Cloud Albums in Xiaomi: How They Work and Why They Are Needed

Xiaomi’s modern smartphones offer users not only powerful hardware, but also convenient storage tools, such as cloud albums that automatically store your photos and videos in the cloud, a solution that is especially relevant for owners of devices with limited internal memory or those who are afraid of losing valuable images when resetting settings.

Many users still confuse cloud albums with a regular gallery or services like Google Photos, but it is actually a separate feature of the Mi Cloud ecosystem, which is closely integrated with firmware. MIUI. It allows not only to reserve media files, but also to synchronize them between Xiaomi devices – smartphones, tablets and even TVs.

What are cloud albums in Xiaomi and how they differ from Google Photos

Cloud albums are part of the Mi Cloud service, which provides Xiaomi users with 5GB of free cloud storage. Unlike Google Photos, where files are stored on Google servers, here they are uploaded to Xiaomi servers. This means that access to them will be even when you block a Google account, but other restrictions are also limited: for example, there is no automatic optimization of photo quality to save space.

The main difference from the standard gallery is automatic synchronization, which is that once you take a picture, it goes to the cloud immediately (if you have the Internet), which protects against data loss when your phone is stolen, broken or reset, and the originals stay on the device unless you have enabled the "Free Space" option, so the local copies are deleted after downloading to the cloud.

• 📱 Integration with MIUI: It works out of the box on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO without installing additional applications.
• 🔄 Sync between devices: Photos from the phone automatically appear on the tablet or TV Mi TV (If they are linked to one account).
• 🔒 Privacy: Files are stored on Xiaomi servers in China (for global versions – in Singapore), which raises security questions for some users.
• 💾 Limited Space: Only 5GB is available for free, while Google Photos offers 15GB for all Google services.

It’s important to understand that cloud albums aren’t just a backup, they’re a full-fledged media management tool, for example, you can create shared albums and share them with other Mi Cloud users, even though sharing is inferior to Google Photos.

How to Enable and Configure Cloud Albums on Xiaomi

You can activate the sync of your photos to the cloud in a few steps.

1. Open the Gallery app on your smartphone.
2. Slip on the profile icon (or three horizontal lines) in the upper right corner.
3. Select the item Cloud Albums.
4. Sign in to your Mi Account (if not previously logged in) or create it.
5. Activate the Autoboot switch.

After that, all new photos and videos will automatically upload to the cloud, but there are a few nuances:

• 📶 Wi-Fi only: by default, autoload only works when connected to a wireless network so as not to waste mobile traffic.
• 🔋 Charging: Some Xiaomi models only upload files to the cloud when connected to a charger (the option is “Download when charging").
• 📁 Selective sync: You can exclude individual folders (such as screenshots or downloads) from the startup.

If you want to manually upload existing photos, go to Cloud Albums. → Settings → Upload existing photos. The process can take several hours depending on the number of files and the speed of the Internet.

Connect your phone to Wi-Fi|Charge the battery at least 50 times%|Free up space in the Mi Cloud (if necessary)|Check if your Mi Account is linked to your device-->

How much space is in the cloud and how to clean it

The free Mi Cloud tariff provides just 5GB of space, which is about 1500-2000 high-resolution photos. If you are actively taking pictures, this volume may not be enough in a few months.

To clear the cloud:

1. Open the gallery. → Cloud albums.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Storage Management.
3. Sort files by size or date and remove unnecessary ones.

Note that deleted files are stored in a basket for 30 days, and then they can not be restored. If you accidentally deleted important photos, check the folder Recycle Bin in the cloud albums.

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Before mass removal of photos from the cloud, download their backup to your computer through the web version of Mi Cloud.

Can you trust Xiaomi cloud albums: security issues

Many users have questioned the security of storing personal photos on Xiaomi servers, especially after the data transfer scandals in China.

• 🌍 Global versions MIUI: User data from Europe, India and other regions are stored on servers in Singapore and are subject to local data protection laws (e.g., data protection laws, GDPR EU).
• 🇨🇳 Chinese versions MIUI: The servers are located in China, and the data can theoretically be accessed by local authorities on request.
• 🔐 Encryption: Files are transmitted over a secure protocol HTTPS, Xiaomi does not provide end-to-end encryption like Proton Drive.

If you are concerned about privacy:

• Do not upload photos of documents, tickets or other sensitive data to the cloud.
• Use two-factor authentication for your Mi Account.
• Check active sessions regularly in your account settings.

For maximum security, you can turn off autoload and manually choose which photos to send to the cloud, or even use alternative services like Google Photos, iCloud or Cryptomator to encrypt before uploading.

How to transfer photos from Xiaomi cloud albums to Google Photos or to your computer

If you have decided to abandon Mi Cloud or just want to have a backup on another service, there are several ways to export:

Method 1: Using the Mi Cloud Web Version

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select the Gallery section.
3. Please select the appropriate photos (or select all).
4. Press More. → Download.
5. Files are archived in ZIP — Wait until it is finished and download the archive.

Method 2: Through the Gallery app on your phone

1. Open the gallery. → Cloud albums.
2. Select a photo, click Share. → Save it to the device.
3. Transfer files from phone to computer USB Or through Mi Drop.

Method 3: Automatic sync with Google Photos

If you want new photos to be automatically duplicated in Google Photos:

1. Install the Google Photos app from the Play Market.
2. Enable autoboot in the application settings.
3. All images will now be saved in both Mi Cloud and Google Photos.

When transferring a large number of photos (thousands of files), it is better to use the web version or specialized programs like Mi. PC Suite. This will speed up the process and avoid errors when downloading.

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Moving photos from Mi Cloud to another storage doesn’t remove them from Xiaomi’s cloud albums. To make room, you’ll have to manually remove duplicates.

Common Cloud Album Problems and How to Solve Them

Xiaomi users often experience sync errors, slow loading or missing photos. Here are the most common problems and solutions:

⚠️ Note: If photos are not uploaded to the cloud for more than a day, check whether the traffic saving mode is included in the settings Network and Internet → Transfer of data → Traffic savings: It can block background activity of Mi Cloud.

If none of the solutions worked, try:

1. Sign out of your Mi Account and log in again.
2. Clear the cache of the Gallery application in the settings (Applications) → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
3. Update the Gallery and Mi Cloud app through the Play Market.
4. In extreme cases, reset the network settings (Settings) → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting Wi-Fi, Mobile Network and Bluetooth).

If the problem persists, contact Xiaomi via the official website or live chat in the Mi Community app. Attach screenshots of the errors and describe the steps you have already tried - this will speed up the solution.

Xiaomi Cloud Album Alternatives: What to Choose in 2026

If you don’t like the functionality or limitations of Mi Cloud, consider alternative photo storage services.

• 📸 Google Photos: 15 GB free (common with Gmail and Drive), smart search for the content of the photo, automatic creation of collages and animations. Minus - photo compression with free storage.
• 🍎 iCloud: 5GB free, deep integration with Apple devices.For users Xiaomi is uncomfortable due to the lack of an official app on Android.
• 🛡️ Proton Drive: Swiss end-to-end encryption service, but only 1GB free and no automatic photo upload from your phone.
• 🇷🇺 Yandex Drive: 10GB free, there is autoload photo, but the compression quality is worse than Google Photos.
• 💻 Local storage (NAS): Synology DiskStation, for example, which is full control of data, but requires hardware purchase and customization.

For most Xiaomi users, the best solution is a combination of:

• Mi Cloud – for quick synchronization between Xiaomi devices.
• Google Photos – for long-term storage and smart features (search, albums by face).
• Local copy on your computer or external drive for the most important photos.

If you are a photographer or often take videos 4K, worth considering NAS Subscription to Google One (100 GB per user) ~139 ₽/For ordinary users, free rates of Google Photos or Yandex Drive will be enough.

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Don’t just store your photos in one place! 2 cloud services are the best strategy + This will protect against data loss if one of the storages fails.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi Cloud Albums