How to save all data with Xiaomi Redmi 4X before resetting to factory settings

Xiaomi Redmi 4X is one of the most popular budget smartphones of the brand, but even it eventually begins to slow down or requires a complete reinstallation of the system. reset to factory settings (hard reset) solves many problems, but erases all user information: photos, correspondence, app settings and even save in games. In this article, we will discuss how to save data from the phone before reset, so as not to lose important.

Redmi 4X has a limited internal storage capacity (16/32GB), so backups are better done on external media or in the cloud. We'll look at official Xiaomi methods, universal solutions through Google and alternative ways for those who don't trust cloud services. Importantly, some applications (such as banking) are not backed up due to security policies, they will have to be reconfigured.

If you are resetting your phone because of a sale or transfer to another person, make sure that all personal data is deleted after you have restored the copy. Otherwise, the new firmware may contain fragments of old information.

1. Backup through Mi Cloud: Pros and Cons

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi's proprietary cloud storage integrated into MIUI firmware, which automatically synchronizes contacts, notes, SMS and even some system settings.

• 📱 Not all types of data are supported (e.g., photos in original quality are only saved when hand-copyed).
• 🔒 Requires a Mi Account binding (if not, register in advance).
• 📶 Slow downloads with weak internet (on Redmi) 4X With its modest iron, the process can take hours).
• 💾 Free available only 5GB (for a full copy of Redmi) 4X That's enough, but it's better not to count on the stock).

To create a backup through Mi Cloud:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on synchronization for the desired categories (contacts, notes, SMS).
3. For a full copy of the system, go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local Backup and select Backup in Mi Cloud.
4. Wait until the process is completed (don’t interrupt the process even if the phone is heating up).

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If Mi Cloud does not see your account, check if the service "Data Sync" is enabled in the SIM-card settings (Mobile Network → Access Point).

On the Redmi. 4X firmware MIUI 10 and below backup in Mi Cloud may not include installed applications – their list is saved, but the APK-No files. That means you'll have to re-download the programs from Google Play, even if they were in a copy.

2. Copy on Google Drive: a universal method for Android

If you don’t trust Mi Cloud or want additional insurance, use Google’s built-in backup feature.

• 📇 Contacts (synchronized with Google Contacts).
• 📅 Calendar and events.
• 📱 List of installed applications (but not their data!).
• 🔑 Wi-Fi passwords.
• 🎮 Some game settings (if they support Google Play Games).

How to set up copying on Google Drive:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts → Google and select your profile.
2. Activate synchronization for the desired categories.
3. For a full copy, go back to Settings → System → Backup and enable Backup in Google Drive.
4. Click Create a copy now (the process can take up to 30 minutes).

⚠️ Attention: Google Drive does not copy photos automatically! Use the Google Photos app to save them (turn on autoload in settings). 4X With its weak processor, downloading a large number of photos can drain the battery in a few hours - connect the phone to charge.

3. Manual copying of files to a PC or external drive

If you don't want to rely on the cloud, the most reliable way is to copy the data to a computer or a flash drive.

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 Cable USB (redmi 4X preferably).
• 💽 External hard drive or flash drive (if you copy directly to them).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Redmi 4X to your PC via USB.
2. On your phone, select file transfer mode (USB for file transfer or MTP).
3. On your computer, open the Explorer and find the device (usually displayed as Redmi 4X or Xiaomi).
4. Copy the folders: DCIM — Photos and videos. Downloads are downloaded files. Pictures, Music, Movies are multimedia. WhatsApp/Media — Media files from correspondence (if you use WhatsApp).

Redmi 4X

folder DCIM photo-and-video|WhatsApp folder (if you use the messenger)|Downloads (Downloads)|Documents from the Documents folder|Preservation of games (usually in the Android/obb)-->

⚠️ Note: Some system folders (for example, Android/data) To see them, turn on the hidden files in the Explorer settings. Also remember that applications and their data (for example, save in games) can not be copied in this way - you need special utilities like Titanium Backup (requires root rights).

4.Saving SMS, calls and contacts through third-party applications

Cloud services do not always reliably store your call history and SMS, especially if your messages contain media files.

• 📱 SMS Backup & Restore – Retains SMS/MMS into XML or CSV, Supports uploading to Google Drive.
• 📞 Call Logs Backup & Restore – Copies Time-Tagged Call History.
• 👥 Super Backup & Restore – a universal contact solution, SMS, Call logs and even apps (without root).

How to use SMS Backup & Restore:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Start and press Set Up a Backup.
3. Choose what to save (SMS, MMS, call log).
4. Specify the location of the save (Google Drive, local memory, email).
5. After reset, install the application again and restore the data through Restore.

⚠️ Attention: When restoring SMS Duplicate messages are possible through third-party apps. Before you restore, check if messages are automatically synced through Google or Mi Cloud, or you will get chaos in correspondence.

5. backup of applications and their data (without root)

It is difficult, but possible, to save installed applications and their data (for example, progress in games or program settings) without superuser rights.

• 📦 APK Extractor - extracts APK-Installation files (but not their data!).
• 🎮 Helium (Carbon Backup) – Copies data from some applications (requires PC installation for full functionality).
• ☁️ Swift Backup – does not support root, but does not support all programs.

Instructions for Helium:

1. Install Helium on your phone and computer.
2. Connect Redmi 4X to your PC and run the desktop version of Helium.
3. In the mobile application, select programs for copying.
4. Save a backup copy to SD-map.
5. After reset, install the applications again and restore the data via Helium.

⚠️ Note: Not all apps allow their data to be copied.For example, WhatsApp blocks access to its folder /Android/media/com.whatsapp For these programs, use the built-in export functions (on WhatsApp, this is Settings). → chat → Backup copy).

6. Features of the reset on Redmi 4X: what you need to know

Before you reset the Redmi 4X to factory settings, consider a few nuances:

• 🔋 The battery charge must be at least 50%.Reset at low charge can lead to a blink (inoperability) of the device.
• 🔐 If the phone is locked with a pattern lock or PIN, After the reset, you will need to enter your Mi or Google account data (if they were linked).
• 📡 On some firmware MIUI after discharge may disappear IMEI (To avoid this, write down before resetting. IMEI (Type *#06# and save the screenshot.
• 🔄 If you are resetting your phone due to freezes or errors, first try clearing the cache through Recovery (does not erase data!).

How to Reset Redmi 4X:

1. Backups are available in all available ways (see previous sections).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Reset settings.
3. Select to erase all data (reset to factory).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (can take up to 10 minutes).

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If the phone doesn’t turn on or hangs on the Mi logo after reset, try to go to Recovery (press Power + Volume Up) and run Wipe Data again.

7.Recovery of data after reset: a step-by-step algorithm

After a successful Redmi 4X reset, start your recovery:

1. Set your phone up as new (select language, connect to Wi-Fi).
2. Log in: First to Mi Account (if you used Mi Cloud) then to Google Account (to recover from Google Drive).
3. Restore data from the cloud: Mi Cloud will offer to restore the copy automatically. For Google Drive, go to Settings → System → Backup → Restore.

Copy files from the PC

Install applications

Recover SMS and calls

⚠️ Warning: If some apps fail after recovering from Mi Cloud, remove them and reinstall them from Google Play.This is because the copy may have saved outdated versions of the programs.

Also check if your network settings are broken:

Settings → Mobile Network → Access Points (APN)

If the internet is not working, manually add your carrier’s APN (options can be found on the provider’s website).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi 4X reset