Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face the risk of losing important data when systems crash or accidentally delete. Backup is the only reliable way to protect contacts, photos and correspondence in messengers. Store data on an external medium, such as a computer hard drive, guarantees access to information even when the smartphone itself is completely inoperable.
There are several proven backup methods, each with its own advantages: some users prefer automated solutions from the manufacturer, others choose full control of the file system, the choice of the particular method depends on your technical skills and the amount of information you need to save.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the current ways to archive data, learn how to use specialized software, built-in MIUI and HyperOS functions, as well as manual methods of transferring files, and properly prepare the device before the procedure will avoid errors and time wasted at a critical moment.
Preparing a smartphone and computer for backup
Before starting any data saving procedure, a number of preparatory steps must be taken: Make sure that there is enough free space on the computer hard drive to accommodate all the information from the smartphone, charge the device battery to at least 50-60% to avoid sudden shutdown during the synchronization process.
Quality. USB-Cheap cables often only support charging, but not data transmission, which will lead to a connection error. Use the original cable from the kit or a certified high-speed analogue.
On the smartphone itself, you need to activate the USB debugging mode if you plan to use advanced backup methods. To do this, go to Settings → About the phone and quickly click on the MIUI version seven times. Once the message “You became a developer” appears, the hidden menu will open in additional settings.
☑️ Backup readiness
It is also worth checking whether the phone screen is locked with a password at the time of connection, as some computers do not see the device until the access is confirmed on the screen of the gadget. Select the USB mode "File Transfer" or MTP in the notification curtain immediately after connecting the cable.
Use of official Mi PC Suite software for backup
The official tool from the developers is the Mi PC Suite, which, although support for some versions is limited, remains one of the easiest methods for ordinary users, allowing you to create full copies of the system, including applications and their data.
Once you install the software on your computer and connect your smartphone, the interface will prompt you to log in to Mi Account, a mandatory requirement for cloud functions and synchronization, and the process of creating a copy takes place in a few clicks through a clear graphics menu.
⚠️ Attention: Interface Mi PC Suite can be partially or completely in Chinese depending on the version.Use an image translator or look for an icon of the global version of the program.
The main advantage of this method is that it can selectively restore data, so you can choose not to return remote applications, but to save all contacts and SMS messages, and it automatically encrypts data when you transmit it, providing an additional layer of security.
What if your computer doesn’t see your phone in the Mi PC Suite?
It is important to note that the utility on the phone must be installed system application Mi Backup. If it was removed by the user, it must be restored through the GetApps store or system partition.
Manual copying of files through Windows Explorer
The most versatile and quickest way to save media files is to copy directly through the file manager of the computer's operating system, which requires no additional software installation and works on any version of Windows, macOS or Linux.
Once you connect the cable, select File Transfer on your smartphone screen. On your computer, open "My Computer" and find your device in the disk list, and you'll have internal memory and an SD card available if you have it installed.
Key folders that require saving in the first place:
- 📂 DCIM — Here are all the photos and videos taken on camera.
- 📂 MIUI — contains dictaphone records, screenshots and notes.
- 📂 Download – a download folder where important documents are often located.
- 📂 Android/data — cache data of some games and applications (requires access rights).
Just drag and drop the directories you need onto your computer's hard drive, and the speed of copying will depend on your memory card class and version. USB-For large data volumes (over 50 GB), this process can take considerable time.
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Copy files in small portions (folders), not all at once. If the transfer is interrupted by 90%, you will lose the progress of the entire file, not one folder.
The disadvantage of the method is that it is impossible to save system settings, Wi-Fi passwords and call history, which is suitable only for saving personal media archives and documents.
Create a local backup through MIUI settings
The built-in MIUI and HyperOS mechanism allows you to create complete images of the system without third-party software. This feature creates an archive that contains settings, applications, SMS and call logs. Local copy is created in the internal memory of the phone.
To start the process, go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore. The system will suggest creating a new backup. Select the components you want to save and set a password to encrypt the archive.
Once you have completed creating a file on your phone, you need to transfer it to your computer. The archive is usually located on the Internal Storage/MIUI/backup/AllBackup path. Copy the entire AllBackup folder on your PC to have a full recovery point.
| Type of data | Saved in local backup | Requires root rights |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts and SMS | Yes. | No. |
| Photos and videos | No (links only) | No. |
| Wi-Fi passwords | Yes. | No. |
| Application data | Partially. | Yes (for full data) |
| Desktop layout | Yes. | No. |
This method is convenient because it allows you to quickly deploy a copy on a new device of the same brand. Just transfer the backup folder to a new phone and start recovery from the file.
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A local MIUI backup is the best way to save system settings and icon layout, but it doesn’t replace a copy of personal photos.
Alternative methods: ADB and cloud services
For advanced users, the ADB debugging bridge backup method is available. This tool is part of the Android SDK Platform Tools and allows you to create complete images of memory partitions. The adb backup -all -apk -shared command initiates the creation of an archive on the computer.
Using the command line gives you maximum control, but it requires care. A syntax error can lead to the creation of an empty file or data corruption, a method often used before flashing the device through the Fastboot.
Cloud services like Google Photos or Mi Cloud are also a redundancy option, but they depend on the speed of the Internet and the amount of free storage available, and downloading to your computer in this case is done by downloading the archive from the cloud via a browser.
Combining methods yields the best results, for example, settings and contacts can be stored in the cloud for quick access, and heavy video archives can be stored on an external hard drive.
Recovery of data from backup
The recovery process depends on the method you chose before, and if you used manual copying, just return the files to the original directories on your smartphone, and when you work with MIUI system backups, the procedure is done through the recovery menu.
To recover from a local file, go to the backup menu, select the date you want and enter the password. The system will warn you that current data may be overwritten. Make sure there is enough space on the phone to deploy the archive.
⚠️ Note: When you restore a full copy of the system, the firmware version on the phone must be identical or newer than the one on which the backup was created.
Recovery via Mi PC Suite is done automatically after you select the file, and the program will determine compatibility and offer you options for recovery, complete or selective, and the process takes time proportional to the size of the archive.
Regular copying is a key to security, and it is recommended to make a full backup to your computer before any update or installation of dubious applications, which minimizes the risk of losing important information.