How to Clean Up Xiaomi Cloud Storage Completely: From Photos to Backups

Xiaomi’s cloud storage (Mi Cloud) is a convenient service for automatic backup of photos, contacts and documents, but its standard 5 GB capacity fills up faster than it seems. Especially if you are actively using a Redmi smartphone, POCO or the flagship Xiaomi 13/14 series. When memory runs out, the system begins to send intrusive notifications, and synchronizing new files is blocked. But you do not have to pay for expansion: in 80% of cases, you can free 2-3 GB by simply removing unnecessary data.

In this article, we’ve got 5 proven ways to clean up Mi Cloud, including hidden features that aren’t mentioned in the official help, how to delete files selectively (to avoid losing important ones), which backups can be easily erased, and why synchronizing notes from the Mi Notes app “eats” up to 1 GB without the user’s notice. Instructions are relevant for all devices on MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS, including Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 and Xiaomi 13 Ultra.

1. How to check what takes up space in the Mi Cloud

Before you clean up the cloud, you need to understand what data is taking up space.

• 📷 Photo and video (automatic synchronization from the gallery)
• 📱 Backups (backups of settings, applications, SMS)
• 📝 Notes and Documents (from Mi Notes, WPS Office)
• 📞 Contacts and call records
• 🎵 Music and downloads (if synchronization is enabled)

To see the details:

1. Open the Settings → Xiaomi Account app (or Mi Account on older versions).
2. Slip on the avatar in the upper right corner → Mi Cloud.
3. At the bottom of the screen, select Storage Management.

This will show you a diagram of how memory is categorized, and you can look at the Others section, which often hides temporary files or cache of applications that you can delete without consequences.

2.Remove photos and videos from Mi Cloud

Photos and videos typically take up 50 to 70 percent of the space in the cloud, and can be removed selectively or in bundles, but there are nuances:

⚠️ Note: Deleting files from Mi Cloud doesn't delete them from the device (and vice versa.) These are two independent storages. However, if you enabled Free up your device in the gallery, the original photos could only remain in the cloud.

To clear the media files:

1. Open the gallery → albums → Mi Cloud
2. Select a folder (such as Camera or Screenshots).
3. Click Control → Mark unnecessary files → Delete.
4. Confirm removal from the cloud only (not from the device!).

For mass removal:

• 🗑️ Use the filter by date: select a period (e.g., “Older than 1 year”) and delete all files during that period.
• 🔍 Include size sorting: you will quickly find heavy videos (often weighing 100-500MB each).
• 📁 Check the Screenshots folder – there may be thousands of unnecessary pictures.

Cleanup of backups (backups)

Backups are the second largest memory eater, and Xiaomi automatically creates backups:

• 📱 System settings (themes, wallpaper, sounds)
• 💬 Messages and call histories
• 🎮 Game and application data
• 📡 Wi-Fi networks and passwords

One such backup can weigh from 200 MB to 1.5 GB.

To remove unnecessary copies:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Storage Management.
2. Select Backups.
3. Slip on the device (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro+) → Delete the backup.

⚠️ Warning: If you plan to reset your phone to factory settings, don't delete the last backup. It'll be used to recover data. It's optimal to leave the last 1-2 copies and erase the rest.

4. Optimization of notes and documents

The Mi Notes app automatically syncs all notes to the cloud, including:

• 📄 Textual records
• 🖼️ Embedded images (scans, photos)
• 🎨 Drawings and diagrams
• 📎 Attached files (PDF, DOCX)

The problem is that many users don't know how much space old notes take up, for example, one note with 10 scans of documents can weigh 50-100 MB.

How to clean:

1. Open Mi Notes → tap on three dots in the upper right corner → Cart.
2. Remove unnecessary notes permanently (they are stored in the cart for 30 days).
3. For mass removal: Go to Categories → select an unnecessary category (e.g., Work Notes 2022) → Delete Everything.

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If you’re a big user of notes, migrate them to Google Keep or OneNote.These services give you 15GB for free (versus 5GB in the Mi Cloud) and integrate better with other devices.

5. Delete cache and temporary files

Mi Cloud accumulates temporary files that don't show up in the main categories.

• 🗃️ Cache apps (such as Mi Browser or Mi Video)
• 📥 Uncompleted downloads
• 🔄 Synchronization files (if the process was interrupted)

To remove them:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Storage Management.
2. Scroll down to Other or System Data.
3. Click Clear Cache (if option is available).
4. If there is no button, use an alternative method: turn off and back on sync for the app (like Mi Browser) to reset the cache.

⚠️ Note: Some temporary files may be associated with system updates. MIUI or HyperOS "over the air» (OTA), Wait for the process to be completed before clearing the cache.

6. Alternative ways to make room

If there is not enough space after cleaning, try these methods:

A. Transferring files to another cloud

• 📁 Use Google Drive (15GB free) or Yandex Disk (10GB) to store photos and documents.
• 🔄 Enable autosynchronization of the gallery with Google Photos (settings) → Backup and synchronization).

B. Disabling Autosynchronization

• 🚫 Go to Settings. → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud and disable sync for unnecessary categories (e.g. Call Records or SMS).
• 📵 To save traffic and space, turn off mobile network sync (leave only Wi-Fi).

Buying additional space (if nothing helps)

If you really need more than 5GB, consider the Mi Cloud rates:

• 💰 50GB — ~100 rubles/month
• 💰 200GB — ~200 rubles/month

You can pay through Mi Cloud → Storage Management → Buy a place.

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Before buying additional space, check to see if your files are duplicated in other cloud services (Google Drive, Dropbox).

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When cleaning Mi Cloud, users often make these mistakes:

Mistake 1: Delete files from your device thinking they’re staying in the cloud

❌ What happens: If you turn on Free up your device in the gallery, the original photos are only stored in the cloud. Deleting them from your phone, you lose access to files forever.

✅ Solution: Before cleaning the device, check if the files are saved in Google Photos or on your computer.

Mistake 2: Ignoring the “Recently Deleted” folder

❌ What happens: Deleted files go into the bin and take up space for another 30 days. Many forget to clean it.

✅ Solution: Once a month, visit the gallery → Albums. → Basket and clean it.

Mistake 3: Synchronizing Unnecessary Data

❌ What happens: By default, Xiaomi syncs all contacts, SMS Notes, even if they are not needed in the cloud.

✅ Solution: Turn off sync for unnecessary categories in Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions