Xiaomi backup: how to save data before resetting or firmware

Losing contacts, photos or messages after a setup reset or failed firmware is one of the most frustrating situations for a Xiaomi owner. Even if your smartphone is stable, a backup will protect you from accidental file deletion, device theft or hardware failure. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to create a backup on Redmi, POCO and Mi devices – from standard MIUI tools to advanced methods through ADB and custom TWRP recovery.

It's important to understand that not all methods are equally reliable. For example, cloud backup via Mi Cloud is convenient, but limited to 5 GB of free space and does not save some system settings. Local copying to a memory card or PC is free of these shortcomings, but requires manual control. And advanced users can use TWRP to create a complete image of the system, such a backup will restore the smartphone even after the "bricking".

We tested all the methods on devices with MIUI 12-14 (including Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12 and POCO F5) and took into account the nuances of different versions of the firmware. If you are planning to upgrade, unlock the bootloader or sell your phone, make sure to backup in advance. Let's start with the simplest method.

1. Standard backup via MIUI (no root)

Built-in backup function in MIUI It allows you to save most user data without any additional software, and it's a novice, no superuser, but it has limitations, because you don't copy some of the system settings that you've set up. APK-files and data of individual applications (for example, games with anticheats).

To create a backup copy:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → The phone. → Backup and reset → Local backups.
• ⚙️ Click on “Create Backup” and select data categories (contacts, messages, notes, Wi-Fi settings, etc.).
• 💾 Specify the location of the storage: internal memory or microSD card (recommended).
• 🔒 Set a password to protect the backup (optional, but desirable).
• 📤 Click “Start” and wait until it is completed (may take 5-15 minutes).

The finished backup will be saved in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder in.bak format. It can be copied to a PC or other media. Use the same settings section to restore, but select Restore.

⚠️ Note: If you plan to flash your smartphone to custom firmware (like LineageOS), the standard backup MIUI It doesn't help, it doesn't restore system partitions. In this case, use the methods in sections 4 or 5.

Contacts and call log|Communications SMS/MMS|Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings|Notes and calendar|Wallpaper and themes MIUI|Installed applications (without data)-->

2. Cloud backup via Mi Cloud

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi's official cloud storage that automatically syncs data between devices, and the advantages of the method are: access to a backup from any gadget, protection against losing your phone and the ability to recover on a new device.

• 📉 Free available only 5 GB (to expand you need to pay).
• 🚫 Not all apps support cloud sync (for example, WhatsApp or Telegram will have to backup separately).
• 🌍 Requires a stable internet connection (with slow Wi-Fi, synchronization can take hours).

How to set up a cloud backup:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Sign in or create an account (if not already).
3. Turn on the switches opposite the categories you want to sync (contacts, notes, photos, etc.).
4. For a full backup, click on “Device Backup” and select “Create Backup.”

To recover data, log in to the same Mi Cloud account on the new device and select the right backup. Note: if you reset your phone to factory settings, the system will prompt you to recover data from the cloud during the initial setup phase.

Once a week | Once a month | Only before the firmware | Never done |Another option-->

3. backup via ADB (no root, but from PC)

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) allows you to create a backup right from your computer without requiring super-user rights, a method that is useful if you don't trust cloud services or want to save data on your PC.

• 🔌 Requires the connection of the smartphone to the computer USB (and the debugging on USB).
• 🛠️ Not all apps allow backup through ADB (e.g. bank or with DRM-protection).
• 📂 Backup is saved in.ab format, which cannot be viewed without recovery.

Instructions for creating a backup through ADB:

1. Install ADB and Fastboot Tools on PC.
2. Enable USB debugging on your smartphone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times to activate Developer Mode), then go back to Settings → Additional → Developers → Debugging on USB.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your trust in the computer on your smartphone screen.
4. Open the command prompt (or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and do:

adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f C:\backup_xiaomi.ab

Where C:\backup_xiaomi.ab — Backup file path and name (can be changed).

To restore, use the command:

adb restore C:\backup_xiaomi.ab

⚠️ Attention: If you are using MIUI 13/14 With the latest security updates, some apps (like Google Authenticator or WhatsApp) can block backups through the app. ADB. In this case, you will have to find alternative ways or use them. TWRP.

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If the adb backup command gives an error called “cannot stat file”, try specifying another path to save (for example, to the desktop) or running the command prompt on behalf of the administrator.

4. Full backup via TWRP (for advanced users)

TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) is the most reliable way to create a complete system image, including boot partition, application data and even EFS (IMEI partition), which will save the smartphone even after serious failures, but requires:

• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (bootloader).
• 📱 Established TWRP For your Xiaomi model.
• 💾 Memory cards or free space on a PC (image can weigh 10–30 GB).

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool (can take up to 72 hours to wait).
2. Install TWRP for your model (download the image from twrp.me and run through fastboot flash recovery twrp.img).
3. Boot into TWRP: Turn off the phone, then press Power + Volume up.
4. In the main menu, select Backup.
5. Check the boxes for Boot, System, Data, EFS (required!) and Vendor.
6. Select a save location (preferably a microSD card) and start the process.

Recovery from TWRP is similar: boot into the recavator, select Restore, and specify the backup file. This is the only way to bring your smartphone back to life after a failed firmware or loss of IMEI.

5 Manual copying of important data (photos, contacts, chats)

If you don't want a full backup system, but only a personal file, you can do without complex tools.

• 📸 Photo and video: folder DCIM/Camera and Pictures (use Google Photos to automatically sync).
• 📞 Contacts: export to.vcf file via Contacts app (menu) → «Imports/exports»).
• 💬 Messages: SMS Use applications like SMS Backup & Restore, for WhatsApp – built-in backup in Google Drive.
• 🎮 Game data: if the game supports sync via Google Play Games or Facebook, link your account.

To copy files to the PC:

1. Connect your smartphone over USB in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Open the phone folder on your computer and copy the data you want (e.g., Internal Storage/MIUI/Gallery for photos).
3. For security, archive files in.zip with a password.

It is critical to copy the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder if you have previously created a local backup through MIUI, which stores encrypted data that cannot be recovered after a reset without this file.

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Even if you use a cloud backup, manually copying photos and contacts to your PC or external drive is the most reliable way, and cloud services can change storage conditions or delete data by mistake.

6. Backup automation: applications and scripts

If you're too lazy to create backups manually on a regular basis, you can automate the process with third-party apps or scripts.

• 🤖 Swift Backup: Creates backups of applications and data on a schedule, supports uploading to the cloud.
• ☁️ FolderSync: syncs selected folders (e.g, DCIM) Google Drive, Dropbox or FTP.
• 📟 Tasker: allows you to set up an automatic backup when connecting to Wi-Fi or charging (e.g., starting up a phone or a phone). ADB backup on schedule).

Example of a script for automatic backup photos on Linux/macOS (preserve ~/xiaomi_backup):

#!/bin/bash


adb pull /sdcard/DCIM/Camera ~/xiaomi_backup/photos_$(date +%Y-%m-%d)




adb pull /sdcard/Pictures ~/xiaomi_backup/pictures_$(date +%Y-%m-%d)

To run it once a week, add to crontab:

0 0   0 /path/to/backup_script.sh

For Windows, you can use AutoHotkey or PowerShell with similar logic, and the key is to make sure that the backup is successful so you don't find missing files at a critical moment.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even experienced users sometimes have problems building a backup, and here are the typical mistakes and their solutions:

If you encounter an error that is not in the table, check the logs (for example, in the table). TWRP they remain in /tmp/recovery.log). To diagnose problems with ADB launch the team:

adb logcat | grep -i backup

FAQ: Answers to popular questions