How to record video from the Xiaomi camera to the cloud: all the ways and settings

Modern Xiaomi smartphones allow not only to shoot high-resolution videos, but also automatically save them to cloud storage. This is convenient: frees up space on the device, files are protected from loss when your phone breaks, and you can access them from any gadget. However, not all users know how to set up this feature correctly — especially if it is about recordings from the main or front camera, and not just a photo.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to upload video from Xiaomi’s camera to the cloud, from the standard Mi Cloud to third-party services like Google Photos or Yandex Drive. You’ll learn which models support automatic synchronization, how to circumvent file size restrictions, and what to do if videos don’t load. And also, compare the speed of different services and talk about hidden settings that will help save traffic.

What Xiaomi smartphones support uploading video to the cloud

The function of automatic video synchronization depends not only on the smartphone model, but also on the firmware version. MIUI. Most devices starting with the Redmi Note 7 (2019) and the flagships of the Mi 9 series support this option, but there are nuances:

• 📱 Flagship models (Xiaomi) 12/13/14, Mix series) – full support for video upload to Mi Cloud and third-party services, including video in the Mi Cloud 4K and HDR.
• 📱 Mid-segment (Redmi Note) 10/11/12, POCO X3/X4/X5) — Video resolution restriction (usually up to) 1080p) and the duration of the roller (up to) 10 Minutes for a free account Mi Cloud).
• 📱 Budget models (Redmi) A1/A2, POCO M3/M4) — Automatic video download is often disabled by default, manual settings are required through the Gallery → Settings → Cloud synchronization.
• 📱 Outdated devices (up to) MIUI 11) – support only photos, videos are downloaded manually or through third-party applications.

To check your model’s compatibility, open Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI. If the firmware version is newer MIUI 12.5, the function is most likely available. For accurate information, you can use the table below:

Important: on devices with firmware MIUI Global’s automatic video upload to Mi Cloud may be blocked due to regional restrictions, in which case switching region to India or China in Xiaomi account settings will help.

Automatic video downloading in Mi Cloud

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s standard cloud storage that offers 5GB for free (expands to 100GB for a fee).To enable automatic video downloads, follow the following steps:

1. Open the Gallery app on your smartphone.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to the Cloud Synchronization section.
4. Activate the Autoboot switch in Mi Cloud.
5. Enable the Video option (can be disabled by default).
6. Choose the download quality: Original (retains original resolution) or Compressed (saves space and traffic).

If the Video option is not in the settings, it means that your model does not support automatic download, in which case you can use a workaround:

Sign in to Xiaomi account on your phone

Update the Gallery app to the latest version

Connect to Wi-Fi (mobile download may be blocked)

Free up space in the cloud (if the limit is exceeded)-->

Mi Cloud limitations for video:

• 🎥 The maximum size of a single file is 2 GB (for free accounts), and videos larger than this size are downloaded manually.
• 🕒 The duration of the video is limited to 30 minutes for resolutions above 1080p.
• 📶 Downloading on the mobile network is disabled by default (includes in Settings) → Transfer of data → Autoboot over mobile network).

If the video is not uploaded, check:

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi) 9A) The autoload video function in the Mi Cloud only works when connected to a charger.

Alternative cloud services: Google Photos, Yandex Drive, OneDrive

If Mi Cloud is not happy due to restrictions or regional locks, you can use third-party services.

1. Google Photo.

Advantages: Free storage for video in "high quality" (compression to high quality) 1080p), Automatic sorting by date and place, access from any device.

How to set up:

1. Install the Google Photos app from the Play Market.
2. Open the app and log in to your Google account.
3. Slip on the profile avatar → Photo settings → Backup and synchronization.
4. Turn on the switch and select the download quality (Original or High).
5. In the Backup Management section, make sure that the Video option is marked.

Limitations: Videos in original quality take up space in Google Drive (15 GB free).When you select the "High Quality" option, the video duration is unlimited, but the resolution is reduced to 1080p.

