Save Data on Xiaomi Before Reset: The Complete 2026 Guide

Resetting Xiaomi to factory settings is a radical but sometimes necessary step to solve system problems, prepare for sale or eliminate viruses.However, without prior backup, you risk losing photos over the past few years. 5 In fact, it's been years since WhatsApp, saved games, even bank app data, 68% Users lose important information in a hard reset due to a lack of backup — and most of them don’t even realize that the recovery process could take up everything. 15-20 minute.

In this article, we will analyze all possible ways to save data on Xiaomi, Redmi and other smartphones. POCO — standard-tool MIUI to third-party services that will save your data even if the phone is already "glutting", special attention will be paid to hidden folders with application settings (for example, Android/data and Android/obb), And most guides ignore it, even though they store game saves and messenger cache. 7 Steps that ensure you haven’t missed anything.

Why can’t you just copy files to your computer?

Many users mistakenly believe that it is enough to connect Xiaomi to the PC through the USB And drag and drop all the folders from the internal memory to the hard drive, and in practice, this only works on 30 times%:

• 📁 Visible files (photos, videos, music) are copied without problems - they are in folders. DCIM, Pictures, Download.
• 🔒 Hidden application data (game saving, WhatsApp settings, Telegram cache) remain inaccessible – they are stored in secure system folders.
• 📱 System settings (wallpaper, shortcuts, parameters) MIUI) Not exported through Windows Explorer.
• ☁️ Cloud data (such as Mi Notes or call history) is tied to a Xiaomi account and requires separate synchronization.

Moreover, if you are using MTK-chipset (e.g. in Redmi) 9A or POCO C31), when connected through USB Maybe the lockdown will work. MTP-After the reset, you can't even return the files back, so it's important to combine several backup methods.

⚠️ Note: If your Xiaomi is already “hanging” on the logo or not turning on, the standard backup methods will not work. ADB (guideline).

Method 1: Built-in backup MIUI (most reliable)

Branded instrument MIUI It allows you to create a full backup system, including:

• 📞 Contacts, call log and SMS
• 📸 Photo and video (optional)
• ⚙️ System and application settings
• 🎮 Preserve certain games (if supported)

How to make a backup:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Click “Create a backup” and select the data to save (we recommend marking all points).
3. Wait until the process is complete (it can take 10-30 minutes depending on the amount of data).
4. The backup file will appear in the folder MIUI/backup/AllBackup — Copy it to your PC or cloud.

Important nuances:

• 🔄 Backup does not include installed applications (.apk files), only their settings.
• 📱 On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T) This function may be called “Reservation and Backup».
• ☁️ To automatically backup the Mi Cloud, you need to log in to your Xiaomi account (instruction below).

Disable battery optimization for the "Backup" application

Connect your phone to charge (the process consumes a lot of power)

Free at least 1 GB of memory on the device

Check that the date and time on the phone are correct (important for backup encryption)-->

Method 2: Sync with Mi Cloud (for contacts, notes, photos)

Mi Cloud is a cloud storage from Xiaomi that automatically saves:

• 📇 Contacts and call log
• 📝 Notes (Mi Notes)
• 📷 Photo and video (if the “Shoot” function is enabled»)
• 📍 Location history (if Mi Location was used)

How to set up synchronization:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Include sliders opposite the desired categories (for example, “Contacts” and “Gallery”).
3. For a photo, click Gallery. → Settings → Autoboot and select “Only via Wi-Fi” (to avoid wasting mobile traffic).
4. Wait for the synchronization to complete (check the indicator in the top notification bar).

The limitations of Mi Cloud:

• 📉 The free rate gives only 5 GB (this is the price). ~1500 high quality photos).
• 🔒 Not all apps support cloud backup (for example, WhatsApp or Viber need to be saved separately).
• 🌍 In some regions (e.g. the EU), Mi Cloud may not be available due to the GDPR — Use alternatives like Google Photos.

⚠️ Note: If you are selling a phone, be sure to untie your Xiaomi account in Settings → Xiaomi account → Otherwise, the new owner will be able to recover your data via the Mi Cloud!

Mi Cloud

Google Drive

Yandex Disc.

iCloud (for backups)

I don't use clouds.

Other-->

Method 3: Manually copying hidden folders (for games and instant messengers)

Many applications store critical data in folders that are not visible through standard Explorer.

