Reinstall WhatsApp on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones is often required when the messenger fails, after the update MIUI But standard deletion and re-installation through Google Play leads to the loss of all correspondence, if you do not take advance backup measures. 3 Proven ways to reinstall Watsap on Redmi Note 12/13, Redmi 10/11, POCO X5 and other models without loss of data, including chats, photos and voice messages.
The feature of Xiaomi devices is integration with Mi Account services and specific work with application permissions. MIUI 14+ WhatsApp automatic backups in Google Drive may be blocked due to background limitations, and we will take these nuances into account and show you how to avoid common errors such as “Can not restore backup” or “Whatsapp folder not found".
Why WhatsApp Reinstallation Could Lead to Data Loss
The main problem when removing WhatsApp is automatic folder erasure /WhatsApp/ It's on the internal drive:
- 📁 Chat databases (msgstore.db.crypt14) — all your correspondence;
- 🖼️ Media files (Media/) — Photos, videos, voice messages;
- 🔑 Encryption keys – necessary to decrypt backup copies.
On Xiaomi Redmi, the WhatsApp folder is usually located along the way /storage/emulated/0/WhatsApp/. When uninstalling the application through Settings → The application system offers the option "Delete all data", which is activated by default on the MIUI. If you do not remove this box, the folder will be deleted irrevocably.
An additional risk is version conflict, such as when you switch from WhatsApp Business to regular WhatsApp or when you roll back to an older version (to bypass locks), backups may become incompatible. APK from third-party sources (for example, APKMirror).
⚠️ Note: If you have used Root access or modified versions of WhatsApp (such as GBWhatsApp), standard backup methods may not work.
Method 1: Reinstall with backup in Google Drive
The official method from Meta, which works on most Xiaomi Redmis, is if:
- 📱 The device is linked to a Google Account;
- ☁️ There is free space in Google Drive (minimum 1-2 GB);
- 🔄 The last backup is created no later than 7 days.
Steps to create a backup copy:
- Open WhatsApp. → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup copy.
- Click "Create a copy" (if the button is inactive, check the Wi-Fi connection).
- Wait until the end (on Redmi with the MIUI 15 process can take up to 10 minutes).
How to Reinstall Without Losing Data:
- Remove WhatsApp via Settings → Annexes → WhatsApp → Delete the data without the ticks "Delete the data".
- Install the app again from Google Play.
- When you first start, enter the same phone number.
- On the recovery screen, select “Restore” from Google Drive.
Synchronized contacts in Google Account|
Connected stable Wi-Fi (mobile Internet can interrupt the download)|
Battery charge >50% (on the Redmi 10/11 The recovery process consumes a lot of energy)|
Disabled. VPN Proxies (can block access to Google Drive)
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If the copy is not restored, check:
- 🔗 Internet connection (on Redmi with double) SIM sometimes get tweaked APN);
- 📅 Date of creation of the copy (if passed) >7 days WhatsApp won’t show it on the list);
- 📌 Permissions: Go to Settings → Annexes → Google Play Services → Permits and turn on "Storage".
What if Google Drive doesn’t see a backup?
Method 2: Local backup (without Google Drive)
This method is suitable if:
- 🚫 No access to Google Drive (e.g. Redmi for the Chinese market);
- 📱 We need to keep a copy of it. SD-card;
- 🔒 You are using modified versions of WhatsApp.
Instructions:
- Connect Redmi to the PC via USB (Select the "File Transfer" mode").
- Copy the folder. /storage/emulated/0/WhatsApp/ computer.
- Remove WhatsApp from your phone (don’t forget to uncheck the “Delete Data” box).
- Install the app again and don’t launch it!
- Put the WhatsApp folder back to the root of your internal memory.
- Launch WhatsApp and confirm the number – chats will be restored automatically.
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Chats haven't recovered | Databases folder is empty or damaged | Check for files. msgstore.db.crypt14 copy |
| Error "I could not read the backup" | Disparate versions of WhatsApp | Install the same version as when you created the copy. |
| Media files are not displayed | Media folder not copied | Move it manually from backup |
⚠️ Note: Xiaomi Redmi with MIUI 15 when connecting to the USB You may not see the WhatsApp folder. Enable the display of hidden files in your PC Explorer or use the file manager on your phone (such as Mi File Manager) to copy.
💡
If you reinstall WhatsApp frequently, create a separate folder. WhatsApp_Backup on SD-map and set up automatic copying via Tasker or MacroDroid. This will eliminate manual file transfer.
Method 3: Using Titanium Backup (for root users)
If your Redmi has an unlocked bootloader and Root access, you can use Titanium Backup to fully save your application data, including settings and cache.This method guarantees 100% recovery, but requires technical skills.
Step-by-step:
- Install Titanium Backup from Google Play or F-Droid.
- Launch the application and provide Root access.
- Find WhatsApp in the list of apps and select Save.
- Once you have created a backup, delete WhatsApp.
- Install the app again and recover data via Titanium Backup.
Advantages of the method:
- 🔄 All data is stored, including notification and themes settings;
- 🛡️ It works even when changing WhatsApp (for example, from Business to regular version);
- 📦 You can create a zip archive of a copy for storage on a PC.
⚠️ Note: Using Root on Xiaomi Redmi can result in blocking some features, such as Mi Pay or Widevine L1 (Downgrading Netflix streaming quality: Make sure you don’t need these services before using this method.
Local copy on PC|
Google Drive|
Titanium Backup (Root)|
Another method|I don't do backups.-->
Frequent Mistakes on Xiaomi Redmi and How to Avoid Them
Xiaomi Redmi users often face unique challenges when reinstalling WhatsApp related to features MIUI. Here are the most common:
1. Error "Can't recover backup from Google Drive"
Reasons:
- 🔌 Background restriction: MIUI It blocks WhatsApp in the background. Solution: Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery → WhatsApp → No restrictions.
- 🌐 Regional restrictions: Some Redmis for the Chinese market (CN ROM) Google Play Services is not working properly.Solution: Install Google Installer from the Mi App Store.
2.The WhatsApp folder disappears after deleting the app
Nana MIUI 14/15 Even if you remove the "Delete Data" tick, the folder can be deleted:
- Before deleting, move the WhatsApp folder to Download/ or SD-map.
- Use a file manager with Root access (for example, FX File Explorer to block deletion of folder.
3 Media files have not recovered, although chat rooms are available
This happens if the Media folder hasn't been copied.Solution:
- Connect Redmi to your PC and manually transfer the folder WhatsApp/Media backup.
- On WhatsApp, go to Settings → Warehouse → Clean, then restart the application.
💡
On Xiaomi Redmi with MIUI 15 Before reinstalling WhatsApp, be sure to turn off the “Waste Cleanup” feature in Settings → Storage – it can automatically delete the WhatsApp folder when the free space level is low.
How to check the integrity of a backup before reinstalling
To avoid unpleasant surprises, always check your backup before removing WhatsApp. Here's how to do it:
For Google Drive Copies:
- Open Google Drive in your browser.
- Go to Backup. → WhatsApp.
- Check the date of the last copy and its size (should be >10 MB if you have a correspondence).
For local copies:
- Open the folder. WhatsApp/Databases phone-on.
- Make sure there's a file. msgstore.db.crypt14 (mainchat base).
- Check the file size – if it is 0 KB, the copy is corrupted.
If the file is corrupted, try to restore it using WhatsApp. Key/DB Extractor (requires a PC:
1. Download the utility from GitHub (e.g. https://github.com/ElDainosor/WhatsApp-Key-DB-Extractor).
2. Place the file msgstore.db.crypt14 in the folder with the utility.
3. Run extract.py script (Python 3 is required).
4 If the utility finds the key, it will create a decrypted file msgstore.db.💡
On Xiaomi Redmi with MIUI 14+ You can enable the display of hidden files in Mi File Manager by clicking ⋮ → Settings → Show hidden files.This will help you find backups if they were moved by the system.
WhatsApp Restore After Resetting Xiaomi Redmi to Factory Settings
If you made Hard Reset on Redmi, but you backed up WhatsApp before, you can recover your data as follows:
Step 1: Preparing the phone
- 📱 Go through the initial Redmi setup (connect to Wi-Fi, log in to Google Account).
- 🔧 Install WhatsApp, but don’t launch it!
Step 2: Restore from a local copy
- Connect Redmi to your PC and move the WhatsApp folder from the backup to the root of internal memory.
- Launch WhatsApp and confirm your phone number.
- On the recovery screen, select Restore (the system must automatically find a local copy).
Step 3: If no copy is found
- Check that the WhatsApp folder is in /storage/emulated/0/.
- Rename the file msgstore.db.crypt14 into msgstore.db.crypt12 (Sometimes it helps with incompatibility of versions).
- Install the version of WhatsApp that corresponds to the date of creation of the copy.
⚠️ Attention: After resetting Xiaomi Redmi to factory settings MIUI You can create a new WhatsApp folder automatically, delete it before you restore it, or the files will be overwritten.