Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi and POCO lines) allow you to automatically save photos in the cloud, freeing up space on the device and protecting your images from loss. But how to choose the best service, avoid synchronization errors and not lose image quality? In this article, step-by-step instructions for all Xiaomi models, comparing cloud services and hidden settings that are not written in the official documentation.
The problem of memory shortage on Android devices is familiar to everyone: thousands of photos take tens of gigabytes, and cleaning a gallery manually takes hours. Cloud storage solves this problem, but each service has its pitfalls. For example, Mi Cloud automatically compresses photos when you download, if you do not turn this option off manually, and Google Photos limits free storage from 2021. We will discuss how to configure sync so that the images take up minimal space, but maintain original quality.
Why Cloud Storage is Better Than Memory Cards
Many Xiaomi users mistakenly believe that the microSD card completely replaces the cloud, and in practice, physical drives have critical drawbacks:
- 🔄 Data loss risk: The memory card may fail and the cloud duplicates files on backup servers.
- 📱 Device-based tethering: When changing phone, the photos on the map need to be manually transferred, while the cloud is synchronized automatically.
- 🔍 No search for content: Google Photos and Mi Cloud can recognize objects in pictures (for example, find all photos with dogs or a beach).
- 📶 Offline access: cloud services allow selectively download photos for viewing without the Internet.
In addition, modern Xiaomi smartphones (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi Note 12 Pro+) support background uploading of photos over Wi-Fi, which does not burden mobile traffic. And the function of Storage optimization in Google Photos automatically removes from the phone local copies of images that are already uploaded to the cloud – this frees up to 50% of memory.
Comparison of cloud services for Xiaomi: which to choose
Xiaomi smartphones have two cloud services available by default: Mi Cloud (branded by Xiaomi) and Google Photos (pre-installed on all Androids), and you can also use third-party services like Yandex Drive or Mega. Below is a comparison table of key parameters:
| Parameter | Mi Cloud | Google Photo | Yandex Disc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free seat | 5GB (common for all data) | 15GB (with Gmail and Drive) | 10GB |
| Max. Free storage permit | Original (but compressed by default) | 16 MP (at "High quality") | Original |
| Automatic booting | Yes (wi-fi only) | Yeah (tunes in) | Yes (via appendix) |
| Search by content | No. | Yes (object recognition) | No. |
| Integration with Xiaomi Gallery | Full (Cloud tab) | Partial (requires manual adjustment) | Absent. |
For most Xiaomi users, the best solution is the combination of Mi Cloud + Google Photos:
- 📁 Mi Cloud – to back up all data (contacts, notes, photos) in one place.
- 🔍 Google Photos – for easy search and automatic memory optimization.
💡
If you often take pictures in a format RAW (For example, on Xiaomi 13 Pro, disable compression in Mi Cloud: Settings → Mi Cloud → Photo Photo → Quality of loading → Original. Otherwise. RAW-files will become JPEG lose-quality.
Step-by-step setting up Mi Cloud on Xiaomi
Xiaomi’s proprietary cloud is integrated into the system and does not require additional applications to enable automatic photo uploading:
- Open Settings → Xiaomi account and log in (if you did not do so when you first turned on the phone).
- Go to Mi Cloud and activate the Sync photos slider.
- Click on Synchronization Settings and select: 📶 Wi-Fi only (recommended to avoid wasting mobile traffic). 🔋 Load when charging (prolongs battery life). 📂 Sync folders (only the Camera folder is selected by default, but you can add Screenshots or WhatsApp Images).
Backup
Photo synchronization enabled|Original loading quality selected|Backup activated|Configured download only over Wi-Fi-->
Important: Mi Cloud defaults to compressing photos, even if you've selected "Original Quality."
- Open the Gallery app.
- Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings → Cloud.
- Turn off the option to optimize the download.
- 📂 Backup folders: Add in DCIM/Camera, Pictures/Screenshots and other photo folders.
Delete copies from the device
For owners of Xiaomi with high-resolution cameras (for example, Xiaomi 12S Ultra with 50 MP), it is recommended to choose Original quality, but then you will have to:
- 💾 Buy more space on Google One (from 139) ₽/month).
- 🔄 Clean Google Photos Recycle Bin regularly (files are stored there for 60 days before final deletion).
How to transfer photos from Mi Cloud to Google Photos?
