How to transfer ALL data from Xiaomi to your computer before resetting to factory settings

Resetting Xiaomi to factory settings is a radical solution to problems with lags, viruses, or before selling the device. But without a backup, you risk losing photos for a while. 5 years, correspondence in Telegram/WhatsApp, The official instructions of the Mi Community are often silent about the nuances: for example, that the backup copy is MIUI does not store Wi-Fi passwords or that Google Photos compresses originals when stored for free.

This article is the only guide that contains all the ways to transfer data from Xiaomi to PC, including hidden folders. DCIM, Application databases and settings MIUI, We tested the methods on the Redmi Note 10 Pro (MIUI 13) to Xiaomi 14 Ultra (MIUI 14), and also took into account the features of working with MacOS Ventura and Windows 11. FAQ Answer questions that even Xiaomi support doesn’t cover.

Why you can’t rely on the cloud alone MIUI

The Mi Cloud cloud storage seems convenient, and it's synchronized, and it's done. But in practice, it's got critical limitations.

• 📱 5GB limit for free account (this is the limit) ~1,500 photos in original quality or 2 hours of video 1080p).
• ⚙️ Does not reserve settings for some system applications (e.g. Topics or Security).
• 🔒 Encrypts backups, and when you lose your password. MI-Data cannot be recovered (even through support).
• 🌍 Geographical limitations: Mi Cloud services are out of service in some regions (e.g. India.

Moreover, Mi Cloud does not save:

• 📁 Download folders (/storage/emulated/0/Download).
• 🎮 Game savers (except those integrated with Google Play Games).
• 📊 Call logs older than 30 days.
• 🔑 Wi-Fi passwords (they will have to be re-entered after resetting).

⚠️ Note: If you have used the Duplicate Applications function in MIUI (For example, for a second WhatsApp account, the cloud only stores the data of the main instance. Secondary copies of the applications will be lost without a local backup.

Preparing the phone for backup

Before you start copying, follow the mandatory steps to avoid errors:

1. Charging. ≥With a low battery level, Xiaomi can interrupt data transmission USB.
2. Turn off battery optimization for backup applications: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Three points (⋮) → Special access → Optimizing the battery → Find the mi. PC Suite" or "Google Disk" → Turn off optimization.
3. Activate the developer mode (if you plan to use it) ADB): Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (tap 7 times) → Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Turn on
4. Check the space available on a PC. for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 256GB of memory can have up to 100GB of user data.

Advice for flagship owners (Xiaomi) 13T Pro, Mix Fold 3): If you have a Global Firmware installed ROM, Some system folders (for example, /miad/ advertising-data ID) To see them, use a file manager with root permissions (for example, FX File Explorer or command:

adb shell ls -la /storage/emulated/0/

Method 1: Complete copying through Mi PC Suite (official method)

Mi PC Suite is Xiaomi's proprietary software for controlling your phone from a computer, and it allows you to create a full backup, including a full backup:

• 📞 Contacts, SMS/MMS, call-in.
• 📷 Photos and videos (including hidden.thumbnails folders).
• 🎵 Music and downloads.
• 📱 Settings MIUI (wallpaper, sound circuits, brightness of the screen).

Step-by-step:

1. Download Mi. PC Suite (version for the Windows/Mac).
2. Connect your phone over USB, select File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. In the program go to the Backup tab → Full Backup.
4. Please specify the folder to save (recommended) D:\Xiaomi_Backup\, To avoid problems with access rights in the Program Files).
5. Press Start and wait until it is completed (on Poco) F5 With 128 GB of data, the process took 45 minutes).

Original connected USB-cable (not cheap charging)

Debugging mode is on. USB (for MIUI 14 is mandatory)

Disabled. VPN/Proxies on PCs (can block connection)

Freely. ≥20% of the space on the PC system disk-->

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Does not copy data from certain applications (for example, Viber or Signal).
• ❌ Backup takes up a lot of space (for example, Xiaomi reserve) 12S Ultra weighs 87GB).
• ❌ Recovery is possible only on the same phone model.

⚠️ Note: If you are using macOS, install the Android File Transfer driver before connecting your phone. PC Suite won’t see the device, although it will show up in Finder.

Method 2: Manually copy files through a conductor (for experienced)

This method gives you maximum control over what data to store, and you manually select folders and files, including those that are ignored by cloud services.

Which folders should be copied:

How to copy:

1. Connect your phone to your PC in MTP mode.
2. Open this computer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) → Find the Xiaomi device.
3. Copy these folders to your hard drive (we recommend using TeraCopy for large files).
4. For hidden folders (such as.data), turn on the display of hidden files: Control Panel → Folder parameters → species → Show hidden files and folders

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If the copying is interrupted with the error "The file is too big for the target file system", format the flash drive or disk in exFAT (supports files). >4GB).

