How to get a photo from the Xiaomi cloud on your Redmi phone: all ways 2026

Did you take hundreds of photos on Xiaomi Redmi, but they disappeared from your phone after resetting or replacing your device? Or just want to free up your memory by transferring the images from the cloud back to your phone?The problem is that Mi Cloud (Xiaomi cloud storage) doesn't always clearly show where and how to download files - especially if you haven't synced your account in a long time or have encountered errors like "Could not download" errors.

In this article, we've got 5 proven ways to get photos out of the cloud on the Redmi Note 12/11/10 Pro, Redmi 9/10/A2 and other models, including recovering deleted images and avoiding common errors. We'll learn how to download photos directly to your phone, through your computer, or even if you lost access to your old device, and why sometimes the cloud doesn't see your photos and how to fix it.

1. How to find photos in the cloud Xiaomi on the phone Redmi

Before you download, you need to make sure that photos are uploaded to the Mi Cloud at all. Many Redmi users are faced with a situation where the sync is disabled by default or is not working correctly.

Open the Gallery app → tap on three horizontal lines (menu) → select Cloud. If the section is empty, then:

• 🔄 Sync is disabled – check your Mi Account settings.
• ⏳ Photos have not yet been uploaded – with a weak Internet, the process can take hours.
• 🚫 Account is not tied – you could have logged in under another login.

If there are photos in the cloud but they don't show up in the gallery, try updating the data: pull the screen down in the Cloud section or restart the Gallery app. On some MIUI 14/13 firmware, cleaning the gallery cache (Settings → Apps → Gallery → Clear the cache) can help.

2. Method 1: Download a photo from the cloud directly to a Redmi phone

The easiest way is to upload the images directly to the device's memory through the Gallery app. Here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. Open the gallery. → Go to the Cloud section.
2. Select an album (such as Camera or Screenshots).
3. Tap on the photo → at the bottom, click More (three dots) → Save to the device.
4. For batch download: press and hold one photo → highlight the rest → tap Save.

Important: Some Redmi models (e.g., the Redmi Note 8 Pro with MIUI 12) may not have the Save to Device option, in which case use Method 3 (via the Mi Cloud web version).

Check the free space on your phone (minimum 10% of the photo volume)

Connect to Wi-Fi (downloading via mobile internet may be blocked)

Battery charge >30% (prolonged download drains the phone)

Update the Gallery app in the Mi App Store-->

If you fail to download an error when saving, try:

• 🔌 Reconnect to the network (sometimes it helps to switch from Wi-Fi to mobile Internet and back).
• 🔄 Sign out of your Mi Account and log in again (Settings) → Xiaomi account).
• 📱 Rebooting the phone – this resets temporary synchronization errors.

Method 3: Downloading Mi Cloud on a PC or phone

The i.mi.com web interface allows you to download photos even if there are errors on your phone.

• 🖥️ Users who do not have access to the phone (loss, breakdown).
• 📂 Mass download (you can choose up to 500 photos at a time).
• 🔍 Search by date – in the web version it is more convenient to filter photos.

Instructions:

1. Open your browser on your PC or phone and go to i.mi.com.
2. Sign in with the same Mi Account as Redmi.
3. Select the Gallery section → mark the desired photos (check in the upper right corner).
4. Click Download → Select resolution (original or compressed).
5. On PC, photos will be saved to the Downloads folder, on the phone - in Downloads.

If you download photos from your browser in low resolution, check:

⚠️ In the Mi Cloud settings (cog in the upper right corner), enable the option to Download in original quality. By default, compress to 2048px long-sided.

Method 3: Recover deleted photos from Mi Cloud Recycle Bin

If you accidentally delete a photo from the cloud, you have 30 days to recover it. Xiaomi stores deleted files in the Recycle Bin, but this section is hidden in the mobile app.

On the phone:

1. Open the gallery. → Cloud.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → Basket.
3. Select the photo → press Restore.

Through the web version:

1. Go to i.mi.com → gallery.
2. On the left menu, select the basket.
3. Mark the files. → Restore.

Limitations:

• 🗑️ Photos are stored in the cart for a maximum of 30 days (after - permanently deleted).
• 🔙 Recovered photos are returned to the Camera album, not the original folder.
• 📅 The file creation date is reset to the current one (the original metadata is lost).

5. Method 4: Automatic synchronization of photos from the cloud to the phone

If you want a photo from the cloud to automatically appear in the phone gallery, turn on sync:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select Gallery → turn on the Sync switch.
3. Specify which albums to sync (only Camera is the default).
4. Select the download quality (original or compressed).

Important nuances:

• 🔄 Synchronization works only when connected to Wi-Fi (on the mobile Internet – no).
• 📱 The phone should have enough memory (all photos are synchronized, not just thumbnails).
• ⏳ The first synchronization can take several hours (depending on the number of photos).

If the synchronization is not started:

⚠️ Check if Traffic Saving is disabled in the Mi Cloud settings. Also make sure your phone allows auto-start for the Gallery app (Settings) → Permits → Auto-start).

💡

If you only need to sync individual albums (like Screenshots or Downloads), disable those that are unnecessary in the Mi Cloud settings. This will save space on the phone and speed up the process.

6. Method 5: Download photos through Mi Cloud backup

If standard methods don’t work (for example, photos don’t show up in the cloud gallery), try backing up your phone, which is a good way to do it if you’ve previously backed up your phone in Mi Cloud.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup.
2. Choose the device from which the copy was created (if there are several).
3. Click Restore → Select Gallery.
4. Confirm the recovery (the process can take up to 1 hour).

Warnings:

• 🔄 Recovery will replace the current photos in the phone gallery with those in the backup.
• 📅 Backup copies are stored for a maximum of 6 months (after - deleted).
• 📱 To recover to your new phone, first link it to the same Mi Account.

If the backup is damaged or not restored, try:

1. Delete the Mi Cloud cache: Settings → Applications → Mi Cloud → Clear the cache.


2.Reinstall the MIUI update (if available).




3. Contact Xiaomi support via the chat in Mi Community (attach a screenshot of the error).

7. Solving Common Mistakes When Working with Mi Cloud

Redmi users often experience problems when downloading photos from the cloud, and here are the most common errors and solutions:

If none of these methods helped, check:

• 🔧 Mi Account Region – some cloud features are not available in some countries (e.g. India or the EU).
• 📱 Version MIUI — on old firmware (below) MIUI 12) there may be cloud bugs. Update the system.
• 🛠️ Xiaomi server status - sometimes problems are caused by technical work. check at status.mi.com.

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If you have changed your phone and can’t log in to your old Mi Account, use the Restore feature via a linked email or phone number. Xiaomi allows you to link up to 3 backup addresses for recovery.

FAQ: Frequent questions about photos in the cloud Xiaomi