Have you made a backup on Xiaomi but can't find it? Or do you want to make sure that the backup is actually saved before you reset your phone to factory settings? In Redmi, POCO and Mi devices, backups are scattered across multiple locations, from hidden system folders to Mi Cloud storage, and the storage paths depend on how you create the backup, the MIUI version, and even the smartphone model.
In this article, we’ll take a look at all the possible places Xiaomi can store your backups, from standard folders in internal memory to alternative methods like ADB backups or third-party applications, how to find backups manually, how to restore or remove them, and what nuances are important to consider when working with copies on different versions of MIUI (including MIUI 14 and HyperOS).
1. Local backups: where to look for files on your phone
If you have backed up through the standard MIUI menu (Settings → About Phone → Backup), then the backup files are stored in the device’s internal memory.
/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/backup/AllBackup/In this folder you will find subfolders with names corresponding to the date of creation of the copy (for example, 2026-05-15_14-30-22). Each of these folders contains:
- 📁 Contact files (in.vcf format)
- 📱 System settings (in encrypted files.bak)
- 📸 Multimedia (if photo/video reservation is enabled)
- 📝 Call logs and SMS (db)
Important: Some models (e.g. POCO F5 or Redmi Note 12) may have different paths. If the MIUI/backup folder is not available, check:
/storage/emulated/0/Xiaomi/backup/Or use the built-in MIUI file manager (My File), where backups are displayed in the Local Storage section → MIUI → Backups.
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If you can't see the MIUI/backup folder, turn on the hidden files in the file manager settings, and some firmware has it hidden by default.
2. Cloud backups in Mi Cloud: how to find and manage
Mi Cloud automatically backs up key data if the feature is activated in the settings to check for cloud backups:
- Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
- Select the item Backup of the device.
- All available copies, sorted by date and model of the device, will be displayed here.
Cloud Copies in Mi Cloud include:
| Type of data | Storage format | Max. volume (free account) |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Synced with Google/Mi Account | Unlimited* |
| Photo/video | Original quality (compressed when exceeding the limit) | 5GB |
| System settings | Encrypted archive | Included in 5GB |
| Notes | Text files | Included in 5GB |
* For contacts and notes, the limit depends on synchronization with Google Account. If contacts are duplicated in Google Contacts, they do not occupy space in Mi Cloud.
How to remove old copies from Mi Cloud?
⚠️ Note: If you remove a device from the list in the Mi Cloud, all associated backups will be erased automatically!
3. Alternative ways of creating backups and their location
In addition to standard methods, Xiaomi users often use third-party backup tools, and consider the most popular and where they store data:
- 🔧 TWRP Recovery: Backups are saved in the folder /TWRP/BACKUPS/[Serial device number]/. Format -.img files for each partition (boot, system, data, etc.).
- 🤖 ADB Backup: The file is created by adb backup and saved to the computer in.ab format.
- 📱 Apps like Swift Backup or Titanium Backup: Store data in their folders (e.g, /storage/emulated/0/SwiftBackup/). Format:.tar or.zip.
It is critical for TWRP to remember that backups take up a lot of space (a full copy of a data partition can weigh 10+GB).
When using ADB Backup, consider:
- A copy is created without a default password (it can be protected by a phrase when executing a command).
- Recovery is possible only on the same device with the same version of MIUI.
- Not all data is reserved (for example, DRM-keys or settings of some system applications).
4.How to recover data from Xiaomi backup
The recovery process depends on the type of backup. Let's look at the step-by-step instructions for each case:
4.1 Recovery from local MIUI copy
Disable two-factor authentication in Mi Account (if enabled)
Charge your phone at least 50%
Connect to Wi-Fi (to download additional data)
Make sure there is enough space on your phone (recovery requires temporary files)
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- Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup.
- Click Restore and select the desired copy from the list.
- Check the data you want to return (contacts, SMS, applications, etc.).
- Confirm the recovery and wait until it is completed (may take 10-30 minutes).
⚠️ Warning: When you restore the system settings, the phone will restart. Do not interrupt the process - this can lead to a malfunction. MIUI.
Recovery from Mi Cloud 4.2
Cloud copies are restored when you first turn on your phone or reset settings:
- Perform a reset to factory settings (Settings → Additional → Restore and Reset).
- At the device setup stage, select Restore from backup.
- Log in to your Mi Account and select the copy you want from the list.
Important: Recovery from Mi Cloud is only possible on a device with the same model and MIUI version as the original. For example, a backup with Redmi Note 11 (MIUI 13) will not recover on POCO X5 (MIUI 14) without errors.
5.How to delete unnecessary backups and free up space
Older backups can take up gigabytes of memory — especially if you make copies or use Mi Cloud on a regular basis.
Removal of local copies
Use the file manager (My file):
- Go to Local Storage → MIUI → Backup → AllBackup
- Hold your finger on an unnecessary backup folder and select Delete.
- Confirm the action.
5.2. Cleaning up Mi Cloud
To remove cloud copies:
- Open Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup.
- Select the device you want to remove.
- Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Delete all copies.
⚠️ Attention: Removing copies from Mi Cloud does not free up space instantly. Xiaomi servers can cache data for up to 24 hours. If the space is not vacant, try logging out and logging in again.
6. Frequent Xiaomi backup issues and their solutions
Users often encounter errors when creating or restoring backups, and consider typical cases and ways to solve them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Error "Cannot create a backup copy" | Not enough space on your device or in the Mi Cloud | Clean up your memory (remove old backups) or buy extra space in the Mi Cloud |
| Backup is interrupted by 99% | The com.miui.backup app crash | Clear the app cache in Settings → Applications → Application Management → Backup |
| SMS/contacts are not restored | Data synced with Google, not Mi Account | Check your sync settings in Settings → Accounts → Google |
| Mistakes: The Wrong Version of MIUI | The firmware version on the phone is different from the version on which the backup was created. | Update or roll back the firmware to the desired version before restoring |
If none of these methods worked, try creating backups in an alternative way (e.g., via TWRP or ADB) and check if antivirus (e.g., Mi Security) blocks access to system folders.
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Before resetting your phone to factory settings, always check for backup in two places: locally and in Mi Cloud. This insures against data loss if one of the methods fails.