Where backup on Xiaomi is saved: all backup storage places

Have you made a backup on Xiaomi but can't find it? Or want to make sure the backup is actually saved before you dump your phone? The problem is that MIUI distributes backups to multiple locations, from hidden folders in your device's memory to the Mi Cloud. In this article, we'll go through all the possible locations where the backup can be saved on Redmi, POCO and Mi smartphones, and explain how to find and restore them.

It’s important to understand that the way you store it depends on how you create the backup, whether it’s through embedded MIUI tools, third-party apps (like Titanium Backup or Swift Backup), or cloud services. Even if you haven’t changed your default settings, backups can end up in unexpected places — like the MIUI/backup folder on your internal drive or the encrypted archive on Google Drive. We’ve gathered all the relevant information, including hidden paths and nuances for different versions of MIUI (12 to 14).

If you don’t find the answer to your question in the main part of the article, check the FAQ- section at the end – it’s broken down typical issues, such as why the backup doesn’t show up in the Mi Cloud or how to restore a copy after resetting to factory settings.

1. Local backups: where Xiaomi saves backups on the phone

By default, MIUI stores local backups to the device's internal memory. The main backup folder is MIUI/backup, but its content depends on the firmware version and smartphone model.

• 📁 Folder MIUI/backup/AllBackup – This is where you store full backups created through Settings → About Phone → Backup. Files have the.mbk extension (encrypted archives).
• 📁 Folder MIUI/backup/Backup is an outdated path (relevant to MIUI 10-11) where old backups may have remained after the system update.
• 📁 Folder Android/data/com.miui.cloudbackup are temporary files used to sync to Mi Cloud. They can't be restored directly!
• 📁 Root directory (/sdcard/) — Some third-party applications (e.g., TWRP) store backups here in folders like TWRP/BACKUPS.

To find these folders, use any file manager (such as embedded Files or Solid Explorer). Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings, otherwise MIUI and Android folders may not be displayed. Please note: files with the.mbk extension cannot be opened by standard archivers - you need a special tool to restore them (we will discuss this below).

⚠️ Warning: If you connect your phone to your PC via MTP, the MIUI/backup folder may not appear in Windows Explorer. This is a restriction MIUI — use the file manager on the smartphone itself or activate PTP mode in the connection settings.

On newer models (Xiaomi 13/14, Redmi Note 12), the path to backups may be different. For example, in MIUI 14, full backups are saved to MIUI/backup/AllBackup/data, and individual copies of applications are saved to MIUI/backup/AppBackup. To avoid confusion, check the folder creation date: fresh backups will have current timestamps.

2. Cloud Backups: How to Find Backups in Mi Cloud and Google Drive

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s primary cloud backup service, but many users don’t know that backups are stored here not as files, but as encrypted data tied to an account. You can’t download them manually, only restore them to another Xiaomi device through the same account.

To check if you have backups in Mi Cloud:

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Scroll down to the Device Backup section.
3. Click on the name of your smartphone – a list of available copies with creation dates will open.

If the backup is there but not displayed, check:

• 🔄 Sync: Turn on mobile internet or Wi-Fi and update the page.
• 🔒 Authorization: You must use the same Xiaomi account as when creating a backup.
• 🗑️ Storage: If the Mi Cloud runs out of space (free 5GB), old copies can be automatically deleted.

In addition to Mi Cloud, Xiaomi can save backups to Google Drive — but only if you manually activate this option in Settings → Google → Backup. Unlike Mi Cloud, here copies are stored as archives that can be downloaded to your PC. The way to Google Drive: Backups → Settings and application data.

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If you don’t remember whether you created a backup in Mi Cloud, check traffic consumption: uploading a backup to the cloud consumes between 500 MB and several GB, depending on the amount of data.

3. Hidden backups: system backups and recovery cache

MIUI automatically backs up some of the system data, even if you didn't manually start it, and it's hidden from the user and stored in protected memory, and it can't be copied or deleted without root permission, but it can be useful when you restore it through Fastboot or Recovery.

Where to look for hidden backups:

These backups are created automatically when:

• 🔄 Update the firmware through OTA.
• 🛠️ Install custom Recovery (e.g. TWRP).
• 📱 Reset to factory settings (sometimes a copy persists).

⚠️ Warning: Attempting to manually modify or delete files in /data, /persist or /cache folders without root rights may result in a loss of warranty or device bribing.

If you need to recover data from hidden backups, it is better to contact the Xiaomi service center - independent manipulation of system partitions is fraught with errors, for example, loss of IMEI or bootloop.

Make sure that Mi Cloud has a copy of the same.|Check the folder. MIUI/backup phone-on|Download important files on PC|Write it down. IMEI (loss-proof)|Disable Two-Factor Authentication in Mi Cloud-->

4. Backups through third-party applications: where files are stored

If you use third-party backup utilities (such as Titanium Backup, Swift Backup, or Migrate), their backups are saved to separate folders.

• 📦 Titanium Backup: The Titanium Backup folder is at the root of internal memory. Files have the.tar.gz (archive) and.properties.xml (metadata) extensions.

The main difference between third-party backups and system ones is that they are not tied to a Xiaomi account and can be restored on any Android device (provided versions are compatible), but root rights or custom Recovery are often required to restore them.

Example of Titanium Backup Structure:

TitaniumBackup/




├── com.android.chrome-20260515-1234.tar.gz # Archive with Application Data




├── com.android.chrome-20260515-1234.properties.xml #Metadata




├── com.whatsapp-20260516-0945.tar.gz




└── ...

If you plan to reset your phone to factory settings, be sure to copy the folders with third-party backups to your PC or external drive. Once reset, they will be deleted along with the rest of the data!

5. How to restore backup on Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

The recovery process depends on the type of backup, and the instructions below are for the most common cases.

Recovery from Mi Cloud

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup → Restore with Mi Cloud.
2. Select the desired copy from the list (sorting by date).
3. Check the data for recovery (contacts, messages, applications, etc.).
4. Click Restore and wait until it is completed (may take up to 30 minutes).

Restoration of local backup (.mbk)

1. Place the.mbk file in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder.
2. Open Settings → About Phone → Backup → Local Backup.
3. Select the file and click Restore.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

Recovery via TWRP (for experienced users)

1. Boot in TWRP Recovery (hold Power + Volume up when turned on).
2. Select Restore and specify a backup folder (usually /TWRP/BACKUPS).
3. Mark the partitions for recovery (System, Data, etc.).
4. Swipe for confirmation and wait for completion.

⚠️ Warning: When recovering through TWRP, never select a Boot partition if it doesn't match your current firmware.This may result in you losing the ability to boot the system!

If recovery fails, check:

• 🔌 Battery charge (must be at least 50%)
• 📶 Internet connection (for cloud backups)
• 🔒 Version compatibility (backup with MIUI 13 may not be restored to MIUI 12).

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Before restoring the backup, always back up your current data, which will allow you to roll back if something goes wrong.

6. Frequent backup issues on Xiaomi and their solutions

Even if you've built the backup right, you can make some mistakes when you restore it.

If none of the solutions worked, try alternative recovery methods:

• 🔧 Use ADB to extract data from the device (if it is turned on).
• 📥 Restore individual files through the file manager (e.g., photos from DCIM).
• 🛠️ Contact Xiaomi Service Center (if hardware related)

Critical information: If your Xiaomi is locked (forgot a pattern lock or password), restoring the backup will not help unlock the device, in which case you will need to reset via Fastboot or contact the service.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi Backups