How to enable sync on Xiaomi: cloud, contacts, photos and applications

Why you need sync on Xiaomi and how it works

Synchronizing data on Xiaomi devices is not just a handy feature, but a real “insurance” for your information. Imagine if you lost your phone, it broke down or it was stolen. Without a backup, it will be extremely difficult to restore contacts, photos or notes. This is where synchronization through Mi Account comes to the rescue – it automatically stores your data in the cloud and syncs it between all Xiaomi devices, whether it is a smartphone, tablet or even a smartwatch.

But how does it work? It's based on Xiaomi's Mi Cloud, which is integrated into MIUI's firmware (and now HyperOS), and when you activate synchronization, your data -- from contacts to call histories -- is sent encrypted to the company's servers, and you can choose which categories of information to sync, like just photos or just notes, and it's important to understand that it requires a stable Internet connection to function to function properly (preferably via Wi-Fi to avoid wasting mobile traffic).

But many users are asking, “Is it safe to store data in Mi Cloud?” or “How much space is free?” Xiaomi defaults with 5GB of free space, which is enough to back up contacts and some photos. If you need more, you can expand storage for an additional fee. As for security, the company uses standard encryption, but for sensitive data (such as passwords or bank details), it is better to use third-party solutions like Google Drive or 1Password.

Preparing for synchronization: what to do in advance

Before you turn on sync, make sure your device is ready for this process. First, check the MIUI or HyperOS version: older firmware (below MIUI 12) may not have some cloud features. Update system via Settings → About phone → System Update if necessary. Second, make sure the phone has enough free space – up to 1-2 GB of time space may be required for the first sync.

Also pay attention to the following points:

• 🔋 The battery charge should be at least 50%. Synchronizing large files (such as photos) can drain the battery for a few days. 1-2 hour.
• 🌐 Internet connection. Wi-Fi is better for the first synchronization, as mobile traffic can quickly dry up.
• 🔑 Mi Account: No synchronization is possible without Xiaomi account. If you don't have one, sign up in advance.
• 📱 Lack of root rights: On devices with unlocked bootloader or custom firmware, synchronization may not work properly.

If you’ve previously synced on another Xiaomi device, we recommend checking your current cloud settings. Sometimes old data can conflict with new data, especially if you’ve changed your phone. To avoid duplicate contacts or photos, go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud and delete outdated backups (if any).

Step-by-step: how to enable synchronization through Mi Cloud

Now, to the main thing, you can turn on the sync directly, and it takes no more than 5-10 minutes if you follow the instructions, and we'll start with the basic settings through the Mi Cloud.

1. Open the settings on your Xiaomi device.
2. Scroll up and tap the Mi Account section (or Xiaomi Account in newer firmware versions).
3. If you are not logged in, log in using your login and password. If you do not have an account, register (click Create an account).
4. After you sign in, select Mi Cloud (or Cloud).
5. Activate the Sync slider at the top of the screen, and it will turn green or blue (depending on the MIUI/HyperOS version).
6. Now choose which data to sync: contacts, photos, notes, calendar entries, etc. We recommend you to include at least Contacts and Gallery.
7. Click Sync Now to start the process manually (or wait for automatic sync).

Once activated, the system will start uploading data to the cloud, and the speed depends on the amount of information and the speed of the Internet. For example, synchronizing 2000 photos can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours. To track progress, go back to Mi Cloud, where the download status will be displayed.

Make sure the Synchronization slider is active |

Select the desired categories of data (contacts, photos, etc.)|

Start manual synchronization (Sync Now button)|

Check the free space in Mi Cloud (5 GB by default)-->

Important: If you use two Xiaomi accounts (for example, personal and work), sync will only work for the one you are currently logged in to. → Account management.

Synchronization of contacts: nuances and solutions to problems

Contacts are the category of data that users sync most often, but there are a few pitfalls here, like if you've used Google Contacts before, you might get duplicates when you turn on sync via Mi Cloud. To avoid that, follow these steps:

1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to Contact Management. → Imports/Exports.
4. If you have duplicate contacts, choose Join Contacts and follow the instructions.
5. Return to Contact Settings and make sure that Accounts only sync for Mi Account is enabled (disable Google if you are not using it).

Another common problem is that contacts don't sync automatically, and this can be because of:

• 🔄 Disabled background activity for the Contacts app. To fix, go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Contacts → Battery and select No Limitations.
• 📵 Mobile traffic restrictions. Check if the Mi Cloud app is allowed to use data in the background: Settings → Mobile network → Using traffic → Mi Cloud.
• ⏳ Server delays. Sometimes synchronization is delayed by 10-15 Wait a minute, or you can manually run it.

If contacts never show up in the cloud, try exporting them to a VCF file and uploading them manually via the web version of Mi Cloud (i.mi.com).

1. In the Contacts app, select Import/Export → Export to Storage.
2. Save the file to the device.
3. Go to i.mi.com from your computer, log in and click Import in the Contacts section.

💡

If you change phones frequently, back up your contacts in VCF format and save them to Google Drive or USB drive, which will save you trouble switching to other brands.

Synchronizing photos and videos: optimization and space saving

Photos and videos take up the lion's share of cloud storage. By default, Mi Cloud downloads all media files in original quality, which quickly exhausts the free 5GB. To avoid this, set up storage optimization:

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → gallery.
2. Activate the slider Synchronization gallery.
3. Slip on the synchronization settings.
4. Choose Optimize Storage (or Compress Photos When Uploaded in New Versions).
5. Specify the desired quality: High (retains details, but takes up more space) or Medium (saves space).

You can also set up automatic download only over Wi-Fi to avoid wasting mobile traffic:

• 📶 In the same gallery settings, disable Download over mobile network.
• ⏰ Install Load only when charging if you want to save battery power.
• 📁 Eliminate folders with unnecessary files (such as screenshots or memes) in Excluded folders.

If you are a photographer and keep it safe RAW-Note that Mi Cloud does not automatically sync your files, so you should use Google Photos or specialized services like Adobe Lightroom. Also remember that removing your photos from your phone does not remove them from the cloud, you need to go to Mi Cloud. → Gallery and clean the basket manually.

Synchronization of notes, calendar and other data

In addition to contacts and photos, Mi Cloud allows you to synchronize notes, calendar events, call recordings and even SMS. However, there are some nuances. For example, notes from the standard Notes app are only synchronized in text format - attached images or drawings may not save. If you are actively using multimedia notes, consider alternatives like Google Keep or Evernote.

To enable synchronization of other data:

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Scroll down to the Other Data section.
3. Activate the sliders opposite: 📝 Notes – for synchronizing text recordings. 📅 Calendar - for events and reminders. 📞 Call log - for incoming/outgoing history. 💬 SMS — for messages (turn on carefully, as SMS They may contain confidential information).

Pay special attention to the call log, and synchronizing it can be useful for recovering your phone history, but remember that:

⚠️ Note: If you use two phones with the same Xiaomi account, the call log will be merged.This can lead to confusion if you are calling from different devices.

For the calendar, we also recommend you to enable sync with Google Calendar, as it offers more flexible reminder settings. You can do this in Settings → Apps → Calendar → Accounts.

Solving common synchronization problems

Even with the right setup, sync on Xiaomi can malfunction. Consider the typical errors and ways to fix them:

If none of these methods worked, try resetting your sync settings:

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn off all sync sliders.
3. Return to the main account settings and click Out.
4. Log back to your account and turn on the sync again.

If you choose Google Photos to back up your media files, please note that from June 2021, free unlimited high-quality photo storage has been abolished. All files now take up space in Google's shared storage (15 GB per account).

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Go to Settings → Backup and Synchronization.
3. Select Storage Quality → Save space (photos are compressed to 16 MP, video up to 1080p).

For synchronization of notes and tasks, Google Keep or Microsoft To Do will be the best solution. They support cross-platform and integrate with other services (for example, Google Calendar or Outlook).

FAQ: answers to frequent questions about synchronization Xiaomi