Losing data on a smartphone is one of the most unpleasant situations that a user can face. Holiday photos, important WhatsApp messages, customer contacts or personal notes can all disappear in a moment due to a system failure, device theft or accidental resetting. Xiaomi phone owners have the advantage of firmware MIUI It offers several built-in backup tools, but not everyone knows how to use them correctly.
In this article, we will analyze 5 proven ways to create a backup on Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO — standard-function MIUI You can also use third-party services like Google Drive and Mi Cloud to learn how to save not only media files, but also system settings, SMS, Call log and application data, and how local copies differ from cloud ones, and we will focus on nuances that are not written about in official instructions, such as why backup is used in the cloud. ADB More reliable than Mi Cloud, and how to get around the limitations of free cloud storage.
1. Built-in backup function in MIUI: step-by-step instruction
The easiest way to create a backup on Xiaomi is to use the built-in tool in MIUI. It allows you to save almost all user data, except for some system files and DRM-protected applications (for example, Netflix or banking programs).
To get started, open the Settings menu → About Phone → Backup. Here you will see two options: local saving (on your phone or memory card) and cloud saving (on Mi Cloud).
- 📱 Local backup: Stores data to internal memory or SD-It's good for large volumes (photos, videos), but the risk of loss when your phone breaks.
- ☁️ Cloud backup: Automatically uploads copies to Mi Cloud (up to 5GB free) Convenient for contacts and settings, but may not save some apps.
- ⚙️ Selective copying: You can eliminate unnecessary data (such as app cache) to save space.
An important caveat: the built-in MIUI backup does not save Wi-Fi passwords and some security settings (such as fingerprints), and if you need to transfer them to a new phone, you will have to use additional methods (discuss them below).
Battery charge > 50%|Free space on the phone/card > 2 GB|Wi-Fi connection (for cloud backup)|Memory optimizers are disabled (e.g., “Rescue cleanup")-->
2. backup via Mi Cloud: pros and limitations
Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s official cloud storage service, offering 5GB for free (up to 10GB for Chinese accounts), and its main advantage is automatic synchronization of contacts, notes and even some system settings.
| Advantages | Deficiencies |
|---|---|
| Automatic reservation (can be set up on schedule) | 5GB limit for global accounts |
| Synchronization between devices (for example, with Redmi Note 12 on Xiaomi 14) | Does not store some application data (e.g. games) |
| Recovery to a new phone in 10-15 minutes | Slow loading with weak internet |
| Encryption of transmitted data | No PC version (can only be controlled via phone) |
To enable backup in Mi Cloud, go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup. Here you can choose which data to sync: contacts, messages, gallery photos, call recordings, etc. Note: photos in original quality take up a lot of space – if you have thousands of them, you’d better use Google Photos (more on this below).
⚠️ Note: If you are using Chinese firmware (China) ROM), To access Mi Cloud, you will need to link a phone number from China. ROM) They work without this restriction.
3.Google Drive: The Universal Way for Android
If you don't trust Mi Cloud or want to have a backup in another cloud, Google Drive is a great alternative. Unlike Xiaomi, you can save:
- 📱 Contacts, calendar and email (automatically via Google Account).
- 📸 Photos and videos in original quality (via Google Photos, but with a limit of 15 GB at a free rate).
- 📱 System settings and some application data (via Settings) → Google → Backup).
- 💬 Communications SMS and MMS (You need to manually enable the option).
To set up a backup through Google, follow the following steps:
- Open Settings → Google → Backup.
- Turn on the switch "Backup in Google Drive".
- Click on “Create a backup now” for immediate saving.
- For photos and videos, install the Google Photos app and enable Backup and Sync.
Google Drive only stores app data for programs that support this feature (such as WhatsApp, Telegram, but not all games). To check which apps are backed up, go to Settings → Google → Backup → Application Data.
Mi Cloud|Google Drive|Other cloud (Yandex, iCloud, etc.)|Local storage (disk/drive)|I don't backup-->
4. Full backup via computer: 100% reliability
If you need to save all the data from your phone, including system files and settings that don't take over cloud services, the best option is to backup your computer.
