Memory Cleanup in Xiaomi Cloud: 7 Proven Ways to Free Up Space

Xiaomi Cloud Cloud storage is an indispensable tool for backing up photos, contacts and settings of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones. But even 5 GB of free space (or 100 GB for premium users) sooner or later run out. What to do when the system issues a notification “Memory in Mi Cloud is almost full” and important data continues to synchronize? This article will help you understand how to effectively clean Xiaomi Cloud without losing critical files using both standard settings and hidden functions.

The problem of crowded cloud is relevant not only for owners of budget models like Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5, but also for flagships of the Xiaomi 14 series. The fact is that by default the system automatically uploads to the cloud backups of applications, call logs and even notes — data that is rarely used, but takes up the lion’s share of space. We analyzed all available cleaning methods, including those that are not documented in the official Xiaomi certificate, and compiled a checklist of actions for various scenarios, from manual cleaning to automatic optimization.

1. Check the current status of Xiaomi Cloud

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

1. Open the Settings app on your smartphone.
2. Go to the Mi Account section → Xiaomi Cloud.
3. Tapping on Storage Management (or Memory in newer versions of MIUI)

Here you will see a diagram of the memory distribution by category: Photos, Videos, Backups, Notes, etc. Note the System Data section, which often hides duplicates and temporary files that can be safely deleted. For example, in tests on the Xiaomi 13 Pro, this section occupied up to 1.2 GB due to the synchronization cache of the Mi Fit and Mi Home.

If the diagram doesn’t show up or the data is loaded for too long, try updating the page by pulling the screen down.In some regions (e.g. Europe), the Xiaomi Cloud interface may be different — instead of Storage Management, look for Storage Management.

2. Deletion of backup copies of applications

One of the main memory eaters in Xiaomi Cloud is automatic backups, and by default, it stores app data, Wi-Fi settings, wallpaper and even clipboard history, and many of these copies are duplicated or obsolete, to delete them:

1. In the Xiaomi Cloud → Backup section, select Backup Management.
2. Look at the list of devices (if you have several) and tap on the desired.
3. Select unnecessary copies (such as older versions from Redmi 9A if you haven’t used them for a long time) and click Delete.

Important! Deleting the backup doesn't affect the data on the device itself. However, if you reset your smartphone to factory settings, it won't be possible to recover information from the deleted copy, and we recommend that you make a fresh copy on your computer via the Mi PC Suite before cleaning.

Old copies from previous devices (if not used)

Duplicate copies (for example, from 10.05.2026 and 11.05.2026)

Copies of system applications (Calendar, Weather, Topics)

Application cache (section "Other data")

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Hidden life hack: If you see a copy called Automatic backup without a date, it means that the system has failed to complete the synchronization process.

3. Cleaning up photos and videos

Media files typically occupy 50-70% of the total space in Xiaomi Cloud, and the problem is that the default system uploads all photos and videos in the original resolution, including screenshots and duplicates, to optimize the space:

• 📸 Delete screenshots and memes: sort files by type (Screenshots) and delete unnecessary ones. On average, users accumulate 2-3 GB of such files per year.
• 🎥 Compress the video: in the settings of Xiaomi Cloud → Photo Photo → Upload quality, select High over Original, which reduces video file size by 40 to 60%.
• 🗑️ Use the Recycle Bin: Deleted files are stored in the Recycle Bin for 30 days. To free up space immediately, manually clean it in the recently deleted section.
• 🔄 Turn off autoboot: If you don’t want to store all photos in the cloud, turn off the option to download in the Gallery settings.

Critical information: Xiaomi Cloud does not support the “Storage Optimization” function (as in Google Photos), so all original files remain on the servers even after compression. To really free up space, you will have to delete files manually.

4. Optimization of synchronization of notes and contacts

Many users do not suspect that Xiaomi Cloud synchronizes not only multimedia, but also notes from Mi Notes, contacts, calendar and even entries from the voice assistant XiaoAI. This data rarely takes up much space (usually 50-300 MB), but cleaning them can be useful for overall optimization.

To manage this data:

1. Go to Xiaomi Cloud → Synchronization.
2. Turn off sync for unnecessary apps (such as Mi Browser or Mi Video).
3. To clear your notes, open the Mi Notes app, select unnecessary notes, and click Delete. They will automatically be deleted from the cloud.

⚠️ Note: If you turn off the sync of contacts, they will only remain on the device. If you reset your phone or lose your contacts, you will lose them. → Settings → Imports/Exports.

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To find the heaviest notes, sort them into Mi Notes by size. PDF-files or attachments that can be downloaded to your PC and removed from the cloud.

5. Delete data from Xiaomi smart devices

If you use the Mi Home ecosystem (smart light bulbs, robot vacuum cleaners, cameras), their data can also take up space in the Xiaomi Cloud, for example, videos from the Mi Home Security Camera or the Mi Robot Vacuum cleaning cards are automatically uploaded to the cloud if the appropriate option is enabled.

To clear this data:

• 🏠 Open the Mi Home app and go to Profile → Settings → Xiaomi Cloud.
• 📹 For cameras, select Records Management and delete old videos (e.g., over 30 days).
• 🤖 For robot vacuum cleaners, clean Cleanup History in device settings.

⚠️ Warning: Deletion of Mi Home camera recordings is irreversible. If you need archival videos (for example, to prove in controversial situations), download them to your computer before cleaning. FTP-Protocol (available in camera settings).

6. Resetting cache and temporary files

Like any cloud storage, Xiaomi Cloud accumulates temporary files and cache that are not displayed in the basic statistics, which can take up to 500 MB-1 GB and usually appear after:

• 🔄 Unsuccessful synchronization (for example, with a bad Internet).
• 📱 Updates MIUI (The system creates backup copies before installing the firmware).
• 🌐 Use the web version of Xiaomi Cloud (browser cache).

To clear the cache:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Xiaomi Cloud and tap it.
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
4. For a full reset, also click Clear Data (this won’t delete files from the cloud, but resets your sync settings).

7. Alternative ways of vacating space

If standard methods don’t help, consider the following options:

• 🔗 Transfer data to another cloud: download important files from Xiaomi Cloud to your PC, then upload them to Google Drive or Yandex Disk.
• 💳 Storage expansion: if 5 GB is not enough, you can buy additional space (from 50 GB per unit) ~$Prices are valid for 2026 and may vary by region.
• 📱 Using local backup: Disable cloud sync and save backups to a microSD or PC via Mi PC Suite.

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Before buying additional space on Xiaomi Cloud, check if the promotion is valid. Often discounts appear during sales (for example, on 11.11 or Black Friday).

For users who often switch between Xiaomi devices, the best solution is a combination of cloud and local storage, for example, you can store only contacts and notes in Xiaomi Cloud, and photos and videos can be transferred to Google Photos (where 15 GB is available for free).

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up Xiaomi Cloud