Xiaomi backup on Google: How to save data to the cloud in 5 minutes

Why Xiaomi Backup on Google is the Best Way to Save Data

Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones offer several backup options, but syncing with Google Account remains the most reliable solution. Unlike local copies (which are lost when you reset your phone) or reservations in Mi Cloud (limited space for free users), Google Drive provides 15GB for free, automatically saves contacts, calendars, photos in original quality and even customize some applications.

The main advantage is cross-platform: data recovery is possible on any Android device, not just Xiaomi smartphones. For example, if you move from the Redmi Note 12 to the Samsung Galaxy S24, all contacts, Chrome bookmarks and Google Keep notes will be transferred automatically.

In this article, we will examine:

• 🔹 How to enable automatic data synchronization Xiaomi with Google
• 🔹 What data is stored (and what will not fall into the backup)
• 🔹 Step-by-step instructions for manual backup
• 🔹 How to recover data on a new phone or after a reset
• 🔹 Common errors and solutions (e.g., "Impossible to connect to Google servers")

What Xiaomi data can be saved in Google

Not all files and settings are synced with Google Account, here is a complete list of supported data types:

It's important! Data from Xiaomi's system applications (e.g. Notes, Calculator, Weather) are not saved to Google, they have to use Mi Cloud or export data manually, and they are not synchronized:

• 📁 Files in Download, Documents, etc. (you need to download manually to Google Drive)
• 🎵 Music and podcasts (except purchases on Google Play Music)
• 🔧 Settings MIUI (topics, gestures, energy saving modes)

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Before resetting your phone, check which apps support backup in Google. To do this, open Settings → Google → Backup and see the list in the App Data section.

Preparing Xiaomi Phone for Backup

Before you turn on synchronization, follow a few mandatory steps:

Add a Google Account to your phone|Update Google Play Services and Google Drive|Connect to Wi-Fi (mobile internet may not be suitable for large volumes)|Check the space available in Google Drive (minimum required) 1-2 GB)|Turn off battery optimization for Google Play Services-->

If you have never set up a Google Account on Xiaomi, do it now:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Synchronization.
2. Click Add Add Account → Google.
3. Enter your email details @gmail.com or create a new account.
4. After authorization, turn on the switches opposite Contacts, Calendar and Disk.

Phones with MIUI 14/15 may have a "duplicate contacts" warning (if you've previously used Mi Cloud).

⚠️ Warning: Do not click "Connect All Contacts" automatically! First export contacts from Mi Cloud to.vcf (via Contacts) → Settings → Import/Export) to avoid data loss in a merger.

Step-by-step: how to make a Xiaomi backup in Google

Now, to the basic process, there are two ways: automatic backup (recommended) and manual (one-time backups).

Method 1: Automatic synchronization (configured once)

This method saves data in the background when connecting to Wi-Fi and charging the phone.

1. Open Settings → Google → Backup.
2. Activate the Backup Switch in Google Drive.
3. Click on Backup Settings and select your account.
4. In the Application Data section, tick the desired applications (for example, Settings, Messages, if supported).
5. Go back and click Create a copy now to start the process manually.

Method 2: Manual backup (for full control)

If you need to save data right now (for example, before selling your phone), do:

1. Connect your phone to charging and Wi-Fi.
2. Go to Settings → System → Backup.
3. Select Backup in Google Drive.
4. Click Create a copy now and wait until it is completed (can take anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour depending on the amount of data).

You can track copy progress in notifications. If the process is 0% or Preparation..., try:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📶 Reconnect to another Wi-Fi network.
• 🗑️ Clear the cache of Google Play Services (in Settings) → Annexes → Application management).

How to check that the backup was created successfully

Don't just rely on the "Backup Completed" notification, you'd better make sure you do it yourself. Here are two ways:

Method 1: Through phone settings

1. Open Settings → Google → Backup.
2. See the date and time of the last backup under the caption Backup to Google Drive.
3. Click Backup Management to see the list of devices and the size of the stored data.

Method 2: Using the web version of Google Drive

1. On your computer or other phone, open [drive.google.com](https://drive.google.com) and log in.
2. In the left menu, select Backups.
3. Find your Xiaomi model (like the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G) and check the date of the last update.

If the backup is missing or suspiciously small (e.g., 100KB instead of the expected 1-2GB), something has gone wrong. Go back to the preparation section and repeat the steps.

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Automatic backup only works when connected to charging and Wi-Fi. If the phone is discharged or uses mobile internet, sync will be delayed.

Recovering data from Google backup on Xiaomi

The recovery process starts automatically when you first turn on your phone after a reset or on a new device, but you can also manually do this:

1. Reset your phone (if you are recovering on the same device) or turn on a new smartphone.
2. At the setup stage, select Copy Data → From Cloud Storage.
3. Log in to the same Google Account you created the backup.
4. Select a backup (it will be named by phone model and date).
5. Check the data for recovery (contacts, applications, etc.) and click Restore.

If you missed this step when setting up, you can restore the data later:

1. Go to Settings → System → Recovery and Reset.
2. Select Restore from backup.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen (you will need to enter a password from Google Account).

⚠️ Note: When you restore apps and their data will be downloaded from Google Play in the background. this process can take several hours - do not delete applications manually until you receive a notification "Recovery completed".

If some data (such as photos) are missing after recovery, check:

• 📸 Is backup enabled in Google Photos (separate setting!).
• 🔄 Update apps that should have been restored (sometimes you need to restart).
• 📂 Make sure there is enough space in Google Drive (if the copy is incomplete, it could be interrupted due to lack of space).

Common mistakes and their solutions

Even with the right setup, Xiaomi users often face backup issues, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

If none of the solutions worked, try an alternative method:

1. Delete your Google Account from your phone (Settings → Accounts → Google → Delete your account).
2. Reset the device.
3. Add the account again and reset the backup.

On MIUI phones for the Chinese market (without Google Services), backup to Google Drive is not possible. In this case, use Mi Cloud or local backup via Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi backup in Google