Owning a Xiaomi or Redmi device often involves constantly monitoring the free space in the cloud. The standard 5GB that Xiaomi Cloud provides fill up surprisingly quickly, especially if you actively use gallery and contacts synchronization. When the limit is exhausted, new backups stop being created, and space shortage notifications start to annoy with every Wi-Fi connection.
Cleaning the cloud isn't just about deleting redundant files, it's about structuring your digital space. Many users make the mistake of only deleting data from their phone, not realizing that synchronization can instantly bring back the remote or erase important archives from the device, so it's important to be clear about the difference between deleting from a server and cleaning up a local cache.
In this article, we will discuss all available methods for freeing up space in the Mi Account ecosystem, learn how to safely remove old system backups, clear the gallery of duplicates and manage application synchronization settings. The right approach will allow you not only to free up gigabytes, but also to speed up the operation of account services.
Analysis of occupied space in the cloud
Before we start radical data removal measures, we need to do a detailed review of what exactly occupies space on Xiaomi servers. Often it turns out that the lion’s share of memory is occupied not by photos at all, but by old backups of system settings or forgotten attachments from messengers. First, you need to log in to the web interface or through smartphone settings to see detailed statistics.
The system sorts data into categories, which makes navigation much easier. You can see how much space the Gallery, Recorder, Notes and Backups of the device take up. Often users forget that deleted items end up in the basket, where they continue to occupy space for another 30 days, so the analysis should include checking not only the main folders, but also hidden storage areas.
⚠️ Before mass deletion, make sure that important files are copied to an external hard drive or other cloud service, as data recovery after cleaning the cart in Xiaomi Cloud is impossible.
Use built-in analytics tools to find the heaviest files. Sometimes a single forgotten high-resolution video can take up more space than thousands of documents. Understanding the storage structure is the first step to effectively managing your Mi Account memory.
Delete photos and videos via the web interface
The most effective way to clean a gallery is to use the full web version of the service. The mobile application often limits the functionality of allocating multiple objects, whereas on a computer you can manage thousands of files at once. Go to the official cloud service website and log in using your Mi ID.
In the web version interface, go to Gallery, where you can select entire albums or ranges of photos, which is especially convenient for removing screenshots that often accumulate for months and are of no value. Select unnecessary frames and press the delete button, after which they will move to the basket.
- 📸 Go to the Albums section and check the Screenshots folder – it often stores digital trash.
- 🗑️ Remember to manually clean the “Recently Deleted” folder after deleting files to free up space instantly.
- 🖥️ Use the key combination Ctrl+A to highlight all objects in the current folder if you plan to clean up completely.
The web interface also allows you to sort files by date of creation, which helps you quickly find and delete old archives made several years ago on previous models of Redmi or POCO smartphones. Regular cleaning through the browser takes less time than manually deleting from the phone.
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Use the Incognito mode in your browser when you log into the cloud on someone else’s computer, so as not to leave your authorization data.
Managing backups and system settings
One of the heaviest categories in cloud storage is backups of device settings. Every time you change your smartphone or reset your settings, Xiaomi Cloud can create a new backup, keeping a list of installed apps, icon layouts and system preferences. Old copies often become useless cargo.
To manage backups, go to your account settings via Settings → Mi Account → Cloud. Here you will see a list of all devices ever tied to your profile. Removing the backup from an irrelevant device is a safe way to free up hundreds of megabytes or even a few gigabytes of space.
| Type of data | Approximate weight | Frequency of update | Importance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backup system | 200MB - 2GB | When resetting/changing the phone | Low (for older devices) |
| Photos and videos | Depends on the user. | Constantly. | Tall. |
| Contacts | Less than 1 MB | When changing the list | Critical |
| Notes | Up to 500MB | In editing | Medium |
Look at the versions of MIUI or HyperOS that backups were built for. If you've already switched to a new version of the operating system, restoring settings from the old version archive can lead to conflicts.
☑️ Checking backups before removal
Cleaning of synchronization of voice recorder and notes
Many users ignore the Dictophone and Notes apps, unaware that they are also synced to the cloud.Long recordings of lectures, interviews or personal thoughts can take up a significant amount of time, especially if they are stored in high quality.
In the Notes section, you should pay attention to the attached files. Modern notes in the Xiaomi ecosystem support not only text, but also images, to-do lists and even voice attachments. Deleting old project archives or temporary records can instantly free up up to 500 MB of free space.
For a recorder, the situation is similar: long audio files weigh a lot, you should listen to or view a list of files and delete those that have become obsolete. If the record is important but takes up a lot of space, consider archiving it on an external medium and deleting it from the cloud.
⚠️ Warning: Deleting a note or recorder in the cloud will automatically remove it from all synchronized devices, including your current smartphone.
Use the in-app search function to find old entries by date or keyword, which will speed up the cleaning process and prevent files hidden in the back of the folders from being missed.
How to recover a deleted note?
Selective synchronization settings on the device
To prevent the problem of crowded cloud from returning in the future, you need to configure sync settings correctly. By default, Xiaomi Cloud seeks to save everything, but you can limit this appetite. Open the Settings menu → Mi Account → Cloud and carefully study the list of applications.
Turn off sync for data categories you don't need in the cloud, for example, if you don't use Mi Browser or store passwords in the cloud, deactivate those items safely, which will prevent junk data from being uploaded to the server and save traffic.
- 📱 Turn off Desktop Sync if you don’t plan to change phones often – it will save a lot of space.
- 📷 Configure synchronization of the gallery only via Wi-Fi, so as not to waste mobile traffic and control the process.
- 🔒 Make sure that contact and message sync is enabled as this is critical data.
It’s also worth checking your application-specific settings under “Cloud Access Apps.” Some third-party programs may request access to storage and upload their caches or logs to it that you don’t even know you have.
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Flexible synchronization allows you to keep important data safe without spending a free limit of 5 GB on temporary garbage.
Using Alternatives and Cleaning the Cart
Once you've deleted everything, remember to do the final and most important step, which is to clean the cart. Files deleted from Xiaomi's cloud services don't disappear immediately. They're moved to a special buffer where they're stored for 30 days in case of recovery, and while they're there, they continue to occupy your quotated space.
Go to the Recycle Bin section in the web or in the app, where you will see all recently deleted objects, select the option "Clean the Recycle Bin" or "Remove Forever", only after this operation, the occupied space counter will be updated, and you will see the real result of your work.
If you are not 5GB, even after cleaning, consider alternatives: you can use Google Photos for media files, transferring the main load there, and leave only contacts and settings in Xiaomi Cloud. Combining services is the best strategy for owners of large media archives.
⚠️ Warning: Cleaning the cart is irreversible. Make sure 100% that there is nothing important in the files being deleted.
Regular maintenance of cloud storage, at least once a quarter, will help maintain order and always have free space for new important data.