How to make a backup of a Xiaomi phone: 5 proven ways

Why you need a backup and what happens if you don’t make it

Loss of contacts, photos or important documents due to resetting, phone theft or breakdown is a situation many Xiaomi owners have faced. POCO X5 It works without any complaints, the data backup should become a routine, like charging a battery. Unlike the iPhone, where redundancy is integrated into the Apple ecosystem, Android smartphones (and the iPhone). MIUI in particular) offer several alternative ways, from embedded tools to third-party services.

What exactly would you lose without a backup? First, personal data: SMS, Call logs, notes in Mi Notes or Google Keep. Second, system settings, from wallpaper and icon location to Wi-Fi passwords and Xiaomi Cloud configuration. Third, apps and their data: game progress, message history on Telegram or WhatsApp, saved passwords in the browser. Recovering it manually is a clock task, and sometimes impossible.

The most common mistake users make is to rely on Google Account as a universal solution, and yes, it syncs contacts, calendars and apps, but photos are in their original quality, SMS And files outside the Download folder are not automatically saved, so combining multiple backup methods is the only reliable way to secure data.

Method 1: Built-in backup through MIUI (locally)

Xiaomi manufacturer has provided its own tool for backup – the function of Backup in the settings MIUI. It allows you to save almost all user data, except for the installed ones. APK-The main advantage of the method is the simplicity and integration with Xiaomi Cloud, where the backup is stored for up to 30 days free of charge.

To create a backup copy:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → The phone. → Backup (on some models, the path may be different: Settings) → Additionally. → Backup).
• 🔄 Select Local Backup (to save to your phone) or Cloud Backup (to download to Xiaomi Cloud).
• ⚙️ Click Create a backup and tick the desired categories: System Data, Applications, Multimedia.
• ⏳ Wait until the process is complete (may take 5 to 30 minutes depending on the amount of data).

The local copy will be saved in the folder. MIUI/backup/AllBackup It can be copied to a computer or flash drive, and the cloud backup is available in the personal account of Xiaomi Cloud at i.mi.com (authentication required).

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi Cloud, please note that free storage is limited to 5 GB. For backup media (photo / video) this will only be enough for a few hundred files. Local copy takes up as much space as original data – make sure there is enough free space on your phone.

Method 2: Reservations through Google Account (automatically)

Google offers a built-in backup mechanism for all Android devices, including Xiaomi smartphones. MIUI Backup, this way syncs data with the Google Drive cloud, where they are stored indefinitely (provided the account is active). However, there are nuances: not all file types are backed up, and the amount of free storage (15 GB) is shared between Gmail, Google Photos and other services.

To enable the automatic backup:

1. Go to Settings → Google → Backup.
2. Activate the Backup Switch in Google Drive.
3. Click Create Backup Now to start the process manually.

What exactly is being preserved:

• 📇 Contacts, calendars, tasks (Google Contacts, Google Calendar).
• 📱 Device settings: wallpaper, language preferences, Wi-Fi passwords.
• 📱 Data of some applications (if the developer supports Android Backup Service).
• 📁 Files from the Download folder and some system data.

What is not in the Google backup:

• 🚫 Photos and videos (should be synced separately via Google Photos).
• 🚫 SMS and call log (third party software is required, for example) SMS Backup & Restore).
• 🚫 Music, documents and files outside of standard folders.

Is there a Google account on your phone?

Is there enough space in Google Drive (15GB free)?

Is the phone connected to Wi-Fi (backup does not work via mobile Internet)

Is synchronization enabled in account settings-->

Method 3: Manual backup to the computer (via USB or ADB)

If you don’t trust cloud services or need to save all data without exception (including hidden files and root application settings), manual copying to a PC is the most reliable option. USB-cable, computer and 10-15 minutes of time, the method is suitable for Xiaomi models on all versions. MIUI, including MIUI 14.

Instructions for Windows/macOS:

1. Connect your phone to your computer through USB, Select the File Transfer Mode (MTP) notice-curtain.
2. Open this PC (Windows) or Finder (macOS) folder – your Xiaomi will appear as a removable drive.
3. Copy important folders: DCIM — Photos and videos. Download - uploaded files. MIUI — backups from the built-in backup. Android/data — Application data (root rights required for full access).

For advanced users, there is an alternative - backup through ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method allows you to save even the data that is not available through the Internet. MTP, for example, setting up applications or SMS. For that:

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

The backup.ab file will be created on the C: disk. To recover data, use the command:

adb restore C:\backup.ab

⚠️ Attention: Backup through ADB If the archive contains sensitive data (passwords, application tokens), store the file in a secure place. -password team.

