How to remove Xiaomi backup: Cleaning up phone memory and cloud

MIUI and its successor HyperOS are famous for their functionality, but over time, even the most advanced smartphones begin to suffer from a lack of free space. One of the hidden causes of memory overflow is often forgotten or outdated backups that continue to take up gigabytes of valuable volume. Users may not know for years that their device stores multiple versions of old settings, contacts and messages that are no longer relevant.

The process of freeing up space requires careful attention, as data can be stored in three different places: in the internal memory of the device, in the cloud service Mi Cloud and in the Google Drive account. Incorrect deletion can lead to the loss of important information, so you need to clearly understand where the files are located and what cleaning method is suitable for your particular case. In this article, we will discuss in detail all ways to remove backups so that you can safely return your smartphone performance.

Before we take any drastic action, it's important to review the content of archives. Backup is a dual tool: it saves data when crashes, but can become a ballast if left unchecked. We'll look not only at the technical steps, but also at the nuances of working with cloud synchronizations, which often go unnoticed in the standard interface.

Memory analysis and search for hidden archives

The first step before deleting any data should be diagnostics. Xiaomi’s standard tools provide convenient tools to visualize what is eating up space. Often users delete apps without knowing that the majority of the backups are system backups created years earlier. To begin, open the settings menu and find the section responsible for storing data.

In modern firmware versions, the path to this information may be slightly different, but the logic remains the same: you need to go to Settings → Memory or use the built-in Security app that every device in the brand has. Here the system will offer to clean up, but for deep analysis, you better use manual file viewing mode.

Note the Other or System Files category, which is where large archives with a.bak extension or folders called Backup often hide. MIUI system backups can take up to 10-15 GB of storage if not cleaned in time, a critical fact, as many owners of smartphones with a storage capacity of 64 or 128 GB are scratching their heads where gigabytes went after installing a couple of apps.

⚠️ Note: Before deleting any files from system folders, make sure you don’t really need the data contained in the archive.

Delete local copies through phone settings

The most common way to backup Xiaomi devices is to store data locally. A smartphone creates a full cast of the system, including applications, their data, Wi-Fi password settings and a call log. To delete these files, you need to go to a special backup management menu hidden in the depths of system settings.

Navigating the menu can be confusing because of the localization features. You should follow the path: Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore. In some versions of MIUI, this item may be immediately in the main settings menu or in the “Advanced” section. Once you log in, you will see a list of all saved restore points with date and size.

Select the copy you don't need from the list. It's usually the oldest date or copy with the least relevant content. When you click on it, you'll see detailed information about what's saved. To delete, click on the appropriate button, which is often hidden in the three-dot menu or marked with the basket icon. The system will request confirmation of the operation, as this action is irreversible.

It is also possible to delete copies selectively if the interface of your firmware version allows it, but most often the entire deletion occurs for the selected date. Once the process is complete, it is recommended to restart the device so that the system correctly recalculates the free space and updates the file system index.

Cleaning up the Mi Cloud Cloud Storage

Mi Accounts automatically access Mi Cloud, a convenient service, but it tends to fill up with junk data if you don't follow your sync settings, and copy removal is different from local deletion, because it's stored on the company's servers and takes up your account quota.

To manage cloud content, you can use your browser on your computer or mobile device by going to the official i.mi.com website. Sign in using the same credentials as your phone. In the web version, select the Cloud or Backup section, and here you will see a list of the devices associated with your account and the dates of their last saves.

In the web interface, you can select a particular device and click on the “Delete Backup” button, and the system will alert you that the data will be erased from the server. This is useful if you sell an old phone or stop using a particular device, but it continues to take up space in the cloud, and you can set up automatic deletion of old versions in the settings of the smartphone itself.

On the device itself, cloud copy management is located on the Settings → Mi Account → Cloud → Backup. Here you can see the status of the last download and delete the current active copy. Sync can resume automatically when you connect to Wi-Fi, if you do not turn off the corresponding slider in the settings.

Managing backups in Google Drive

Remember that the Android ecosystem has its own backup system, independent of Xiaomi. Google Drive stores app settings, call history, SMS-messages MMS. This data can also be a significant amount, especially if you change your smartphones frequently and accumulate a history.

To access this data, open the Google Drive app on your smartphone or go to drive.google.com. Click on the menu (three bars in the corner) and select "Backups." This will show a list of all devices ever logged into your Google account. Find your current or old Xiaomi phone.

When you select a device, you'll see a detailed breakdown of how much space your messages take up, how much your settings and app data, and clicking on three dots next to your device name, you can select the option "Delete backup," which will free up space on your Google account, which is included in the total limit of 15 GB along with your mail and photos.

⚠️ Note: Deleting the backup from Google Drive will not affect the data already stored on the phone itself, but when you reset the settings to factory settings, you will not be able to restore the call history and the phone will not be able to reset the phone. SMS from this point of recovery.

It’s important to distinguish between syncing photos through Google Photos and the Google Drive system backup. These are different processes. Deleting the backup in Drive won’t delete your photos if they’re uploaded to the Google Photo Gallery, but will delete the folder structure and metadata stored by the Android system.

Manual cleaning through the file manager

For advanced users who prefer full control of the file system, there is a method of manual cleaning. Standard tools do not always show the real size of backup folders, especially if the copy creation process has been interrupted or has failed, in which case direct access to directories helps.

Use the Explorer app built-in, or install a more functional analog, like Files by Google or MI File Manager. You need to go to the root folder of internal memory and find the MIUI directory. Inside it is the backup folder, and in it is AllBackup. The path looks like this: /MIUI/backup/AllBackup/.

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Use the function of “Storage Analyzer” in the file manager to visually see which folder with backup takes up the most space before removing its contents.

Inside the AllBackup folder, you will see folders with names corresponding to the date and time of the backup creation (for example, 20231025_143000). When you open this folder, you can see individual files for contacts, messages, and system settings. When you delete the entire folder, you free up space. Be careful, the file manager won't ask for confirmation a second time, like the system settings menu does.

If you're using an SD card, be sure to check the contents, too. Often users randomly choose to save the backup to an external medium and then forget about it. The path will be similar, but it will start with an external card designation, such as /sdcard1/MIUI/backup/AllBackup/.

Automation and overflow prevention

To avoid the problem of space shortage due to backups in the future, it is advisable to set up automatic storage management. MIUI allows you to flexibly configure backup settings. Go to the backup menu and find the schedule settings.

It’s recommended to disable automatic copy creation if you don’t use this feature regularly. Instead, it’s better to create a habit of manually backuping once a month before major system updates. It’s also worth limiting the types of data that are stored: often you don’t have to save all installed applications, just keep contacts and important settings.

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Regularly checking /MIUI/backup/AllBackup/ once a quarter will help to avoid sudden overflow of memory with system debris.

Use the Cleanup feature in the Security app, which automatically scans your device for old installer files (.apk), cache and, in some versions, outdated backups. Set up memory fill notifications so that the system warns you in advance when the free space will reach a critical mark.

Remember that memory optimization is a continuous process: Deleting old copies not only makes room for new photos and applications, but can also have a positive impact on file system speed, especially on models with the type of eMMC memory, which are sensitive to the degree of filling.

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