Owners of modern smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco store huge amounts of information, from personal correspondence in instant messengers to work documents and thousands of photos. Loss of the device or critical failure of the MIUI system can lead to irreversible consequences if you do not take care of data security in advance, which is why the question of how to properly and fully secure the phone becomes a priority for every conscious user.
There are many scenarios that require backups, whether it’s preparing to flash, switching to a new smartphone model, or simply wanting to protect yourself from accidentally deleting files. The Xiaomi ecosystem has several built-in tools, as well as many third-party solutions that allow you to save information in different formats, and the choice of the specific method depends on your goals and the amount of data you have.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the current ways to create backups on devices with the shell MIUI and HyperOS. We will look at local saving, working with cloud services and professional methods through the computer. You will learn not only to create backups, but also competently restore the system if necessary.
Local Backup: The Integrated MIUI Tool
The fastest and most affordable way to save settings, applications and their data is to use the regular functionality of the system. Unlike cloud methods, the local backup does not require Internet and allows you to save even Wi-Fi passwords and call history. To get started, go to the Settings menu → About the phone and click on the MIUI version several times to activate advanced features if they are hidden, although in recent versions the path is most often in the Settings → Advanced Settings → Backup and Restore.
Once you log in, the system will suggest you select the types of data to save. You can mark applications, system settings, call logs and SMS-It is important to understand that this method creates a backup file directly in the internal memory of the device. The local backup takes up space on the disk, so before starting the procedure, make sure that you have a few gigabytes free of charge.
⚠️ Note: Default backup files are saved in a hidden folder MIUI/backup/AllBackup. If you plan to reset to the factory settings (Hard Reset), be sure to transfer this file to your computer or the cloud, otherwise it will be irretrievably lost along with the rest of the data.
The copy creation process can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes depending on the number of applications installed and the amount of data. Once completed, you will see a report on the file size and time of creation, and it is recommended to update such copies regularly, especially after installing important applications or changing system settings.
Working with Mi Cloud: Cloud storage
The Mi Cloud is an integral part of Xiaomi’s ecosystem, allowing you to synchronize key data in real time, ideal for protecting contacts, notes, voice recordings and photos. To activate the feature, you need to log into your Mi Account through the settings menu and select the Mi Cloud section, where you can customize in detail which applications will sync with the server.
The main advantage of the cloud method is automation. You don't have to remember to make copies, the system itself updates data when connecting to Wi-Fi. However, consider the limitations of the free tariff, which usually provides 5 GB of space. For storing heavy files, such as high-resolution video or full system images, this volume may not be enough.
- 📸 Gallery: Automatic uploading of photos and videos in original quality or in an optimized format.
- 📞 Contact and SMS: Instant synchronization of phone book and text messages, which is critical when changing devices.
- 📝 Notes and Recorder: Saving voice recordings and text files also available via the web interface.
Using Mi Cloud is especially important for users who often change devices or are physically safe. Even if the phone is broken or lost, you can recover important data just by logging into your account from any other gadget.
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Use the "Store Cleanup" feature in the gallery after syncing with Mi Cloud to remove the original photos from your phone, freeing up space but leaving them accessible through the cloud.
Backup to your computer via USB
The most reliable method of storing large amounts of data is to create a backup on an external medium or computer. USB-cable and driver installed on the PC ADB Or just a file manager. Connect your smartphone to your computer and select File Transfer Mode from your phone menu (MTP).
The first step is to copy all media files manually. Open the device folder in My Computer and transfer the DCIM directories (camera photos and videos), Pictures (screenshots and images from instant messengers), Download and Music to your hard drive, which gives you full control over the files and allows you to organize their archiving as you wish.
For deeper backup, including application data, you can use specialized software such as Mi PC Suite (official but rarely updated) or universal programs like AdbBackup. However, for most users, manually copying folders and using an integrated local backup, the file of which also needs to be transferred to the PC, is enough.
| Method | Speed. | Data volume | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local (in memory) | Tall. | Limited to phone memory | Medium (reset risk) |
| Mi Cloud | Depends on Wi-Fi. | Restricted by tariff (5GB+) | Tall. |
| USB on PC | Very high. | Limited to a PC drive | Maximum |
| Google Drive | Medium | 15GB free of charge | Tall. |
Use of Google Services for Synchronization
Don’t forget the basic level of protection that Android provides. Google accounts automatically sync contacts, calendar events, passwords in Chrome and data from many apps. Check sync status in Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
Google Photos is a special service, and unlike Xiaomi’s standard gallery, it offers powerful search and categorization algorithms. By enabling autoload, you’re guaranteed to save all your photos even if you lose your phone completely. The free limit of 15GB is split between mail, disk and photo, so you need to keep track of the volume.
Google Play also stores a list of installed apps, so when you first start on a new device or after a reset, the system will offer to restore applications that were installed earlier, which saves time to re-install the software, although the logins inside the applications will have to be re-entered if they are not synchronized separately.
What to do if Google sync is suspended?
Saving data messengers: WhatsApp and Telegram
Messengers store the most important correspondence, and their backup requires a separate approach, as standard methods of the system may not store the entire message history. WhatsApp uses its own backup system, linked to Google Drive. To set up, go to Settings → Chats → Backup Chats.
In WhatsApp settings, you can select the frequency of copy creation (daily, weekly) and the Google account for storage. It is important to know that local copies of WhatsApp are stored in the Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases folder, but they are encrypted and linked to the account, so it is extremely difficult to restore them without access to Google Drive or phone number.
In the case of Telegram, the situation is simpler: all the history of correspondence is stored on the messenger servers. You do not need to create chat backups, you just need to remember your phone number and password for two-factor authentication (2FA). However, Favorites and files downloaded without cloud caching, it is better to duplicate manually if you use secret chats that are not synchronized with the cloud.
- 📱 WhatsApp: Requires binding to Google Drive and free disk space.
- ✈️ Telegram: Cloud storage by default, backup is only needed for secret chats (which are not backup) and settings.
- 💬 Viber: Has its own backup section in settings, also uses Google Drive.
Restore the system from backup
The process of data recovery depends on the method you chose earlier. If you used the local MIUI backup, then after a reset or on a new device, you need to copy the AllBackup folder to the root of internal memory (or the same folder structure), then the system will automatically find the file in the recovery menu and prompt you to start the process.
When using cloud services (Mi Cloud or Google), recovery occurs at the initial setup of the smartphone. Once you enter the username and password from the account, the system will suggest selecting a restore point, you can choose a full copy or selective download of data, which is convenient if you do not want to carry garbage from the old device.
⚠️ Note: When you restore from a local backup, the firmware version on the new device must be equal to or newer than the backup version on which the backup was created. Otherwise, the process may end in error or some of the settings will not apply correctly. App recovery is done in the background. Icons will appear on the desktop, but the files themselves will be downloaded as needed. It is recommended to connect to a stable Wi-Fi network and leave the phone on charge so that the process is successful and without interruptions. ☑️ Checklist before resetting the phone Made local backup in MIUIPhoto and documents copied to PCS Synchronization with Mi CloudSync Verified Google account bindingRemembered password from two-factor authentication: 0 / 5 Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Where is the local backup file physically located on Xiaomi? Files are stored along the path Internal memory → MIUI → backup → AllBackup. Inside you will find folders with the date and time of creation of the backup. For security when resetting the phone, this folder must be copied to the computer. Can you restore the backup from MIUI 12 to MIUI 14? Yes, usually recovery from the older version of the firmware to the new one is successful. The reverse situation (attempting to restore data from MIUI 14 to a phone with MIUI 12) often leads to errors or incorrect operation of the system. How long it takes to create a full copy of the system? Time depends on the data volume of the device, when the backup is busy to run from the device to the battery with the battery to the battery, when the battery is connected to the battery, when the battery, when the battery is used to the battery is used for the battery to the battery to the battery, when the battery, the battery is used for the battery to the battery to run to the battery, the battery, if the battery, the battery is used to the battery, the battery is used to run for the battery, the battery Yes, unless you backed up your system settings or synced them through Mi. Account/Google Account, all stored Wi-Fi networks and their passwords will be deleted irrevocably. 💡Regularly combining local backup and cloud sync is the only way to guarantee 100% Data security in all situations.