How to make a backup on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7: all ways with a photo

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is still one of the brand’s most popular smartphones due to its price-performance balance. But even such a reliable device is not immune to crashes, viruses or accidental deletion of data. Backup is the only way to guarantee that you can save photos, correspondence, settings and applications before resetting to factory settings, firmware or selling a phone.

In this article, 3 proven ways to create a backup on the Redmi Note 7 (including the Redmi Note 7 Pro and Redmi Note 7S models), their pros and cons, as well as answers to frequent questions. The instructions are relevant for MIUI 12/13/14 and newer versions, but will also be suitable for older firmware with minor differences in the interface.

Why do you need a backup on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7?

Statistically, 68 percent of users lose data when trying to flash their phone, reset their settings, or after being infected with viruses, and even if you don't plan to make a radical change, backup is useful in cases like:

• 🔄 Update of firmware - new versions MIUI Sometimes they contain bugs that may stop the phone from turning on ("brick»).
• 📱 Selling or transferring your phone – without a backup, you’ll lose all your personal data after a reset.
• 🛠️ Repair – masters often reset settings before replacing components (for example, a battery or display).
• 🚨 Loss/Stealing – With a backup in the cloud, you can quickly recover data on a new device.

The Redmi Note 7 has three types of backups:

1. Local – saved to the phone or memory card (suitable for temporary storage).
2. Cloud – uploads to Mi Cloud or Google Drive (reliable but requires internet access).
3. Full (TWRP) – copies all firmware, including system files (needed for custom firmware).

Method 1: Backup with standard MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in backup function in MIUI. It stores:

• 📞 Contacts, SMS call-book
• 📷 Photo and video (optional)
• ⚙️ System and application settings
• 🎵 Music and documents (if selected)

❌ What NOT to save: Wi-Fi passwords, data from some applications (such as WhatsApp or banking programs), cache files.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Backup (or Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset in Older versions of MIUI).
2. Press Local Backup.
3. Select the data to save (we recommend that you note everything except unnecessary media files).
4. Specify the storage location: 📱 Internal memory is fast, but takes up space. 💾 Memory card is more reliable if the phone fails.

Create a backup copy

Make sure there is enough space on your phone or memory card (minimum 2-3 GB)

Connect the charger (the process drains the battery)

Close all background applications

Turn off the power saving mode-->

⚠️ Note: If you choose to save to a memory card, make sure it is formatted in a FAT32 exFAT. NTFS unsupported!

🔹 Where to find the backup created?

The file will be in the folder. MIUI/backup/AllBackup (For internal memory, or at the root of the memory card, the file name is the date and time of creation (e.g, backup_20260515_1230.mbk).

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To save space, transfer photos and videos to your computer or cloud before backup, connect your phone to USB in File Transfer (MTP) mode and copy the DCIM folder.

Method 2: Cloud backup in Mi Cloud and Google

Cloud services are convenient because data is stored on remote servers and accessible from any device. Redmi Note 7 can use:

1. Mi Cloud is a proprietary cloud from Xiaomi (5 GB for free).
2. Google Drive is a universal solution (15 GB free).

🔹 Mi Cloud is still in the process of:

• 📞 Contacts, SMS, call-in
• 📅 Calendar and notes
• 📷 Photo and video (optional)
• ⚙️ Settings MIUI (themes, wallpaper, sounds)

❌ Does not save: applications, Wi-Fi passwords, data of some games.

How to enable autosynchronization with Mi Cloud:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Sign in to your account (if not registered, create it).
3. Activate the switches next to the data you want (contacts, photos, etc.).
4. Press Sync.

🔹 Google Drive is suitable for backup:

• 📱 Applications and their data (if the developer supports backup).
• 📞 Contacts, calendar, Gmail mail.
• 📷 Photos and videos (via Google Photos).

How to set up a backup in Google:

1. Open Settings → Google → Backup.
2. Turn on the backup switch in Google Drive.
3. Click Create a copy now.

⚠️ Note: If you use Google Photos to back up your media files, check the compression settings. By default, photos are saved in High Quality (compressed) rather than in the original resolution. To save without loss, select Original Quality in the app settings.

Method 3: Full backup via TWRP (for advanced users)

If you plan to install custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) or experiment with root rights, a standard backup will not be enough, in which case you need a complete system image, which is created through TWRP Recovery.

⚠️ Warning: This method requires an unlocked bootloader and installed TWRP. The wrong actions can lead to a phone blink (completely inoperable).If you're a beginner, use the first two methods.

What TWRP keeps:

• 📱 Full firmware (including system files).
• 🗃️ Data section (all user data).
• 🔧 Boot section (core and boot loader).
• 📟 Section EFS (IMEI and serial numbers).

Step-by-step:

1. Install TWRP Recovery for Redmi Note 7 (the version must match the model: lavender for the standard version, violet for Note 7 Pro).
2. Turn off the phone and press Volume Up + Power to enter Recovery.
3. In the TWRP menu, select Backup.
4. Check the boxes for Boot System Data EFS (required!)

memory-card

Swipe to start the process (it will take 10–30 minutes).

🔹 How to restore the backup from TWRP:

1. Load to TWRP (Loudness Up + Nutrition).
2. Choose Restore.
3. Specify the folder with the backup and mark the necessary sections.
4. Swipe for confirmation.

⚠️ Attention: Restoration of section EFS from someone else's backup will lead to loss IMEI And lock the network! Use only your backups.

How to recover data from backup?

The recovery process depends on the way backup is created:

🔹 From a local copy MIUI:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup.
2. Select a backup file (for example, backup_20260515_1230.mbk).
3. Click Restore and confirm.

🔹 From Mi Cloud:

1. Sign in to Xiaomi account on your phone.
2. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Data Recovery.
3. Select the categories you want (contacts, photos, etc.).

🔹 From Google Drive:

1. When you first turn on your phone, select Copy Data from another device.
2. Log in to your Google account and select the latest backup.
3. Confirm the restoration of applications and settings.

🔹 Isa TWRP:

Load to Recovery and select Restore, then specify the backup folder (see the instructions above).

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Before restoring, check that the version of MIUI on your phone matches the version on which the backup was made.Restore to a newer or older firmware can cause errors.

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions, you can have problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

🔹 If the backup is not restored:

• 📌 Check the integrity of the file (for example, through Total Commander – it should not be corrupted).
• 📌 Try to restore the backup on another device (if it is a local copy).
• 📌 For TWRP Use the Fix Contexts feature in the Advanced menu after recovery.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions