How to make a backup on a Xiaomi phone: 5 proven ways

Loss of contacts, photos or messages due to resetting, theft or phone breakdown is a situation that almost every user has faced. MIUI They offer a few built-in backup tools, but not everyone knows how to use them correctly. In this article, we will analyze all the current backup methods, from standard system functions to third-party solutions that will save your data even in the most critical cases.

Xiaomi is a company that actively integrates cloud services (such as Mi Cloud) and on-premises backup tools, but each method has a nuance: some have limited storage, some don’t save applications, and some require manual configuration. We tested all variants on the Redmi Note 12 Pro models+, POCO X5 Pro and Xiaomi 13 Ultra – and are ready to share the conclusions, which method is right for you.

Important: if you plan to update your firmware, reset to factory settings or switch to a new phone, the backup must be created in advance - at least 1 hour before the manipulation of the system.

1. Built-in backup MIUI: localization

The easiest way is to use the built-in backup function in MIUI. It allows you to save almost all user data to your phone or memory card, except for some system files, POCO and flagship series Xiaomi.

To create a local backup:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → The phone. → Backup (on some firmware, the path may be different: Settings) → Additionally. → Backup).
• 💾 Select Local Backup and click Create Backup.
• ⚙️ Check the data you want to save: contacts, messages, call log, Wi-Fi settings, notes, etc. Applications and their data will only be saved if they support this feature (the list can be seen in the menu).
• 📁 Specify the place of saving: internal memory or microSD card (we recommend the second option if the card is available).
• ⏳ Wait until the process is complete (may take 5 to 30 minutes depending on the amount of data).

The finished archive will have the.backup extension and will be stored in a folder. MIUI/backup/AllBackup. It can be copied to a computer or other device for reliability, but there are limitations to this method:

⚠️ Attention: Local backup MIUI does not save installed applications (only their settings, if the application supports this feature), as well as data from some system services, such as Google Pay or banking applications.

Battery charge > 50%|Free space on the memory card > 2 GB|Memory optimizers are disabled (if any)|Phone's not connected to VPN-->

2. Cloud backup via Mi Cloud

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s official cloud storage service, offering 5GB for free (up to 10GB for Chinese accounts), which is convenient because data is synchronized automatically and accessible from any device once you log in, but there are nuances about privacy and volume restrictions.

To set up a cloud backup:

• 🌐 Go to Settings. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud.
• 🔑 Sign in or create an account if you don’t already have one (be sure to link your phone number or email to restore it!).
• ☁️ Turn on switches opposite the data you want to sync: contacts, notes, call log, messages, photos (optional).
• 🔄 Press Sync and wait until it is completed. In the future, sync will occur automatically when you connect to Wi-Fi.

Advantages of Mi Cloud:

• 🔄 Automatic synchronization without manual start.
• 📱 Access data from any device after logging in to your account.
• 🔒 Ability to remotely erase data when losing your phone.

Disadvantages:

• 🚫 Limit 5 GB (to expand you need to pay from 100 GB) ₽/month).
• 🌍 The servers are located in China, which may raise privacy questions (especially for enterprise users).
• ⚠️ Some data (such as Wi-Fi passwords) are not synced.

Once a week.|Once a month|Only before the dump.|Never.|I don't know how to do that.-->

⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Cloud to store photos, please note that when you delete a picture from your phone, it will automatically be removed from the cloud (if you have the option to delete from your device). = To avoid this, disable this feature in the Gallery settings.

3. backup via Google Drive (for Android)

If you prefer not to use Xiaomi services, the alternative is Google Drive, which is suitable for saving contacts, calendar, photos (via Google Photos), as well as the settings of applications and data of some games, the main plus is 15 GB of free space (common to all Google services).

Instructions for setting:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Google → Backup.
• ⚙️ Enable the switch Backup in Google Drive.
• 🔄 Click Create a Backup Now for Immediate Save.
• 📁 To enable automatic photo backup, open the Google Photos app and activate Backup and Sync.

What is saved in Google Drive:

• 📞 Contacts (synchronized with Google Contacts).
• 📅 Calendar and reminders.
• 🎮 Game data (if the developer supports Google Play Games).
• ⚙️ System settings (Wi-Fi, wallpaper, brightness, etc.).
• 📸 Photos and videos (via Google Photos, with compression to save space).

Limitations:

• 🚫 Not preserved. SMS/MMS (This requires a separate backup through Mi Cloud or third-party applications).
• 📱 When you restore to a new phone, the application will have to be installed again (only their data is saved if the developer supports this function).
• 🔒 Some data (for example, messages in messengers) require a separate setup in the applications themselves.

💡

If you use Google Photos for backup, enable the option “Saving space” in the backup settings, which will allow you to upload photos in compressed form (up to 16 MP) without limiting the amount of storage.

4. Full backup via computer (ADB mi PC Suite)

For avanzado users who want to save all firmware, including system files and applications, backup through ADB (Android Debug Bridge or the Mi utility PC Suite. This requires you to connect your phone to your PC, but it gives you the most complete picture of the system.

Method 1: Through Mi PC Suite (simple but not as complete):

• 💻 Download and install Mi. PC Suite from the official website.
• 📱 Put the phone on. USB (Turn on the debugging. USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → Click on version 7 times, then return to Additional → For developers).
• 🖱️ In the program, select Backup and follow the instructions.

Method 2: ADB (for power users):

1. Install Platform Tools (part of Android) SDK).
2. Connect the phone to the PC and allow debugging.
3. Open the command line in the adb folder and do: adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f C:\backup.ab where C:\backup.ab — path to future archive.
4. On the phone, confirm the creation of a backup (a password may be required).

Advantages of this method:

• 💾 Full system image, including applications and their data.
• 🔧 Selective recovery of individual components.

Disadvantages:

• ⚠️ It requires technical skills (especially) ADB).
• 🐢 The process can take several hours with a large amount of data.
• 🔒.ab Archive is not encrypted by default – keep it in a safe place.

5. Third-party backup applications

If embedded tools MIUI You don't like it, you can use third-party apps, and they often offer more flexibility, like saving apps with data, SMS/MMS, call logs and even system settings that are not backed up by a standard backup.

Top.-3 tested applications:

How to use Swift Backup (example):

• 📱 Install the app from Google Play.
• ☁️ When you first start, select cloud storage (optional).
• 🔄 Click Create a Backup and select data: Applications, SMS, call-book.
• 💾 Specify the location of the storage (internal memory, SD-map).
• ⏳ Wait until the end (time depends on the amount of data).

⚠️ Note: Apps like Titanium Backup require root rights, which cancels the warranty on the phone and can lead to unstable system operation!

6. How to recover data from backup

Backup is half the battle, and the key is to be able to recover data when you need it, and it depends on what kind of backup you use.

Recovery from Local Backup MIUI:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Backup → Local backups.
• 📁 Select the desired archive from the list (or import it from the memory card / PC).
• 🔄 Click Restore and Confirm Action.
• ⚙️ Select data for recovery (you can partially use it).

Recovery from Mi Cloud:

• ☁️ Sign in to Xiaomi account on your new phone.
• 🔄 Go to Settings. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization.
• 🔙 Turn on switches opposite the data you want to return.

Recovery via Google Drive:

• 📱 When you first set up your new phone, select Restore from backup and log in to your Google account.
• ☁️ Select the last backup from the list.
• ⚙️ Wait until it is completed (apps will be installed automatically if available in the Play Store).

Recovery through ADB:

adb restore C:\backup.ab

(where C:\backup.ab — path to your archive).

💡

Before recovering data, be sure to check the version MIUI If it is very different from the version on which the backup was made, compatibility errors may occur (especially when restoring system settings).

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even when following instructions, users often have trouble creating or restoring backups, and let’s look at the most common errors and how to fix them.

Problem 1: Backup is interrupted in the middle

• 🔋 Check the battery charge (should be) > 30%).
• 📶 Make sure the phone doesn’t overheat (remove the case if you have one).
• 🛑 Close all background applications through Settings → Annexes → Launched.
• 📡 If you back up to the cloud, check the stability of your internet connection.

Problem 2: Not recovering. SMS contact

• ☁️ Make sure that sync is enabled in Mi Cloud or Google Contacts.
• 📱 Check if the restrictions on the Messages app are worth the restrictions (e.g. in Settings) → Annexes → Communications → Permits).
• 🔄 Try to export manually SMS via SMS Backup & Restore.

Problem 3: There is not enough room for a backup

• 🗑️ Clear the app cache in Settings → Warehouse → Cleanup.
• 📁 Transfer the backup to a memory card or PC.
• ☁️ Use cloud services (Google Drive, Mi Cloud, Yandex Drive).
• 🔍 Check which data takes up the most space (e.g., video in the Gallery or Telegram cache).

Problem 4: Phone can't see backup archive

• 📂 Make sure the file has a.backup extension (for the MIUI) or.ab (for ADB).
• 📁 Check the path to the file: it should be in the folder MIUI/backup/AllBackup (locally).
• 🔄 Restart your phone and try again.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions