Owning a modern smartphone involves accumulating a huge array of personal information, from thousands of photos to important work documents. Losing a device or crashing it suddenly can be a disaster if you don't take care of data in advance. Backup is the only reliable way to protect yourself from losing valuable memories and files.
Many users mistakenly rely solely on cloud storage, forgetting that access to it may be lost or overcrowded. Local copy on a computer hard drive gives full control of files and does not require a constant Internet connection. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the current ways to create a backup for Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones using official and proven methods.
There are several approaches to saving data, from simply dragging files in a Explorer to using specialized software with superuser rights. The choice of the specific method depends on whether you want to save media files only or a full copy of the system with all the application settings. Below we will look at each option so that you can choose the most suitable for your situation.
Preparation for the backup procedure
Before you start directly copying files, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps that will ensure the stability of the process. 50-60%, Because the active transmission of large amounts of data can consume a lot of battery power, it is also critical to use original or quality certified battery life. USB-cable capable of transmitting data, not just charging the device.
Check the space available on your computer's hard drive. A backup can be a significant amount, especially if you plan to copy high-resolution photos and videos. It is recommended to have a margin of free space in excess of the amount of data occupied on the phone so that the process goes smoothly.
⚠️ Warning: If you use a laptop, connect it to a power source. Interrupting the copying process due to battery drain can damage the file system or incorrectly save the archive.
Remember to unlock your smartphone screen before connecting to your PC. In some cases, MIUI or HyperOS security may require proof of trust in your new computer, and you should also make room in your phone’s memory beforehand by deleting temporary files if there is critically little space, as this can slow down your device while you’re creating an archive.
Use of the official utility Mi PC Suite
The official tool from the manufacturer to work with Android devices is the Mi PC Suite. Despite the fact that the global version of the utility has not been updated for a long time, it still works effectively with many models of smartphones, allowing you to create full backups of the system, including contacts, messages, call logs and installed applications.
To start, you need to download the installation file from a trusted source, as it may not be available on the official global site. After installing and running the application, connect your smartphone to your computer through the Internet. USB-cable. The phone will be asked for connection mode — select File Transfer or «USB-drive" so that the computer can correctly identify the device.
In the program interface, go to the Backup tab, where you will be asked to select the types of data to save. You can tick contacts, messages, call logs, notes, voice recorders, and applications and their data. Once selected, click on the Copy button and wait for the process to be completed. The program will create an encrypted archive that can then be used to restore data on the same or new device.
What if the Mi PC Suite can’t see the phone?
If the program is not responsive to the connection, try installing drivers manually. Go to Device Manager on Windows, find your device (often displayed as Unknown Device or Android), right-click and select Update Driver. Specify the path to the folder with drivers that are usually in the folder of the Mi installation PC Suite or download universal drivers ADB. It also helps to switch the mode. USB Manual copying files through Windows Explorer The easiest and most versatile way to save photos, videos, music and documents is to connect your smartphone directly to the drive mode. This method does not require the installation of additional software and works on any operating system that supports the protocol. MTP. It is ideal for those who need to quickly collect media files without creating complex system archives» (MTP) You'll see a new device on your smartphone screen, in My Computer, and when you open it, you'll see internal memory and, if you have one, a microSD card. DCIM (Photos and video from the camera, Pictures (screenshots and images from the apps), Download (downloads) and Music. Just select the right folders or files and drag them to your computer's hard drive. 📸 DCIM/Camera — Here are stored all photos and videos taken on the main and front camera. 📥 Download – folder where files from the browser and messengers are saved by default. 💬 Tencent/MicroMsg — Here you can find the data of the WeChat messenger (requires caution when copying). 📱 Android/data — It's a folder with an app cache that might not make sense to copy without root permissions, and the main advantage of this method is that it's transparent, because you see every file and you can selectively copy whatever you want. But remember, this is not a way to save system settings, Wi-Fi passwords, home screen layout, and game progress. This is not a good way to fully clone a smartphone, but it's the best way to save the library. MIUI and HyperOS In shells MIUI And the new HyperOS has a powerful local backup tool built in, which not only saves files, but also saves system structure, application settings, desktop icons, and even some program data. The backup file created in this way then needs to be manually transferred to the computer, as it is stored in the phone's internal memory by default. To create a backup, go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore → Mobile device. The system will suggest setting a password that will be used to encrypt the archive - do not forget it, otherwise it will be impossible to restore the data. Once you set the password, select the categories of data for copying: system data, applications, photos, videos, music and documents. Once the process is completed, the folder will appear in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup / Inside it will be a folder with the date and time of the creation of the file, which will be provided by the file from the previous computer. Type of data Saved in local backup? Requires password Restored to another model? Contacts and SMS Yes No Yes Photos and Videos Yes (optional) No Yes System Settings Yes Yes (often) Only on Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco Application data partially depends on the application 💡Local backup MIUI — This is the only way to save the desktop layout and system settings without getting Root rights, but the backup file must be transferred manually to the PC. ADB (Android Debug Bridge For power users who need full control over the process and the ability to create hidden copies from the system, the tool is ideal for the user. ADB. This is a console utility from Google that allows you to control the device from a computer. It allows you to make full partition backups, pull system files and backup applications with their data, even if the application developer has banned standard copying. USB. Go to Settings. → About the phone and seven times quickly click on the build number (MIUI version OS Version: In the Developer menu, insert Debugging by USB». Then download the Platform Tools package from Google’s website, unpack it on your PC and open the command prompt in that folder. adb backup -apk -shared -all -system -f full_backup.ab Once you have entered the command, you will be asked to confirm your backup on your smartphone screen, you will need to check the Full Backup box and, if you wish, set the encryption password. The process can take a long time, depending on the amount of data you have. You'll get a file on the way out. full_backup.ab, contains a complete copy of the state of the device. ⚠️ Note: The.ab file format is proprietary. You'll need special converter utilities like Android Backup Extractor to extract data from it later. ADB It gives you maximum flexibility, but it requires careful input, and a syntax error can cause the backup to fail or contain the wrong data, but it is the gold standard for mobile repair and maintenance professionals. 📊 What is the most common way to backup?Windows Explorer (manual copying)Mi PC Suite Cloud Services (Google Photos/Disc)ADB I do not do backups Recovery of data from backup The data recovery process directly depends on the copying method you choose. If you've used manual drag and drop files, it's easy to just return folders and files to their original places in the memory of your smartphone or memory card. PC The Suite process is reversed to creation: plug in your phone, select Restore, specify the path to the backup file, and click Start. MIUI/HyperOS The backup file must be in the folder. MIUI/backup/AllBackup If you're storing it on a PC, first return the date folder to the specified location. Then, in the backup menu, select the Recovery tab, find the date you want, enter the password (if it was set) and start the process. The phone will reboot and the data will be returned. ADB Recovery is done by the team: adb restore full_backup.ab On the screen, you need to confirm the recovery and enter the encryption password, and it is important to understand that when you restore a full copy of the system to a clean phone, all the current data on it will be replaced by data from the archive. Therefore, before restoring a full backup, it is also recommended to make a copy of the current state if there are new important files on the phone (FAQ) Can the backup be restored? MIUI on a phone from another brand (Samsung, Huawei. Format of backup copies created by embedded funds MIUI And HyperOS, which is proprietary and is tailored to the structure of Xiaomi, is not going to be able to restore that backup on another manufacturer's device. For cross-platform transfer, it's better to use Google Account for contacts and calendar, and store photos and documents in universal formats on a PC or in the cloud. Where is the backup file physically stored on your computer? When using Mi PC Suite, the default path is usually in the hidden folder of the program, often it is C:\Users\Name User\MiPCSuite\Backup Or a similar path in documents. When you manually copy a file, it goes where you saved it. For the local backup of the phone you transferred to your PC, the location depends on your file system organization, but it's originally in the internal memory./MIUI/backup/AllBackup. Does it take a long time to back up? The backup time depends on the amount of data you store and the speed you have. USB-Copying the port. 32 GB of data through USB 2.0 Maybe it's about 15-20 minutes, whereas in USB 3.0 — everything 3-5 Create a full backup system through ADB or Mi PC A Suite with lots of small files can last longer because of the overhead of processing each file. SIM-- The card before you make the backup? SIM-No card required. The backup process does not affect the data stored on the chip. SIM-cards (contacts on the SIM are better to pre-copy into the phone memory or Google account).However, if you do a full backup of the system, make sure that the phone does not receive a call in the process, as this can interrupt the data transfer over the Internet. USB.