Losing data on a smartphone is one of the most frustrating situations a Xiaomi user can face. Photos, contacts, messages and app settings often have not only practical but also emotional value. Fortunately, you can back up your phone on a PC in a number of ways, from official utilities to manual methods for power users.
In this article, we will discuss three proven backup methods for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices: through Mi PC Suite, ADB developer tools, and manually through Windows Explorer. We will pay special attention to nuances that are often missed in standard instructions – for example, how to save data from closed Chinese firmware or what to do if the phone is not detected by a computer.
Whether you're planning to reset your phone to factory settings, flash a new version of MIUI, or just want to be safe, this guide will help you choose the best way to backup. And if you've already experienced data loss, there's an emergency checklist at the end of this article that will help you recover at least some of the information.
1. Preparing Xiaomi phone for backup
Before you start creating a backup, you need to set up your smartphone correctly, which will eliminate errors like "device not detected" or "no rights to read files." Here are the key steps:
- 🔋 Charge your phone at least 50%. Interrupting the copying process due to battery discharge can damage the backup.
- 🔌 Use the original. USB-Cheap cables often don't support data transmission, just charging.
- 🔒 Unlock the bootloader (if you plan to). ADB-Backup. On devices with a locked bootloader, some commands ADB will not be available.
- 📱 Activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings for that. → The phone. → Version. MIUI and tap the version number 7 times.
Pay special attention to the settings USB-Debugging and permissions to access files:
- Open the settings → Additional → for developers.
- Enable options: USB Debugging Allow debugging (when connected to a PC) Do not turn off the screen while charging (optional, but convenient)
Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the trust in the computer in the window that appears on the smartphone screen.
⚠️ Note: On devices with Chinese firmware MIUI (For example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra CN) You may need to log in to your Mi Account to unlock some features. ADB will be incomplete.
Method 2: Backup via Mi PC Suite (official method)
Mi PC Suite is a proprietary utility from Xiaomi that allows you to create backups of contacts, messages, photos, applications and even some system settings. This method is suitable for most users, as it does not require technical knowledge.
Download the latest version of the program from the official website (please note that POCO and Redmi use the same utility). Install it on your PC and follow the instructions:
- Connect your phone to your computer through USB-cable.
- In Mi PC Suite, select Backup tab.
- Check the data types to save: 📞 Contacts (including call history) 💬 Communications (SMS and MMS) 📷 Multimedia (photo, video, audio) 📱 Applications (list of installed programs and their data, if supported) ⚙️ System settings (Wi-Fi, wallpaper, sound profiles)
Start copying.
The backup file will be saved in the folder C:\Users\[Your name]\MiPhone\Backup with the extension.mbk. It can be restored via the same utility.
| Type of data | Is it supported in Mi PC Suite? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts | ✅ Yes. | Saved in VCF format compatible with other devices |
| Communications (SMS/MMS) | ✅ Yes. | Restore only on Xiaomi devices |
| Photos and videos | ✅ Yes. | Copyed in original quality |
| Installed Applications (APK) | ⚠️ Partially. | Only application lists are saved, data is selectively stored. |
| Game data (save) | ❌ No. | Manual copying or cloud backup is required |
⚠️ Note: If you are using the Mi PC Suite on a phone with an unlocked bootloader or custom firmware, the program may show a warning about an “uncertified device”. In this case, the backup will still be created, but some system settings may not save.
Original connected USB-cable|Debugging is on. USB|Phone unlocked (no pin/pattern lock)|Enough space on the PC drive (minimum) 5-10 GB)|Closed background programs on PC (antiviruses, torrents)-->
Method 2: Full backup via ADB (for power users)
The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) tool allows you to back up all your phone data, including system files and settings that are not available through the Mi PC Suite, which requires command line skills but gives you maximum control over the process.
First, download and install ADB on your PC:
- Download the Google Platform Tools.
- Unpack the archive in the folder C:\platform-tools.
- Open the command prompt in this folder (Shift + right mouse button → Open PowerShell window here).
- Open This PC – the phone will appear as a removable drive (e.g. Redmi Note 12).
- Copy the right folders: 📷 DCIM — photo and video; 🎵 Music, Movies, Downloads – Multimedia and Downloads; 📄 Documents - documents; 📱 Android/data — Data from some applications (not all!).
To copy contacts and SMS manually:
- Open the Contacts app on your phone.
- Go to Settings → Contact Management → Import/Export.
- Export contacts to a.vcf file to a memory card or internal memory, then copy it to a PC.
⚠️ Attention: Folder Android/data It can be hidden or unrootable without root permissions. If you see an empty folder, it's okay. MIUI protects application data.
💡
To speed up copying large files (like 4K video), connect your phone to a USB 3.0 port (usually blue) and use a high-speed cable.
5. How to recover data from backup
Building a backup is half the job. It's just as important to be able to recover data correctly. The way you recover it depends on the method you used to copy it.
Recovery with Mi PC Suite
- Connect your phone to your PC and open the Mi PC Suite.
- Go to the Restore tab.
- Select the backup file (.mbk) and click Restore.
- Confirm the action on the phone (it may be necessary to enter a password from your Mi Account).
You can also encrypt backup with 7-Zip or VeraCrypt.