• 🎮 Preservation of games: Android/data/ (For example, com.supercell.clashroyale for Clash Royale).
• 💬 Messengers: Android/media/com.whatsapp/ (for WhatsApp or Android/data/org.telegram.messenger/.
• 📊 Application settings: Android/obb/ (Here are the game cached files).

How to copy these folders:

1. Install a file manager with access to root folders, such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer.
2. Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings.
3. Go to the file. /storage/emulated/0/ (internal memory and find catalogs Android/data and Android/obb.
4. Copy the desired folders to a PC or external drive.

Important:

• 🔐 Without root rights, you will not be able to copy some folders (for example, Android/data newer MIUI 14).
• 🔄 After reset, return the folders to their place before the first application launches – otherwise they will create new configuration files.
• 🚫 Don't copy the folders. Android/data and Android/obb Memory card – some applications (such as games) won’t see them from there.

Method 4: Save messages from WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber

Messengers store their correspondence in encrypted databases that are not copied by standard methods.

You can also use Google Drive for WhatsApp:

1. Open WhatsApp. → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup copy.
2. Click “Create a copy” and select a Google account.
3. After reset, install WhatsApp again and restore chats from Google Drive.

⚠️ WARNING: If you use WhatsApp Business, the backup is created separately from the regular WhatsApp: /sdcard/WhatsApp Business/Databases/.

💡

To speed up WhatsApp backup on Google Drive, connect your phone to Wi-Fi and charge it to 100% Large Chats (100)+ MB) may not be retained when the battery is low.

Method 5: Export of contacts and SMS file

If you don’t trust cloud services, contact and SMS You can save it in universal formats (.vcf and.xml) that will open on any device.

Export of contacts:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Press. ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Export to file.
3. Select contacts (or click All) and save the contacts.vcf file to the Download folder.
4. Copy the file on your PC or send it to your mail.

Exports SMS:

V MIUI No built-in exports SMS, So use third-party applications, for example, SMS Backup & Restore:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Click on “Backup” and select “Local Storage”.
3. Save the file. sms-YYYYMMDD.xml And copy it to a PC.

Advantages of this method:

• 📄.vcf and.xml files can be opened in 10 years on any device.
• 🔒 Data is independent of cloud services (relevant if Mi Cloud is not available in your area).
• 📱.vcf contacts are imported even on iPhone or feature-phone.

Method 6: Backup with Recovery Mode (if the phone doesn't turn on)

If Xiaomi is stuck on the logo or does not respond to clicks, but also includes in the Recovery mode, you can try to make a backup through the TWRP standard-recovery.

Option 1: Standard Recovery (without root)

1. Turn off the phone, then press Volume up + Power before the Mi logo appears.
2. Select the language (volume buttons) and go to Backup & Restore.
3. Connect your phone to your PC through USB Copy files manually (if Recovery supports) MTP).

Option 2: TWRP (requires an unlocked loader)

If the phone has custom TWRP recovery installed:

1. Boot in TWRP (usually Volume Up + Power).
2. Select Backup and select Data, Internal Storage.
3. Swipe to create a backup (file will appear in the folder) TWRP/BACKUPS).
4. Copy the folder on the PC through MTP or ADB.

Limitations:

• 🔧 Xiaomi’s standard Recovery often doesn’t support file copying – only resetting.
• 🔓 For TWRP You need an unlocked boot loader (instruction below).
• ⚠️ Not all Xiaomi models support all of them. TWRP (For example, on Xiaomi 13 Pro with HyperOS custom recovery may not work).

💡

If the phone does not turn on even in Recovery, there is only one option left - connecting through the phone. EDL-This requires special equipment and knowledge, so it is better to contact the service center.

Checklist: 7 steps before Xiaomi resets to factory settings

To avoid missing anything, go through this list:

Make a backup through Settings → Local backups

Sync contacts, notes and photos with Mi Cloud or Google Account

Copy folders. Android/data and Android/obb (game- and application-based)

Save the chat rooms. WhatsApp/Telegram manually or through Google Drive

Export contacts to.vcf file and SMS.xml

Check that all important files are copied to the PC/cloud (documents, screens, records)

Unplug Google, Xiaomi, Samsung accounts (if used)-->

After discharge:

• 📱 First, recover data from Mi Cloud or local backup MIUI.
• 🎮 Then return the folders. Android/data and Android/obb (before the first launch!).
• 💬 Install messengers and restore chats from backups.

FAQ: Frequent questions about backup before resetting