How to copy data from Xiaomi phone: from photos to settings

Why does standard wire copying not work?

You plugged a Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 into your computer via USB, but you only see the photo folder? That's not a glitch -- that's how the MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) protocol works, which by default hides system files and application data. Even if you turn on File Transfer mode, you won't see:

✔️ Messages from WhatsApp or Telegram (they are stored in closed folders) /data/data/)

✔️ Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings (lie in /data/misc/)

✔️ Cache of games like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile (up to 10 GB in size!)

Moreover, on new Xiaomi models (such as Xiaomi 14 Ultra), even the DCIM folder may not display without unlocking debugging over USB. And if you try to copy data to another phone, you need special tools at all, since direct transmission over Bluetooth is limited to 50 MB at a time.

Method 1: Full backup via Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

The most reliable method for beginners is synchronization with Mi Cloud, which automatically saves:

• 📱 Contacts, calendars and notes
• 📷 Photos and videos (in original quality up to 5 GB free)
• 💬 Call logs and SMS (except for messenger messages)
• 🎮 Some game data if you support Mi Game Center)

How to turn on:

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud
2. Sign in or create an account (attach your phone number!).
3. Activate sliders in front of all the items you want to save.
4. Click Sync and wait until it is completed (may take up to an hour with a large amount of data).

💡

If you have Xiaomi with global firmware (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G Global), 5GB will be available in the Mi Cloud for free. On the Chinese versions (with China ROM firmware) - only 1GB.

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Not keeping the established APK-Application files (only their data).
• ❌ Doesn't copy files from folders. /Android/obb/ (game-cash).
• ❌ When you restore to another phone, some settings (such as wallpaper or icon location) will reset.

Method 2: Local backup via "Backup" in settings

If the cloud doesn't fit (little or no internet), use a built-in backup tool that creates a.xbk file that you can copy to a PC or other phone, the only method that saves your Wi-Fi settings, wallpaper and icon layout on your desktop.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Select items to save (we recommend that you note everything except the "Application" - they take up a lot of space).
3. Click Create a backup and wait until it is completed.
4. The file will appear in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder (you can copy it to your PC).

On the new Xiaomi phone, go to the same section and select the.xbk file. The process will take 5-15 minutes.

Charge your phone at least 50%

Free up 2-3 GB of memory (backup can weigh up to 1 GB)

Connect to charging (process drains battery)

Disable battery optimization for the "Backup" app-->

Method 3: Copying through ADB (for power users)

If you need to copy all data without exception (including system files), use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires unlocking debugging over USB and works even on locked phones (if debugging is enabled).

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux
• 🔌 Cable USB (Best Original from Xiaomi)
• 🛠️ Utility. ADB Tools (download from the official website)

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB debugging: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times until “You’re a developer” appears) Settings → Additional → Developers → Debugging over USB (enable)
2. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
3. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with adb.exe.
4. Run the command to create a full backup: adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f C:\backup_xiaomi.ab Where C:\backup_xiaomi.ab — path to the backup file on your PC.

Advantages of ADB:

• 🔹 Copying. APK All applications files (can be restored without Play Market).
• 🔹 Save game data from /Android/obb/.
• 🔹 It works even if the phone screen is broken (when debugging is enabled).

⚠️ Note:.ab file cannot be opened as an archive – you need the same file to be restored. ADB. If the phone breaks, you’ll need another Xiaomi with the same version. MIUI data-extract.

Method 4: Transfer data to another phone (Mi Mover)

If you are changing Xiaomi to a new model (for example, from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 13T), use the official Mi Mover app, which transfers data directly over Wi-Fi without loss:

What's copied:

• 📱 Contacts, SMS, call-book
• 📷 Photos and videos (including hidden folders)
• 🎵 Music and documents
• 🎮 Game data if the game supports Google Play Games or Mi Game Center)

How to use:

1. Install Mi Mover on both phones from Google Play.
2. On the old phone, choose I give, on the new phone, I receive.
3. Scan it. QR-code from a new phone on an old one.
4. Select the data to transfer and wait until it is completed (it can take up to 30 minutes).

⚠️ Warning: If the new phone already has data, it will be deleted before transferring!

💡

Mi Mover is the only official way to transfer data between Xiaomi phones, which saves the history of messages in instant messengers (for example, WhatsApp).

Method 5: Manually copy hidden folders (for photos, music, and documents)

If you only need media files but they don’t show up when you connect to your PC, turn on the hidden folders:

On Windows:

1. Open This Computer → View → Mark Hidden Items.
2. Go to the phone folder and find: Internal Storage/DCIM/ (Photo and video: Internal Storage/Download/ (internal Storage/Music/ (Music: Internal Storage/Movies/ (video)

On Xiaomi, some folders can be hidden even when MTP is enabled.

1. Install the Mi File Explorer file manager (built into MIUI).
2. Go to Categories → Local Storage → Settings (three dots) → Show hidden files.
3. Copy the desired folders on a PC or flash drive.

Where to look:

• 📸 Photo from messengers: /Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Media/
• 🎮 Cash games: /Android/obb/ (For example, folder com.miHoYo.GenshinImpact)
• 📄 Documents from Google Drive: /Android/data/com.google.android.apps.docs/files/

What to do if the phone is not turned on?

If Xiaomi doesn’t respond to the power button, but you’re sure the data is intact inside, try:

1. Hard Reset: Hold Power + Volume up for 10 seconds. If the phone vibrates, let it go. This can trigger Fastboot mode, where you can try to recover data through ADB.
2. EDL PC connection: On some models (e.g. Redmi 9A) when connected to a PC with a down button, the phone is defined as Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008. In this case, you can use utilities like the Mi Flash Tool to extract data (skills are required).
3. Call to service: If the phone is physically healthy (not drowned, not broken fee), Xiaomi service centers can extract data through a chip-off (direct connection to memory). ₽.

⚠️ Note: If the phone has been encrypted (encrypted in the settings enabled), it is almost impossible to extract data without a password - even in a service center. MIUI 12 and later encrypt the storage by default.

FAQ: Frequent questions about copying data with Xiaomi