How to restore backup on Xiaomi phone: all ways 2026

Losing contacts, photos or settings after a phone reset is a familiar situation for many Xiaomi owners. Fortunately, you can recover data from a backup in a few minutes if you know the correct algorithm. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to restore backup on Redmi, Poco and Black Shark smartphones running MIUI 14/15, including nuances for different versions of firmware and models.

It’s worth noting that the recovery process depends on the type of backup: local (save on a device or memory card), cloud (via Mi Cloud or Google Drive), or created by third-party applications like Titanium Backup. We’ll look at each option with the latest updates to the Xiaomi ecosystem, where some features (such as reservations via Mi Account) have undergone changes.

If you’ve never backed up, check backups in standard locations before you restore: Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backups or Mi Cloud → Backups. The absence of backup files means that you can only recover data through specialized utilities – but that’s already a topic for a separate article.

1.Preparing the phone for recovery

Before starting the process, make sure to follow a few steps to avoid errors. First, make sure that there is enough free space on the phone – it takes at least 10-15% of the backup to unpack. For example, if your backup weighs 5 GB, the device should have at least 1-1.5 GB free.

Second, check the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version. In firmware older than MIUI 12, the recovery algorithm may differ — especially for backups created on newer versions. If the firmware version on the phone is lower than the one on which the backup was made, data recovery may not work.

• 🔋 Battery charge: Make sure the charge level is at least 50%. The recovery process can take up to 30 minutes, and interruption due to discharge will lead to data loss.
• 📶 Network Connection: Cloud backups (Mi Cloud or Google Drive) require stable Wi-Fi. Mobile Internet may not be suitable due to traffic restrictions.
• 🔑 Account Authorization: If you restore a backup from Mi Cloud, log in to the same Mi Account that was used to create the copy.
• 🛠️ Disable Antivirus: Some applications (such as Avast or 360 Security) may block the recovery process by mistaking it for suspicious activity.

Restore the backup on a phone with an unlocked bootloader can cause a system failure if a copy was created on a device with a locked bootloader, in which case it is recommended to use alternative methods (for example, manual copying of files via ADB).

2. Local backup recovery via MIUI

Local backups are stored in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder on internal memory or microSD card. To recover them, follow the following steps:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset.
2. Select Local Backups.
3. In the list, find the right backup (they are sorted by the date of creation) and tap on it.
4. Click Restore and confirm the action.

It can take anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes depending on the amount of data you have, and don't interrupt it even if the phone seems to be hanging, which can damage the file system.

Download the backup to your phone if it is stored on PC|Check the integrity of the file (the size must match the original)|Disable two-factor authentication in your Mi Account|Close all background applications-->

If the list does not have the right backup, check the following folders manually through any file manager (e.g. Mi File Manager):

• /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/backup/AllBackup is the standard location.
• /storage/EXT_SD/MIUI/backup/AllBackup — if a copy on a memory card.
• /data/media/0/MIUI/backup/AllBackup is an alternative path for some models.

⚠️ Note: If you are restoring a backup on another Xiaomi model (e.g., with the Redmi Note 10 on Poco) X5), Some settings (such as camera settings or gestures) may not work properly, in which case it is recommended to restore only contacts, messages and media files, skipping system data.

3.Recovery from Mi Cloud

Cloud backups in Mi Cloud are the most reliable way, as the data is stored on Xiaomi servers and does not depend on the status of the phone.

• The free Mi Cloud account only provides 5GB of space. If the backup is larger, a subscription will be required.
• Copies are automatically deleted 30 days after creation, unless they are updated.
• Some models (such as Black Shark) do not support cloud redundancy via Mi Cloud.

Instructions for remediation:

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select the backup of the device.
3. In the list, find the desired copy and click Restore.
4. Check the data you want to return (contacts, photos, notes, etc.) and confirm.

If the Restore button is inactive, check:

• Wi-Fi connection (mobile internet may be blocked)
• Free space on the phone (requires at least 20% of the backup volume).
• Mi Account Status – If it is blocked or not confirmed, recovery will not be available.

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If Mi Cloud doesn't see your backup, try logging in to your account via your browser at i.mi.com and checking for backup in the Devices section. Sometimes copies are displayed there but not synced to your phone.

4.Restore via Google Drive (for contacts and apps)

If you have used a Google Account to back up, you can restore:

• 📇 Contacts
• 📱 List of installed applications (without stored data)
• 📅 Calendar and notes (if synced with Google Keep)
• 📷 Photos (if Google Photos were enabled)

For recovery:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Select your account and enable synchronization for the data you need.
3. For contacts: open the Contacts app, tap on three points → Settings → Import / Export → Restore contacts.

Please note: Google Drive does not save SMS, call log, or MIUI settings. This data will require a local backup or Mi Cloud.

5.Restore backup on new Xiaomi phone

If you have switched to a new model (for example, from the Redmi Note 11 to the Xiaomi 13T), you can recover data in two ways:

Method 1: Through the Mi Cloud

• Sign in to the same Mi Account as your old phone.
• When you first turn on a new device, the system will offer to restore data from the cloud.
• If you missed this step, go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Restore with Mi Cloud.

Method 2: Through a local backup

1. Copy the folder. MIUI/backup/AllBackup From the old phone to the new one (via Mi File Manager, USB-cable).
2. On your new phone, go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backups.
3. Select the copied backup and click Restore.

⚠️ Note: When restoring the backup to a device with a different version MIUI (for example, MIUI 13 on MIUI 15) some system settings may reset. This is normal behavior - after recovery, restart your phone.

6. Recovery through ADB (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work (e.g., a corrupted backup file or a phone won’t turn on), you can try recovering data via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that is suitable for users familiar with the command line.

Procedure:

1. Install ADB Tools on PC (you can download from the official website of Android Developers).
2. Connect your phone to your computer in USB debugging mode (includes in Settings → For developers → USB debugging).
3. Open the command line and execute: Adb devices Make sure the device is defined.
4. To recover the backup, type: adb restore /path/to/file.bak For example: adb restore C:\Backup\xiaomi_backup_2026.ab

If the process ends with the adb: unable to restore backup error, try:

• Reconnect the phone and restart ADB.
• Use a different version of ADB Tools (e.g. Platform Tools 34.0.1).
• Restore the backup on another device with the same MIUI version.

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Recovery via ADB is the only way to get data back if the phone is not turned on but is determined by the computer in Fastboot or EDL mode. However, this method requires technical skills and can lead to data loss if used improperly.

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

When restoring backup on Xiaomi, users often face the following problems:

• 🔄 Error "Impossible to restore backup": Reason: version mismatch MIUI Solution: Try to restore a copy on a device with the same firmware version or use ADB.
• 🔒 "Device not certified": Reason: phone not Google-checked (often after firmware is custom Recovery). Solution: Go to Settings → Google → Certification of the device and follow the instructions.
• ⏳ Recovery freezes by 0% or 99%: Reason: background conflict or memory shortage Solution: Restart your phone, close all apps and try again.
• 📱 "No backups to Mi Cloud: Reason: The copy is deleted automatically (retention period 30 days) or linked to another account.Solution: check other Mi accounts or try to restore data via Google Drive.

If none of these methods worked, try alternative recovery programs:

• Titanium Backup (requires root rights)
• Swift Backup (works without root on some firmware).
• Dr.Fone (for data extraction from damaged backups)

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions