How to buy extra space in the cloud Xiaomi (Mi Cloud): a detailed guide with prices and nuances

Xiaomi’s Mi Cloud cloud storage is a handy tool for backing up photos, contacts, notes and other data from your devices. The standard 5GB that you give for free quickly runs out, especially if you’re actively using a Redmi, POCO or Mi smartphone. But not everyone knows that you can expand the volume in just a few clicks — directly from the app or through the web version of the service.

In this article, we will look at all the available ways to buy space in the Mi Cloud, compare rates for different regions (including Russia, Europe and Asia), explain how to tie a payment card, and warn against common errors. And also tell you what to do if the payment does not pass or the purchased tariff is not activated. Information is current for 2026 and checked on the latest versions of the MIUI 14/15 firmware.

What is Mi Cloud and why buy extra space

Mi Cloud is a cloud service from Xiaomi that automatically syncs data between your devices: smartphones, tablets, Mi Band smartwatches and even Mi TVs.

• 📸 Photos and videos – Autoload in original quality (takes up the most space).
• 📞 Contacts and SMS – Backup in case of a phone reset.
• 📝 Notes and recordings from the Mi Notes and Recorder apps.
• 🔄 System settings – themes, wallpaper, Wi-Fi settings.

When 5GB runs out, the service stops syncing new files, and old ones can be deleted after 60 days of inactivity, and buying extra space solves this problem, plus bonuses:

• 🔒 Data loss protection – even if the phone breaks, the files will remain in the cloud.
• 📱 Cross-platform access – you can view photos with Redmi on your computer through the web version of Mi Cloud.
• 📤 Sharing – some files can be shared via a link (e.g., vacation albums).

⚠️ Warning: If you use Google Photos in parallel with Mi Cloud, the data may be duplicated, taking up space on both services. Check the autoload settings in both apps.

How much is the space in Mi Cloud: current tariffs for 2026

Prices for additional space depend on the region of your Mi Account (not to be confused with the region of the phone!). For example, for users from Russia, Europe and Asia, the rates are different. Below is a table with current prices in rubles, dollars and yuan (for Mi Account with China region).

Important: when paying through Mi Cloud in China, yuan prices can be 30-50% lower than in Europe or Russia, but this will require linking a Chinese payment card (such as UnionPay) or using alternative payment methods.

Discounts are valid when buying an annual tariff - savings are up to 30%. For example, 200 GB per year in Russia will cost 2,990 ₽ instead of 3,588 ₽ for monthly payment.

How to check current volume and free space in Mi Cloud

Before you buy extra space, make sure you really don’t have enough free 5GB. Check the occupied volume in three ways:

1. Through phone settings: Open Settings → Mi → Mi Cloud Account. At the top of the screen, a diagram with occupied and free space will be displayed. Click on the graph to see details by file types (photos, videos, contacts, etc.).
2. Through Files: Launch Files (Folder icon) App. Go to Cloud tab. In the upper right corner, click on ⚙️ (Settings) → Storage management.
3. Through the web: Go to i.mi.com and log in. In the lower left corner, click on the account icon → Storage management.

If you see a message saying "Storage is almost full", then it's time to expand the tariff. Pay attention to the "Shoot" section - perhaps unnecessary files are downloaded to the cloud (for example, screenshots or memes from chats).

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Before buying a place, clear the cloud of debris: remove duplicate photos, old backups and unnecessary notes. This can free up to 1-2 GB!

Step-by-step: how to buy a place in Mi Cloud

You can expand the storage directly from your phone or through your computer, and we'll look at both.

Method 1: Buying through a mobile app (on the phone)

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Click on the storage schedule (or the "Buy space" button).
3. Choose the desired rate (50 GB, 200 GB or 2 TB) and the term (month or year).
4. Click "Pay" and select the payment method: 💳 Bank card (Visa, Mastercard, Mir - depending on the region). 💰 Electronic wallets (Qiwi, WebMoney - for Russia). 📱 Mobile payment (payment through the operator).

Confirm payment (SMS- code or 3D-Secure may be required).

After successful payment, new gigabytes will appear within 5-10 minutes. If this does not happen, check the My Orders section in the Mi Cloud or restart your phone.

Method 2: Buying via the web version (from a computer)

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. In the bottom menu, select "Storage".
3. Click "Buy Place" and select the rate.
4. Fill in the payment details and confirm the payment.

The web version is convenient if the phone is not running payment or you want to use a card from another bank, however, some payment methods (such as Mir) may not be available in the browser.

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Frequent problems when buying space in Mi Cloud and their solutions

Even with the right actions, the payment may not work, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to correct them:

• 🚫 "Payment error: rejected by the bank" Reasons: The card does not support online payments (call the bank and activate the option); insufficient funds or a limit on Internet payments. The bank blocks transactions in Xiaomi (often with Sberbank or Tinkoff cards). Solution: try another card or payment method (for example, Qiwi).
• 🌍 "Fare is not available in your region" This means that the region of your Mi Account does not match the region of payment, for example, if the account is registered in China and you are trying to pay with a Russian bank card, the solution is: change the region of the account (see next section) or use the card associated with the region of the account.
• ⏳ "Payment passed, but no place added" Sometimes the delay is up to 24 hours. If the day the tariff is not activated: Check the payment history in Settings → Mi Account → Payments. Write in support of Xiaomi via chat in the Mi Community app. Reboot your phone and update the Mi Cloud data manually (pull the screen down in the Mi Cloud section).

⚠️ Warning: If you purchase space through Mi Cloud in China (account region – China), a Chinese phone number and UnionPay card may be required to pay. Using VPN or foreign cards often results in a payment lock.

How to Change Your Mi Account Region for Cheaper Place

If your account is linked to Russia or Europe, Mi Cloud prices may be higher than in China or India, and some users may change their account region to save money.

• 🔄 The change of region is possible only 1 time in 30 days.
• 📱 Some features may become unavailable (e.g. Mi Pay or local services).
• 💳 A new region card or payment method will be required.

Instructions for changing the region:

1. Open account.xiaomi.com and log in.
2. Go to Personal Data → Region.
3. Select a new country (e.g. India or China) and confirm the change via SMS.
4. Link a new payment method (e.g., a virtual card or UnionPay for China).

Important: After the region change, all previously purchased subscriptions (including Mi Cloud) may be reset, and some applications (such as Mi Fit) will require re-authorization.

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Changing your account region for a cheap Mi Cloud fare is only justified when you buy an annual subscription, and for monthly payments, the difference in price may not cover the hassle of changing the region.

Mi Cloud alternatives: is it worth buying space from Xiaomi

If you don’t like the pricing or functionality of Mi Cloud, consider alternative cloud services, compared to Xiaomi’s storage:

When to choose Mi Cloud:

• 📱 You need automatic synchronization of contacts, SMS and settings MIUI.
• 🔄 You use several Xiaomi devices (smartphone + tablet + watch).
• 📸 You need to autoload photos in their original quality without compression.

When is the best time to choose an alternative:

• 💻 You need to access files from any device (not just Xiaomi).
• 💰 You are looking for a cheaper solution (e.g. Yandex Drive or Google Drive).
• 🌍 You need global availability (some Mi Cloud features are blocked outside of China).

FAQ: Frequent questions about buying space in the Mi Cloud