Where to Find a Cloud in Xiaomi Phone: A Detailed Guide to Mi Cloud

You bought a Xiaomi smartphone and you heard about built-in cloud storage, but you don't know where to find it? Or suddenly you find that photos are missing from your phone and they're not in the cloud? This article will help you understand where the cloud is physically located in the phone's menu, how to turn it on, and why it sometimes disappears from your settings. We'll look at all the ways you access, from the standard Mi Cloud app to hidden menu items that the manufacturer does not advertise.

It is important to understand that the “cloud” in Xiaomi is not a physical place on the phone, but a remote service Mi Cloud, integrated into the firmware. MIUI. But it's accessed through multiple entry points, a separate app, an account settings, and even through a file manager. If you don't see a cloud icon on your desktop, it doesn't mean it's not there. It may just be disabled or hidden in the latest versions. MIUI 14/15.

In this article you will find:

• 🔍 3 Ways to Find Clouds in Your Phone’s Menu (Including Hidden Ones)
• ⚙️ Step-by-step synchronization setting for photos, contacts and notes
• ⚠️ Common errors and how to fix them (e.g., “I failed to connect to the server»)
• 📱 The difference between Mi Cloud and Google Drive on Xiaomi
• 🔧 What to do if the cloud “flyed off” after resetting settings

1.Where to look for Xiaomi cloud: all possible ways

The manufacturer has hidden access to the cloud in several places — this is for convenience, but it's often confusing. Let's look at all the options, starting with the obvious.

Method 1. Through the "Mi Cloud" application

On most Xiaomi smartphones (for example, Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11) has a separate app with a white cloud icon on a blue background, if it's not on the desktop:

1. Pull up from the bottom edge of the screen to open the app menu.
2. Type in the search box “Cloud” or “Cloud”.
3. If the app isn't there, it could have been disabled. Go to Settings → Annexes → App management and find Mi Cloud in the list “Disabled».

Method 2. Through the settings of the Mi Account

This method works even if the Mi Cloud application is removed or disabled:

1. Open the settings (cog icon).
2. Scroll up and tap on your Mi profile (avatar with a name at the top of the screen).
3. Select Mi Cloud – here you can see occupied space and synchronization settings.

Method 3. Through a file manager (hidden access)

Few people know, but in MIUI You can access cloud files directly from the Explorer:

1. Open the standard Files application (folder icon).
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select Cloud.
3. If there is no item, update the Files app via Google Play.

2. How to enable synchronization with the cloud: step-by-step instructions

Finding the cloud is half the battle. Now you need to set up automatic synchronization so that photos, contacts and notes are stored in the cloud. Without that, the function is useless.

Step 1. Sign in to your Mi Account

Without a Xiaomi account, the cloud will not work.

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account.
2. Click Login and follow the instructions. Use a valid email or phone number.
3. Confirm registration via SMS or letter.

Step 2: Set up data synchronization

After logging in to the account:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Activate the Synchronization slider at the top of the screen.
3. Choose which data to synchronize: 📸 Gallery - photos and videos 📇 Contacts - phone book 📝 Notes - entries from the app Notes 🔄 Calls - a history of challenges 📅 Calendar - events

Step 3. Check the vacant space

By default, the Mi Cloud gives you 5GB for free.

1. Open Mi Cloud in your account settings.
2. At the top of the screen, a usage chart is displayed.
3. If the place is over, click Buy space (prices from 100 rubles / month for 50 GB).

Wi-Fi is connected (synchronization over mobile Internet can eat traffic)

Is there enough space in the cloud (minimum 1 GB free)

Synchronization for the desired data types (photos, contacts, etc.)

Are Gallery and Mi Cloud apps updated to the latest version?-->

Why Xiaomi Cloud Doesn't Work: Typical Problems and Solutions

Often, users are faced with the fact that the cloud is not synced, does not open or missing an icon, and let's discuss the main causes and ways to eliminate them.

Special case: cloud does not work after update MIUI

If the problem has occurred after the firmware update (for example, with the MIUI 13 on MIUI 14), try it:

1. Clear the Mi Cloud app cache in Settings → Annexes → Mi Cloud → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
2. Remove updates for the Mi Cloud app (the “Delete Updates” button in the same menu).
3. Reboot the phone.

5.How to recover data from Xiaomi cloud after resetting your phone

If you have reset or bought a new Xiaomi smartphone, you can recover data from the cloud in a few steps, the main thing is to use the same Mi Account that was previously linked.

Step 1 Sign in to your Mi Account on your new phone

When you first set up your phone, it will prompt you to log in to your account, if you missed this step:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account → Come in.
2. Enter an email or phone number linked to the cloud.
3. Confirm the entry via SMS or mail.

Step 2. Launch recovery.

After logging in to the account:

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Click Restore (or Backups, depending on version) MIUI).
3. Select the most recent backup from the list.
4. Check the data for recovery (contacts, SMS, annexes, etc.).
5. Click Restore and wait until it is completed (may take up to 30 minutes).

Step 3: Check the recovered data

After the process is completed:

• 📞 Contacts will appear in the phone book.
• 📸 Photos - in the Gallery app (in the Mi Cloud album).
• 📝 Notes - in the app Notes (synchronized automatically).
• 🎮 Applications will be installed, but their data (for example, saves in games) is not always restored.

1. Whether the synchronization was enabled before the phone was reset.

2. whether there was enough space in the cloud for backup (if the space ran out, the copy could be incomplete).

3. Have you changed your Mi Account password – this may reset some settings.-->

6 Hidden Mi Cloud features that few people know about

Xiaomi’s cloud has more than just storing photos, and here are some hidden features that will make it easier to use your smartphone:

1. Remote phone control

If you lose your phone, you can:

• 📍 Identify your location via i.mi.com (you must be logged in to the same account).
• 🔊 Turn on the sound signal even if the phone is silent.
• 🔒 Lock the device or erase data remotely.

2. synchronizing Wi-Fi passwords

Mi Cloud can save passwords from Wi-Fi networks and automatically connect other Xiaomi devices (such as Mi Notebook or Mi Pad) to these networks.

1. Go to Settings. → Wi-Fi → Additionally. → Synchronizing Wi-Fi passwords.
2. Activate the slider.

3. Backup of data applications

By default, Mi Cloud only stores a list of installed applications, but you can turn on reservations and their data (for example, saves in games):

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup.
2. Select the Applications and their data.
3. Mark the applications you need (be aware that this will increase the size of the backup).

4. Automatic uploading of photos in original quality

By default, Xiaomi compresses photos when uploaded to the cloud.

1. Go to Settings → Mi → Mi Cloud → Gallery
2. Select the download quality → Original.
3. Note that this will quickly fill up the free 5GB.

1. Open the gallery. → Settings → Cleaning the vault.

2. Enable the option to Remove after backup in Mi Cloud.

This will free up space on your phone, leaving photos only in the cloud.-->

7.Mi Cloud Security: How to Protect Your Data

Keeping your personal data in the cloud is always risky, and we’re telling you how to keep your Mi Cloud account safe from hacking and leaks.

1. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)

This will protect your account even if someone recognizes your password.

1. Go to account.xiaomi.com.
2. Log in to your account.
3. Open Security. → Two-step verification.
4. Follow the instructions for linking a phone number or an authenticator application (e.g. Google Authenticator).

2. Check out active sessions

If you notice suspicious activity (such as logging in from an unknown device), check the active session list:

1. At account.xiaomi.com, go to Security → Devices.
2. Remove all unfamiliar devices by clicking Exit.

3. Set up a backup email and phone

This will help you regain access if you forget your password:

1. In your account settings (account.xiaomi.com) go to Profile → Contact information.
2. Add a backup email and phone number.

4.Limit access to the cloud through VPN

If you frequently connect to public Wi-Fi (at cafes, airports), use the VPN Xiaomi does not encrypt data when it is transferred to the cloud by default!

FAQ: Frequent questions about Mi Cloud on Xiaomi