How to make a full backup Xiaomi Redmi 4X: the complete guide

Xiaomi Redmi 4X, despite its age, remains a reliable device for many users, but the risk of data loss is always relevant. Sudden system failure, accidental deletion of important files or the need to flash can lead to irreversible loss of photos, contacts and correspondence.

There are several proven ways to store information, each with its own advantages depending on your goals: you can use the built-in MIUI system, cloud storage, or connect the device to a personal computer to create an exact copy of the memory partition, the choice of method depends on the amount of data and the availability of a stable Internet connection.

In this guide, we will take a look at each of the options available so you can choose the most suitable for your situation. We will look at the nuances of working with the local backup, the features of synchronization through the Mi Account and methods of working with root rights for advanced users.

Use of the built-in MIUI backup tool

The easiest and most affordable way to save data is to use the standard functionality of the MIUI shell. This method does not require an Internet connection or a computer, since all files are stored in the internal memory of the device or on the SD card. To start, you need to go to the settings menu and find the section responsible for additional system parameters.

In the menu that opens, select Additional and then click Restore and Reset. Here you are interested in the option Backup, which will run the system wizard. Before starting the process, the system will suggest setting a password, which is an important security measure to prevent unauthorized access to your personal data in the event of a loss of your phone.

⚠️ Note: When creating a local copy, make sure that at least the internal drive or memory card is free. 10-15 GB space, otherwise the process can be interrupted halfway, damaging the archive.

Once you set a password, you'll be asked to select data types to save, and the system allows you to flexibly configure the list, including or excluding certain file categories, especially if you need to save only contacts and messages without wasting space on the app cache.

The final step is to press the Start Backup button, and the run time depends on the amount of information you select and the speed of your Redmi 4X memory recording. The screen may go out during the operation, but you should not interrupt the operation.

• 📂 Contacts and calls: Keeps the entire phone book and call history.
• 💬 Messages: Archives SMS and MMS correspondence.
• 📱 System settings: Saves Wi-Fi configuration, alarm clocks and design.
• 📸 Gallery: Copies photos and videos from a standard camera folder.

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After you create a copy, copy the file immediately. backup_all_xxx.zip from your phone to your computer or to the cloud, as when you reset your settings, it will be deleted along with the rest of the data.

Backup through your Mi Cloud account

Xiaomi’s cloud service provides a convenient way to automatically synchronize important data, ideal for those who want to make sure that contacts and photos are saved even in the event of physical loss or complete destruction of a smartphone, requiring a stable Wi-Fi connection and a registered account.

Activate the function through the Settings menu → Mi Account. When you log in to your profile, select Xiaomi Cloud. This displays a list of data available for synchronization. Activate the switches against the desired categories, such as contacts, messages, notes and voice recorder.

The gallery sync feature allows you to upload photos and videos to the cloud, freeing up space on the device, but it is worth remembering that free space is limited, and large amounts of data may require expansion of storage.

The advantage of this method is that it can instantly restore data on a new device, just log in to your account on a new phone, and all settings will automatically be adjusted from the network, which greatly speeds up the migration process.

Save data to your computer via USB

Transferring data to an external medium is considered one of the most reliable methods, since it eliminates the risk of loss of information due to a failure in the smartphone itself. USB-cable and computer with Windows or macOS operating system.

Connect Redmi 4X to your PC and select File Transfer (MTP) mode in the connection notification. Then a new device will appear in My Computer. Find folders that contain important data: usually DCIM for photos, MIUI for voice recordings and Download for downloaded files.

Just copy the directories you need to drive to your computer's hard drive, and it's a good way to create an exact copy of the folder structure, but it doesn't save your Wi-Fi application settings and passwords, because you can't access the system partitions without superuser permission.

For deeper copying, you can use special utilities such as Mi PC Suite (although support for older models may be limited) or universal programs like Android File Transfer.

⚠️ Note: When copying large amounts of data through USB-Port 2.0 is installed in Redmi. 4X, Transmission speeds may be slow. Do not disconnect the cable until the operation is complete.

Regularly making copies on a PC protects against software failures, so if the phone stops turning on, the files on the computer will remain intact, which is the "gold standard" of security for valuable information.

• 💾 Reliability: Data is physically separated from smartphone.
• 🚀 Speed: Direct connection provides a stable data flow.
• 🔒 Control: You decide where and how to store your archives.

Synchronization with Google Account

Google's ecosystem is the foundation of any Android device, and even without Xiaomi, you can save critical information, especially when it comes to contacts, calendar events, and notes.

To check your settings, go to Settings → Accounts → Google. Make sure that the sync box is in front of Contacts, Calendar and Google Drive. By clicking on three dots in the corner, you can force the process to start.

Google Photos is a special feature, which allows you to store an unlimited number of images in compressed quality ("Express") or original (including the storage space in Google One), setting up automatic download ensures that each new image immediately ends up in the cloud.

Apps installed from the Play Market are also linked to an account. After resetting or buying a new phone, just enter a login and password, and the list of previously installed programs will be restored.

Full backup with root rights (Titanium Backup)

Users who have SuperUser (Root) rights on their Redmi 4X can create full copies of applications along with their data and settings, which is impossible with standard system tools because access to /data/data is closed.

One of the most popular tools is Titanium Backup, which allows you to freeze applications, remove system debris, and, of course, backups, and it requires administrator rights to run the program, which it requests when it first runs.

The process of creating a backup in Titanium Backup is as follows: open the Backup tab, select the desired application or click the menu for mass actions. Select the option Save Data + User Application (or System Application if required). Files will be saved to /data/data/com.keramidas.TitaniumBackup/files/.

It is important to understand that data recovery made through Titanium Backup is possible only on a device with root rights installed and preferably with the same version of Android. When changing the OS version, application settings may not apply correctly.

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Using Titanium Backup gives you maximum control, but requires an unlocked bootloader and root rights, which can void the warranty and carry security risks.

Data recovery after resetting or firmware

Once you have successfully backed up, the next logical step is to use it. The recovery procedure depends on the method you have chosen before. If you have used the built-in MIUI tool, the path is through the same menu: Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset → Recovery.

The system will find the archives available and ask you to enter the password you set when you created the copy, and after confirmation, the process of unpacking and putting the data into the system will begin, and the phone can be rebooted several times during this operation.

To recover from Google or Mi Cloud, log in to your account when you first set up the system, automatically in the background, and you'll see contacts in the phone book, and photos in the gallery as soon as the device connects to the network.

If you use Titanium Backup, you need to install the application itself, give it root rights, and then go to the "Backage Actions" tab and select "Restore" to return the applications and their data to their original state.

⚠️ Note: When you restore data from an old version of Android to a new one (for example, from Android 6 to Android 8), some application settings may be ignored by the system for the sake of stability.

Regularly checking the integrity of backups is a good habit: Open archives periodically or check for files in the cloud to make sure the copying process is successful and the data is not corrupted.

• 🔄 Automation: Set up a weekly backup so you don't remember it manually.
• 🔋 Charge: Restore when the battery is over 50%.
• 📶 Wi-Fi: Use a wireless network to download large amounts of data from the cloud.