Xiaomi Backup: How to Save All Data Before Resetting or Updating

Losing data on a smartphone is one of the most frustrating situations that a user of Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO can face. Vacation photos, important correspondence, saved passwords and even progress in games can all disappear in a moment due to a reset, failed update or breakage of the device. Fortunately, Xiaomi offers several reliable ways to create a backup, and today we will analyze them all – from built-in tools to third-party solutions.

In this article, you'll find not only step-by-step instructions, but also a comparison of methods by speed, reliability and the amount of data you store. We'll also uncover hidden nuances of backup through MIUI that are not covered in official manuals — for example, why some applications don't save even with a full backup, and how to get around it. If you're planning a firmware, factory reset, or just want to hedge your way around it, read on.

Why backup on Xiaomi is not a luxury, but a necessity

Many users neglect to create backups until they are faced with a critical situation, and here are the most common cases where backup saves data:

• 🔄 Reset to factory settings – before selling your phone or fixing system errors.
• 📲 Update firmware – especially relevant for beta versions MIUI, which may contain bugs.
• 💥 Breakdown of the device - a fall, moisture or failure of internal memory.
• 🔒 Blocking your Mi Account – if you forget your password and can’t unlock your phone without losing your data.
• 📱 Replacement of the phone – transferring data to a new Xiaomi smartphone or another brand.

According to service center statistics, more than 60 percent of requests for data recovery could have been prevented by a timely backup, and MIUI offers built-in tools that many users don’t even notice, such as automatic backup to the Mi Cloud (albeit with limitations), and we’ll go through all the available methods, starting with the simplest ones.

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi with an unlocked bootloader or custom firmware, standard backup methods may not work. TWRP OrangeFox Recovery – we will talk about this in a separate section.

Method 1: Backup via Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

The easiest and most affordable way is to synchronize data with the Mi Cloud, which is suitable for most users, because it does not require a PC connection and works in the background.

• 📁 The volume of free storage is only 5 GB (that is about 1000 photos or 2 hours of video in a single video). HD).
• 🔄 Automatic synchronization only works when connected to Wi-Fi.
• 📱 Not all apps and their data are saved (for example, progress in games or settings of some messengers).

To set up a backup in Mi Cloud, follow the following steps:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Sign in to your Xiaomi account (if you haven’t done so before).
3. Go to the Device Backup section.
4. Click Create a backup and select the data to save (contacts, messages, notes, system settings, etc.).
5. Wait until the process is complete (time depends on the amount of data and the speed of the Internet).

For automatic backup, turn on Auto Backup and select frequency (daily or weekly). Note that photos and videos are synced separately under Gallery → Mi Cloud.

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If you run out of space in Mi Cloud, delete old backups or buy additional storage (from 100 GB for ~300 rubles per year).

Method 2: Local backup via MIUI settings

If you don't want to store data in the cloud, or if you don't have a stable Internet connection, you can create a backup right on your phone or on your memory card, which saves more data than Mi Cloud, including:

• 📱 System settings (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, wallpaper, sound schemes).
• 📞 Contacts, call log and SMS/MMS.
• 📝 Notes, calendar and reminders.
• 🎮 Data from some applications but not all!).

Instructions for creating a local backup:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset.
2. Select Local Backup.
3. Click Create a backup and specify the location of the save (internal memory or SD-map).
4. Tick the data you want to save and start the process.

The backup file will have the.mbk extension and will be saved in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder. It can be copied to a PC or other storage medium for reliability. Use the same section in the settings to recover data.

⚠️ Note: Local backup does not save installed applications (.apk) and their cache. ADB Titanium Backup (root rights required).

Battery charge > 50%|Free space on the phone/SD-map|Memory optimizers (such as "Battery and Performance") are disabled")|The phone is not connected to charging (to avoid overheating)

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Method 3: Backup via computer (Mi PC Suite)

For users who prefer to store backups on a PC hard drive, Xiaomi offers the official Mi PC Suite app.

• 💻 Create full phone backups (including apps and their data).
• 🔄 Recover data selectively (e.g., only contacts or photos).
• 📂 Manage files on your phone through a conductor.

Download Mi PC Suite from the official website pcsuite.mi.com and follow the instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (data transmission mode).
2. Run the Mi PC Suite and wait for the device to be recognized.
3. Go to the Backup section.
4. Select the data for the backup and press Start.
5. Once completed, copy the backup file (.mb) to a secure location on your PC.

The advantage of this method is stability (there is no risk of interruption due to battery discharge) and the ability to selectively recover. However, the Mi PC Suite does not support all Xiaomi models - for example, some POCO devices may not be recognized.

Method 4: Full backup via TWRP (for advanced users)

If you use custom TWRP or OrangeFox recovery, you can create a complete system image, including:

• 📱 Section /data (all user data).
• 🔧 Section /system (firmware and system files).
• 📱 Section /boot (kernel and loader).
• 🗃️ Section /vendor and other critical sections.

This method is suitable for:

• 🛠️ Experiments with firmware (Custom) ROM).
• 🔓 Unlock the loader.
• 📱 Restore the phone after a "brick" (complete failure).

Instructions for creating a backup through TWRP:

1. Turn off the phone and press Volume Up + Power to enter Recovery.
2. In the main menu, select Backup.
3. Check the backup sections (we recommend you choose everything except Cache).
4. Select a storage location (internal memory or storage). SD-map).
5. Swipe the process to begin.

Backup files will be saved in the TWRP/BACKUPS folder and will have the.win or.img extension. To restore, just go to TWRP → Restore and select the right backup.

⚠️ Attention: Backup through TWRP It does not work on devices with a blocked bootloader. It is also not recommended to store backups on internal memory - when reset, they will be deleted.

Method 5: Third-party backup applications (without root and with root)

If you don't like the built-in MIUI tools, you can use third-party apps, and we've divided them into two categories:

For most users, Swift Backup is the best solution, which does not require root rights and saves basic data. If you have root, Titanium Backup allows you to create a full copy of the system, including application settings and system files.

Example of Swift Backup:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Provide the necessary permissions (access to contacts, SMS, etc.).
3. Choose Create a backup and mark the necessary data.
4. Specify the location of the storage (internal memory, SD-map).

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Backup applications without root cannot store data from some system applications (e.g. Mi Fit or Mi Home). TWRP.

Frequent errors when creating a backup and how to avoid them

Even experienced users sometimes have problems with backups, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

• 🔋 Interrupting the process due to battery discharge → Charge your phone to 100% or plug in to charge (but not through fast charging to avoid overheating).
• 📶 Slow backup speed in Mi Cloud → Connect to 5GHz Wi-Fi or use a local backup.
• 🔒 There's not enough room on the phone. → Delete unnecessary files or save backup to SD-map.
• 📱 TWRP It doesn't make a backup. → Check if your Xiaomi model supports this version. TWRP.
• 🔄 Backup recovery leads to errors → Do not restore the backup to another version MIUI phone-model.

Another common problem is that backups are created, but they're not repaired.

• Changes to MIUI (e.g. backup made on MIUI 13 and restore on MIUI 14)
• Backup file damage (check the MD5 checksum).
• No rights (for example, permissions to send messages are required to restore SMS).

If backup through Mi Cloud is not restored, try:

1. Sign out of your Mi Account and log in again.
2. Clear the cache of the Mi Cloud app in the settings.
3. Use another recovery method (e.g. local backup).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi Backup