The Android operating system on Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones may become unstable over time, requiring radical measures. Factory reset, or Hard Reset, is the most efficient way to return the device to its original speed and eliminate software errors.
Before starting a procedure, it is critical to back up all important files so that you don’t lose them forever. In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can save data, from cloud services to local copying to your computer.
Analysis of data to be backed up
Before you start technical actions, you need to clearly define what exactly needs to be saved. Many users forget about specific data that is not automatically synchronized, such as local messenger files or voice recorder records, the loss of such information is often more painful than the loss of photos.
Special attention should be paid to the applications of banks and government services, and after reset, authorization to them may require repeated complex checks or even a personal visit to the office if access to the phone number is temporarily lost. SIM-The card is active and is on the phone.
List of key data types to check before resetting:
- 📸 Media files: photos, videos, screenshots and uploaded files from messengers.
- 📞 Contacts and call history: phone book, call logs and SMS-message.
- 📝 Local notes: entries in the standard app "Notes" and dictaphone files.
- 🔐 Passwords and keys: login data stored in the browser or password manager.
Use of Mi Cloud and Google Account
The easiest and most integrated way to save data is to use cloud services. Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones have Mi Cloud activated by default, which allows you to back up system settings, contacts, messages and even home screen layouts.
Google Photos and Google Drive provide secure storage of media and documents, and it is important to check if sync is enabled, as users often rely on autoboot, which could have been disabled due to traffic savings.
To activate synchronization with Mi Cloud, follow the following steps:
- ☁️ Open Settings and go to the Mi Account section.
- 🔄 Click on Synchronization and select the necessary data.
- 💾 Click Create a Backup for Immediate Save.
⚠️ Warning: Free space in Mi Cloud is limited to 5 GB. If your photo archive is large, the system may not complete the backup.
Remember that Google contacts sync automatically when you have a network, but it’s best to double-check the status in the Settings menu → Google → Backup. Make sure the Google Backup switch is active and displays the time of the last successful copy.
Local backup for internal memory
The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS feature allows you to create full copies of the system directly on your device. This method is ideal if you don't have access to a computer or Internet speed leaves much to be desired. The archive you create will take up space in internal memory, so make sure you have several gigabytes of free space before creating a copy.
Local copy includes not only contacts and messages, but also installed applications, their data, and system settings, which allows you to restore the phone after a reset in the same form as it was, right up to the placement of icons on the desktop.
Instructions for creating a local backup copy:
- Go to Settings. → The phone.
- Click on Advanced Settings (or Reservation and Restore immediately).
- Select Reservation and enter the screen unlock password.
- Tick the desired data categories and click Reservation.
Once the process is complete, the backup file is usually saved by MIUI/backup/AllBackup. It is critical to copy this folder to your computer or external drive before reset, otherwise it will be deleted along with the rest of the data.
Where to look for local backup files?
Backup of Multimedia to Computer
Photos and videos take up the largest amount of memory, so they are best saved separately to the computer hard drive, this ensures the safety of data even in the event of account problems or damage to the internal memory of the smartphone. USB-cable, as cheap analogues may not provide stable transfer of large files.
When connecting to a PC, select USB File Transfer (MTP) mode, which will define the smartphone as an external drive, and you can manually copy the DCIM (camera), Pictures (app screenshots and images) and Download folders.
☑️ Checklist for preparing files for copying
If your computer can’t see your phone, try installing Mi drivers. PC Suite or simply use another one. USB-Also make sure the phone is debugging on. USB, Although you don't usually need to copy files, after copying, be sure to check the integrity of the files by opening a few random photos.
Saving data of WhatsApp and Telegram messengers
Messengers store correspondence and media files locally, and their recovery after reset requires a separate approach. WhatsApp needs to manually start backup in chat settings. Choose saving on Google Drive and make sure the process is successful.
Telegram has a history of correspondence stored in the cloud, so you don't have to recover anything, just log in to the acc. However, secret chats and files stored in the cache can be lost. Check the Telegram/Telegram Documents folder or Telegram/Telegram Video in the file manager.
| Annex | Method of conservation | Where to look after reset | nuance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Drive / Locally | At the first authorization | You need the same number and Google account. | |
| Viber | Viber Backup (local/Google) | In the Viber settings | Backup password is mandatory |
| Telegram | Cloud (automatically) | Right after the entrance. | Secret chats are not saved |
| Signal | Local backup file | File Import during Installation | The file needs to be moved manually. |
For Viber, the process is similar to WhatsApp: go to Settings → Account → Backup Viber. Be sure to remember or save a password if you set it to protect the archive. Without this password, it will be impossible to restore correspondence.
Data resetting and recovery procedure
Once all the data is saved, you can start the reset itself. 50-60%, So the phone doesn't turn off at a critical moment. 5 before 15 minutes depending on the amount of internal memory and processor speed.
To perform the reset, go to Settings → About Phone → Reset. Press the button Erase all data. The system will warn you several times to delete the information - confirm the actions. Once you reboot, the phone will be as new.
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If you sell a phone, don't restore your data after a reset. leave the device on the welcome screen so the new owner can set it up on their own.
Data recovery begins at the initial setup stage. When you connect to Wi-Fi, the system will suggest that you restore data from your Google or Mi Cloud account. Select the right backup from the list and start the process. Local files can be returned by copying them back from your computer.
⚠️ Note: After resetting and recovering data from the cloud, the phone can get very hot and slow for hours.This is a normal process of indexing files and background content loading.
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Full recovery of all apps and settings can take up to a few hours in the background, don’t panic if the phone is slow right after turning on.