2.Yandex Disk

Advantages: 10 GB free, no video compression, easy viewing through the web interface.

How to set up:

• 📱 Install the Yandex Drive application and log in to your account.
• 📁 Go to Settings. → Autoboot.
• 🎬 Enable the Video option and select the folder to sync (for example, DCIM/Camera).
• 🔄 Indicate that you can download files only over Wi-Fi or also over a mobile network.

Limitations: The maximum file size is 20GB (enough for any smartphone video), but autoload only works for new files – existing videos need to be downloaded manually.

3. Microsoft OneDrive

Advantages: Windows integration, 5GB free, video support 4K.

How to set up:

1. Download OneDrive from the app store.
2. Log in to your Microsoft account.
3. Open up. → Settings → Backup of the camera.
4. Turn on the video and select the Camera folder.

Limitations: If you exceed the 5GB limit, downloads stop, and manual confirmation may also be required for videos larger than 4GB.

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If you use Google Photos, turn on the "Free Space" option in the backup settings. Once the video is uploaded to the cloud, the originals will be deleted from the phone, freeing up memory.

How to upload video to the cloud manually

If automatic synchronization doesn't work, or if you want to download specific files, you can do it manually, and let's look at the different services.

Through the Mi Cloud

1. Open the Gallery app and select the video.

2.Slip Share. → Mi Cloud.

3. Select an album to download or create a new one.

4. wait for the download to be completed (progress bar is displayed).

Through Google Photos

1.In the Google Photos app, find the video and open it.

2.Slip three points up there. → Save it in the cloud.

3. If the video is already in the cloud, the option to Create a copy will appear.

Through the file manager

To download to Yandex Drive or OneDrive:

1. Open the file manager (e.g., Files from Google or Mi File Manager).

2. Go to the folder. DCIM → Camera.

3. Select the video, tap Share → Save in [name of cloud].

⚠️ Note: When you manually upload video over a mobile network, monitor traffic consumption, such as videos lasting 5 minutes per day. 4K It can weigh 1-1.5 GB.

Boot Optimization: How to Save Traffic and Place

Automatic video uploading to the cloud can quickly exhaust both storage space and mobile traffic, and here are a few ways to optimize the process:

• 📶 Wi-Fi-only download: Turn off mobile autoboot in cloud service settings. In Mi Cloud, this is done in Settings → Transfer of data → Autoboot only over Wi-Fi.
• 🎞️ Video compression before download: In Google Photos, select High quality over Original.This will reduce file size by 2-3 times without significant quality loss.
• 🗑️ Auto-clean after download: In Google Photos and OneDrive, enable the option to delete local copies after backup (Free up space).
• ⏳ Time limit: In Mi Cloud, you can configure video downloads only at night (in Settings) → Synchronization schedule).

For additional space savings, use the built-in compression tools on Xiaomi:

1. Open the gallery. → Albums. → Video.

2. Select the video → Edit → Squeeze.

3. Specify the target quality (e.g, 720p instead 4K) and keep a copy.

4. Upload the compressed version to the cloud.

Problem Solving: Videos are not uploaded to the cloud

If the video is not synced to the cloud, the causes can range from simple errors to system failures.

If none of these methods worked, try:

1. Update the Gallery app and cloud service to the latest version.
2. Clear the app cache in Settings → Annexes → Application management → [name] → Clear the cache.
3. Reboot your smartphone.
4. Untie and re-link your account to the cloud service.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 8 Pro) after upgrading to MIUI 14 can be lost associating folders to Mi Cloud, in which case will help reset the settings of the gallery: → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the data.

Comparison of services: which cloud service to choose for video

To determine the optimal service for video storage, compare the key parameters:

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For most Xiaomi users, Google Photos is the best choice because of the free 15GB and user-friendly interface, but if you want privacy, you’d better use Yandex Drive or OneDrive with two-factor authentication.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions