Xiaomi Vacuum Mop (and its modifications: Pro, 2, P, Essential) builds detailed maps of the rooms to efficiently clean. But what if the device resets, you move or want to move the settings to a new gadget? Losing a card means re-scanning the apartment, which takes time and doesn't always go smoothly. In this article, 5 proven ways to save the card, including cloud backup, manual export and recovery via Mi Home.
Many users face a problem: once they reset or update the firmware, the robot forgets all the saved spaces. Unlike other brands, Xiaomi does not provide a direct function of exporting cards in.map or.json format, but there are workarounds. We tested all methods on the Vacuum Mop 2 Pro (2023) and Vacuum Mop P (2026) models, the results in the table below.
If you’re just planning to buy, note that not all firmware versions support card backup. For example, older versions of the Mi Home (up to 6.0) have hidden backup function. It’s also important to understand that the cards are tied to the Xiaomi account, not the robot itself. This means that when you change your device (for example, from Vacuum Mop 1 to Vacuum Mop 3), the transfer is possible, but with nuances.
1.Save the card through cloud backup in Mi Home
The most reliable way is the automatic backup to the Xiaomi cloud, which works on all models that support the Room Map function (see the official documentation for the list of compatible devices).
To enable cloud storage:
⚠️ Note: If you have a Chinese firmware version (grey devices), the cloud backup may not work due to region constraints.
How to check if the map is saved in the cloud?
- 🔄 Reboot the robot (hold the power button for 10 seconds).
- 📱 Remove the device from Mi Home and add again.
- 🗺️ If after re-binding the card was displayed - the backup worked.
2. Manual export of the card through the Mi Home API (for advanced)
If the cloud backup is not available, you can manually extract the map through the undocumented API of the Mi Home application, which requires basic knowledge of working with Python or Postman, but gives you complete control over the data.
Step-by-step:
🔧 How to Get a Token:
- 📱 Install the Packet Capture (Android) app or HTTP Toolkit (iOS/PC).
- 🔍 Capture Mi Home traffic when you open the map.
- 🔑 Find a line in the logs with serviceToken.
What to do if the token does not work?
⚠️ Xiaomi may block the account for frequent requests to the API. Do not use this method more than 1 time per week.
3. Transfer the map to a new robot vacuum cleaner
If you have updated the model (for example, from Vacuum Mop 1 to Vacuum Mop 3), the map can be moved, but with limitations:
- ✅ It only works for devices on a single platform (for example, Vacuum Mop 2 Pro). → Vacuum Mop 2 Ultra).
- ❌ Incompatible between different ranges (e.g. Vacuum Mop and Roborock).
- 🔄 Requires a cloud backup (see Section 1).
Instructions for transfer:
- Save the map to the cloud on an old robot.
- Add a new robot to Mi Home under the same account.
- Go to the map settings → Restore from the cloud.
- Confirm the data load.
📌 Important: After transfer, check the scale of the map. Sometimes the coordinates get confused and the robot misidentifies the distances. If necessary, repeat the scan (Settings) → Map. → Reset the card).
Make sure both robots are connected to the same Xiaomi| account
Check the firmware version (must be at least 3.5.8)|
Back up your cleaning settings (schedule, zones) |
Turn off geofences in Mi Home during transfer-->
4.Save screenshot of the card as a backup option
If none of the methods worked, take a screenshot of the map in Mi Home, which will not allow you to restore the map in the robot, but will help:
- 📏 Restore cleaning areas manually.
- 🚫 Eliminate restricted areas (such as carpets or children's toys).
- 📌 Save charging points and virtual walls.
How to take a high-quality screenshot:
- Increase the scale of the map to the maximum.
- Turn off the robot display (Settings → Map → Hide the robot).
- Use the key combination: 🖥️ On PC: Win + Shift + S (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + 4 (Mac). 📱 On the phone: at the same time the power button + Turning down the volume.
Google Drive
iCloud
⚠️ Note: The screenshot does not contain data on the height of the room (important for models with a high-rise). 3D-a scanner, for example, a Vacuum Mop 3D). For full restoration, you will have to re-scan the rooms.
5.Restore the card after resetting the settings
If the robot has been reset to the factory settings (hold the power button for 20 seconds), the card is deleted from its memory, but it can be restored if:
| Conditions | Method of recovery | Applicable to models |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud backup on. | Recovery through Mi Home → Map → Restore | All models with 3.3+ firmware |
| There's a hand-held copy of a.map. | Download via API (see Section 2) | Vacuum Mop 2 Pro, Vacuum Mop P |
| No backup, but there's a screenshot. | Manual entry of cleaning areas | All models. |
| Robot with 3D-scanner (Vacuum Mop) 3D) | Re-scanning is mandatory | Vacuum Mop 3D, Vacuum Mop 3D Pro |
If none of these methods work, you'll have to retrain the robot.
- 🪟 Close the doors to unnecessary rooms.
- 💡 Turn on bright lighting (laser scanner works better in good light).
- 🚫 Remove small objects (toys, wires) from the floor).
💡
Before you reset the robot, check if it's connected to Google Assistant or Alice, and then you'll have to reset the voice control.
6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them
Users often face problems when saving maps. here's the top-5 mistakes and their solutions:
🔴 Mistake 1: Maps are not synced to the cloud.
- 📶 Check Wi-Fi connection (robot must be on the same network as phone).
- 🔄 Reboot the router and robot.
- 📱 Update Mi Home to the latest version.
🔴 Mistake 2: After recovery, the card is lost".
- 📏 Check the scale: sometimes the map is displayed in the wrong size.
- 🔄 Calibrate the map (Settings) → Map. → Sizing).
🔴 Mistake 3: Cannot get a token for API.
- 🔑 Use the official Mi Home app, not clones.
- 📵 Turn it off. VPN (It can block traffic capture).
🔴 Error 4: Robot cannot see saved card after transfer.
- 🔄 Make sure that the robot models are compatible (see the table in Section 3).
- 📡 Check the Xiaomi account region (should match the robot region).
🔴 Error 5: The card is saved, but no cleaning areas.
- 📋 Zones and restricted areas are stored separately. Export them through Settings → Cleaning areas → Exports.
- 🖥️ Use Mi Home PC Version for more flexible management.
💡
If the robot is not performing well after restoring the map (e.g., getting stuck in corners), reset the card and retrain it again, which will take time but avoid errors in the long run.