Overcrowded storage is one of the most common problems faced by owners of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones: When the device’s memory runs out, the gadget starts to work slower, and new photos stop being stored, which causes irritation to the user.
The built-in Mi Cloud (or Xiaomi Cloud) is designed to address this problem by backing up data and freeing up space on the device, but over time, the cloud itself becomes overflowing, requiring intervention.
In this article, we will take a look at how to effectively clean up cloud storage, remove unnecessary backups, and optimize space usage, learn how to manage files via phone and web interface, and learn about hidden sync features.
Analysis of the employment space in the Mi Cloud
Before you start deleting data, you need to understand what exactly takes up precious gigabytes. Android in the shell of MIUI or HyperOS provides convenient tools for visualization.
Most often, the lion's share of space is occupied by photos and videos that are automatically synchronized in high resolution, and a significant amount can consume backups of system settings and voice recorder data.
To start, open the settings menu and find the section that is responsible for the account, and this shows the general statistics of storage usage.
- 📸 Gallery: photos and videos saved in the cloud.
- 📱 Device: backup copies of system settings and layouts.
- 🎙️ Recorder: audio recordings often taking up a lot of space.
- 📝 Notes: text files and to-do lists.
Note that deleting a file from the cloud will automatically delete it from your device if sync is active.
Delete photos and videos through the gallery
The easiest way to free up space is to use the library, and if you have Clear Memory enabled, the original photos can already be deleted from your phone, but copies are stored on Xiaomi servers.
Go to the Gallery app and go to the Albums tab.Look for an album called Cloud Photos or similar that indicates sync.
Select unnecessary images or whole series of takes. By clicking on the delete button, you initiate the process of cleaning up the server space, and the system will request confirmation, because the action is irreversible.
⚠️ Warning: Deleting photos from Cloud Photos will cause them to disappear from all devices associated with your Mi Account.
If you want to save photos on your phone but remove them from the cloud, first turn off sync for the gallery in your account settings.
It's also worth checking the "Recently Deleted" folder, which can hold files there for up to 30 days, while continuing to rank in the cloud storage quota.
Managing system and application backups
In addition to media files, Mi Cloud stores casts of your smartphone settings, which includes a list of installed apps, the location of icons on the desktop and system settings.
Often users forget about old devices, which are still backed up in their profile, and deleting them is a safe way to get back megabytes.
Go to the cloud settings and select “Backup” and you will see a list of all the devices that backups were created for.
☑️ Check before removing the backup
Select a device that you no longer use or sell. Click on the uninstall backup button. This process will not affect the data on your current phone.
Pay special attention to backups of individual applications, and some programs can save their data to the cloud even if you haven't used it in a long time.
| Type of data | Average size | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| System settings | 10–50 MB | Leave it relevant. |
| List of annexes | 1-5 MB | Can be removed |
| Recorder recordings | 10MB - 1GB | Check and clean. |
| Screenshots | Depends on the amount. | Sort by date |
Cleaning through the web interface i.mi.com
For deeper cleaning and file management, it is easier to use a computer. The web version of the service provides advanced functionality that is not available in the mobile application.
Open your browser on your PC and go to the official i.mi.com website. log in using your Mi Account and password.
The interface is like a file manager, and you can see the folder structure here, including Gallery, Contacts, Notes, and Files.
What to do if the web version is not loaded?
Navigating the web version allows you to select large groups of files for removal faster. You can use the Shift key to highlight range or Ctrl for selective removal.
The peculiarity of the web interface is that it shows the real state of storage, even if the phone has a restriction on the display of data in mobile traffic.
After mass deletion, be sure to go to the shopping cart on the site to finally erase the data and make room instantly.
Disconnect synchronization and free up space
Sometimes it’s easier not to delete, but to stop synchronizing certain types of data, which is true if you use other services, such as Google Photos or Yandex.Disk.
Go to the Mi Account settings on your smartphone. Find the Sync or Mi Cloud section.
Here's a list of all the services that transmit data to the cloud, and you can selectively turn off the switches for Gallery, Contacts, Topic, or Messages.
- 🔒 Security: Disabling password synchronization can make it harder to restore access.
- 📷 Camera: When disconnected, photos will only be stored locally.
- 📞 Contacts: Make sure they are saved on SIM or Google before shutting down.
⚠️ Warning: Once sync is disabled, new data will no longer be stored in the cloud. Make sure you have an alternative backup of important contacts.
There's also the "Optimize storage" feature, which when activated, removes the original photos and videos from the device, leaving only thumbnails in the gallery, freeing up space on the phone itself, but not in the cloud.
If your goal is to free up space in the Xiaomi cloud, then this feature is not necessary, since it only redistributes storage.
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Check the Recycle Bin folder in the cloud regularly, and files can stay there for up to 30 days, taking up space you think is free.
Advanced methods and work with files
Xiaomi's cloud storage has a Files section that includes documents downloaded from your browser or saved from messengers, and users often forget about this folder.
Check the sections associated with WhatsApp or Telegram if you have allowed them to access the cloud.
Accessing cloud system files on Android sometimes requires the use of specialized tools or adb commands, but it is easier to do this through the web interface.
Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Storage ManagementIf standard methods fail to vacate space, consider buying extra space. Xiaomi tariffs often offer favorable terms for users of their ecosystem.
However, if you don’t plan to use the company’s services in the long run, it’s best to migrate the archive to an external hard drive or to a neutral cloud.
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Regularly auditing cloud storage every six months helps to avoid a sudden shortage of space at a critical moment.