Data loss on your smartphone is one of the most frustrating situations a Xiaomi user can face. Whether you plan to update your firmware, perform a factory reset or just want to hedge against a breakdown, creating a full backup will be your lifeline. Unlike surface backups (such as contacts only or photos), a full backup saves all user data, including system application settings, SMS, call log and even some game data.
The manufacturer offers several built-in backup tools, but they don’t always cover all needs. For example, the standard backup through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset does not save some system files and MIUI settings. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to create a full backup – from simple (via the Mi Cloud cloud) to advanced (using TWRP and ADB).
1. Built-in backup via MIUI
The most affordable way is to use the built-in backup feature in MIUI, which is suitable for most users who do not plan to install custom firmware or modify the system.
- 📞 Contacts, call log and SMS
- 📷 Photo and video (optional)
- ⚙️ System and application settings (e.g. wallpaper, sound circuits)
- 🎮 Data from certain games (if supported)
To create a backup:
- Open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset (on new versions of MIUI, the path may be different: Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset).
- Select Local Backup.
- Check the data you want to save (it is recommended to select all items).
- Click Create a backup and wait for the process to complete.
The backup file will be stored in the device's internal memory in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder, which can be copied to a computer or external drive. Importantly, this method does not store the installed applications (.apk files) and their data completely - some settings can be reset.
⚠️ Attention: If you are using MIUI 12/13/14 On devices with an unlocked bootloader, the built-in backup may not recover data after the custom recavator firmware is installed. TWRP (see section 3).
2. Cloud backup via Mi Cloud
Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s official cloud storage that automatically syncs your device’s key data.
- 🔄 Automatic synchronization (can be set to schedule).
- 🌍 Access to data from any device after authorization.
- 🔒 Encryption of transmitted data.
To turn on the cloud backup:
- Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
- Sign in to your account (if you are not already logged in).
- Activate the switches opposite the items you want to sync (contacts, notes, photos, etc.).
- For a full backup, click Device Backup and follow the instructions.
The Mi Cloud provides 5GB for free. If that’s not enough, you can buy extra space (starts from 100 rubles for 50GB per month), but note that not all data is synchronized – for example, some application settings and system files may not be saved.
| Type of data | Saved in Mi Cloud? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts | ✅ Yes. | Sync with your Google or Xiaomi account |
| Photo/video | ✅ Yes (optional) | You can choose quality (original or compression) |
| SMS and call log | ✅ Yes. | Restore only on Xiaomi devices |
| Installed annexes | ❌ No. | Only the list is saved, not the.apk files themselves. |
| System settings | ⚠️ Partially. | Some parameters (such as gestures) may not be restored. |
⚠️ Attention: If you are using MIUI Global and planning to move to MIUI China (or vice versa), cloud backup may not recover properly due to firmware differences, in which case it is better to use local backup via a backup. TWRP.
3. Full backup via TWRP (for advanced users)
If you need to save absolutely all the data, including system files, kernel and bootloader, the best option is to use custom TWRP recapver.
- 🔧 Custom firmware installations (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience).
- 🛠️ Recovery after a "brick" (unworkable state) device.
- 🔄 Transfer data to another Xiaomi device with similar architecture.
To create a backup through TWRP:
Unlock the bootloader on the official Xiaomi| website
Install TWRP for your model (e.g. via Fastboot)|
Download and transfer to the phone archive from Magisk (if you need root) |
Charge your phone at least 70% |
Connect an external drive (optional, for backup on the SD-map)-->
- Turn off your phone and press Volume Up + Power to enter TWRP.
- In the main menu, select Backup.
- Check the backup sections (it is recommended to select everything: Boot, System, Data, Vendor, etc.).
- Select a place of storage (internal memory or external memory) SD-map).
- Swipe for confirmation and wait until the process is completed (the process can take 10-30 minutes).
Backup files will be saved in the TWRP/BACKUPS folder in.tar format. They can be copied to a PC or external drive. To recover, you just need to boot to TWRP and select Restore.
What if TWRP doesn’t see internal memory?
4.Backup via ADB (no root)
If you don’t have TWRP, but want to create a full backup of data (including apps and their settings), you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB).
What the ADB Backup keeps:
- 📱 Installed applications and their data (except for some system applications).
- ⚙️ Settings for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other modules.
- 📝 SMS, Call log, contacts (if not synced to the cloud).
Instructions:
- Install ADB and Fastboot on your computer.
- Turn on USB Debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times to activate Developer Mode), then Settings → Additional → Developers → Debugging over USB.
- Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f C:\backup.ab Here. -apk — backup, -shared — file SD-map, -all — data.
- On the phone, confirm the creation of a backup (you may need to enter a password).
The backup.ab file will be saved to your computer. Use the command to restore:
adb restore C:\backup.ab⚠️ Note: Some apps (such as WhatsApp or banking programs) block backup creation through the app. ADB In this case, the data will have to be stored manually.
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If backup is through ADB interrupted with the error "device not found", try reinstalling Xiaomi drivers or using the original USB-cable (not all cables support data transmission).
5. Manual backup of important data
Even if you use one of the methods described above, some data is better stored separately.
- 📸 Photos and videos in original quality (especially if they are not stored in the same format) DCIM, a in the application folders).
- 💬 Chats from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber).
- 🎵 Music and downloads (Download, Music folders).
- 📄 Documents (PDF, Excel, Word) from the Documents folder.
How to save this data:
- Connect your phone to your computer in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
- Copy the folders you need (DCIM, Downloads, WhatsApp/Media, etc.) to your hard drive.
- For instant messengers, use the built-in export features: WhatsApp: ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup. Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Chat data export.
To back up SMS and call logs without Mi Cloud, you can use third-party applications such as SMS Backup & Restore (available on Google Play), which export messages to.xml format, which can then be easily restored.
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Manual backup is the only way to guarantee that you can save files that aren’t synced to the cloud (like screenshots from games or work documents).
6.Recovery of data after backup
Backup is only half the battle, and it's equally important to recover data correctly, especially if you've been flashing a device or doing a reset, and here are the keys to each method:
| Backup method | How to repair | Possible challenges |
|---|---|---|
| MIUI's built-in backup | Go to Settings → Backup and Reset → Local Backup and select the file. | It does not restore some system settings after changing the firmware. |
| Mi Cloud | Log in to your account and enable synchronization in Settings → Mi Cloud. | It may not work when switching between the global and Chinese versions of MIUI. |
| TWRP | Download to TWRP, select Restore and specify the backup file. | If the firmware changes (e.g. from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14), errors may occur. |
| ADB | Connect your phone to your PC and run adb restore backup.ab. | Some applications (such as banking) can block recovery. |
If the device is unstable after recovery (for example, it reboots frequently or apps crash), try:
- 🔄 Perform partial recovery (e.g., data only, no system files).
- 📱 Reset network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.
- 🔧 Install the latest firmware version via Fastboot (if the problem is system related).
Frequent mistakes and their solutions
When creating or restoring a backup, users often face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:
1. TWRP cannot mount the /data partition.
Reason: Data encryption in MIUI. Solution:
- Format Data to TWRP (all data will be deleted!).
- Use OrangeFox Recovery instead of TWRP – it works better with encryption on new Xiaomi devices.
2. backup via ADB is interrupted with the error "device offline".
Reason: unstable USB-connection or outdated drivers. solution:
- Try another one. USB-cable (preferably original).
- Turn off the antivirus on your computer, it can block ADB.
- Update Xiaomi drivers with the Mi Flash Tool.
3. After recovery from Mi Cloud, some applications do not work.
Reason: Incompatibility of application or firmware versions.
- Update problematic apps through Google Play.
- Clear the app cache: Settings → Apps → Select the app → Clear the cache.
4. There's not enough backup space in the internal memory.
Decision:
- Use the external SD-card (if supported).
- Connect your phone to your PC and save the backup directly to your hard drive.
- Delete unnecessary files (such as app cache) through Settings → Memory.