What's not copied:

• ❌ Application data, if encrypted (for example, BankID or Public Services).
• ❌ Account settings (you will have to log in again).
• ❌ System log files (/data/log/), unless there is root.

Method 3: Export of contacts, SMS and call logs

System data (contacts, messages) require special attention, as they are not always included in the general backup.

Export of contacts:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Tap on. ⋮ → Contact management → Imports/Exports → Export to file.
3. Select the format.vcf (for importing into Google Contacts) or.csv (for Excel).
4. Copy the file on a PC (for example, in the D:\Contacts\backup_2026.vcf).

Exports SMS/MMS:

MIUI It does not have built-in exports SMS, So use third-party applications:

• 📲 SMS Backup & Restore (saves to.xml, supports Telegram backup).
• 📲 Super Backup & Restore (exports to.csv or.txt).

After export, the files will be in the folder. /storage/emulated/0/SMSBackupRestore/ — copy them to the PC.

Export of call logs:

Use the Call Log Backup & Restore app:

1. Install it from Google Play.
2. Press Backup. → Choose the.xml format.
3. The file will be saved in /storage/emulated/0/CallLogs/.

Method 4: Save application data (WhatsApp, Telegram, games)

Messengers and games store data in secure folders that are not copied by standard methods.

WhatsApp:

• 📱 Create a local backup: WhatsApp → ⋮ → Settings → chat → Backup → Create a copy of the file will be saved in /storage/emulated/0/WhatsApp/Databases/msgstore.db.crypt14.
• 💻 Copy the entire WhatsApp folder on your PC (including Media with photo/video).
• ⚠️ Important: You need the same phone number and WhatsApp version to recover.

Telegram:

• 📱 Export chats: Settings → Additionally. → Chat Data Export Select.html (to view in the browser) or.json (to import).
• 💾 Media files are stored in /storage/emulated/0/Telegram/Telegram Images/ — copy them separately.

Games (Call of Duty Mobile, Genshin Impact, etc.):

• 🎮 Most games tie progress to an account (Google Play, Mi Account, Facebook.
• 📂 Local saves (for example, for Minecraft) look at /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/[play-off]/files/.
• ⚠️ For Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, local backups are useless – progress is synchronized only with miHoYo servers.

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For instant messengers always make two backups: local (on the phone) + A copy of it on PC. Cloud reserves (Google) Drive/iCloud) They can be reset when changing the device.

Method 5: Reservation through ADB (for advanced users)

ADB (Android Debug Bridge allows you to create a full copy of all data, including system files:

• 🔧 You have experience with the command line.
• 📱 You need to save data from applications that block exports (for example, TikTok or AliExpress).
• 🔒 Requires backup settings that are not available through MIUI.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB Tools on your PC.
2. Enable USB debugging on your phone: Settings → Additional → For developers → Debugging over USB
3. Connect your phone and check the connection: Adb devices (should display the serial number of the device).
4. Create a backup: adb backup -apk -obb -shared -all -f D:\xiaomi_backup.ab -apk — include APK-file. -obb — copy-caching. -shared — store SD-map. -all — appendix.

On the phone, confirm the backup (think up a password if you need encryption).

How to restore:

adb restore D:\xiaomi_backup.ab

⚠️ Attention: Backup through ADB It does not include data from some system applications (e.g. com.miui.securitycenter) and may not work on phones with a bootloader).

Checking the integrity of the backup before resetting

Before you reset Xiaomi to factory settings, be sure to check that all data is copied correctly:

• 📂 Files: Open a few random photos/video from the backup on your PC (for example, through the VLC or FastStone Viewer).
• 📞 Contacts: Import a.vcf file to Google Contacts and make sure all numbers are in place.
• 💬 Messages: Open the exported.xml file SMS In the notebook - there should be read tags <sms>.
• 🎮 Games: Make sure that folders with saves (e.g. com.activision.callofduty.shooter) are not empty.

Checklist before dumping:

Backup Mi. PC Suite Completed Without Errors

Folders. DCIM/Pictures PC-copyed

Contacts exported to.vcf

SMS/calls saved in.xml

Data data WhatsApp/Telegram copied

Passwords from Mi-account and Google are written on paper-->

If something goes wrong, use emergency recovery:

• 🛠️ For Windows: DiskDrill can recover deleted files from the phone’s internal memory (if the reset has not already been done).
• 🔧 For Mac: PhoneRescue for Android supports Xiaomi scanning for lost data.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions