How to Clean Xiaomi Cloud and Delete Photos Permanently: 5 Ways to Clean Up Xiaomi Cloud

Xiaomi Cloud Cloud storage is a handy photo backup tool, but over time it fills up with unnecessary snapshots, taking up precious space. Many users face the challenge of how to delete photos from the Xiaomi cloud so that they disappear forever, rather than just move to the cart? In this article, we will analyze all the available methods, from basic cleaning through the application to a complete reset of the account.

It's important to understand that simply deleting files through a smartphone gallery often doesn't clean up the cloud. Photos can stay in hidden folders, backups or synchronized albums. We'll show you how to check all possible storage sources and make sure to free up space.

This article is relevant for all Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices based on MIUI (including global and Chinese versions), as well as for users who use Xiaomi Cloud on other platforms (for example, through the web version).

Why photos are not deleted from Xiaomi Cloud: 3 hidden reasons

Before we start cleaning, we'll look at why standard methods often don't work.

• 📁 Automatic Sync: Even after deleting photos from your phone, they can stay in the cloud because of the option Autosynchronize Gallery enabled in the Mi Cloud settings.
• 🗑️ Cloud Recycle Bin: Deleted files are stored in the Recycle Bin for up to 30 days (depending on the tariff) and need to be cleaned separately.
• 🔄 Backups: Some photos are duplicated in the device backup archives, which are created automatically when connected to Wi-Fi.

Another trap is albums created by third-party apps (like Google Photos or Viber) that can sync with Xiaomi Cloud through Mi Account integration, even if you haven’t set them up consciously.

Method 1: Delete photos through the official Mi Cloud app

The easiest method is to use the Mi Cloud mobile app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones, but if it isn’t, download it from Google Play or AppGallery.

Instructions:

1. Open the Mi Cloud app and log in to your Mi Account.
2. Go to the Gallery section (or Photos in new versions).
3. Select the album or folder you want to clean. To selectively delete, click and hold your finger in the photo, then mark the rest.
4. Click on the basket icon (🗑️) in the upper right corner and confirm the removal.

The files will then be moved to the cloud cart, where they will be stored for another 30 days (for free accounts) to be deleted permanently:

• Return to the Mi Cloud home screen.
• Put three points on it (⋮) top-right → Basket.
• Choose Clear the Recycle Bin or delete files selectively.

⚠️ Note: If you have the option of backup gallery in Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup, deleted photos can be restored with the next backup!

Method 2: Clean up via the web version of Xiaomi Cloud (for PC)

The Xiaomi Cloud web interface offers more file management options than the mobile app, which is especially useful if you need to delete a large number of photos or folders.

How to use:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. In the menu on the left, select Gallery (or Photos).
3. Use filters by date, album, or file type to quickly find unnecessary shots.
4. Tick the files and click Delete (or drag them to the cart manually).

Advantages of the web version:

• 🖥️ Convenient viewing of thumbnails on the big screen.
• 🔍 Advanced search for metadata (date, location of shooting).
• 📂 The ability to work with folders as a whole (in a mobile application this is often not available).

To completely erase files from the Recycle Bin:

1. On the left menu, select the basket.
2. Click Clear the Recycle Bin or delete the files selectively.
3. Confirm the action - after that, recovery will be impossible.

Method 3: Disabling synchronization and deleting backups

Even after the gallery is cleaned, the photos can remain in the backups of the device, and these backups are automatically created, and include not only media files, but also application settings, contacts, messages, to ensure that you delete anything you don't need.

Steps to turn off synchronization:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Slip on Data Synchronization.
3. Turn off the slider in front of the Gallery (and other unnecessary options).
4. Go back and select Backup.
5. Click on the last backup copy → Delete.

Important: Deleting a backup permanently deletes all data from it, including contacts, notes and SMS. If you only need photos, it is better to download the backup to your PC before cleaning.

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi Cloud on multiple devices (e.g., a smartphone) + tablet, turn off sync on all gadgets, otherwise photos can recover the next Internet connection.

Method 4: Completely reset Mi Cloud (last resort)

If previous methods have failed and the cloud is still filled with unnecessary files, you can perform a full reset of your Mi Cloud account, a radical solution that will delete all data, including:

• 📸 Photographs and videos
• 📱 Backup copies of devices
• 📞 Contacts and communications
• 📝 Notes and calendars

How to dump the cloud:

1. Go to account.xiaomi.com and log in.
2. From the menu, select Mi Cloud → Storage Management.
3. Scroll down and click Reset Cloud (or Clear Cloud Data in English).
4. Confirm the action via SMS or email.

The process can take up to 24 hours.

• All devices associated with the account will be disconnected from synchronization.
• You will have to reconfigure the backup (if necessary).
• Photos uploaded from other services (such as Google Photos) will remain intact.

1. Contacts – through Contacts → Settings → Export.

2. Photos - download them manually through the web version of Mi Cloud.

3. Messages – use applications like SMS Backup & Restore.-->

Method 5: Alternative methods (for power users)

If standard methods don't work, you can try more advanced techniques that require technical knowledge and can disrupt the cloud if used incorrectly.

Method 1: Remove via ADB (for Android)

With ADB (Android Debug Bridge), you can manually clear the cache and data of the Mi Cloud application, which is useful if the photos are stuck in the local cache:

adb shell pm clear com.miui.cloudservice


adb shell pm clear com.miui.gallery

After completing the commands, restart the device and check the cloud.

Method 2: Calling for Xiaomi Support

If photos are not deleted due to a system failure, contact official support:

1. Email: support@xiaomi.com (English) or via the form at mi.com/support.
2. Include in the email: Your Mi Account (email or phone) Device model. Describe the problem (e.g., "I can't delete photos from Mi Cloud, they come back after cleaning").

Please include screenshots of the error (if any).

Usually, support will respond within 3-5 days, and in difficult cases, they can manually drop the cloud from their side.

💡

Before using ADB or contacting for support, make sure that the problem is not solved by standard methods, which can lead to data loss or account lockdown if you do not do the right thing.

How to prevent the cloud from filling up again

To avoid a recurring problem with overcrowded storage, set up Xiaomi Cloud correctly:

• 🚫 Turn off autosynchronization of the gallery: Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization of data → gallery.
• 📅 Set up automatic cart cleanup: in the web version of Mi Cloud, you can enable the option to delete files from the cart after 7 days (instead of the standard 30).
• 🔍 Use alternative clouds: Google Photos with Free Space feature, which automatically deletes local copies after downloading.
• 📊 Monitor Space Use: Check the Storage Management section in Mi Cloud once a month.

If you take pictures often, consider:

• 💾 Buying additional space: Xiaomi Cloud tariffs start from ~$2/month 200 GB.
• 🖥️ Local Storage: Use a MicroSD or External Storage SSD photo-archive.
• 🔄 Hybrid approach: Store the last 3 months of images in the cloud, and the rest – on physical media.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up Xiaomi Cloud