How to Backup Apps on Xiaomi: A Complete 2026 Guide

Losing data from your favorite apps is one of the most frustrating situations for a smartphone owner: gallery photos, instant messaging, game progress or working documents can disappear at once due to a reset, system crash or accidental deletion. Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi line and POCO) They offer several built-in backup tools, but not all users are aware of their capabilities and limitations.

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to create a backup of applications on Xiaomi devices – from standard features MIUI Advanced methods with the use of ADB And you'll learn how to save more than just yourself. APK-files, but also user data (cache, settings, game saves), as well as what methods work on blocked downloaders.

Before you go to the instructions, remember: backup applications ≠ Backup of the system. The first one is about preserving the system. APK-files and user data of specific programs (e.g., correspondence in Telegram or progress in Genshin Impact), the second one is about the full copy of the firmware, including settings. MIUI, We're going to focus on the first option, because it's relevant to 90 percent of users.

Another important point is that not all apps allow you to create a full backup, such as WhatsApp and Viber store correspondence in the cloud on their own, and online-save games (such as Clash of Clans) are synced through a Google Play Games account, in which case the local backup will be redundant, and we will note similar exceptions in the corresponding sections.

1. Built-in backup through MIUI (local and cloud-based)

The easiest way to save application data is to use the built-in backup function in the MIUI. It is available on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO (starting with MIUI 10) and does not require root rights or unlock the bootloader. However, this method has significant limitations that many are unaware of.

The local backup is created as an encrypted file with the.backup extension and is stored in the device’s internal memory along the way:

/MIUI/backup/AllBackup/

The cloud backup is loaded into Mi Cloud (requires authorization in a Xiaomi account), and the default cloud storage size is 5GB, but it can be expanded for an additional fee.

How to make a backup through MIUI:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Click Backup and select the applications you want to save (all are marked by default).
3. Wait for the process to be completed (it can take 5 to 30 minutes depending on the amount of data).
4. For cloud backup, go to Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Backup and enable the option.

What is copied and what is not:

• ✅ Preserve: APK-application files, program settings (such as Telegram themes), some user data (cache, SQLite databases).
• ❌ Not saved: data of applications using their own cloud (Google Photos, WhatsApp), game saves without local storage, files in Download folders or DCIM.
• ⚠️ Limitation: backup MIUI not restored to devices with another firmware version (e.g., with MIUI 13 on MIUI 14 may not work).

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If you only need to save individual applications (such as rarely used utilities), disable unnecessary programs in the list before creating a backup, which will reduce the file size and speed up the process.

2. backup via Mi Cloud: pros and cons of cloud storage

Mi Cloud is a cloud service from Xiaomi that automatically syncs contacts, notes, photos and data of certain applications, but its capabilities are often exaggerated. Let's look at what you can save in the cloud, and why this method is not always reliable.

The main advantage of the Mi Cloud is automatic synchronization, and once set up, the backup is created once a day when you connect to Wi-Fi and charge the device.

• 🔄 Only system data is synchronized: contacts, SMS, Call history, Mi Notes notes, settings MIUI.
• 📱 Data from third-party apps (such as Instagram or Spotify) is not saved unless they themselves support the cloud.
• 🔒 The Mi Cloud app backup is only available for a limited list of applications (e.g. Mi Browser, Mi Video).
• 🌍 Mi Cloud servers are located in China, which may affect download/upload speeds in some regions.

How to set up automatic backup in Mi Cloud:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Enable the option of backup of the device.
3. Select Backup Settings and specify which data to sync (contacts, SMS, annexes, etc.).
4. To manually run the backup, click Backup now.

Important: If you plan to drop your phone or upgrade to a new device, check the date of the last backup in Mi Cloud. Sometimes sync gets stuck due to server errors. Also note that recovery from the cloud can take several hours - especially if you have slow internet.

3.Backup through ADB: for advanced users

If embedded tools MIUI You can use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) — This method allows you to create a full copy of the application data, including their settings, cache and databases. However, it requires command line skills and has limitations on devices with a locked bootloader.

The advantages of ADB- backup:

• 🔧 Stores all application data, including those that are ignored MIUI.
• 📁 Backup is created as an.ab archive that can be restored on any Android device (not only Xiaomi).
• 🔓 It works without root rights, but requires enabled debugging mode USB.

Limitations:

• ❌ On devices with MIUI 12+ and blocked by the bootloader some data (for example, Wi-Fi passwords) may not be saved.
• ⚠️ Restore a backup to another device can cause errors if the app or Android versions differ.

Instructions for the establishment ADB-backup:

1. Download and install ADB Tools on your computer.
2. Turn on Debugging. USB on the phone: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times to activate Developer Mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB.
3. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the trusted device.
4. Open the command line (or Terminal) macOS/Linux) and execute the command to create a backup: adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f C:\backup.ab Where C:\backup.ab — path to the backup file on your computer.
5. On the phone will appear a request for confirmation – enter the password (if required) and wait for completion.

To restore, use the command:

adb restore C:\backup.ab

Debugging is on. USB|Installed ADB Tools on PC|The phone is connected by the original cable|Created a folder for storing the backup|Checked free disk space (backup can weigh 10)+ GB)

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4 Third-party backup apps: Swift Backup, Titanium Backup and more

If you want more control over your backup process, you should look at third-party utilities, which offer flexible settings, support for cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox), and the ability to selectively restore, but most of these programs require root rights to work properly.

Top.-3 Backup apps on Xiaomi:

How to make a backup in Swift Backup (without root):

1. Install Swift Backup from Google Play.
2. At the first start, provide access to the storage and turn on ADB Backup in settings.
3. Select applications for backup (you can filter by category: games, instant messengers, etc.).
4. Press Backup and select the location of the save (internal memory or cloud).
5. To recover, go to the Restore tab and select the desired backup.

Important: on devices with MIUI 14+ and the blocked bootloader Swift Backup will not be able to save data of some system applications (for example, Mi Browser or Security). ADB or rooting.

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The application side is convenient for selective backup, but does not replace full backup. Always combine them with built-in tools. MIUI or ADB.

5. Backup of game saves and messenger data

Game progress and messaging are the data that's particularly painful to lose, and fortunately, most popular apps offer their own synchronization mechanisms, but they don't always work automatically. Let's figure out how to save the most important things.

Game saves:

• 🎮 Google Play Games: Most online games (e.g. Genshin Impact, Clash Royale) sync progress through your Google account.
• 🕹️ Local saves: For offline games (such as Minecraft or Stardew Valley) use ADB Swift Backup to copy the folder /Android/obb/ and /Android/data/.
• ⚠️ Attention: Some games (for example, PUBG Mobile) block access to their files, in which case the only way is by linking to a Facebook or Twitter account.

Messengers:

• 💬 WhatsApp: correspondence is automatically saved in Google Drive (configure in Chats) → Backup. Local backup is in /sdcard/WhatsApp/Databases/.
• 📱 Telegram: cloud sync enabled by default. Local backup can be done through Settings → Data and memory → Exports of history.
• 🔒 Viber and Signal: Support cloud backup but require manual startup (in account settings).

For manual copying of messenger data:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and enable File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Copy folders with backups (for example, /WhatsApp/Databases/) computer.
3. After system recovery, return the files back and reinstall the application.

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If you play Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Rail, be sure to link your account to an email in the game settings. Local backup won't help if Hoyoverse servers lock your device.

6.Backup recovery: typical mistakes and their solutions

Backup is half the battle, and the key is to make sure that it can be successfully restored, and in practice, users face a lot of problems, from compatibility errors to data loss, and we'll look at the most common scenarios and how to solve them.

Problem 1: Backup MIUI It is not restored on the new version of the firmware

⚠️ Note: If you have updated MIUI 12 to 14, local backup may not work:

• Try to restore the backup through ADB (Adb restore).
• Use Swift Backup to selectively restore applications.
• If nothing helps, install the same version. MIUI, which the backup was created on, then update through OTA.

Problem 2: After recovery, the application will fly out

This is a typical situation if:

• The backup was created on a device with a different processor architecture (for example, with a different processor architecture). ARM on ARM64).
• The backup version of the app is outdated and incompatible with the new version of Android.
• These applications are damaged (often when the backup process is interrupted).

Solution: Remove the problem app, install it again from Google Play, then try to restore only data (no data). APK) via Swift Backup or ADB.

Problem 3: There is not enough room for backup recovery

⚠️ Warning: Backup can take up 2-3 times more space than original data due to temporary files:

• Clear the cache in Settings → Storage → Clear the cache.
• Transfer the photos and videos to your computer or cloud.
• Use Files by Google to delete unnecessary files.

Backup compatibility table:

7 Backup automation: how not to forget about backups

Manual backups are a tedious activity that many people put off, and fortunately, there are ways to automate the process so that data is stored regularly without you, and let's look at the most reliable options.

1.The Planner in Mi Cloud

• ⏰ Enable automatic backup in Settings → Mi Cloud → Backup of the device.
• 📅 Choose the frequency: daily, weekly or monthly.
• 🔋 Make sure your phone is connected to Wi-Fi and charging (by default, the backup will only start when these conditions are met).

2. Tasker + Swift Backup (for advanced backup)

With the Tasker app, you can set up automatic backup launch on a schedule or under certain conditions (for example, when connecting to home Wi-Fi).

1. Install Tasker and Swift Backup.
2. Create a Task in Tasker with the Action Launch the App → Swift Backup.
3. Add a trigger (e.g. Time) → Every day at 2:00).
4. In Swift Backup settings, enable Auto Backup and specify the folder to save.

3. sync with Google Drive via FolderSync

If you prefer to store backups in Google Drive, use FolderSync:

• Set up automatic folder loading /MIUI/backup/ cloudy.
• Please specify a schedule (for example, once a week).
• Enable notifications of successful synchronization.

4. Computer backup (for paranoids)

If you don’t trust the clouds, set up automatic backups on your PC:

• Connect your phone to your computer and enable File Transfer (MTP).
• Use Syncthing or Resilio Sync to sync folder /MIUI/backup/ PC-folder.
• Set up a Task Scheduler on your computer (Task Scheduler in Windows) to copy files once a week.

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Automatic backup is not a panacea. Periodically check that files are actually saved and test recovery in practice. Once a quarter, do a full manual backup through the backup. ADB or Swift Backup.

FAQ: Frequent questions about backup on Xiaomi