Xiaomi Cloud is over: a complete cleanup guide

The situation when a bothersome notification appears on the smartphone screen that cloud storage is overcrowded, familiar to many owners of Mi and Redmi devices, this message often blocks the ability to create new backups, sync photos and work some system applications, the user faces a dilemma: delete important data locally or look for ways to expand the limits.

The problem is that the free 5GB provided by the company fills up surprisingly quickly, especially if you are actively using the camera or taking screenshots of documents. Synchronization stops completely until you free up at least a few megabytes of space. In this article, we will discuss effective cleaning methods that do not require the removal of valuable archives forever.

Many people mistakenly believe that the solution lies only in buying a subscription, but the built-in tools of MIUI and HyperOS allow you to manage the content of the server flexibly. Below are proven algorithms of actions that will help you regain control of your digital space.

Analysis of vault occupancy

Before you start taking drastic measures, you need to determine exactly what is taking up precious gigabytes. Often it turns out that the lion's share of the volume is occupied by old backups of contacts or messages that you have long forgotten about. To begin, go to your account settings and select Mi Cloud.

This will show you detailed data on disk space usage, and it will show you the distribution of data into categories: gallery, voice recorder, notes and system backups, and visualization will help you understand cleaning priorities.

• 📸 Gallery – usually takes up to 70% of the total volume due to high-resolution photos and videos.
• 💬 Messages and call logs can stealthily "eat" gigabytes over the years of use.
• 📱 Backups of applications – old data from remote programs often stays in the cloud.

Note the date of the last update for each category, and if sync has not been done in a long time, the data may not be relevant, so it makes sense to disable sync for minor applications to prevent further filling.

Cleaning Gallery and Synchronization Management

The fastest way to free up space is to work with media files, but simply removing photos from your phone can also cause them to disappear from the cloud if two-way sync is enabled. To avoid data loss, use the storage optimization feature.

From the Gallery menu, go to the cloud settings, and you can select the "Clear Local Photos" option, which will remove the originals from the device by leaving them in the cloud, or vice versa, remove old images from the cloud by leaving them on the phone, which is a fine-tuning that requires attention.

⚠️ Before mass deletion, make sure that important files are copied to an external hard drive or PC. Data recovery from the cloud basket is possible only within 30 days.

Also worth checking out is the album "Recently Deleted." The files you've erased before continue to take up space in the cloud buffer until they expire, and cleaning up that folder will instantly return free space.

Removal of old system backups

The system automatically creates backups of settings, desktop layouts, and application lists with each firmware update or schedule. Over time, many versions accumulate, and storing the oldest version of MIUI makes no sense.

To manage this data, go to the Settings path → Mi Akkah--mount → Mi Cloud → Backup. Here you'll see a list of all the saved devices and the dates you made the copy. Choose the devices you're no longer using or the old dates.

Deleting an old backup doesn't affect your smartphone's current performance, it's just a record of the system's state at a given point in time, and if you're not planning on rolling back a month ago, feel free to delete those files.

Working with a recorder and notes

Xiaomi smartphone owners often use a built-in voice recorder to record lectures or meetings. These files can weigh hundreds of megabytes and automatically sync. Check the voice recorder folder in the cloud interface.

Text files weigh little, but if you've saved images or voice messages, the volume can grow. Sort notes by size in the Notes app before synchronizing.

• 🎙️ Delete recordings of recorders older than 3 months, unless they are legally significant.
• 📝 Convert heavy notes with attachments to format PDF and save locally.
• 🗑️ Check the Recycle Bin folder inside the Notes app, it syncs too.

Sometimes users forget about the enabled phone call recording, which can also be duplicated in the cloud.Switch this feature off in your phone settings if you don't need it to prevent the storage from automatically filling up.

Using the Web Version for Mass Deletion

Managing files through a smartphone screen is sometimes inconvenient, especially when you need to highlight hundreds of photos at once. The web version of the service at i.mi.com provides more functionality for working with the file system.

Sign in to your Mi Account in your browser on your computer. The interface allows you to select files in groups using a Shift or Ctrl key, which greatly speeds up the cleaning process.

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Use the web version of the cloud to sort photos by date, and it’s easier to visually assess which pictures are marriages (lubricated, with your eyes closed) on your computer and remove them in bulk.

And you can also find Find the Device through the web interface and remotely erase the data if the phone is lost, but in the context of clearing the space, we need the Gallery and Files section, and it also shows you the exact real-time calculation of the space you occupy.

Alternatives and data transfer

If cleaning doesn't work and the place is running out all the time, it's worth considering alternative storage options. Xiaomi Cloud isn't the only solution. You can move the archives to other platforms.

A popular alternative is Google Photos, which offers compressed quality without space limits (although the policy changes) or integration with Google Drive. You can also use third-party clouds like Yandex.Disk or Dropbox by setting up automatic camera boot.

⚠️ Note: When switching cloud services, don’t forget to turn off sync in Mi Cloud, otherwise photos may be removed from the new storage when cleaning the old one.

Local storage on a microSD card (if the smartphone model supports) or on a microSD card USB-flash-drive OTG-cable is the most reliable way to store large amounts of data without a monthly fee.

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A combination of methods: using the cloud only for current photos and regularly resetting your archive to your PC is the best strategy for free rates.

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