How to copy all the data from the Xiaomi phone: 5 proven ways

Xiaomi’s current smartphones store gigabytes of personal data, from photos and videos to passwords from banking apps, and losing that information can be a disaster — especially if the phone is broken, lost, or needs to be reset to factory settings. But how do you copy all the data from a Redmi, POCO, or Mi smartphone quickly and without loss?

Many users mistakenly think that it is enough to sync contacts with Google Account or copy photos to a flash drive. In practice, this covers only 20-30% of data. In this article, a full guide to backing up all Xiaomi content, including hidden files, system application settings and even instant messenger data, we will analyze the official and alternative methods, their pros and cons, and also tell you how to avoid typical mistakes when transferring data to a new phone.

1. Official backup through MIUI

The MIUI branded shell offers a built-in backup tool, Local Backup, which stores almost all user data, except for some system files and DRM-protected applications (such as Netflix or SberBank Online).

To take advantage of the function:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Click Create Backup and select data categories (contacts, messages, notes, Wi-Fi settings, etc.).
3. Specify the location of the storage: internal memory or microSD card.
4. Wait until the process is complete (it can take 10-30 minutes depending on the amount of data).

The backup will have the.mbk extension, which can be transferred to a PC or another Xiaomi smartphone and restored through the same settings section. Importantly, the backup files are encrypted and only compatible with devices on MIUI.

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If you plan to restore the backup on another Xiaomi phone, make sure the MIUI version is no lower than the original device, otherwise compatibility errors may occur.

2. Copying data through Google Account

Google sync is a universal way to save key data that works on all Android devices, and unlike the local MIUI backup, it's stored in the cloud and accessible from any gadget.

• 📇 Contacts (including groups and contact notes)
• 📅 Calendar and reminders
• 📝 Notes from Google Keep
• 📁 Files from Google Drive (if Autoboot is enabled)
• 📱 Device settings (wallpaper, languages, Wi-Fi networks)
• 🎮 Data of some games (if the developer supports Google Play Games)

To enable synchronization:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Select your account and tick all categories of data.
3. Click Sync (or More → Sync Now).

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Not preserved. SMS, Call log and application files (except those that explicitly support Google Drive Backup).
• ❌ Photos and videos are synced only if Google Photos is enabled (separate from the main sync).
• ❌ Some system settings (such as control gestures) may not be transferred to another device.

3. Data transfer to PC via Mi PC Suite

For users who prefer to store backups on their computer, Xiaomi offers official software, Mi PC Suite, which allows you not only to copy data, but also to manage files, install applications and update firmware.

Instructions for creating a backup:

1. Install Mi PC Suite on PC and connect your phone over USB (enable Debugging over USB in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times on the build number, then return to Additional → For Developers).
2. In the program, select the Backup section.
3. Tick the data categories (applications, contacts, SMS, multimedia) and click Start.
4. Wait until the process is complete. The backup file will be saved to the MiPhoneBackup folder on disk C:.

Advantages of the method:

• 🖥️ Backup is stored locally on PC without taking up space in the cloud.
• 📲 Individual categories of data can be selectively retrieved.
• 🔧 Supports recovery on devices with a different version MIUI (unlike the local backup).

Install Mi PC Suite from the official website

Enable debugging over USB on your phone

Connect your phone to the original cable

Charge your phone at least 50%

Release. 10-15 GB on disk C:-->

4. Manual copying of files through a conductor

If you only need to copy specific files (photos, music, documents), you can do without specialized tools. Just connect Xiaomi to your PC in file transfer mode (MTP) and manually transfer data.

Where key files are stored:

Critical information: files from the /data/data/ folder (where application data is stored) are not available without root rights. To copy them, you will need to unlock the bootloader and obtain superuser rights - this cancels the warranty and can lead to locking the device.

5. copying data via TWRP (for advanced users)

If your Xiaomi is unlocked and you have a custom TWRP recap, you can create a complete system image, including all user and system data, which is suitable for enthusiasts who want to save everything, including kernel settings and modified files.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off your phone and press Volume Up + Power to enter TWRP.
2. Go to the Backup section.
3. Check the boxes for Boot, System, Data and Internal Storage.
4. Select a save location (preferably on a microSD card) and start the process.
5. Upon completion, copy the TWRP folder from the memory card to the PC.

⚠️ Note: Recovery of backup through TWRP On another device, you can cause a bootloop if the phone models are different. Use this method only to restore to the same device.

The advantages of TWRP-backup:

• 🔧 Stores all data without exception, including system files.
• 🛡️ It can be restored even after a complete reset or damage to the firmware.
• 📦 Supports compression and partitioning (useful for large backups).

6. Alternative methods: cloud services and third-party applications

If standard methods don’t work, third-party solutions can be used, often offering more flexibility but requiring caution (some applications may collect your data).

Popular tools:

• 🌥️ Google Photos – Automatic upload of photos and videos in original quality (up to 15 GB free).
• 📱 Swift Backup (requires root) – creates backups of applications and their data in.apk format +.tar.
• 💬 SMS Backup & Restore – Exports SMS and call log XML or JSON.
• 🔄 Titanium Backup (Old, but Powerful Root User Solution).

⚠️ Note: When using third-party backup applications, disable data autoupload to the cloud if you do not want your data to be downloaded. SMS or the contacts were stored on servers of third parties, SMS Backup & Restore offers backup download to Google Drive.

For POCO and Redmi users with limited memory, it is useful to combine methods.

1. Sync your contacts and calendar through Google.
2. Upload photos to Google Photos.
3. Create a local MIUI backup for settings and SMS.
4. Copy important documents on PC manually.

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There is no universal way to copy all the data from Xiaomi, and for a full backup, you will have to combine several methods: cloud synchronization, local backup, and manual file transfer.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users sometimes have problems copying data, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to prevent them:

• 🚫 Space shortage: Before creating a backup, check for free space.Local backup MIUI It can take up to 50% of the user data.
• 🔌 Interrupted Connection: When copying to a PC, use the original cable and USB-port 3.0. Avoid hubs and extension cords.
• 🔒 Encrypted data: If the phone is locked with a password, some files (e.g., from /data) They are not copied without unlocking.
• 📱 Incompatibility of versions: Backup with MIUI 14 may not recover on MIUI 12.Always check compatibility.

If the backup is interrupted:

• With local MIUI backup, start the process again by pre-deleting the corrupted.mbk file.
• When copying to PC – check the cable and port, try another one USB-plug-in.
• In Mi PC Suite – reinstall Xiaomi drivers on your PC and reboot both devices.

What to do if the data is not restored?

1. Check the integrity of the backup file (e.g., with the 7-Zip archiver).
2. Make sure that the MIUI version on the target device is not lower than the original one.
3. For TWRP backups, try to restore only the Data partition, without the System.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions