Xiaomi Redmi 9 is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but even it is not immune to crashes, accidental deletions or the need to reset to factory settings. If you do not want to lose application data — from saves in games to the settings of messengers — it is important to back them up in advance. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to create a backup on Redmi 9, including built-in MIUI tools, ADB commands and third-party utilities.
Redmi 9 (codenamed lancelot) has limited space in the /data partition, so some methods may not work without root rights, we will show you where they are mandatory and where you can do without them, and you will learn how to avoid common mistakes, such as why a copy of an application does not recover or takes up too much space.
1. Built-in backup function in MIUI
The easiest way is to use the standard MIUI tool, which is suitable for most users because it does not require additional software or technical knowledge, but it has limitations: not all applications support backup through this method, and some data (such as game cache) may not be saved.
To make a copy:
- 📱 Open the Settings. → The phone. → Backup and reset → Local backups.
- 🔄 Click “Create a Backup” and select the applications you want to save (system applications are marked by default).
- 💾 Specify the location of the storage: internal memory or MicroSD (external drive is recommended if you are planning to reset your phone).
- ⏳ Wait until the process is complete. Time depends on the amount of data (on Redmi 9 with 64 GB of memory, this can take 5-15 minutes).
Important nuance: MIUI keeper APK-App files, only their data (settings, logins, game progress) to restore the application completely, you will first have to install it from Google Play and then use the backup.
2. backup through ADB (no root)
If the built-in MIUI tool doesn’t save the data it needs (for example, for some games or messengers), you can use the Android debugging bridge, an Android ADB that doesn’t require root rights, but requires connecting the phone to your computer.
Instructions:
- Download and install Android SDK Platform-Tools on your PC.
- Turn on Redmi 9 Developer Mode (go to Settings → About Phone and 7 times click on MIUI Version). Then activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → Developer.
- Connect the phone to the PC and type in the command line:
adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f C:\backup_redmi9.abWhere:
- -apk — retain APK-file;
- -obb — includes additional game files (e.g. graphics packages);
- -shared — reserve SD-map;
- -all — Backup of all applications (can be replaced by -app <package_name> specific application).
On the Redmi. 9 s MIUI 12+ You may get an error called "adb: unable to open sync connection." MIUI Optimization in the developer settings or use an alternative method with adb pull for specific folders (e.g, /data/data/com.whatsapp/).
Install Android SDK Platform-Tools|Enable debugging on USB|Connect the phone to the PC (file transfer mode)|Check free disk space (minimum 5 GB)|Disable ad blockers (they may interfere with the ADB)-->
3. Third-party backup applications
If the previous methods don't work, you can use specialized utilities, and we tested a few and selected the best ones for Redmi 9:
| Annex | Needs root? | Save APK. | Support for MIUI | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swift Backup | ❌ No, but root has more functions) | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Complete. | Google Play |
| Titanium Backup | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | ⚠️ Partial (may not see some system applications) | Google Play |
| OAndBackupX | ❌ No. | ❌ No, only data) | ✅ Complete. | F-Droid |
Redmi 9: Swift Backup is the best choice because it works without root and interacts with MIUI correctly.
- Install the application and give access to File Management.
- Select backup apps (can be filtered by size or installation date).
- Click “Create a backup” and specify the folder (better on the SD-map).
- To restore, use the “Restore” option after reinstalling the application.
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If the app isn't recovering from the backup, try installing it from Google Play first and then backing it up.This involves checking the APK signature in MIUI.
4. Manual copying of application files (for advanced)
This method is suitable if you need to save only specific files (for example, save games or database messengers). ADB.
Instructions:
- Connect Redmi 9 to your PC and open the command line in the folder with the platform-tools.
- Enter a command to copy the data of a particular application (for example, WhatsApp):
adb pull /data/data/com.whatsapp/ C:\backup_whatsapp\For backups APK-use the file:
adb shell pm path com.whatsapp
adb pull /data/app/com.whatsapp-1/base.apk C:\backup_whatsapp\⚠️ Attention: MIUI Some system applications (e.g. com.miui.gallery) can be protected from copying, in which case only root rights or use will help. TWRP.
5. Cloud Services: Automation of Backup
If you don't want to manually back up, you can set up automatic storage to the cloud. MIUI is integrated with Mi Cloud, but for applications, this service is limited.
- ☁️ Google Drive (via Settings) → Accounts. → Google → Synchronization – saves contacts, calendar, some application settings);
- 📁 Dropbox/OneDrive + FolderSync (for automatic download of backup folders);
- 🎮 Specialized services (e.g. Helium for games or Sync for Reddit for social media).
How to set up autosynchronization in Google Drive:
- Open Settings → Accounts → Google → Account Sync.
- Activate the “Contacts”, “App Data” and “Device Settings” options.
- To back up photos and videos, turn on Google Photos (autoboot over Wi-Fi).
⚠️ Note: Cloud services do not save APK-App files! They only back up data (e.g., chats on Telegram or progress on Google Play Games). For a full backup, combine the cloud with local copying.
What if MIUI Cloud doesn’t sync your data?
6. Data recovery from backup
It's half the battle to build a backup, and it's important to restore it properly, especially if you've reset your phone, and the algorithm depends on the backup method.
- 🔄 MIUI Backup: Go to Settings → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge → Local backup and select the backup file. The system will determine the compatible data.
- 🖥️ ADB: Connect your phone to your PC and type in: adb restore C:\backup_redmi9.ab On the phone, confirm the recovery.
- 📱 Swift Backup: Open the app, select the backup and click "Restore." System applications may need to reboot.
Frequent errors in recovery:
- 🚫 «App version mismatch – install the same version before restoring APK, backup.
- 🔒 «No access to the folder" - give the backup app storage rights (Settings → Annexes → Permits).
- ⚠️ «Data corrupted" - repeat backup creation by eliminating system applications.
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Before you restore your backup after you reset your phone, always install the same versions of the apps you had when you created the copy, otherwise the data may not apply.