Where to look for the cloud in Xiaomi: a detailed guide to Mi Cloud and other services

You bought a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone, but you can't find where the cloud is stored? Or maybe you need to restore data from a backup, but you don't know how to get there? In this article, we'll look at all the ways to access cloud services on devices with MIUI, from the standard Mi Cloud to hidden features and alternative solutions.

The manufacturer has integrated cloud technology deep into the firmware, but it's not always clear where to look for the settings you want, and we're going to show you not only where the cloud storage is on the menu, but how to use it effectively, from automatic backup photos to synchronizing notes and contacts, and what to do if Mi Cloud doesn't work in your region or requires a Chinese account.

If you’ve never set up a cloud on Xiaomi, start with the first section, and for power users, the section on alternative services and hidden MIUI features that few people know about will be helpful.

1 What is Mi Cloud and why is it needed on Xiaomi?

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi's proprietary cloud storage built into MIUI firmware, which automatically syncs your data between devices, backs up and lets you recover information when you drop or lose your phone. Here's what you can store in Mi Cloud:

• 📱 Contacts and call log
• 📷 Photos and videos (with the option of quality selection)
• 📝 Notes and recordings from the Mi Notes app
• 🔄 System settings (Wi-Fi passwords, wallpaper, sound profiles)
• 🎮 Game data (if the game supports synchronization)
• 📁 Files and documents (manually downloaded)

By default, each Xiaomi account is given 5GB of free space, enough for backup contacts and some photos, but a full backup may require expansion, and in some regions (for example, in China), the volume may vary – up to 10GB.

The main advantage of Mi Cloud over third-party services is deep integration with MIUI. For example, when resetting the phone to factory settings, the system itself will offer to restore data from the cloud, including:

• 📱 Installed applications (with a list but no data)
• 📶 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Devices Settings
• 🔊 Sound profiles and alarm clocks
• 🖼️ Desktop wallpaper

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi with global firmware (e.g, MIUI Global), but your account is tied to the Chinese region, some features of Mi Cloud may not work properly, in which case it is recommended to create a new account in the right region or use alternative services.

2.Where to find Mi Cloud in Xiaomi settings: step-by-step instructions

Depending on the version of MIUI, the path to the cloud may be slightly different, but the overall scheme is the same. Here's how to get there on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices:

1. Open the Settings app** (cog icon).
2. Scroll up and find the Accounts and Sync section (or simply Accounts in newer versions of MIUI).

If you have a MIUI 14 or younger, the path may be:

Settings → Accounts → Xiaomi → Mi Cloud

Inside the "Mi Cloud" section** you will see:

• 📊 Use statistics (how much space is occupied)
• ⚙️ Synchronization settings (what exactly to reserve)
• 📁 Backups (manual creation/restore)
• 🔄 Automatic upload of photos and videos

If the “Mi Cloud” option** is not in the account menu, check:

• 🔹 Are you connected to the Internet (without a network, the cloud will not appear).
• 🔹 Is the firmware updated (in older versions) MIUI The cloud could be called the Xiaomi Cloud»**).
• 🔹 Is there any Chinese firmware used (in the case of the MIUI China's cloud may require VPN).

3. How to enable automatic data synchronization

To keep your Mi Cloud running in the background and saving your data without manual control, you need to enable automatic synchronization.

1. Go to Settings → Accounts → Xiaomi → Mi Cloud.
2. Slip on the item "Synchronization" (or "Autosynchronization").

Auto boot** for photos and videos (if necessary) and you can choose the quality of:

Important: backup in Mi Cloud takes up a lot of space. For example, the full backup Xiaomi 13 Pro with apps can weigh 10-15 GB. If you have little space, save only critical data (contacts, messages, settings).

5. Alternative cloud services for Xiaomi

If Mi Cloud doesn’t work for you (not much space, doesn’t work in your area or just doesn’t like it), you can use third-party services.

🔹 Google Drive (Google Photos, Google Contacts)

Advantages: