How to Back Up Apps on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide 2026

Losing data due to a setup reset, a system crash, or an accidental deletion of an app is a headache for any Xiaomi user. Even if you handle your phone neatly, the risks remain: a MIUI update could go wrong, a virus will block access to files, and a physical breakdown will make recovery impossible. App backup solves this problem, but there are nuances in Xiaomi's ecosystem: not all methods work the same on Redmi, POCO and Mi series flagships.

In this article, we’ll break down three proven backup methods—from embedded tools MIUI to manually saved via ADB—and explain why cloud services aren’t always reliable for games and instant messengers. You'll learn how to save not only the APK- files themselves, but also settings, game progress, SMS and call logs so that you don't have to configure everything from scratch once you've recovered them, and we'll focus on the hidden constraints MIUI 14/15 that block some system applications from being backed up.

Why Google Account Backup Does Not Work on Xiaomi

Many users rely on automatic synchronization with a Google Account, but this method often fails on Xiaomi, due to a conflict between Google services and the MIUI branded shell:

• 📱 Cloudless apps: Most games (like Genshin Impact or Honor of Kings) and instant messengers (like Telegram with local storage) don’t store data in Google Drive. They’ll have to be reserved separately.
• ⚙️ Limitations MIUI: System applications (Theme Store, Security) are blocked from backing up via Google – they can only be saved through the built-in backup MIUI.
• 🔄 Incomplete Recovery: Even if the backup is created, Xiaomi may not recover SMS, MMS and Wi-Fi settings once they have been encrypted.

Google Drive also limits backup: 15GB is available for free, and games like Call of Duty: Mobile take up to 5-8GB with cache, so if you don't pay for extended storage, you'll have to look for alternatives.

Method 1: Built-in MIUI backup (for applications, SMS and settings)

The easiest method is to use a proprietary MIUI tool that stores not only applications, but also SMS, call log, system settings, but it has critical limitations:

⚠️ Warning: The built-in backup MIUI does not store data from some applications (e.g. WhatsApp, Viber, banking programs).

To create a backup:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Click Create Backup and select the items to save (applications, SMS, settings).
3. The storage location: internal memory or SD-card (if supported).
4. Wait for the process to be completed (it can take 10 to 30 minutes depending on the amount of data).

The backup file will be saved in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder in.mbk format, which can be copied manually to a PC or cloud.

1. Go to the same Local Backup section.
2. Select the backup file and click Restore.
3. Confirm the data recovery (the phone will restart).

Run cache cleanup in Settings → Storage

Connect the charger (the process drains the battery)

Free up at least 2-3 GB of free space

Shut down. VPN (Can block access to system files)-->

An important nuance: the built-in MIUI backup is not encrypted, so don't store it in the cloud without a password. If the backup has data from banking applications, it's better to transfer the file to an encrypted disk.

Method 2: Backup via Google Drive (for apps from the Play Market)

If you are satisfied with the limitations of Google Drive, this method is suitable for backing up applications installed through the Play Market. It does not store APK- files, but remembers the list of installed programs and some of their data (if the developer supports cloud synchronization).

How to turn on the automatic backup:

1. Open Settings → Google → Backup.
2. Activate the Backup Switch in Google Drive.
3. Click Create Backup Now to start the process manually.

To recover data after resetting:

1. When you first set up your phone, select Restore Data from a backup.
2. Log in to the same Google Account that was used for the backup.
3. Select the last backup and wait for the recovery to be completed.

The main disadvantage of this method is that not all applications support cloud sync, for example, Telegram only saves chats in its cloud, and WhatsApp requires a separate backup in Google Drive through the messenger settings.

💡

Before resetting your phone, check which apps support backup in Google Drive. To do this, open Settings → Google → Backup → App Data and see the list of programs with sync enabled.

Method 3: Manual reservation via ADB (for power users)

If you need to save all application data without exception, including games and system utilities, the only reliable way is to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting the phone to a PC and basic command line knowledge, but guarantees a full backup, including:

• 🎮 Progress in games (even without cloud storage support).
• 📱 System application settings (MIUI Launcher, Security).
• 🔐 Data of messengers (WhatsApp, Viber) and banking programs.

To create a backup through ADB:

1. Install Android SDK Platform-Tools on your PC.
2. Turn on USB Debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times to activate Developer Mode), then go back to Settings → Additional → Developers → Debugging on USB.
3. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
4. Open the command prompt (cmd) in the folder with the platform-tools and type:

adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f C:\backup.ab

Where:

• -apk — retain APK-file.
• -obb - includes additional game files.
• -shared — reserve SD-map.
• -all - backups all applications.
• -f C:\backup.ab - indicates the path to save the file.

The phone will be asked to confirm the backup - enter the password (if required) and wait for completion. backup.ab file can be restored by the team:

adb restore C:\backup.ab

⚠️ Warning: Backup via ADB is not encrypted by default. If it has sensitive data (passwords, banking information), encrypt the file using 7-Zip or VeraCrypt before saving to the cloud.

How to save data of specific applications (WhatsApp, games, banks)

Some programs require a personalized approach to reservations, and let's look at the most problematic cases:

1. WhatsApp and other messengers

WhatsApp is not saved through standard MIUI or Google Drive backups. To reserve chats:

1. Open WhatsApp. → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup copy.
2. Click Create a copy (the data will be saved in /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases).
3. Copy the file msgstore.db.crypt14 to your PC or cloud.

For recovery:

1. Install WhatsApp and confirm your phone number.
2. When the program offers to restore chats, agree.

2. Games with local saves

Games like Genshin Impact, Brawl Stars, or Clash of Clans store progress either in the developer cloud or on-premises, to store local data:

• 🎮 Find the folder with the saves (usually /Android/data/ [game name] or /Android/obb/ [game name]).
• 📂 Copy it to your PC using Windows Explorer or Total Commander.
• 🔄 After reinstalling the game, return the folder to its place.

3. Banking applications and 2FA

Banking programs (e.g. Sberbank Online, Tinkoff) usually prohibit reservations via ADB or MIUI. The only way to save data is to:

• 📱 Take screenshots of important screens (but don't save passwords!)
• 🔑 Export the backup codes 2FA (if supported) to an encrypted file.
• 📧 Save letters with confirmation of registration.

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For banking applications and instant messengers, always use official reservation methods (if any). homemade backups can compromise security or lead to account lockdown.

Where to store backups: Cloud vs. Local Storage

The choice of backup storage location depends on the amount of data and the level of privacy, and let's look at the pros and cons of each option:

For maximum reliability, use a combination of methods:

• 🔄 Weekly: Automatic backup in Google Drive (contacts, settings).
• 📱 Before Updates: Local Backup via MIUI or ADB.
• 💾 Once a month: Copying critical data (games, instant messengers) to an external drive.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users face problems when creating backups. Here are the top -5 errors and how to fix them:

1. Backup broke at half Reason: Lack of disk space or battery drain. Solution: Free at least 5 GB of free space and plug in charging. For a ADB- backup, use a command broken down into parts: adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f C:\backup.ab -g Flag -g creates multiple files if the backup is too large.
2. Recovery from MIUI backup doesn't work Reason: Mismatched versions of MIUI (e.g., backup done on MIUI 14 and restore on MIUI 15). Solution: Before restoring, check the firmware version in Settings → About Phone. If versions are different, upgrade your phone to the current MIUI.
3. Applications won't open after recovery Reason: Architecture incompatibility (e.g., backup done on a 64-bit device, and restore on a 32-bit device) Solution: Check the supported architecture in the phone's specifications. If the problem persists, manually install apps from the Play Market.
4. Google Drive does not store application data Reason: Sync for a particular application is disabled Solution: Go to Settings → Google → Backup → Application Data and turn on redundancy for the desired programs.
5. ADB doesn't backup the reason: Lack of rights or antivirus lock. Solution: Turn off antivirus on your PC. Run the command line on behalf of the administrator. Check that USB debugging is enabled and the phone is recognized by the adb device command.

adb backup -apk -shared -system -f C:\system_backup.ab

And then, user-generated:

adb backup -apk -obb -shared -no-system -f C:\user_backup.ab

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions