Xiaomi Reservation: What is this program, how does it work and is it worth using?

Have you ever lost important data on your smartphone? Vacation photos, customer contacts, or saved passwords can all disappear in a moment because of a setting reset, a device theft, or a banal system failure. Xiaomi reservation is an integrated feature that is designed to protect your data from loss, but many users are unaware of its existence or do not understand how to use it.

In this article, we will discuss in detail what backup is on Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO, How it works at the system level, what data is stored (and what is not!), and most importantly, whether you need it or can do with third-party solutions like Google Drive. We will also analyze hidden settings that the manufacturer does not advertise, and give a checklist for secure backup without losing critical files.

If you have ever experienced a situation where, after an update, MIUI If you've lost your notes or your call history, this article will help you avoid these problems in the future. And for those who are just buying a Xiaomi smartphone, we've prepared a comparison of built-in reservations with cloud services so you can choose the best option before you set up your first setup.

What is Xiaomi Reservation and How Does It Work?

The backup function in firmware MIUI — It's a system tool that allows you to create an archived copy of user data, settings and some applications. TWRP or ADB, This solution works at the operating system level and does not require root rights.

The main components of reservations:

• 📱 Local backup – saving data to the device itself or an external memory card (.mbk format).
• ☁️ Cloud redundancy – uploading backup to Xiaomi servers (requires Mi Account account).
• ⚙️ Selective reservations – the ability to choose which data to keep (contacts, SMS, annexes, etc.).
• 🔄 Automatic backup – setting up a schedule to create backups regularly.

It is important to understand that the built-in reservation MIUI copyless:

• 🚫 Files in folders DCIM (Photos/videos, Downloads, Music – they need to be saved separately.
• 🚫 Data from some third-party applications (such as WhatsApp, Telegram or banking programs).
• 🚫 Google Account Settings (they are synced through Google services, not Xiaomi).

Technically, the reservation process looks like this:

1. The system collects the selected data and packs it into an encrypted.mbk archive.
2. When locally saved, the file is placed in a folder. MIUI/backup/AllBackup internal memory or SD-map.
3. With cloud backup, the archive is uploaded to Xiaomi servers with a link to your Mi Account.
4. To restore, it is enough to select the desired backup in the Settings menu → Additionally. → Reserves and discharges.

Where to find reservation settings on Xiaomi?

The reservation menu interface may vary slightly depending on the version. MIUI (for example, MIUI The 14th and HyperOS paths have changed a little bit, but the general logic remains the same:

For MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS:

1. Open the settings (cog icon).
2. Go to the About Phone section. → Reserves and discharges (or additionally) → Reserves and discharges).
3. Choose Local Reservation or Cloud Reservation.

For older versions (MIUI 11 and below):

1. Settings → System and device → Additionally. → Reserves and discharges.

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If your firmware does not have the item "Reservation", try to enter the word "backup" in the search by settings - the system will tell you the current way.

In the reservation menu you will see several key options:

Please note: on certain devices (for example, POCO F5 The Redmi Note 12 menu may be called Backup & Reset, which is the same as the English version.

What data is stored when you reserve Xiaomi?

One of the most common questions is, "Will my photos/messages/apps be saved?" The answer depends on the type of reservation and settings you choose. Here's a full list of data that can be included in the backup:

• 📞 Contacts – including groups and tags (unless synced with Google).
• 💬 SMS and MMS — History of communications (except multimedia in the MMS).
• 📅 Calendar - Events and Reminders.
• 📝 Notes - Notes from the Standard Appendix Notes.
• 🎵 Call settings - call history, blacklist.
• ⚙️ System settings - wallpaper, sounds, network settings, screen settings.
• 📱 Installed annexes - list APK (but not their data!).
• 🔐 Wi-Fi passwords – saved networks and passwords.

And now, what is not saved (this is critical!):

• 🚫 Photos and videos in the gallery (folder) DCIM).
• 🚫 Download files (Downloads folder).
• 🚫 Data of third-party messengers (WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram).
• 🚫 Game saves (e.g. progression to Genshin Impact or PUBG).
• 🚫 Files in the root folder (anything that is not in the standard directories) MIUI).
• 🚫 Google Account Data (mail, contacts if synced with Google).

Important: If you only use Xiaomi’s built-in backup, your photos, videos, and download files will NOT be protected from loss, either by setting up sync with Google Photos, Mi Cloud, or copying to your computer.

Do you need a Xiaomi reservation program or can you do without it?

This is a key question that has no universal answer, and let's look at the pros and cons of an embedded solution, and compare it to the alternatives.

Benefits of Xiaomi reservation:

• ✅ Speed – backup is created in a few minutes (depending on the amount of data).
• ✅ Integration with MIUI — Recovery in one click after reset or update.
• ✅ No dependence on Google – works even without Google services (relevant to Chinese firmware).
• ✅ Encryption – archives are password protected (if you set it up).

