How to Remove Backups on Xiaomi: Safe Methods for All Models

Backups on Xiaomi smartphones take up gigabytes of memory, but not all users know how to remove them correctly. MIUI creates automatic backups of applications, contacts and settings - both locally and in the Mi Cloud. Over time, these files accumulate, slow down the device and eat up precious space.

In this article, you will find 5 working ways to remove backups, from standard MIUI tools to advanced methods through ADB. We will discuss how to clean local backups, delete data from the Mi Cloud, and what to do if the system does not allow you to erase files. All instructions are tested on current firmware versions (including HyperOS) and are suitable for most models, from Redmi Note 12 to Xiaomi 14 flagships.

Why Xiaomi backups take up so much space

The MIUI system by default creates backups of three types:

• 📱 Local copies - stored in a folder /MIUI/backup/AllBackup It's on the internal drive. It's setting up the applications, SMS, Call log and some system services data.
• ☁️ Cloud Copies – synced with Mi Cloud (up to 5GB free) Contains contacts, notes, photos and app backups.
• 🔄 Automatic backups before upgrading – created before installing a new firmware and can weigh up to 1-3 GB.

The main problem is that MIUI does not clean old backups automatically. For example, after upgrading from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14, the system leaves a backup of the previous version that is no longer needed.

According to tests, on smartphones with MIUI 14 and later, the AllBackup folder can take from 500 MB to 5 GB, depending on the number of apps installed and the frequency of backup creation, and users often find that:

• 🗑️ Backup files are not displayed in a gallery or standard conductor.
• 🔒 Some copies are protected from deletion without superuser rights (root).
• ☁️ Cloud backups continue to take up space even after sync shutdown.

Method 1: Delete local backups through MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in Backup tool in the MIUI settings, which allows you to delete both individual backups and the entire folder, and is suitable for users who do not want to dig into the file manager.

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Backup.
2. Slip on the item "Local backup".
3. You'll see a list of all the backups you saved. Click on the right one and select "Delete."
4. For a complete cleanup, click "Clean All" in the upper right corner.

If you don't have a Local Backup option, you're using HyperOS (or a new version of MIUI) on your device.

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Files.
2. In the search box, type "backup".
3. Find the MIUI/backup folder and manually delete its contents.

⚠️ Attention: Do not delete the folder MIUI/backup It can cause system applications to crash, and only delete files with the.bak or.mbk extension.

Method 2: Clean up via Mi Cloud (cloud copies)

Cloud backups in Mi Cloud take up not only space on Xiaomi servers, but are cached on the device to remove them:

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select "Backup" (or "Manage backups" in new versions).
3. Slip on the device you want to remove.
4. Click "Delete backup" and confirm the action.

If the deletion button is inactive, it means:

• 🔗 You do not have permission to manage your account (for example, the device is tied to someone else’s Mi Account).
• 📵 No internet connection – check your mobile data or Wi-Fi.
• 🔄 Synchronization is in progress – wait 5-10 minutes and try again.

To clean the Mi Cloud cache completely on the device:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find "Mi Cloud" and select "Storage".
3. Click on "Clear Cache" and "Clear Data".

💡

If you don't get a space after you delete the backups in the Mi Cloud, restart the device. Sometimes the system doesn't update the free space data right away.

Method 3: Manual Deletion through File Manager

Some backups (such as those from Mi Fit or Xiaomi Home) are stored in hidden folders and not displayed in the standard file manager to find and delete them:

1. Install a file manager with root access support (such as FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings.
3. Go to /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/backup/AllBackup/ /data/data/com.miui.cloudbackup/files/ /data/data/data/com.xiaomi.cloud/files/
4. Delete all files with extensions.bak,.mbk,.zip.

If /data/data/ is not available without root rights, use an alternative method:

• 📂 Connect your phone to your PC through USB-Debugging (included in Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then return to the Additional Settings → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🖥️ On your computer, open the command line and type: adb shell rm -rf /sdcard/MIUI/backup/AllBackup/*

⚠️ Note: Removing files from /data/data/ If you're not sure, you can only use the first path if you don't have root (/MIUI/backup/).

Method 4: Remove via ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which is a method that is suitable for removing secure system backups that are not visible in the conductor.

First, prepare the device:

1. Enable USB Debugging (see previous section).
2. Download ADB Tools on PC.
3. Connect the phone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.

Now, execute the commands in order:

adb devices # Checking the connection


adb shell # Going to the shell of the device




su # Request root rights (if any)




rm -rf /data/data/com.miui.cloudbackup/* # Deletion of cloud backups




rm -rf /sdcard/MIUI/backup/* # Removal of local backups




exit #Out of the shell

If the su command doesn't work, then the device doesn't have superuser rights, and then use an alternative set of commands:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.cloudbackup # Uninstall the Mi Cloud Backup app (without data loss)


adb shell pm clear com.miui.cloudbackup #Cache cleanup

Method 5: Resetting settings (extreme case)

If backups take up a critical amount of space and you can't delete them, you're left resetting to factory settings, which erases all the data on the device, including backups, but requires pre-preparedness.

Procedure:

1. Create a backup of important data (photos, contacts, messages) manually.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select "Erase all data."
4. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed (it will take 5-15 minutes).

After discharge:

• 🔧 Set your phone up as new (don’t restore data from your old backup!).
• 🚫 Turn off automatic backup in Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud.
• 📱 Install only the necessary applications, avoiding unnecessary Xiaomi services.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi Note) 10 Pro) a folder may remain after the reset MIUI/backup Check it manually through the file manager.

How to disable automatic backup creation

To make backups no longer take up space, disable their creation:

On HyperOS devices, the path to settings may be different, such as turning off cloud backups:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Cloud.
2. Select "Storage Management."
3. Turn off backup for unnecessary data.

💡

Even after disabling automatic backup, MIUI can create hidden backups before critical operations (e.g. firmware updates) and manually check /MIUI/backup regularly.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

When deleting backups, users often face problems:

• 🔒 "No access to the folder, which occurs when you try to delete system backups without root. ADB or file manager with superuser rights.
• 🔄 "Backups are coming back again, which means automatic backup is not disabled. MIUI Backup.
• ☁️ "No ‘cloud copy’ deleted – try to delete it via the Mi Cloud web version (i.mi.com) or reset your Xiaomi account password.
• 📱 "After removing the backups, the phone started to "pain" - important system files may have been deleted. + Vol Up when switched on).

If after all the manipulations the place is not free, check:

• 🗃️ folder /sdcard/Android/obb/ — There may be cache games and applications.
• 📸 folder DCIM/.thumbnails — photo and video miniatures.
• 🔍 Section "Other" in Settings → Memory – There are often temporary files hidden there.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions