Xiaomi Cloud Cloud storage is a handy photo backup tool, but sooner or later, you need to return your photos back to your smartphone. You may want to free up space in the cloud, prepare your photos for editing in mobile applications, or just prefer to store personal data locally. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to transfer photos, from standard features in the Gallery app to little-known tricks using a PC.
It’s important to understand that the process can vary depending on the smartphone model (e.g. Redmi Note 12 vs Xiaomi 13 Ultra), the MIUI version, and even the regional cloud settings. We’ve taken these nuances into account and prepared universal instructions that work on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices running MIUI 12–14 and HyperOS. If you encounter boot errors, there’s a section in the article that addresses typical problems.
Before you start, check two key points: whether there is enough space on the smartphone (photos in the original quality take up a lot of memory) and whether the Internet is stable (especially if we are talking about tens of gigabytes of data).
1. Method: Download through the Gallery app (the easiest)
The most obvious and quick method is to use the built-in Xiaomi Gallery, which automatically syncs to the cloud, which is suitable if you need to download individual photos or albums, rather than the entire library.
Instructions:
- 📱 Open the Gallery app** on your smartphone.
- 🌐 Go to the Cloud tab (or Xiaomi Cloud in new versions) MIUI).
- 🖼️ Find the album or photo you want, and you can use date or keyword search for convenience.
- 📥 Click on the photo, then tap the Download icon** (arrow down) in the bottom menu. For a few files, hold your finger on the first picture, then select the rest.
By default, uploaded photos are saved to the Download or Xiaomi Cloud folder on the internal drive. If you download the entire album, the system can create a separate folder with the original name from the cloud.
Make sure sync with Xiaomi Cloud is enabled
Check the free space on the device (at least 10% of the photo volume)
Connect to Wi-Fi to speed up loading
Close background apps that consume traffic
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⚠️ Note: If the cloud is stored in the format HEIC (typical of the iPhone, they may not be displayed correctly in the Xiaomi Gallery. №3 (download via browser) or convert files to PC.
2. Method: Mass download through the web version of Xiaomi Cloud
If you want to move your entire photo library or large albums (like after you reset your phone), it’s more convenient to use the cloud web interface, which works on any device — even if you don’t have a Xiaomi smartphone on hand right now.
Step-by-step:
- Open your browser on your smartphone or PC and go to https://i.mi.com.
- Sign in with the same Mi Account that is used on your phone.
- From the menu on the left, select the Gallery section (or Photos in English).
- Check the photos/albums you want to check. Use the checkbox in the list header to highlight all files in the folder.
- Press the Download button** (cloud icon with a down arrow). ZIP-archive.
- After preparing the archive, click “Download”** again to save it to the device.
On a smartphone, the archive will automatically unpack (if you have a ZIP application, such as RAR or ZArchiver installed) and on a PC, you will need to manually extract the files and then transfer them to your phone via cable or cloud services (Google Drive, Telegram).
| Parameter | Mobile version of the site | Desktop version |
|---|---|---|
| Max: Number of photos in one archive | 500 pcs. | 2000 pcs. |
| Support for original quality | Yes. | Yes. |
| Time for archival preparation | 1-5 minutes | 5-15 minutes |
| Automatic unpacking | Yes (if any) | No. |
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If the web version of Xiaomi Cloud is slow, try using the For PC mode in your browser (in Chrome this is done through the Three Dots → Computer Version menu).
Method 3: Synchronization via Mi PC Suite (for Windows)
The official Mi PC Suite software allows you not only to manage files on your phone, but also directly interact with Xiaomi Cloud. This method is relevant if you have a lot of photos (tens of gigabytes), and mobile Internet is limited.
What you need:
- 🖥️ Windows computer 7/10/11.
- 📱 Cable USB (preferably original for stable connection).
- 🔗 Installed Mi program PC Suite (download from the official website!).
Algorithm of action:
- Sign in to your Mi Account (if you haven’t done so before).
⚠️ Note: If you are connecting the phone Mi PC Suite does not see the device, check: Is Debugging Mode on USB in the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then return to the Additional Settings → For developers: Are Xiaomi drivers installed (the program usually installs them automatically) or does the antivirus connection block (temporary disable protection).
4. Method: Automatic synchronization through Cloud Settings
If you want photos to be automatically downloaded to your phone when they appear in the cloud (for example, after backing up from another device), set up manual sync, a method that is suitable for constant data exchange between the cloud and the smartphone.
How to turn on:
- Click on Synchronization Settings and select: 📸 Download originals (if quality is important). 📱 Download to the device (so that the photos are stored locally). 🔄 Wi-Fi only (recommended for traffic savings).
Once activated, all new photos from the cloud will automatically appear in your smartphone Gallery. Note that this process can take several hours if thousands of images are stored in the cloud. Synchronization progress is displayed in the notification curtain.
What to do if the synchronization is suspended?
5. Method: Transfer over third-party cloud services (bypass)
If standard methods don’t work (e.g., due to regional limitations or Mi Cloud bugs), you can use intermediate cloud storage, which requires more action, but is guaranteed to work even on locked devices.
Procedure:
- Download photos from Xiaomi Cloud to PC via web version (method) №2).
- Upload the archive to another cloud service: 📁 Google Drive (15GB free). ☁️ Yandex Disk (10GB free). 📎 Dropbox (2GB) free).
Google Drive
Play Market
Download files from the intermediate cloud to the memory of the smartphone.
The advantage of this method is that it is not tied to the Xiaomi ecosystem, so it works even if:
- 🚫 Your Mi Account is blocked.
- 🌍 You are in a region where Xiaomi Cloud is restricted (e.g. in some EU countries).
- 🔧 On the phone installed custom firmware without Xiaomi services.
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Use this method if standard methods are not available or additional backup of photos is required in another cloud.
Solving typical problems when transferring photos
Even when following instructions, users often encounter errors, and we've collected some of the most common problems and ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Photos are downloaded in low quality | In the cloud settings enabled mode of traffic saving | Go to Mi Cloud → Gallery → Synchronization settings and select “Original Quality” |
| Can't get into Mi Cloud. | Incorrect password or two-factor authentication | Reset your password via account.xiaomi.com or use a backup email |
| Download interrupted by 99% | Unstable Internet connection or antivirus restrictions | Connect to another Wi-Fi network or temporarily disable the antivirus |
| The gallery does not display downloaded photos | Files saved to a non-standard folder | Check the Download or Xiaomi Cloud folder through any file manager (e.g. Mi File Manager) |
| The "Not enough space" error | Your phone has less than 10% free memory | Clear the app cache or transfer the files to SD-card (if supported) |
If none of these methods worked, check the status of Xiaomi Cloud on the official page: status.mi.com.