How to completely clean up the cloud storage Xiaomi Cloud on your smartphone: 5 working ways

Xiaomi Cloud cloud storage is a convenient tool for syncing data between devices, but its scope is limited. Even 5 GB of free space (for new accounts) or 10 GB (for old users) quickly run out if you actively upload photos, videos or create backups. When memory is overflowed, the system begins to issue notifications about the lack of space, and synchronizing new files is blocked. In this article, we will discuss how to clean Xiaomi Cloud directly from your phone without resorting to a computer or third-party programs.

Complicating the problem is that the cloud interface in MIUI is regularly changed, and some functions (such as deleting backups) are hidden in the depths of the menu. We tested all the current methods on MIUI 14 and HyperOS to provide working instructions, pay special attention to hidden files that take up space but do not appear in the standard interface, and explain how to avoid re-filling the cloud after cleaning.

1. Checking Occupied Space in Xiaomi Cloud

Before you start cleaning, you need to understand what exactly is taking up space in your cloud.

• 📸 Photo and video from the gallery (automatic synchronization through the Gallery) → Settings → Cloud synchronization)
• 📱 Backups of the device (created when changing the phone or manually)
• 📄 Documents and files (uploaded through Files) → Cloud or third-party applications)
• 🔄 Cache and temporary data (remains after file deletion or synchronization failures)
• 🎵 Recordings from the recorder and notes from Mi Notes

To see the detailed statistics:

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Go to Accounts and Sync → Mi Account.
3. Tapping on Xiaomi Cloud (or Cloud in newer versions of MIUI)
4. At the top of the screen you will see a diagram of occupied space broken down by category.

If the diagram shows unknown files or "Other Data" larger than 1 GB, it is a sign of accumulated cache or broken files, their deletion requires separate actions (see section 5).

2. Remove photos and videos from the cloud

Photos and videos are the main space eaters, and can be deleted selectively (selectively) or batchwise (all at once), and it's important to remember that deleting files from the cloud doesn't delete files from your phone unless they've been synced in Cloud Only.

Method 1: Through the Gallery appendix

1. Open the Gallery and go to the Cloud (or Mi Cloud) tab.
2. Press and hold your finger on any file to activate the selection mode.
3. Check the boxes unnecessary photos / videos or tap Choose all.
4. Click on the basket icon (🗑️) and confirm the removal.

Method 2: Using the web version of Xiaomi Cloud (if there are too many files)

1. Open your browser and go to i.mi.com (sign up under your Mi Account).
2. Select the Gallery section in the left menu.
3. Use date or album filters to find unnecessary files faster.
4. Select the files and click Delete.

Make sure important files are saved locally|Check the folder "Recently deleted" in the cloud|Disable Autosynchronization Gallery (if necessary)|Download archive with important photos on PC-->

⚠️ Attention: Deleted files enter the cloud basket and are stored there for 30 days. To free up space immediately after deleting, go to the Recycle Bin (in the web version or application) and manually clean it.

3. Cleaning of device backups

Backups are created automatically when you change your phone or manually through Settings → About Phone → Backup. One copy can weigh anywhere from 500 MB to several gigabytes, especially if it includes:

• 📱 Applications and their data (for example, saves in games)
• 📞 Call log and SMS
• 🔧 System settings and wallpaper
• 📁 Files from internal memory (if selected in backup settings)

How to delete backup copies:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Account → Xiaomi Cloud
2. Tap on Backups (or Manage backups in new versions).
3. You'll see a backup list with dates and sizes. Choose the one you don't need and click Delete.
4. Confirm the action with a password from the Mi Account (if required).

⚠️ Note: If you delete all backups, it will not be possible to recover data when you change your phone.We recommend leaving at least one current copy (for example, the last one by date).

4. Deletion of documents and other files

In the file section Xiaomi Cloud get documents, archives, APK-files and other data downloaded manually or through applications (e.g, WPS Office or File Manager. They're easier to clean than photos or backups, but there's a nuance:

How to find and delete files:

1. Open the File Manager (or File Manager) app on your phone.
2. Go to the Cloud tab (may be called Mi Cloud or Remote Storage).
3. Sort files by size (slip on the sort icon → by size).
4. Select unnecessary files and click Delete.

If there are too many files, use a search by type:

• 🔍 Enter an extension in the search bar, such as.apk (installation files),.zip (archives) or.pdf.
• 📂 For folders: filter by type → Folder and check the contents of each.

💡

To avoid re-filling the cloud with documents, disable autosynchronization for applications such as WPS Office or Xiaomi Scanner in their settings.

5. Clearing cache and temporary files

Over time, hidden files accumulate in Xiaomi Cloud, which do not appear in standard partitions, but take up space.

• 🗑️ Synchronization cache (remains after interrupted downloads)
• 🔄 Temporary files from apps (such as Mi Video or Mi Music)
• 📥 Uncompleted downloads (if the connection is interrupted)
• 🔧 Logs and reports (created by a system for diagnosis)

How to clean up hidden files:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Account → Xiaomi Cloud.
2. Slip on Storage Cleanup (or Memory Management in newer versions).
3. The system will scan the cloud and show you a list of unnecessary files, tick all the boxes and click Clear.

If there is no option to clean the storage, use an alternative method:

1. Go to the web version of Xiaomi Cloud (i.mi.com).
2. On the left menu, select the basket.
3. Clean the basket, even if it is empty – this sometimes resets the hidden cache.
4. Return to the mobile app and restart the phone.

6. Disabling autosynchronization to save space

To keep the cloud from filling up again, limit the automatic downloading of data.

• 📸 Photo and video from the gallery (Gallery) → Settings → Cloud synchronization → Turn off or select only via Wi-Fi)
• 📝 Notes from Mi Notes (Application Settings) → Synchronization)
• 🎵 Music and video from Mi Music and Mi Video
• 📱 Backup copies (Settings) → The phone. → Backup → Turn off automatic backups)

How to set up selective synchronization:

1. In Xiaomi Cloud (in account settings), tap on Data Sync.
2. Turn off sync for unnecessary applications (such as Calendar or Browser).
3. For Gallery, select Download only over Wi-Fi and set a limit on the size of the files you download (e.g. no more than 10MB).

💡

Even after autosynchronization is disabled, you will be able to manually upload files to the cloud via the Files app or the web version of Xiaomi Cloud.

7. Alternative ways to make room

If standard methods don’t help, try:

Method 1: Transfer files to another cloud

Download important data from Xiaomi Cloud to your phone or PC, and then upload it to Google Drive, Yandex Drive or Dropbox. After that, delete the originals from Xiaomi Cloud.

1. In the web version of Xiaomi Cloud, select files and click Download.
2. Unclose the downloaded files (if the files are in ZIP).
3. Upload them to another cloud.
4. Delete files from Xiaomi Cloud.

Method 2: Buying additional space

If cleaning doesn’t solve the problem, consider the paid rates:

• 💰 50GB — ~100 rub/month or ~1000 rubles per year
• 💰 200GB — ~300 rubles/month or ~3,000 rubles per year
• 💰 2 TB — ~1000 RUB/month (for business users)

You can pay through Xiaomi Cloud → Subscription management.

Method 3: Cloud Reset (last resort)

If the cloud is full of unknown files and is not cleaned, do a full reset:

1. Download all important data on PC.
2. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Account.
3. Slip on Delete your account (the phone will ask for a password).
4. Add your account again, the cloud will be empty.

⚠️ Note: Resetting your account will remove all data from the cloud without recovery, including backups and synchronized notes. Use this method only if other methods have failed.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up Xiaomi Cloud