Xiaomi Cloud Cleanup: 7 Ways to Free Up Space in the Mi Cloud

Why Xiaomi Cloud is Filling and How to Fix It

Xiaomi’s Mi Cloud cloud storage is a handy tool for syncing photos, contacts and backups, but it’s limited. Even 5GB of free space (or 50GB/1TB for premium users) can fill up quickly if you don’t follow the content. The main memory eaters are automatic backups, duplicate photos in the Gallery, app cache and old files that haven’t been opened in a long time.

Compounding the problem, Xiaomi defaults on syncing almost everything from notes in Mi Notes to call history. Many users don’t even realize that their cloud is full of unnecessary data until they receive a notification saying “Mi Cloud memory is 95% full. Delete files or buy additional space.” In this article, we’ll discuss how to clean up Xiaomi’s cloud without losing important information, which files can be safely deleted and which ones can be transferred to another storage.

The cleaning methods depend on the type of data, for example, photos and videos can be optimized through the Gallery, and backups can only be optimized through the web version of Mi Cloud, and we will look at both options, and also tell you how to turn off automatic synchronization so that the problem does not recur.

Method 1: Delete files through the Gallery application

If photos and videos are the main storage area, start cleaning with the Gallery app (or Google Photos if you use it). Xiaomi automatically uploads media files to the cloud if you have enabled the Mi Cloud Sync option to find and delete unnecessary files:

1. Open the Gallery app on your smartphone.
2. Go to the Albums section. → Mi Cloud (or Cloud depending on version) MIUI).
3. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Storage Management.
4. Sort files by size or date to find the most voluminous.

Here you'll see all the media that's synced to the cloud.

• 📸 Screenshots – often take up a lot of space, but rarely needed in the cloud.
• 🎥 High-resolution video (4K, Full HD) — It is better to store them locally or on an external disk.
• 📁 Duplicates – Xiaomi sometimes creates copies when editing photos.
• 🗑️ Files from messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp) – they are automatically saved to the Gallery.

To delete files, select them (long-term press) and click on the basket icon. Importantly, deleting from the Gallery erases files from both the cloud and the device. If you want to save the originals, first copy them to your computer or flash drive.

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Before mass deletion, check the Recently Deleted folder in the Gallery, where files that can still be recovered may be located.

Method 2: Cleaning up via the web version of Mi Cloud

The Mi Cloud web interface provides more file management than the mobile application, where you can delete backups, notes, contacts, and other data that you can't see in the Gallery, and then you can access the cloud from your computer or phone.

1. Go to the link: i.mi.com.
2. Sign in with the same Xiaomi account as you do on your smartphone.
3. In the menu on the left, select the Storage Management section.

On the screen will appear a diagram of occupied space by category:

For cleaning:

1. Select a category (e.g., Backups).
2. Look at the list of files and check the unnecessary ones.
3. Click Delete and confirm the action.

Outdated backups (over 6 months)

Screenshots and Memes from Messengers

Duplicate photos (check through the Gallery → Duplicates)

Voice recordings that are not needed for work

Application cache (section Other data)

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⚠️ Note: Do not delete the last backup unless you are sure that all important data is stored elsewhere!

Method 3: Turning off automatic synchronization

To prevent Xiaomi cloud from filling up again, turn off the automatic download of unnecessary data.

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Cloud
2. Scroll through the list and turn off sync for unnecessary apps: 📱 Contacts – if you use Google or SIM. 📝 Notes – if you don’t keep important notes. 🎵 Music – If you don’t store tracks in the cloud. 📁 Files – if you do not need to synchronize documents.

Settings → Applications → Gallery → Autoboot in Mi Cloud

It is also recommended to limit the download of media files only over Wi-Fi, so as not to waste mobile traffic:

→ SIM-maps and mobile networks → Data transfer → Autoboot to Mi Cloud → Wi-Fi only

If you're actively using Google Photos or other cloud services, the backup sync with Mi Cloud is wasting space. Choose one primary service and disable the others.

Method 4: Optimize photos before downloading

One way to save space is to compress photos before uploading to the cloud, and Xiaomi lets you choose the quality of synchronized images:

1. Open the gallery. → Settings (⚙️) → Synchronization with Mi Cloud.
2. Select the Quality of uploaded photos.
3. Set the High (compression) or Medium instead of the Original.

Comparison of formats:

• 📸 Original - retains the original resolution (takes up the most space).
• 📸 High (compression) – reduces weight by 30-50% without noticeable loss of quality.
• 📸 Medium – strong compression (suitable for screenshots and documents).

You can also manually reduce the size of photos before downloading using applications like Photo Compress or Resize Me!. For example, an image with a resolution of 4000×3000 (12 MP) after compression to 1920×1080 will weigh 3-4 times less.

Method 5: Transfer data to another cloud

If you don’t have enough space in Mi Cloud, but you don’t want to buy more space, transfer some of the data to another service.

• 🌐 Google Drive – 15 GB free, easy integration with Android.
• ☁️ Yandex Disk – 10 GB free, fast download for users from Russia.
• 🍎 iCloud – 5GB free (suitable if you have Apple devices).
• 📦 Mega – 20GB free, but slower to sync.

To transfer files:

1. Download data from Mi Cloud to your computer (via the web version).
2. Upload them to a new cloud service.
3. Remove the originals from the Mi Cloud.

To automatically sync photos in Google Photos:

1. Install the Google Photos app.
2. In the settings, enable Backup and Synchronization.
3. Choose High Quality (Unlimited Storage) or Original Quality.

⚠️ Note: When transferring data, check that all files have been successfully copied to the new storage before removing them from the Mi Cloud. Use the folder comparison feature (e.g., in Total Commander) to avoid loss.

Method 6: Clearing cache and temporary files

Application cache and temporary files also take up space in the cloud, although they don't appear in the main sections.

1. Open the web version of Mi Cloud (i.mi.com).
2. Go to Storage Management. → Other data.
3. Find files with.tmp,.cache extensions or folders called temp.
4. Select them and press Remove.

Also, clean the cache on the smartphone itself to prevent unnecessary data from being re-loaded:

Settings → Storage → Cache data → Clear

If you use Mi Drop (a file transfer application), check the Mi Drop folder in Mi Cloud – there may be old files sent to other users.

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Regular cleaning of the cache not only frees up space, but also speeds up the smartphone, it is recommended to carry out it every 1-2 months.

Method 7: Buying extra space (if nothing worked)

If all of the above methods haven't solved the problem, consider buying extra space. Xiaomi offers the following rates (for 2026):

To buy a place:

1. Open the Mi Cloud web version or the Settings → Mi Cloud app.
2. Click on the Buy Place icon (or Update Storage).
3. Choose the right rate and pay it.

Check the current promotions before buying – Xiaomi sometimes offers discounts of up to 50% on an annual subscription.

⚠️ Note: If you cancel your subscription, all files that exceed the free limit (5GB) will be blocked for editing.You will have 30 days to make room or extend the tariff before the data begins to be deleted.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up Mi Cloud