version of MIUI (e.g., from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14), some applications may fail.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even when following instructions, users often face problems when creating a backup, and consider the most common errors and ways to solve them:

1 Mi PC Suite does not see the device

• Check if USB debugging is enabled and if drivers are installed.
• Try another one. USB-cable (preferably original).
• Turn off USB- debugging and turn it on again.

2. ADB issues a "device unauthorized" error

• The phone will be asked to trust the computer - confirm it.
• If the request does not appear, restart the phone and reconnect.

3.Mi Cloud space is missing

• Clean old backups in Mi Cloud → Storage Management.
• Buy an extra seat (prices start from 100 rubles for 50 GB per year).
• Use local backup methods (ADB or Mi PC Suite).

4.Backup recovery interrupted

• Make sure the battery is > 50%.
• Do not use your phone during recovery.
• If the process is stalled, restart the device and try again.

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Before creating a backup, always check the integrity of the USB- cable and the free space on the disk. The interrupted process can damage the backup file and prevent it from being restored.

Additional backup tools

In addition to the official methods, there are third-party tools that can be useful in specific situations:

1. Titanium Backup (requires root)

• 🔧 Allows you to save and restore individual applications and their data.
• 📦 Creates.zip backups that can be stored on PCs.
• ⚠️ It only works on rooted devices.

2.Swift Backup (alternative to Titanium)

• 🔄 Supports rootless backup on some firmware.
• 📱 Stores SMS, a call log and application settings.

3. Google Drive (for contacts and photos)

• ☁️ Automatically syncs contacts, calendars and photos.
• 📸 For photos, use Google Photos with Backup and Sync.

4. TWRP Recovery (for advanced users)

• 🛠️ Allows you to create a complete system image (nandroid backup).
• 🔧 Requires unlocking the bootloader and installing a custom recaveri.

If you want the most complete root-free backup, combine Mi PC Suite and ADB. If you need enough basic data, Mi Cloud and Google Drive will do.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions