Where and how to search for photos in the cloud on the phone Xiaomi Redmi: 5 working ways

You took hundreds of photos on your Xiaomi Redmi but can't find them now? Files could automatically upload to the Mi Cloud, especially if you have backup enabled. The problem is that Xiaomi's cloud storage interface isn't always intuitive -- menus are hidden, search isn't obvious, and sync sometimes gets lost. In this article, we'll look at all the possible ways to find photos in the cloud directly from your phone, including hidden folders, backups, and even recovery of deleted shots.

Redmi features (unlike Xiaomi’s flagship models) limited cloud storage by default (only 5GB).If you don’t pay for the expansion, the system can automatically archive old photos or delete them after 30 days in the cart. So it's important not only to know where to look, but also how to save files to your device before they're gone forever. MIUI (including the latest versions 14–15).

1. Search for photos through the standard Xiaomi Gallery

The easiest way to do this is to use the built-in Gallery app, which automatically uploads thumbnails from the cloud, even if the originals are removed from your phone.

• 📱 Open the Gallery app (icon with multi-colored squares).
• 🔍 Click on the magnifier icon in the top right corner or swipe down the screen to open the search bar.
• 🖼️ Enter a keyword (e.g., “sea”, “cat”, or date in format) 2026-05).
• ☁️ In the search results, go to the Cloud tab (if any).

If the Cloud tab is not there, then the sync is off.

1. Go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud.
2. Make sure that the gallery slider is active (blue).
3. Click Sync Now and wait for the process to be completed.

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If the photos are not displayed, try logging out of your Mi Account and re-entering, which will reset the cloud cache and force the Gallery to update the data.

Note that in MIUI 14+, cloud search can be slow if you have a weak Internet connection, and the second option is direct access via Mi Cloud.

2. Direct access to photos via Mi Cloud

If the Gallery doesn't show cloud photos, try logging into Mi Cloud via a browser or app, which is a universal method that works even if sync fails.

• 🌐 Open a browser (like Google Chrome) and go to the address: https://i.mi.com.
• 🔑 Sign in with the same Mi Account that is linked to your phone.
• 📁 In the menu on the left, select the Gallery section. → Photo Photo.
• 🔎 Use date filters or albums (e.g. Screenshots, Downloaded).

Important: If you've previously deleted photos from your phone, in Mi Cloud, they can be stored in the Recycle Bin folder for up to 30 days to find it:

1. In the web version of Mi Cloud go to the Gallery → Cart.
2. Select the desired photos and click Restore.
3. Wait 5-10 minutes and the files will appear again in the phone gallery.

⚠️ Note: If you changed your Mi Account password on another device, all sessions (including your phone) will be logged out.

3. Search through the Files app

Few people know, but in Xiaomi Redmi cloud photos can be found through the standard File Manager. This method is useful if the Gallery is not updated, and Mi Cloud in the browser is slowing down.

• 📂 Open the Files app (Icon with folder).
• 🔗 Go to the Cloud tab (or Mi Cloud in older versions).
• 📷 Find the file. DCIM Pictures - there are photos stored.
• 🔍 Use date sorting (downward) to quickly find fresh shots.

If there is no Cloud folder, update the Files app through the Play Store or enable the display of hidden files:

1. In Files, click three dots (⋮) → Settings.
2. Activate the option to show hidden files.
3. Go back to the root directory and check the.micloud folder (it may be hidden).

4. Recover deleted photos from the cloud

If you accidentally delete photos, they can be returned within 30 days through the Mi Cloud Recycle Bin, after which the files are deleted irrevocably (unless you have an extended storage subscription).

Instructions for remediation:

1. Log in to Mi Cloud via browser.
2. Go to the Gallery section → Basket.
3. Select the necessary photos (you can select everything through the tick at the top).
4. Click Restore and confirm the action.

If the basket is empty, check:

• 🗑️ Has it been 30 days since the removal.
• 🔄 Have you cleaned the basket manually (Option Clean the basket in the Gallery settings).
• 📱 Have you changed your Mi Account – photos are linked to a specific profile.

⚠️ Note: Recovered photos are returned to the folder DCIM/Camera You can use your phone, but you can't duplicate it to the cloud automatically.

Check if the Mi Account is being used.|Make sure the 30-day deadline is not over.|Try to recover via PC (i.mi.com)|Please contact Xiaomi for support with ID account-->

5. Alternative ways: Google Photos and third-party apps

If you use Google Photos to back up, photos can be stored there instead of Mi Cloud.

• 📱 Open the Google Photos app (if not installed, download from the Play Store).
• 🔍 Click on the magnifying glass and enter a request (e.g. selfie or 2026).
• ☁️ Go to the Photo tab. → Archives (there may be hidden pictures).

If Google Photos wasn’t used, try third-party cloud search apps:

Warning: Do not install applications from unverified sources (APK-They can request access to your Mi Account and steal data.

6 Why photos are not displayed in the cloud: common problems

Sometimes the photos are in the cloud, but they don't show up on the phone.

• 🔄 Sync is disabled: Check the settings → Mi Cloud → gallery.
• 📶 Weak Internet: Mi Cloud doesn't load previews with slow connection. Connect to Wi-Fi.
• 🔋 Background Limitation: In Settings → Battery → Optimize add Gallery and Mi Cloud to exceptions.
• 🗃️ End of place: Delete unnecessary files in Mi Cloud → Warehouse.
• 🔄 Cache failure: Clear the Gallery data in Settings → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

If the problem is not solved, try forced synchronization:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Cloud.
2. Press three points (⋮) → Synchronize everything.
3. Reboot the phone.

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If photos are missing after the MIUI update, check the MIUI/Backup/AllBackup folder in the file manager – there may be backup copies of media files.

7 How to save a photo from the cloud to your phone forever

Cloud photos may disappear due to sync failure or expiration of storage life. To avoid this, save them to the device:

Method 1: Through the Gallery

1. Open the photo in the Gallery (Cloud tab).
2. Press three points (⋮) → Save it to the device.
3. Select a folder (such as Downloads or DCIM).

Method 2: Through Mi Cloud in the browser

1. Go to i.mi.com.
2. Select the photo → press Download.
3. The files will be uploaded to the Download folder on the phone.

Method 3: Mass preservation

• In Mi Cloud (web version), select all photos through the tick at the top.
• Press More. → Export.
• Select the archive format (ZIP) and download.
• Unpack your phone archive with RAR or ZArchiver.

⚠️ Note: When mass downloading photos lose EXIF-Data (date, geolocation) If it is important, save files one by one.

FAQ: Frequent questions about finding photos in the cloud Xiaomi Redmi