Method 4: Third-party backup applications (Titanium, Swift Backup)

Built-in tools MIUI Google doesn't always cover all needs, for example, they don't store app data (cache, settings, game progress) or SMS/MMS. For these tasks, there are specialized utilities such as Titanium Backup (requires root) or Swift Backup (works on some models without root).

Advantages of third-party applications:

• 🔧 Flexible settings: selecting individual backup applications.
• 📦 Conservation APK-files with data (you can restore the application without downloading from the Play Market).
• 🔄 Automatic reservations on schedule.
• 📤 Export of backups to cloud services (Dropbox, OneDrive).

Example of Swift Backup (without root):

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Give access to the Android Accessibility Suite (Special features).
3. Select backup apps and click Create Backup.
4. Files will be saved in the SwiftBackup folder on the internal drive.

For Titanium Backup (with root only):

• 🛠️ Create a complete backup of all user applications and system data.
• 🔐 Encrypt your archive with a password if you store it in the cloud.
• 📥 Recovery is possible even after resetting to factory settings (subject to re-receiving root rights).

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If you are using Titanium Backup, check the integrity of your archives regularly. MD5 after you create a backup. This will help you avoid problems when recovering corrupted files.

Method 5: Photo and video backup (Google Photo vs Mi Cloud)

Multimedia files are the most voluminous and valuable data on a phone, and the most painful loss is the use of separate backup tools. Xiaomi offers two main options: Mi Cloud (built-in solution) and Google Photos (universal for all Android devices).

Comparison of services:

How to enable autosynchronization in Google Photos:

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Click on profile avatar → Photo settings → Backup and synchronization.
3. Select quality (Original or High) and enable backup.

For Mi Cloud:

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on the switch in front of the gallery.
3. Choose Download All or tag individual albums.

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If you are taking pictures in a format RAW (For example, on Xiaomi 13 Ultra, keep in mind that such files take 20–50 MB each. Free 5 GB in the Mi Cloud will last only 100–200 pictures. In this case, it is better to use Google Photos with the option “High quality” (unlimited storage for compressed images). RAW).

How to Recover Data from a Backup

Building a backup is half the battle, and it's equally important to be able to recover data correctly, especially after you reset your settings or buy a new phone, depending on how you back up.

For the built-in MIUI backup:

1. When you first set up your phone, select Restore from backup.
2. Specify the path to the file (locally or in Xiaomi Cloud).
3. Select categories to recover (for example, only contacts and SMS).

For Google Account:

1. When you set up your device, log in to your Google Account.
2. At the Data Copy stage, select the last backup.
3. Wait until the synchronization is complete (it can take up to an hour).

For manual backup on PC:

• Connect the phone to your computer and copy the saved folders back.
• To restore through ADB Use the adb restore command (see Section 3).

For third-party applications:

• In Titanium Backup or Swift Backup, select Restore and tick the desired applications.
• For SMS use SMS Backup & Restore: Import XML-backup.

⚠️ Note: When recovering data from the backup MIUI on a new Xiaomi model (for example, with the Redmi Note 10 on Xiaomi) 13T) Some settings may not be transferred correctly due to variations in versions. MIUI. In this case, selective recovery (contact only) is recommended, SMS and multimedia).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users sometimes have problems building or restoring a backup, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to fix them:

1.There is not enough space on the phone or in the cloud

• 🗑️ Delete unnecessary files (cache, duplicate photos) using Settings → Warehouse.
• 📁 Move the local backup to the SD-card.
• 💾 Buy extra space on Google One (from 100GB per user) ~139 ₽/month or Xiaomi Cloud.

2. backup interrupted or not created

• 🔌 Make sure your phone is charged (at least 50%) or connected to a charger.
• 📶 Check the stability of the Internet connection (for cloud backup).
• 🛠️ Restart your phone and try again.

3.Data was lost after recovery

• 🔍 Check if all categories were marked when creating the backup.
• 📅 Make sure you restore the current copy (see the date of creation).
• 📱 If you use a Google Account, wait for full sync (may take several hours).

4. Fails to recover SMS call-book

• 📱 Built-in tools MIUI Google does not save SMS. Use it. SMS Backup & Restore.
• 🔧 Call Logs Backup & Restore is available.

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If you regularly encounter backup errors through Xiaomi Cloud, try changing your account region to Russia or Global. MIUI (Chinese, Global, European).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions