Search for photos in the cloud Xiaomi: where are the photos stored and how to find them

Lost important photos on a Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone? Or just want to figure out how Mi Cloud cloud storage works? In this article, you will find a detailed guide to finding images in the cloud, recovering deleted files and optimizing sync. We will examine all the ways, from basic to hidden functions, which few people know about.

Xiaomi's cloud automatically backs up photos, but it's not always clear where they're stored or how to find them quickly, especially if you're using multiple devices or haven't logged in in in a while, and after you drop your phone or change your firmware, many people have trouble accessing old photos, and this guide will help you avoid data loss and learn how to manage media effectively in the Mi ecosystem.

Before you go to search, make sure you have access to your Mi Account — without it, you can’t recover photos from the cloud. If you forgot your password, use the recovery manual at the end of the article.

Also note: Xiaomi's free cloud only provides 5GB (for new accounts - 10GB as part of the promotion).If the limit is exhausted, sync new photos is suspended. Check the free space in Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Warehouse.

1. Where photos are stored in the cloud Xiaomi

All uploaded images are accessed through the Mi Cloud Gallery, but accessed through multiple interfaces.

• 📱 Mobile application Mi Cloud (installed separately on the Android/iOS)

The fastest way is to use the web version, which requires no app installation and works even on other devices, but the official Mi Cloud app is better for uploading original photos in high resolution.

Note: If you deleted a photo from your phone but enabled cloud sync, the images could be saved in the Mi Cloud Recycle Bin, with a storage period of 30 days, after which the files are deleted irrevocably.

2. Step-by-step instructions: how to find a photo in Mi Cloud

Consider three main methods of searching for images in the Xiaomi cloud. Choose the right one depending on your situation:

Method 1: via the web version (i.mi.com)

1. Open your browser and go to i.mi.com.
2. Sign in under your Mi Account (login – email or phone number).
3. In the main menu, select the Gallery section.
4. Use filters by date, albums, or keywords (if the photos have tags).

The advantage of this method is that it works from any device, including Mac or Windows, where there is no official Mi Cloud application, and there is also an extended sorting by time and location of the shooting (if geolocation is enabled).

Method 2: Through the Mi Cloud app on your smartphone

If you have an Android phone (not necessarily Xiaomi), install the official app:

• 📲 Download Mi Cloud from Google Play or App Store.
• 🔑 Sign in to your Mi Account.
• 🖼️ Go to the Gallery section → Choose the right album or use the search.

Additional functions are available in the annex:

• 🔄 Automatically upload new photos when connected to Wi-Fi.
• 🗑️ Recycle Bin with the ability to restore deleted files.
• 📤 Exporting photos to your device or other cloud services.

Method 3: Through the built-in Xiaomi Gallery

On smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO Photos from the cloud are displayed directly in the standard gallery:

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Go to the Cloud section (usually in the bottom menu or via swipe to the left).
3. If there is no partition, check the synchronization settings in Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → gallery.

Important: If the gallery does not display cloud photos, update the Gallery app via the Mi App Store or enable the "Show cloud files" option in the app settings.

3. How to recover deleted photos from the cloud

If you accidentally delete the photos, you have 30 days to recover them from the Mi Cloud Recycle Bin, and then the files are deleted forever.

1. Go to the web version of Mi Cloud or open the app.
2. Go to the Gallery section → Basket.
3. Mark the desired photos and click Restore.
4. Select the recovery location: to the cloud or to the device.

If the cart is empty or has been more than 30 days, try alternative methods:

• 🔍 Check backups: sometimes photos are saved in the device's archives. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup and see the backup list.
• 📧 Export via email: If you’ve ever sent a photo to your mailbox, check the “Sent” folder in your mailbox.
• 💾 Local Storage: Connect your phone to your PC and check folders DCIM or Pictures through a conductor.

⚠️ Note: If you reset your phone to the factory settings without decoupling from Mi Account, the photos in the cloud will remain, but access to them will be blocked before logging in.

4. setting up automatic synchronization of photos

To automatically upload new photos to the cloud, enable sync:

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select the Gallery and activate the switch.
3. Click on Synchronization Settings and select: 📶 Wi-Fi only (recommended for traffic savings). 🔋 Charging – only loading when connected to the charger. 📁 Sync folders – Select which albums to reserve.

If the synchronization is not working:

• 🔄 Reset the device.
• 📶 Check your internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data).
• 🔧 Update the Mi Cloud and Gallery apps to the latest versions.
• 🗃️ Free up space in the cloud (if the limit is exhausted).

💡

If you take pictures often but don’t want to waste space in the cloud, turn on the option “Storage Optimization” in the Mi Cloud settings, which saves the preview of the photo on the device, and the originals only in the cloud.

5. Search for photos by date, place or tags

Mi Cloud has a smart search engine that helps you find your images quickly, and here's how to use it:

Date search:

• In the web version or application, open the Gallery section.
• Click on the calendar icon (📅) top-down.
• Choose a date range or a specific day.

Search by location:

If geolocation is enabled, the photos are automatically linked to the map:

1. Open the album in Mi Cloud.
2. Click on the card icon (🗺️) or select the "Places" filter".
3. Enlarge the map and select the label with the right place.

Search by tags or objects:

Xiaomi automatically recognizes objects in the photo (people, animals, food, etc.) to find pictures by tagging:

1. Type a keyword in the search bar (e.g., “cat,” “sea,” “document”).
2. The system will show all photos with recognized objects.

⚠️ Note: Object recognition only works for photos uploaded after the update MIUI On older devices (Xiaomi Mi 8, Redmi Note 7 and earlier), this search may not be available.

6.Export photos from Mi Cloud to PC or other phone

If you need to transfer photos from the Xiaomi cloud to a computer or other device, use one of the methods:

For mass export, it is more convenient to use the web version or Mi PC Suite. If you need to transfer a photo to your iPhone, use the download link or download files through the browser.

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When exported via the web version, photos are saved in the original resolution, whereas in the mobile application compression can be applied to save traffic.

7. Frequent problems and their solutions

When you work with Mi Cloud, users experience typical errors. Here's how to fix them:

Problem 1: Photos are not uploaded to the cloud.

Decision:

• Check if synchronization is included in Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → gallery.
• Free up space in the cloud (delete unnecessary files or buy extra space).
• Restart the device and check your internet connection.

Problem 2: The gallery does not display cloud photos.

Decision:

• Update the Gallery app through the Mi App Store.
• In the gallery settings, enable the option to Show Cloud Files.
• Re-authorize to Mi Account.

Problem 3: You can’t recover a photo from the cart.

Decision:

• Make sure that no more than 30 days have passed since the removal.
• Check if the Recycle Bin section has been manually cleaned.
• If the photo is critical, contact Xiaomi with the indication ID Account and approximate date of deletion.

⚠️ Note: If you try to log in to Mi Cloud, you may see a “Device Not Supported” error, try using another browser (such as Chrome or Firefox) or clear the cache. Also make sure that your account is free of restrictions (such as for suspicious activity).

8.Alternative cloud services for backup

If 5-10 GB in Mi Cloud is not enough, consider alternative photo storage services:

• 🌥️ Google Photos – 15 GB free, smart search, automatic synchronization.
• ☁️ Yandex Drive – 10 GB free, integration with mail.
• 🍎 iCloud – 5GB, optimized for Apple devices.
• 📦 Mega - 20 GB free, data encryption.

To automatically upload photos to Google Photos:

1. Install the Google Photos app.
2. In the settings, enable Backup and Synchronization.
3. Select the download quality (High – unlimited storage, Original – counted from the quota).

The advantage of Google Photos is unlimited storage for compressed photos (up to 16 MP) and video (up to 16 MP) 1080p). However, the originals take a place in the total quota of Google Drive.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions