Where in the cloud Mi Cloud stored backup phone Xiaomi: search and restore Android data

Have you lost your Xiaomi phone or accidentally deleted important files but backed up your Mi Cloud before doing so? Or just want to understand where your Android device’s data is stored in the cloud? In this article, we’ll look at how backup storage works in the Xiaomi ecosystem, where your data is physically and logically located, and how to access it — even if the original phone is no longer available.

The concept of the cloud often seems abstract: users know files are out there, but don’t understand how it works in practice. In the case of Mi Cloud, the situation is complicated by the fact that Xiaomi uses a hybrid storage system: some data is duplicated on the company’s servers in different countries (depending on the region of the account), and some can be temporarily cached on devices, we will analyze what data is synchronized, how it is encrypted, and what to do if a copy is not displayed in the web interface.

We’ll focus on hidden folders and system backups that aren’t visible in the standard Mi Cloud interface, but contain critical information, from the list of installed apps to Wi-Fi settings to Google Authenticator data, and why backups sometimes “disappear” from the cloud after 30 days and how to avoid it.

How to Storage Data in Mi Cloud: Server Architecture and Locations

The Mi Cloud is not a single server, but a distributed network of data centers managed by Xiaomi and its partners, and the physical location of your data depends on two factors:

• 🌍 Mi region: when registering, you chose a country (Russia, China, India, etc.) and this depends on which servers your data will be uploaded to, for example, for Russian users, the main servers are located in Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Frankfurt (Germany).
• 📦 Type of data: Media files (photos, videos) are stored on some servers, and system backups are stored on others. SMS Call logs may be in Singapore, even if your account is linked to Europe.
• 🔒 Encryption level: personal data (contacts, notes) are encrypted according to the standard AES-256 and stored on servers with increased protection, while the cache of applications can lie on less secure nodes.

It is important to understand that Xiaomi does not provide users with direct access to physical servers – all interactions occur through the web interface (i.mi.com) or the Mi Cloud mobile application. However, if necessary (for example, at the request of law enforcement agencies), the company can specify the exact location of data storage.

If you’re concerned about privacy, note that since 2021, Xiaomi has been moving some of its European data to data centers certified to ISO 27001, meaning that backups of phones from EU and Russian users are now stored with stricter security standards than before.

Where in Mi Cloud to look for a backup phone: step-by-step instructions

To find a backup of your Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO in the cloud, follow these steps. Note that the interface may vary slightly depending on the phone model and MIUI version.

1. Sign in to Mi Account Go to i.mi.com and log in with the same account that was linked to your phone. If you forgot your password, restore it via email or phone number.
2. Go to Devices in the left menu, select Devices (or Devices in English) and display all the smartphones that have ever been linked to your account.
3. Select the device you want to use Click on the phone model that needs a backup. If the device doesn't show up, check if sync with Mi Cloud has been enabled in the phone's settings (Settings → Mi → Mi Cloud Account).
4. Find the Backup section of the device information, find the Backup tab, which lists all available copies, sorted by date of creation.

If a copy is missing, check:

• ⏳ Was the option Automatic backup enabled in the phone settings.
• 🗑️ Has the storage period expired (standard period – 30 days from the last synchronization).
• 📱 Was the phone dropped to factory settings without a backup.

Make sure there is enough room on your phone to recover.|Connect to Wi-Fi (the amount of data can exceed 1 GB)|Battery charge of at least 50%|Turn it off. VPN (It can block access to Xiaomi servers)-->

What data is stored in the backup of Mi Cloud: the full list

Not all data from Xiaomi’s phone syncs to the cloud, but here’s a complete list of what’s included in the standard Mi Cloud backup (relevant to MIUI 12-14):

Note that photos and videos are stored in Mi Cloud separately from backups, in the Gallery section, and you need to manually sync them through the Photos app.

• 🔐 Wi-Fi passwords (only network names are saved).
• 💳 Bank Application Data (Prohibited by Security Policy).
• 🎮 Save games (except for games from Xiaomi, for example, Mi Game Center).

How to Recover Data from Mi Cloud to New Xiaomi Phone

The recovery process depends on what phone you have right now:

Method 1: Restore to the new smartphone Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO

1. Turn on your new phone and connect to Wi-Fi.
2. At the setup stage, select Restore from backup.
3. Sign in to the same Mi Account as your old phone.
4. Select the copy you want from the list (note the date of creation!).
5. Confirm the recovery and wait until it is completed (may take up to 1 hour).

Method 2: Partial recovery via web interface

If you need to return only individual data (for example, contacts or SMS):

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. In the Devices section, select the desired phone.
3. Click Restore next to the desired category (e.g. Contacts).
4. Download the backup file (.mi format) to your computer.
5. Transfer it to your phone and open it through the Mi Cloud app.

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If recovery has been stalled during the “Data Preparation” phase, try disabling the VPN or changing the Wi-Fi network. Often the problem is with the ISP blocking traffic.

⚠️ Note: If you restore data to a phone with a newer version MIUI, than the one on which the copy was created, some of the settings may not apply, such as the themes or control gestures from the MIUI 12 won't work on MIUI 14.

Why backups can disappear from the Mi Cloud: 5 reasons

Users often experience a situation where a previously created copy of Suddenly disappears from the cloud.

1. The standard period is 30 days from the last sync, and if you haven't connected your phone to the Internet for more than a month, the copy is deleted automatically.
2. When you delete your Xiaomi account (for example, via Settings → Mi Account → Delete your account), all associated data is erased without the possibility of recovery.
3. Server error is rare, but there are Mi Cloud failures when copies are temporarily unavailable.
4. If you have changed your country in your account settings (for example, from Russia to China), old copies may become unavailable due to the transfer of data to other servers.
5. Manually delete a copy may have been removed by another user who has access to your account (e.g., through family access).

⚠️ Note: If the copy has disappeared due to a reason №1 №2, it cannot be restored - Xiaomi does not provide remote backup recovery services. The only chance is to contact support within 7 days after deletion to ask you to check server logs.

How to increase the storage time of a backup in Mi Cloud

By default, Mi Cloud only stores backups for 30 days, but that period can be extended.

• 🔄 Regular sync: Connect your phone to the Internet at least once every 2 weeks. Each data update in the cloud resets the delete timer.
• 💾 Manual copy creation: Go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup and click Create a copy. This will update the date of the last activity.
• 📱 Using two devices: Link a second phone (like an old Redmi) to your account and enable sync on it, which will make the system consider the account active.
• 💰 Subscription of Mi Cloud+: Paid tariff (from 100 rubles / month) increases the shelf life to 180 days and adds 200 GB of space.

If you plan to stay away from your phone for a long time (for example, you are sending it for repair), create a local copy through the Mi PC Suite:

1. Connect your phone to your computer via USB.
2. Start Mi PC Suite (you can download from the official website).
3. Select Backup and specify the folder to save to the PC.

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Local copies created through Mi PC Suite are stored indefinitely and do not depend on the status of the Mi Cloud account.

Frequent Mi Cloud Errors and How to Fix Them

Even experienced users have trouble recovering data from Mi Cloud, and these are common mistakes and solutions:

If none of these methods worked, try an alternative recovery method:

1. Download the backup file (.mi) through the Mi Cloud web interface.
2. Rename the extension to.zip and unpack the archive.
3. In the backup/ folder, find files with the.db extension (SMS databases, contacts, etc.).
4. Use third-party utilities (such as SQLite Browser) to view content.

⚠️ Warning: Manual editing of backup files can damage them.Do this only if you have experience with SQLite databases.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Backups in Mi Cloud