Why Mi Cloud is Filling and How to Fix It
Xiaomi’s Mi Cloud cloud storage is a handy tool for backing up photos, contacts and documents. However, many users are faced with the problem: free 5 GB runs out in a matter of months, and the system begins to insist on buying additional space, while deleting files directly from the cloud can lead to loss of data on the device.
The main reasons for overflowing Mi Cloud are automatic media synchronization (especially high-resolution video), duplicate backups and cached application data. For example, one video in 4K can take up to 500 MB, and daily backups up to 1 GB per month. Fortunately, there are ways to optimize storage without the risk of data loss.
Method 1: Disabling Automatic Media Synchronization
By default, Xiaomi configures devices so that all photos and videos are automatically uploaded to the Mi Cloud. This is convenient but quickly eats up the free space.
- 📱 Open the Gallery app on your smartphone.
- 🔧 Go to Settings. → Cloud synchronization.
- 🔄 Turn off the slider Autoload photo / video.
- 🗑️ Select Remove from the Cloud for files that have already been downloaded (they will remain on your device).
After that, the new media files will no longer be duplicated in the cloud, and the data you have downloaded can be manually deleted via the web version of Mi Cloud (i.mi.com), pre-saving it to your phone or computer.
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Before mass deleting files from the cloud, check if they are saved locally. Use the Export function in the Gallery app to back up your files. SD-map.
Method 2: Cleaning backups and app cache
Backups of system settings and application data can take up to 30 percent of the Mi Cloud’s volume, especially the voracious messaging apps (Telegram, WhatsApp) and games, to clean them up:
- Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
- Select the Backup tab.
- Review the backup list and remove outdated ones (e.g., copies from 2022).
- To clear the app cache, go to Settings → Apps → App Management and select Clear Cache for each.
Important: Deleting backups does not affect the current data on the device. However, if you restore the smartphone from factory settings, these copies will not be available.
What is cache and why should it be cleaned?
Method 3: Transferring data to third-party clouds
If you don’t want to pay for the Mi Cloud extension, you can transfer some of the data to other services — Google Drive, Yandex Disk or Dropbox.
| Service | Free volume | How to transfer data |
|---|---|---|
| Google Drive | 15GB | Install the app, upload files manually or through Google Photos. |
| Yandex Disk | 10GB | Use the autoload function for photos. |
| Dropbox | 2GB | Connect your account to Settings → Accounts. |
To automate the transfer, you can use applications like FolderSync or Sync for Cloud that sync folders between clouds, and the main thing is not to delete files from Mi Cloud until you make sure they are successfully copied to another service.
Method 4: Optimize Storage with the Mi Cloud Web Version
The Mi Cloud web interface (i.mi.com) offers more file management tools than the mobile app.
- 🖥️ Sign in to your Xiaomi account.
- 📁 Go to the Files section and sort them by size (click on the Size column).
- 🗑️ Delete the largest files (such as videos or archives) by downloading them to your PC.
- 🔍 In the Recycle Bin section, clean deleted files – they take up space for 30 days.
Pay special attention to the MIUI/Backup folder, which stores backups of the system, and if you don't plan to restore old settings, you can safely delete them, and check the Notes section: sometimes unnecessary drafts accumulate here.
Download important files to your PC or external drive | Check if autoboot media |Delete duplicate photos (use Gallery → Duplicates app) | Clear the cart in the web version of Mi Cloud |Create a fresh backup in case of a crash-->
Method 5: Use of the Smart Cleaning function
MIUI firmware has a built-in Smart Cleanup tool that analyzes unnecessary files, including cloud cache, to run it:
- Open the Settings → Memory.
- Click Smart Cleanup and wait for the scan to be completed.
- Select Clear to delete temporary files and cache.
- In the Cloud Storage section, click Control and delete unnecessary data.
This method is less effective than manual cleaning, but useful for quick optimization. Note: Smart cleaning does not delete backups and media files - only service data.
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Smart Cleanup is data-safe, but it doesn't free up much space. For a serious cleanup, use a combination of all 5 methods.
What to do if the Mi Cloud space is running out
If after all the manipulations of free space is less than 10%, consider the following options:
- 💳 Buy extra space: 50GB worth ~100 rubles per month (tariffs are valid for 2026) This is cheaper than data loss.
- 📱 Disable backup for unnecessary applications in Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Backup.
- 🔄 Compress the photos before uploading: to the Gallery → Settings → Download quality choose Medium instead of Original.
- 📦 Use local storage: transfer rarely used files to the SD-card.
A critical mistake many users make is to delete files from the cloud without checking if they are on the device. Always back up to a physical medium before cleaning!
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If you often shoot videos, set up in the Camera to save videos immediately on the SD-This will prevent large files from automatically uploading to the cloud.
Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When working with Mi Cloud, users often make mistakes that lead to data loss.
⚠️ Note: Never delete the folder. MIUI/Backup/AllBackup completely, it can disrupt system functions.
- 🚫 Delete files from the cloud without local copy. Always check if data is stored on your device or PC.
- 🔄 Using multiple cloud services to boot at the same time, which leads to duplicate files.
- 📵 Ignoring storage overflow notifications: When a place runs out, no new backups are created and you risk losing up-to-date data.
- 🔧 Changing your sync settings without understanding the consequences, for example, disabling your contacts sync can cause them to lose when you reset your phone.
To avoid problems, regularly (every 1-2 months) check the contents of Mi Cloud through the web version and clear unnecessary files. It is also useful to set up notifications about the storage filling by 80%, this will give time for reaction.