Xiaomi and Redmi have become the center of our digital lives, storing thousands of photos, important documents and correspondence. Losing such a device or its sudden failure can be a real disaster if you do not take care of the safety of information in advance, which is why the question of how to make a backup of Android to your computer remains one of the most pressing for owners of this brand of equipment.
There are many ways to protect your data, from built-in MIUI features to customized PC software. Some methods allow you to create a complete copy of the system, while others are focused only on multimedia or contacts. The choice of the specific tool depends on your goals: whether you just need to save a photo or you need a full clone of the device with all the passwords and settings of the applications.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the available backup methods, assess their reliability and speed, learn how to use official utilities from the manufacturer, as well as more advanced tools for power users. A properly executed backup is your insurance against any software failures and accidental deletions.
Preparing a smartphone and computer for backup
Before you start transferring data, you need to ensure a stable connection between devices. USB-cable, preferably original or certified, as cheap analogues often only support charging, but not data transfer. Also make sure that there is enough free space on the computer hard drive, since a full backup can take up tens of gigabytes.
On the side of a Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone, you should check the battery level. Although the copying process does not require maximum CPU power, suddenly turning off the device at a critical moment can damage the file system or incorrectly complete the archiving. It is recommended to have a charge of at least 50-60% before starting the procedure.
⚠️ Warning: Unlock your smartphone screen before connecting to your computer. If the device remains in sleep mode, the computer may not see it as a media device or drive, and the process will not begin.
The important step is to choose the type of connection. For transferring large amounts of data, the best way to use the USB 3.0 interface and the corresponding ports on the PC, marked in blue, will significantly speed up the process and reduce the risk of errors when writing files.
☑️ Backup readiness
Use the Mi Backup tool built-in in MIUI
The most affordable way to back up without installing additional software is to use the built-in MIUI function, which allows you to save settings, SMS, call logs, apps and user data. However, the method has an important caveat: the archive is stored in the phone’s internal memory by default, so it will take an additional step to transfer to the PC.
To create a local copy, go to Settings → About Phone → Backup. Here you can select categories of data to save. The system will suggest setting a password, which is a good security practice, especially if you plan to store an archive file in the cloud or on someone else's computer.
Once you've finished your smartphone archiving process, connect the device to your computer in file transfer mode, and you need to find the backup file you created along the MIUI/backup/AllBackup path, and copy the folder with the current date and time to your hard drive, and that's your safety copy.
Where is the hidden backup data stored?
The official Mi PC Suite for Windows
For those looking for a more traditional approach, Xiaomi has developed the Mi PC Suite program. This software is designed to control a smartphone from a computer and includes a full backup function. The program interface is completely in Russian, making it convenient for users of any level of training.
Once you install the utility and connect the cable, it automatically recognizes your Redmi model. From the main menu, select the Backup tab. Here you can choose which data to save: contacts, messages, multimedia or system settings. The process is done directly, without having to create a file on your phone first.
- 📱 Contacts and calls: Save in a format compatible with other Android devices.
- 📸 Multimedia: Photos and videos are copied in original quality without compression.
- ⚙️ System: Stores the placement of icons and interface settings MIUI.
It is worth noting that Mi PC Suite can sometimes work incorrectly with the latest models of smartphones released in 2026-2026, due to changes in Android security protocols. If the program does not see the device, try to enable debugging mode over USB in the menu "For developers".
💡
If Mi PC Suite freezes during the connection stage, try using another one USB-port, preferably located on the back panel of the system unit, directly on the motherboard.
Third-party solutions: Mi Mover and ADB Backup
When standard methods don't work, alternative tools come to the rescue. Mi Mover was originally designed to transfer data to a new phone, but it allows you to create backups that you can then unload, and the advantage of this method is that it's cross-platform, you can even flip data to an iPhone or another Android.
For advanced users who are not afraid of the command line, there is the ADB tool (Android Debug Bridge), which is a powerful debugging mechanism that allows you to take a full picture of the system. The adb backup -all -f backup.ab team creates an archive of all applications and their data. However, starting with Android 9 and above, this feature is often blocked by manufacturers for the sake of security.
| Method | Difficulty | Completeness of data | Speed. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local MIUI backup | Low. | Tall. | Medium |
| Mi PC Suite | Low. | Medium | Tall. |
| ADB Backup | Tall. | Maximum | Low. |
| Google Drive | Low. | Basic | Depends on the network. |
Use of third-party software requires caution. Always check the source of the software download to avoid getting malicious code on your computer. Official repositories or the manufacturer's website are the only trusted sources.
Automation through Google Drive and Cloud Services
And remember the Google ecosystem, which is deeply integrated into the Android operating system, and the automatic sync setup lets you forget about manually connecting your cables, and your contacts, calendar, notes, and even your installed list are stored in the cloud instantly.
To activate this feature, go to Settings → Google → Backup. Here you can enable auto-save application data, call history and SMS. Photos and videos are most conveniently saved through the Google Photos app, which offers unlimited storage (in "Savings" mode) or original quality within the account quota.
⚠️ Note: Cloud backup requires a stable internet connection. Make sure that synchronization settings allow data to be transferred over a mobile network if you are not always near a Wi-Fi router.
The main advantage of cloud technology is independence from a physical device, and even if your Xiaomi is lost or broken, you can recover all data just by logging into your account on a new gadget, which makes the cloud an indispensable addition to local copies on your PC.
Data recovery and solving typical problems
The process of creating a copy is only half the battle. Sooner or later, you'll need to use the stored data. Restore from the local MIUI backup is done via the same menu where the copy was created: Settings → About Phone → Backup. Select the file you want and click Restore.
If you've used the Mi PC Suite, the program has a Recovery tab that shows you all the rollback points you've done before, which is completely automated and requires only user confirmation, and when you recover from the Google cloud, the data will be automatically pulled up when you first log in to the device.
A common problem is the "Not enough space" error or connection interruption. In the first case, clear the cache or delete unnecessary files before starting the procedure. USB-Also, the antivirus on the computer can sometimes block the work of the drivers of the smartphone, so at the time of copying, the protection can be temporarily weakened.
💡
Regularity of backups is more important than volume, and it's better to backup once a week than one huge archive from a year ago.