Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones offer users convenient storage tools, among which the key is Xiaomi Cloud. This cloud storage allows you to save backup copies of contacts, photos, notes and settings of the system, ensuring their availability from any device. However, like any free service, it has a limited volume, and sooner or later the user faces a message about the lack of space.
When the 5GB limit is exhausted, the system stops creating new backups and synchronizing new photos is suspended, which can lead to the loss of important data in the event of a breakdown of the gadget. Without cleaning the cloud, new images will not be downloaded automatically, even if the phone itself is full of free space, which is why regular revision of cloud content becomes not just a desirable procedure, but a necessary procedure for every owner of the brand’s equipment.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available ways to free up space, from manually deleting files through smartphone settings to using the web version of the service. You will learn how to properly manage synchronization so as not to lose important data, and which hidden folders take up the most space. Proper storage management will allow you to extend the life of a free tariff or understand when expansion is really necessary.
Analysis of cloud storage occupancy
Before you take drastic action to delete files, you need to understand what exactly your precious space is occupied. Often users are surprised where gigabytes have gone, but detailed analysis shows that the lion's share of the space is occupied by old app backups or duplicate images. To get an accurate picture, you should go to the device settings menu.
Open Settings, select your Mi Account at the top of the screen, then go to the Xiaomi Cloud section. Here you will see a visualization of the occupied space, divided into categories: Gallery, Recorder, Notes, Call Records and Backups. Click on a specific section, you can see detailed statistics.
Special attention should be paid to the Backup section, which often stores data from remote applications or old devices that you are no longer using, and it is also worth checking the Storage Management tab if it is available in your version of MIUI or HyperOS firmware, where the system can tell you which files occupy the most space.
Understanding structure (employment) allows for point-by-point action. Pointlessly removing random photos may fail if 4.9GB of 5GB is used on WhatsApp or backups of a three-year-old system, and analysis is the first step toward an effective cleanup.
Delete photos and videos through the Gallery
The most obvious and often the most voluminous source of space is the media library. High-resolution photos and videos quickly eat up available gigabytes. You can delete media files directly from your phone or through the web interface, but it's important to understand the difference between deleting from your device and from the cloud.
If you have Gallery sync enabled, deleting the photo on your phone will automatically remove it from the Xiaomi Cloud. To avoid this, you must first turn off sync for a particular album or entire gallery. You can do this by going to Settings → Mi Account → Xiaomi Cloud → Gallery, where you need to switch the slider to the off position.
Once you turn off sync, you can safely delete unwanted images, but if your goal is to clear the cloud by leaving a photo on your phone, you need to do something different, and you need to access the web version of the service or delete it through the storage management section, where you can select files to delete from the cloud buffer.
☑️ Check before deleting the photo
Remember the folder "Recently deleted." In MIUI and HyperOS, deleted photos don't disappear instantly, but instead move to a special cart where they are stored for 30 days. They continue to occupy a place in the cloud quota. To finally free up space, you need to go to the album "Recently deleted" and select the option "Clean everything."
Cleaning through the web version of Mi Cloud
The most flexible and convenient way to manage files, especially when you need to delete a large amount of data or do it from a computer, is using the official website. i.mi.com web interface provides full access to all parts of the cloud and allows you to manipulate files without loading on your smartphone.
To get started, go to i.mi.com and log in using your Mi Account. The interface may vary slightly depending on your account registration region, but the basic structure remains the same. From the main menu, select Gallery or Cloud to view all categories of data.
Here you can select files in groups, use filters by date and type, and this is especially useful for finding heavy video files that are often forgotten to be deleted. When you highlight unwanted objects, click the delete button (usually the basket icon). Changes are applied instantly across all devices where synchronization is done.
⚠️ Note: Deleting files via the web interface when synced will cause them to disappear on the connected smartphone. Make sure that important data is stored locally or on an external medium before cleaning.
The web version also allows you to manage contacts, notes and voice recordings. In the Contacts section, you can find and remove duplicates that often form when changing phones. In the Notes section, you should check for old shopping lists or drafts that are no longer relevant but take up space.
Management of backup copies and voice recorder
Often users forget that Xiaomi Cloud stores not only photos, but also system backups: these are full snapshots of settings, application lists, desktop icons and system settings. If you change phones often or reset your device to factory settings, you may have a few of these casts.
You can check the backup list in the web interface or in the cloud settings on your phone. Old backups from last year or when you used your previous smartphone can be easily deleted. Leave only the latest version so that you can restore the current state of the system.
A recorder deserves special attention. Many users use it to record lectures, interviews or ideas without thinking that audio files, especially in high quality, weigh a lot. Check the list of records of the recorder in the cloud. Long recordings that are no longer needed should be deleted or transferred to the computer.
Where are the phone records kept?
Also check the sync settings for each application. The Settings menu → Mi Account → Xiaomi Cloud displays a list of all apps that have access to the cloud. Disable those that you do not use or that sync redundant data, such as screenshots or temporary files.
Comparison of data cleanup methods
The choice of cleaning method depends on your goals: whether you want to just make room or transfer data to another medium, each method has its advantages and disadvantages, which should be considered before starting the procedure.
| Method | Convenience | Security of data | Speed of operation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through a smartphone | High. | Risk of removal from the device | Quickly. |
| Web version (PC) | Average. | Safe for local files | Depends on the Internet. |
| Mi Cloud appendix | High. | It requires attention. | Middle-Average |
Using a smartphone is most convenient for quick cleaning "on the fly", but requires maximum care with synchronization enabled.The web version is ideal for mass sorting and removal, since the large screen monitor allows you to better see the content.
The Mi Cloud app (if available in your region separately from the system settings) offers an intermediate option. However, the functionality often duplicates system settings. The main rule in any method is to always double-check where exactly the file is deleted from: only from the cloud or from all synchronized sources.
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Use Flight mode before deleting your phone if you fear synchronizing your deletion. Delete the photo in the gallery, then clear the cloud through the web interface while the phone is offline.
Optimization and prevention of overflow
After a successful cleanup, it is important to set up the system so that the problem does not return anytime soon. Optimizing the synchronization processes is the key to long-term comfort.
In the camera or cloud settings, you can find the option “Download in original quality.” If you turn it off, Xiaomi Cloud will download optimized versions of photos that take up significantly less space, while the originals will remain in the phone’s memory (if space is available), which saves up to 60% of space.
You also need to set up automatic cart cleanup, and while 30 days is the standard time, deliberately shortening that timeframe or doing regular manual cleaning will help keep the data under control, and remember that the cloud is a tool for important data, not a bottomless archive for everything that's ever been captured on camera.
⚠️ Warning: Regularly check the status of the storage. 90%, But it is better to respond to the mark in 75-80%, to leave a buffer for emergency backups.
If you are not enough with 5GB of built-in capacity, consider alternatives. Xiaomi offers paid rates, but you can also use third-party services like Google Photos or Yandex.Disk by configuring them to automatically download, and disable gallery sync in Mi Cloud, leaving only contacts and settings there.
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Regular prevention and customization of download quality is more important than one-time general file cleaning.