How to save data from your phone when resetting Xiaomi settings

When a Xiaomi smartphone starts to run unstable, overheat or issue system errors, it often requires a radical solution: a complete factory reset, a procedure known as Hard Reset that returns the device to its original parameters, removing all user files, installed apps and personal settings. However, before starting this process, it is critical to think about the safety of your digital life.

Losing photos, work documents, correspondence history and saved passwords can be a nasty surprise if not prepared in advance. Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones offer many built-in tools and cloud services that allow you to create a full copy of the system in minutes. Ignoring this stage can lead to irretrievable loss of information that can then be impossible to recover by standard methods.

In this guide, we will discuss in detail all available ways to back up data on Xiaomi devices. We will look at working with the Mi Cloud cloud service, local saving to your computer through the use of the device. USB-using third-party applications to create an exact copy of the system, and following these steps ensures that after a reset, you quickly return your phone to working condition without losing important files.

Preparation for the backup procedure

Before you start any manipulation of the system, you need to make sure that the device is ready to transfer large amounts of data. The first and most important condition is the battery level. The backup process can take from 15 minutes to several hours, depending on the amount of information, so the charge should be at least 60-70%.

It’s also worth checking if there’s any storage space available to send a copy to. If you’re planning to use cloud services, make sure your Mi Account or Google Drive account has available storage. Local copying to your computer requires free hard disk space equal to or greater than the amount of data you’re using on your smartphone.

⚠️ Warning: Do not start the reset process unless you are 100% sure that the backup is successful and complete.

A stable Wi-Fi connection is another critical factor, especially when working with cloud storage. Mobile Internet can be unstable or have traffic restrictions, which will interrupt the download of large files such as photos and videos. It is recommended to use a home network with high data rates to speed up the process.

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Turn off the lock screen before you start or make sure you remember. PIN-code, as some security systems may request owner confirmation when trying to access system files.

Use of the built-in Mi Cloud tool

Xiaomi’s ecosystem provides users with a powerful data synchronization tool, Mi Cloud, which is deeply integrated into the MIUI (or HyperOS) shell and allows them to automatically store key data in secure remote storage.

In the synchronization menu, you can select specific types of data that you want to save. Usually, the system offers reservations of contacts, messages, call history, notes, voice recorder and calendar schedules. Special attention should be paid to the gallery: enabling synchronization of photos will save your photos in their original quality, freeing up space on the device.

• 📶 Wi-Fi settings: Save passwords from known networks so you don’t re-enter them after resetting.

It is important to understand the difference between simple synchronization and a full system backup. Synchronization updates the data in real time, whereas a full backup provides a snapshot of the system's state at a certain point. To prepare for a reset, it is recommended to perform manual synchronization by pressing the appropriate button in the account menu to make sure that the latest changes have reached the server.

Local backup on the device

If the data is large and the speed of the Internet is poor, the best solution is to create a local backup. Xiaomi's built-in utility allows you to create a complete system archive that is stored in the phone's internal memory or on the SD memory card. This method does not require an Internet connection at the time of copy creation.

To start the process, you need to go to the settings section, select the “About Phone” item and click on the firmware version several times, or find a direct input through the “Advanced Settings” menu» → «Backup and Restore. Here you can select system components, applications and media files to save.

After selecting data categories, the system will suggest setting a password to protect the backup. It is strongly recommended not to skip this step, especially if you plan to transfer the phone to a service center or sell it.

After the process is complete, the backup file is usually stored in the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder. To secure the data before reset, this file must be transferred to a computer or external drive, since when you completely reset (Wipe All Data), the internal memory will be cleared completely.

Backup through computer (PC Suite and Explorer)

The most reliable way to save heavy files, such as videos 4K and RAW-Photos are direct copying to a computer. Connect your smartphone to a PC or laptop using the original computer. USB-cable. The phone screen will request connection mode; select "File Transfer" or «MTP».

Once connected, the phone will be defined as an external drive. Open the device in My Computer and copy the contents of the internal memory. Pay special attention to the DCIM folders (camera photos and videos), Download (downloads), Pictures (screenshots and images from instant messengers) and Music.

For more advanced users, there is an official Mi PC Suite program, although it is more often required for firmware. In most cases, standard copying through Windows Explorer or Finder (macOS) is enough to save personal files. Be sure to also check the Android/media folder, where some applications store cache and data.

• 💻 Windows Explorer: The fastest way to transfer Drag-and-Drop files without installing additional software.
• ☁️ Google Drive for PC: An alternative way to sync folders from your computer without using cables.
• 🔌 USB 3.0/Type-C: Use high speed ports to speed up transfer of large files.
• 📂 Folder Structure: Keep the original directories structure so that files fall into place after the return.

⚠️ Note: When copying large amounts of data, do not turn off the cable abruptly. Use secure device extraction in the computer operating system to avoid damaging the file system.

The good thing about this method is that you get a physical copy of the data, independent of the Internet connection and cloud service policies, but it requires free space on your computer's hard drive and manual file management.

Saving data of applications and messengers

A separate and often the most painful topic is saving correspondence in instant messengers. Xiaomi’s standard reset removes apps along with all data. To avoid losing your correspondence history on WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber, you need to use their built-in backup features.

On WhatsApp, the way is: Settings → Chats → Chat backup. Here you can select the automatic copy creation frequency and storage (Google Drive or locally). Make sure the last copy is created right before reset. In Telegram, the history is stored in the cloud, so remember the username and password, but secret chats burn up irrevocably when reset.

For banking apps and Google Authenticator, it's more complicated. Many banks require re-association. If you have the opportunity, take screenshots of important things. QR-use the key export function (if the application allows it) to avoid losing access to two-factor authentication.

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Cloud-based messengers (Telegram, Viber with settings) are automatically restored, and WhatsApp requires manual recovery from the Google Drive backup when first installed.

Also, be sure to check auto-save in the messaging gallery. Often important documents and photos obtained in chat rooms are saved to separate folders inside the phone's memory, which you need to copy to the computer separately if they are not synced with the cloud.

Final inspection and discharge launch

When all the data is copied, you need to do a final audit. Check the cloud storage through your browser from your computer — make sure that contacts, photos and files are displayed there. Try opening a backup on your PC to make sure it is readable.

Only after you have confirmed that all data is saved successfully can you proceed to reset. The path to the function is usually in the Settings menu → About phone → Reset. The system will warn you that all data will be deleted. This is the point of no return.

Once the reset is done, the phone will restart and begin the initial setup process. When you log in to the same Mi Account and Google account, the system will prompt you to restore data from the backup. If you used a local backup, it will need to be pre-returned to the MIUI/backup/AllBackup folder through the file manager.