Xiaomi Backup to Google Account: The Complete Guide 2026

Why Xiaomi backup on Google is for every smartphone owner

Data loss on Xiaomi is a situation that affects one in five users, and it can be caused by firmware failures, accidental formatting, device theft or a banal failure of flash memory. 93% of users who regularly create backups recover their data without loss, compared to only 12% among those who ignore backup. Google Account offers one of the most reliable solutions for MIUI, but many owners of Redmi Note 12, Poco X5 or Xiaomi 13 do not even know about the full capabilities of this feature.

Unlike local backups that are stored on the device and disappear with it, a backup in Google Account is saved in the cloud, which means that your contacts, messages, photos (if Google Photos are synced), system settings, and even some application data will be available on any new device after authorization, especially for users who often change smartphones or use multiple Android gadgets.

But there are nuances: not all data is synchronized automatically, and the amount of free cloud storage is limited to 15 GB. In this article, we will analyze what kind of Xiaomi data can be saved in Google Account, how to set up automatic backup and what to do if synchronization does not work - taking into account the features of MIUI 14 and new models of 2023-2026.

What Xiaomi data can be saved in Google Account

Google doesn’t offer synchronization of all your Xiaomi data, but here’s a complete list of what you can and can’t reserve through your Google account:

• 📱 Contacts – synced fully, including profile photos and additional fields (addresses, birthdays).
• 📅 Calendars and Events – All entries from Google Calendar and synchronized third party calendars.
• 📧 Gmail – letters, tags and settings (if you use the official application).
• 📱 Device settings – wallpaper, screen brightness, Wi-Fi connected networks (but not passwords!), language settings and keyboard.
• 📁 Data from some apps – for example, Google Chrome (bookmarks, history), Google Keep (notes), Google Fit (health data).
• 📸 Photos and videos – only if separate sync is enabled via Google Photos (not to be confused with backups!).

Here’s what you don’t save in your Google account with Xiaomi:

• 🚫 SMS and MMS — They need a separate backup through Settings. → Additionally. → Backup and reset.
• 🚫 Calls (call log) – not synced with Google or Mi Cloud.
• 🚫 Local files (music, documents, downloads) – only if you manually upload them to Google Drive.
• 🚫 Settings MIUI — topics, gestures, security settings (fingerprints, Face) ID) stay on the device.
• 🚫 Data of third-party messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber) – they need their own cloud backups.

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If you’re critically interested in saving SMS or call logs, use third-party apps like SMS Backup & Restore (available on Google Play) that allow you to export data to Google Drive or send it to email.

Step-by-step: how to enable Xiaomi backup in Google

The synchronization process does not take much more. 5 It requires a stable Internet connection (preferably via Wi-Fi). MIUI 12/13/14:

1. Open Settings on your Xiaomi and go to Accounts and Sync (on some models – Passwords and Security → Accounts).
2. Select Google from your account list. If you don't have one, click Add Account and log in.
3. Slip on your email address, then go to account sync.
4. Activate the switches opposite all the items you want to reserve (contacts, calendar, Chrome, etc.). For a full backup, turn on App Data Backup.
5. Go back to the basic settings and open System → Backup. Here, turn on Automatic Backup in Google Drive.
6. Click Create Now to manually start the process. The first copy can take anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours, depending on the amount of data.

Make sure your device is at least 50 percent charged | Connect to Wi-Fi (mobile internet may not be able to handle large volumes) |Close all apps to keep the process running |Check out free space on Google Drive (available at drive.google.com)

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Once you have completed the backup, you will receive a notification, which can be checked in Google Drive: open the web version, go to the Backups section (in the side menu) - there should appear a file with your Xiaomi name and date of creation.

Backup Comparison: Google Account vs Mi Cloud vs Local Copy

Xiaomi has three main ways of backing up, and each has its own pros and cons. We put them together in a table for a visual comparison:

When to choose a Google Account? If you want cross-platform (for example, you plan to move from Xiaomi to Samsung or Pixel) or want reliable cloud storage with the ability to expand. Mi Cloud is suitable for those who remain in the Xiaomi ecosystem and need a backup. SMS/Local backup is the last option if you don't have access to the Internet.

Common Problems and Their Solutions

Even with the right setup, syncing Xiaomi with Google Account can fail, and here are the typical errors and ways to fix them:

⚠️ Note: If Xiaomi does not offer to restore data from Google after resetting, check if AutoRecover is enabled in your account settings.

• 🔄 Sync not started: Check if the Background Data Mode for Google Play Services is enabled (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Google Play Services → Also make sure that the device has the latest version of Google Play Services installed.
• ⏳ Backup freezes at 0% or 100%: Reboot your device and try again. If it doesn't work, delete the cache of Google Accounts and Google Play Services, then try again. MIUI 14 can help disabling the optimization function MIUI battery-setting.
• 📵 Contacts are not synced: Make sure contacts are saved in a Google account, not on a Google account. SIM-Check this in the Contact app: open the menu → Contact management → Imports/Exports.
• 🔒 Not enough space error: Clear Google Drive of unnecessary files or buy extra space. Alternatively, disable high-resolution backup photos (they take up the most space).

If none of these methods worked, try resetting your network settings (Settings → Connections & Sharing → Network Resets) and this often solves the synchronization problems associated with incorrect connection settings.

How to Recover Data from Google Account to New Xiaomi

Backup recovery to a new device is automatically activated when you first log in, but only if you have logged in correctly. If this step has been missed, do the following:

1. On the new Xiaomi, go through the initial setup before the account login stage.
2. Add the same Google Account that was used for backup.
3. On the Data Copy screen, select Restore from backup and specify the desired backup (sorted by date).
4. Confirm the recovery and wait until it's finished.

Important: If you’ve already set up your smartphone and missed the recovery phase, you’ll have to reset to factory settings (Settings → Phone → Reset) and repeat the process from scratch, otherwise some data (such as Wi-Fi settings) may not recover.

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Recovery from Google Account only works once, the first time you set up your device, and if you missed this step, the only way is to reset completely.

After recovery, check:

• 📞 Contacts in the Phone application.
• 📅 Events in Google Calendar.
• 🌐 Bookmarks and history in Google Chrome.
• 📶 Saved Wi-Fi networks (passwords are not restored!).

How to Free up Google Drive Space for New Backups

The free 15GB on Google Drive runs out quickly, especially if you save photos in original quality. Here's how to optimize space:

1. Remove old backups: Open Google Drive → Backups → Select unnecessary files (like backups from older devices) and delete them.
2. Clean the Recycle Bin: Deleted files stay in the Recycle Bin for 30 days and take up space. Clean it manually: Recycle Bin → Clean the Recycle Bin.
3. Change the quality of your photos: In Google Photos, go to Settings → Backup and Sync → Download quality and select High Quality (unlimited storage) over Original.
4. Use the Cleanup tool: In Google Drive, click on the gear icon → Cleanup. The system will automatically find large or duplicate files.

If even after cleaning the space is not enough, consider the options:

• 💳 Buy additional space (from 100 GB per ~139 ₽/month).
• 🔄 Transfer your photos to another cloud service (e.g. Yandex Drive or Mega).
• 📱 Create a local backup on your PC through Mi PC Suite (but less reliable).

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To avoid paying for extra space, set up automatic removal of old backups. Go to Settings → Storage Management → Automatic Deletion on Google Drive and enable the option for backups older than 1 year.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi backup in Google