Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to transfer their entire correspondence history to a new device or simply protect their data from accidental deletion. WhatsApp messenger by default does not store messages on its servers permanently, so creating a local or cloud copy becomes a critical step. Without regular backup, you risk losing access to important documents, photos and correspondence when resetting settings.
Xiaomi’s MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem has its own background processes and permissions, which requires careful auto-save configuration. Unlike some other vendors, it’s important to properly configure storage and battery access so that the system doesn’t “kill” the process of uploading data to the cloud.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available backup methods, the nuances of working with Google Drive and methods of manually copying database files. You will learn how to guarantee to save your chats and restore them even when changing the model of a smartphone.
The basic methods of saving data in WhatsApp
There are several proven ways to save your email history, each with its own benefits depending on your goals, and the most popular option is to use Google Drive cloud storage, which is integrated directly into the messenger interface, which is convenient because the process is automatic and does not require user input after initial setup.
Local copying to the internal memory of the device or SD-The card is suitable for those who do not trust cloud services or have restrictions on free space in a Google account.Database files are created daily at 2 a.m. by default, but this schedule can be changed.
Xiaomi users also have a way to migrate via the built-in Mi Mover app, which allows data to be streamed directly between two smartphones without using the Internet. However, the classic backup via WhatsApp’s own settings remains the most reliable and versatile solution.
⚠️ Note: When using the local copying method, be sure to make periodic copies of files to the computer, since when the phone breaks or resets the data on the internal memory will be lost irretrievably.
- ☁️ Cloud-based Save via Google Drive – Easy and Automatic.
- 💾 Local backup for phone memory – fast and without the Internet.
- 📱 Direct transfer via Mi Mover – ideal when buying a new Xiaomi.
- 💻 Manual copying of the database folder on the PC - maximum reliability.
Set up automatic backup in Google Drive
To get started with cloud storage, you need to make sure that your Xiaomi smartphone has added a Google account and installed Google Drive. Open WhatsApp, go to the settings menu by clicking on three dots in the upper right corner, and select Settings. Next, go to the Chats section and find the option to back up chats.
In the menu that opens, you will be asked to select a Google account to download your data. If you have multiple, make sure you choose the one you have permanent access to, and you can set the frequency of making copies daily, weekly or monthly.
The important thing for Xiaomi owners is to set up the network type. The default may be "Wi-Fi Only," which saves traffic but requires a wireless network. If you have unlimited Internet, you can switch the slider to use mobile data so that the backup is created at any time.
☑️ Checklist of Google Drive setup
After selecting all options, click the green Backup button.The process can take a long time, especially if there are a lot of media in the chats.Do not close the app completely, although folding into the background on Xiaomi sometimes pauses the boot due to aggressive battery optimization.
Local Copying and Working with Database Files
Local copies are created independently of the settings of Google Drive and stored directly in the memory of your device. MIUI/HyperOS It has changed and now looks like Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases. On older models, the path may be simple. WhatsApp/Databases root-memory.
The files are called msgstore-2023.10.25.1.db.crypt14, where the numbers represent the date of creation and the number after crypt is the encryption version. The system stores the last 7 local copies, automatically deleting the oldest ones when you create a new one. If you want to save a particular version of correspondence, you need to rename it, removing the date from the name, leaving only msgstore.db.crypt14.
For manual file management, you’ll need a file manager, such as Xiaomi’s built-in Explorer or a third-party Total Commander. Copying the Databases folder to a computer or external drive is a great insurance policy in case your smartphone breaks.
⚠️ Note: Database files are encrypted and linked to your phone number, and you can't just open them and read the text on your computer without special decryption keys stored in the system partition of your phone.
- 📂 The Path to Files: Internal Memory → Android → media → com.whatsapp.
- 🔒 Encryption: Files have an extension.crypt12,.crypt14 or newer.
- 🔄 Rotation: No more than 7 last local copies are stored.
- 💾 Weight: Base size can reach several gigabytes with active media exchange.
How to find a hidden Android folder on Xiaomi
Restore WhatsApp from a backup
The data recovery process on Xiaomi starts automatically when you install or reinstall the messenger. After entering the phone number and checking through SMS, the system will detect the backup in Google Drive or local storage. You will be prompted to click the Restore button.
It is critical to use the same Google account and phone number that was used to create the backup, and if you try to restore the data to another number, the process will not succeed because the encryption keys will not match.
In case automatic recovery has not started, check for the msgstore.db.cryptXX file in the Databases folder. If you are transferring data from another phone, copy this file to the appropriate directory on the new Xiaomi before installing the WhatsApp app.
| Parameter | Google Drive | Local copy. | Manual copying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recovery speed | Depends on the Internet. | Instantly. | Depends on the speed of USB. |
| Network requirement | Wi-Fi/4G is required. | Not required | Not required |
| Storage area | Cloud (15GB free) | Phone memory | PC/Flash drive |
| Risk of loss | Minimum | High (when broken) | Low. |
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Recovery from local copy is always faster and more priority than from the cloud if the database file is already in the phone’s memory.
Problems and solutions when creating a backup on Xiaomi
Xiaomi users often experience backups that are either stuck in the pre-production phase or not created at all, most often due to the aggressive MIUI Optimization energy saving system, which limits the background activity of applications. To fix this, go to Settings on your phone, select Apps → All apps, find WhatsApp.
In the app menu, go to the Battery section and set the No Limits mode, which will allow the messenger to work in the background without interruption, and check the permissions: at the Application Permission point, make sure that WhatsApp has access to Files and Media, Contacts and Memory.
Another common problem is the lack of space in Google Drive. The limit of 15 GB is common for mail, photos and documents. If the space is over, the backup will not be created, in which case you either need to vacate space or disable video download in the WhatsApp backup settings.
⚠️ Warning: Do not try to interrupt the recovery process by turning off the screen or closing the application. On Xiaomi, this can damage the database file, and then it will be impossible to restore correspondence.
- 🔋 Energy Saving: Set “No Limits” for WhatsApp.
- 📶 Network Stability: Use 5GHz Wi-Fi to Speed Up Downloads.
- 🗑️ Cache Clearing: Sometimes it helps to clean up the cache of Google Play Services.
- 📅 Date and time: Make sure the phone has the correct date and time.
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If the backup is constantly breaking down by 99%, try clearing the cache of the Google Drive and Google Play Services app and then restart the smartphone before trying again.