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Limited Cloud Volume – Only 5GB is free on the Mi Cloud.
• ❌ Incomplete backup – Media files and data from many applications are not saved.
• ❌ Compatibility issues – backup with MIUI 13 may not recover on MIUI 14.
• ❌ No PC version – you can’t control backups via computer (only via phone).

Alternatives to built-in reservations:

So do you need a Xiaomi reservation program? The answer depends on your tasks:

• 🔹 Yes, if you frequently reflash your phone, reset your settings, or fear losing SMS/note-book.
• 🔹 Not if you use Google to sync and save photos separately (e.g. in Google Photos).
• 🔹 If you have Chinese firmware without Google services, this is the only way to save data.

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Xiaomi’s built-in backup is not a panacea, but only one of the data protection tools, and for complete security, it is recommended to combine it with cloud services (Google Photos, Mi Cloud) and manually copying important files on a PC.

Step-by-step: how to make a backup on Xiaomi

If you choose to use built-in backup, follow this instruction, and we'll look at both on-premises and cloud backups.

Step 1: Local reservations

1. Go to Settings. → The phone. → Reserves and discharges → Local reservations.
2. Press Backup.
3. Select the data to save (we recommend leaving all ticks, except for unnecessary applications).
4. Specify the location of the storage: internal memory or SD-map.
5. Click Start and wait until it is completed (may take 5-15 minutes).

Step 2: Cloud reservations

1. In the same menu, select Cloud Reservation.
2. Sign in to Mi Account (if not authorized).
3. Select the data for the backup (the volume is limited to 5 GB at a free tariff).
4. Press Upload to the Cloud.
5. Wait for the download to be completed (speed depends on the Internet connection).

Step 3: Set up automatic reservations

1. In the Reservation and Reset menu, select Automatic Reservation.
2. Set the frequency: Daily or Weekly.
3. Choose the backup type: Local or Cloud.
4. Activate the option only when charging so as not to drain the battery.

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If you are backing up before upgrading MIUI, Turn off automatic backups – they may conflict with the upgrade process.

Step 4: Data recovery

1. Go to Settings. → The phone. → Reserves and discharges → Data recovery.
2. Choose the source: Local file or Cloud.
3. Specify the desired backup (by date of creation).
4. Select data for recovery (not everything can be restored).
5. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.

⚠️ Note: When recovering data from the backup, current settings and files may be overwritten. For example, if there is a contact with the same name in the backup, it will replace the existing one!

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users sometimes experience reservation problems, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to solve them:

1. The backup is not created or interrupted

• 🔹 Reason: There is insufficient memory on the device or SD-map.
• 🔹 Solution: Free up space (delete unnecessary files) or select another media.

2. Not recovering. SMS contact

• 🔹 Reason: Data already synced to Google or another account.
• 🔹 Solution: Before restoring, turn off synchronization in Settings → Accounts.

3.The backup is built, but it's not rebuilt.

• 🔹 Reason: Different versions MIUI on the device and in the backup.
• 🔹 Solution: Update the firmware to the same version as in the archive.

4.The cloud backup is not booting

• 🔹 Reason: Poor Internet connection or Mi Account problems.
• 🔹 Solution: Reconnect to Wi-Fi or check account status at account.xiaomi.com.

5. Some applications have gone missing since the recovery

• 🔹 Reason: Only the backup is saved APK-files, not application data.
• 🔹 Solution: Use Swift Backup or Titanium Backup for full app backup.

⚠️ WARNING: If you’re backing up before selling your phone, be sure to remove all local archives from your folder. MIUI/backup. They may contain personal data (SMS, Call history) that is easy to recover even after resetting your settings!

Xiaomi’s Hidden Reservation Opportunities You Didn’t Know About

Xiaomi doesn’t disclose all of the redundancy features in the interface, but some can be activated through hidden settings or ADB. Here are some life hacks:

1. Reservation through ADB (rootless)

If you need to create a backup on your computer, you can use the command:

adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f C:\backup.ab

This team will keep:

• 📌 APK-file (-apk)
• 📌 Application data (-obb, -shared)
• 📌 System settings (-all)

The backup.ab file will be saved to the C: disk.

2. Backup encryption

By default, local backups are not encrypted, but you can set a password:

1. When creating a backup, click on three points (⋮) top-right.
2. Select Set password.
3. Create a strong password (minimum 8 characters).

3.Reservation of lock screen settings

Most backups do not store fingerprints and a pattern lock, but you can save the lock screen settings:

1. Create a backup with a checkmark System settings.
2. After recovery, go to Settings → Lock screen.
3. The system will offer to restore the old settings (including wallpaper and lock style).

4.Restore backup to another device

Technically, you can restore the backup from one Xiaomi smartphone to another, but there are nuances:

• 🔹 Devices must be on one version MIUI.
• 🔹 Some settings (such as wallpaper) may not apply due to different screen resolutions.
• 🔹 Apps will recover, but their data will only be compatible with the new device.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi Reservation