Method 1: Through Mi PC Suite (Official Software from Xiaomi)
Mi PC Suite is a software for managing Xiaomi devices from a PC, which allows you to create full backups, update firmware and recover data, download it from the official website (Windows only).
Instructions:
- Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (data transmission mode).
- Run the Mi PC Suite and wait for the device to be recognized.
- Go to the tab "Backup" and select the data to save.
- Click on “Create backup” and wait until it is completed (it can take 10–30 minutes).
Method 2: ADB (for experienced users)
ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is a low-level Android access tool that allows you to create a full snapshot of the /data partition where all user files and settings are stored, a method that is more complex but more reliable than cloud services.
What you need:
- 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-Drivers and Platform Tools (download from Android site).
- 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap to unlock Developer Settings, then turn on Debugging by USB).
- 💾 Free space on PC (backup can weigh 10–50 GB).
The backup team:
adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f C:\backup_xiaomi.abWhere:
- -apk — retain APK-file.
- -obb - includes additional game data.
- -shared — file-grab SD-map.
- -all - reserves all applications (except system ones).
- -f C:\backup_xiaomi.ab — backup file path and name.
⚠️ Attention: Backup through ADB If it contains sensitive data (passwords, bank information), store the file on an encrypted disk or archive it with a password.
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If ADB does not recognize the device, try reinstalling drivers via the Mi Flash Tool or using an alternative device. USB-cable (some cables are only for charging purposes).
5. Save individual data: contacts, photos, messages
Sometimes you don't have to create a full backup, you just have to save the most important things, and let's look at how to back up individual data types.
Contacts and call log
The most reliable way is synchronization with Google Account:
- Open Contacts → Settings → Import / Export → Export to file (save.vcf to your phone).
- Or enable sync: Settings → Accounts → Google → Contact Sync.
Photos and videos
The best options are:
- 📸 Google Photos: Auto boot in original quality (takes up space in Google Drive).
- 🖥️ Local Copy: Connect your phone to your PC and copy the folder DCIM hard-drive.
- ☁️ Yandex Disk / Mail.ru Cloud: Russian-language services with a large free volume (up to 20 GB).
Messages (SMS and MMS)
For reservation SMS will suit:
- 📱 Built-in function MIUI: Settings → Backup → Messages (saves to Mi Cloud).
- 📲 SMS Backup & Restore: The App from Google Play that Exports SMS into XML or JSON.
- 💬 Telegram/WhatsApp: These messengers themselves reserve chats in the cloud (settings) → chat → backup).
How to recover deleted SMS without backup?
6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them
Even when following instructions, users often encounter problems with backups, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Backup in Mi Cloud is interrupted | Unstable Internet or little space in the cloud | Connect to Wi-Fi and check for free space (remove old copies) |
| ADB does not see the device | Drivers not installed or USB debugging enabled | Reinstall drivers via Mi Flash Tool and check developer settings |
| Photos in Google are uploaded in low quality | The option "High quality" (compression) is enabled | Go to Google Photos and select “Original Quality” |
| When restoring the MIUI backup, some applications are not installed | APK-Application files were not included in the backup | Repeat the backup with the tick "Enable APK" or install applications manually |
Another typical situation is that the user has created a backup, but after resetting the phone, he can't restore it, most often because of:
- 🔄 Different versions MIUI: Backup is done on MIUI 14, and you restore it to MIUI 13 - Conflict may arise.
- 🔒 Xiaomi account changes: If the backup was tied to one account, and restore under another, the data will not be downloaded.
- 📱 Changes to the phone model: For example, the backup with the Redmi Note 10 will not always recover correctly on Xiaomi 13T.
⚠️ Warning: If you plan to sell or transfer your phone, be sure to remove all backups from the Mi Cloud and untie your account, otherwise the new owner will be able to recover your data, including photos and correspondence.
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The most reliable backup is a combination of local copy (via ADB or Mi PC Suite) and cloud backup (in Google Drive or Mi Cloud).