⚠️ Note: If you use High Quality in Google Photos, images with a resolution above 16 MP will be automatically reduced. For example, photos with Xiaomi 13 Pro (50 MP) will turn into 16 MP versions. To avoid losing details, choose Original Quality for important shots.
How to Free up Your Space in Xiaomi After Uploading a Photo to the Cloud
Even after you set up the cloud sync, the photos continue to take up space on the device to clear the memory:
Method 1: Automatic optimization in Google Photos
- Open the Google Photos app.
- Tap on the profile avatar. → Make room.
- Confirm the removal of local copies of photos that have already been uploaded to the cloud.
This feature only deletes files that:
- Successfully uploaded to the cloud.
- Not changed after downloading.
- Not marked as "Favorites."
Method 2: Hand cleaning through the Xiaomi Gallery
- Open the Gallery app.
- Go to the album Device (local photos).
- Tap it on three points. → Choose. → Check all photos (or select them manually).
- Click on the cart icon, but make sure the photo is in the cloud before you delete it (check through the Mi Cloud or Google Photos tab).
Method 3: Using a File Manager
For experienced users, cleaning through Files is suitable:
- Open the Files app (or any file manager, such as MiXplorer).
- Go to the Inner Memory → DCIM → Camera.
- Delete files older than 30 days (by pre-sorting by date).
💡
Before mass removal, always make sure that photos are successfully uploaded to the cloud. To do this, open the web version of the service (cloud.xiaomi.com or photos.google.com) and make sure that the latest images are displayed.
Solving Common Problems With Cloud Storage
Xiaomi users often experience sync errors, and here are the typical problems and ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Photos are not uploaded to Mi Cloud | There is no internet or little space in the cloud | Check your Wi-Fi connection. Clear space in Mi Cloud (remove unnecessary backups). Restart sync: Settings → Mi Cloud → Photos → Sync now. |
| Google Photos does not reserve photos | Background activity of the application is disabled | Go to Settings → Applications → Google Photos → Battery. Select Unlimited. Enable auto-run for Google Photos. |
| Photos in the cloud are displayed blurred | Load compression enabled | In Mi Cloud: disable Download Optimization (see section above). in Google Photos: select Original Quality. |
| Synchronization interrupted | Limitations on energy conservation | Add Google Photos and Mi Cloud to the battery optimization exception. Turn off Energy Saving mode in the settings. |
If the photos are missing from the cloud:
- Check the Recycle Bin folder in Mi Cloud or Google Photos (files are stored there for 30-60 days).
- Restore from the archive: in Google Photos go to the Library → Recycle Bin, in Mi Cloud – to the web version in the recently deleted section.
- If the photos are permanently deleted, try restoring them via Google Takeout (for Google Photos) or contact Xiaomi for support.
⚠️ Warning: When you reset your phone to factory settings, all local photos will be deleted, even if they are uploaded to the cloud.Be sure to check that sync is complete before reset, and make an additional copy of important photos to your computer.
Hidden Cloud Storage Features on Xiaomi
Many users are unaware of the additional features of cloud services that make it easier to work with photos:
- 🔒 Hidden albums in Mi Cloud: you can create a private album that won't be displayed in the main gallery. → Albums, tap three points. → Make a hidden album. Bring the photos in.
- 📅 Automatic collage creation in Google Photos: the service generates animations, collages and movies from your photos.To enable: Open Google Photos → Settings → Google Photos Assistant: Activate Create Movies and Animations.
Geoteca and Memories Map
- Go to Google Photos → Search → Map.
- zoom in to see all the places where you took pictures.
- 🤖 Voice search in Google Photos: You can find a photo by voice. For example, say, OK, Google, show me pictures of my dog on the beach in 2023".
To enable downloading on mobile data:
- In Mi Cloud: Settings → Mi Cloud → Photos → Network to download → Mobile data + Wi-Fi.
- In Google Photos: Settings → Backup and Sync → Network for Backup → Mobile Data.
The most reliable way is the cloud, as it also stores metadata (date, geotags, albums).
How much space does 1000 photos take in the cloud?
Can I store photos in the cloud without compression?
Google Photo
- In Original Quality mode, photos are stored without compression, but it takes up space in your 15GB.
- In High Quality mode, photos are compressed to 16 MP (even if the source is 48 or 108 MP).
Professional photographers using Xiaomi with support RAW (For example, Xiaomi 13 Pro, it is better to upload originals to Google Photos with the option Original quality and buy additional space (100 GB for 139). ₽/month).