How to Free up Cloud Storage on Xiaomi: The Complete 2026 Guide

Xiaomi Mi Cloud cloud storage is a handy tool for syncing data between devices, but its scope is limited. Even 5 GB of free space (or 100 GB for premium users) can quickly fill up with photos, videos, backups and app cache. When memory comes to an end, the system begins to issue notifications about space shortages, and new files cease to sync.

In this article, you will find 7 working ways to free up cloud storage on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO, including hidden settings and little-known features. We will discuss how to delete unnecessary data without risking losing important information, which files take up the most space, and how to optimize the use of Mi Cloud in the future.

All instructions are valid for devices on MIUI 12/13/14 and HyperOS, as well as for the web version of Mi Cloud. If you use a smartphone older than 2018, some menu items may differ - in this case, refer to the FAQ section at the end of the article.

1. Checking the occupied space: what exactly takes up space?

Before you clean up storage, you need to know which data is taking up the most space. In Mi Cloud, you can do this through a mobile app or web version. Open Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Storage Management. Here you will see a diagram of the memory distribution by category:

• 📷 Photos and videos are usually taken 50-70% space, especially if the automatic loading is enabled in the original capacity.
• 📱 Backups -- copies of messages, contacts, notes, and app settings -- can weigh several gigabytes.
• 📄 Documents and files – downloaded manually PDF, archives, tables, etc.
• 🎵 Audio files – recordings of voice messages, music or podcasts.
• 🗑️ Recycle Bin - Deleted files are stored here for 30 days before final erasure.

Note the Others section, which includes app cache, temporary files, and service information. If it takes more than 1 GB, it's a clearing signal. Also check the Devices tab in Mi Cloud: you may have old smartphones tied to your account that automatically back up.

⚠️ Note: If you see Unknown Data over 500 MB in the Storage Management section, it may be due to synchronization failure. In this case, try resetting the Mi Cloud cache (instruction in Section 6).

2. Remove unnecessary photos and videos from the cloud

Photos and videos are the main space eaters in the Mi Cloud, and even if you haven't used a camera in a long time, automatic uploading could save thousands of images.

1. Open the Gallery app on your smartphone.
2. Go to the Albums tab. → Mi Cloud (or the Cloud in new versions) MIUI).
3. Sort files by size: click on three dots in the upper right corner → Sort → by size.
4. Select the largest files (usually 4K or Full HD video) and click Delete.

For mass cleaning, use the web version of Mi Cloud:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Select the Gallery section → All files.
3. Use filters by date or file type (e.g., video only).
4. Mark unnecessary files and click Delete.

If you're afraid of accidentally removing important photos, copy them to your computer or external drive first. In the Mi Cloud web version, select files → More → Download. The archive will be saved in.zip format.

⚠️ Attention: photos deleted from Mi Cloud are taken to the cart and stored there for 30 days. If you clear the cart before this time, recovery will not be possible. To avoid losses, use the Export function in Google Photos before mass deletion.

3. Cleanup of backups: what can be removed without risk?

Backup is the second largest garbage in the Mi Cloud, and automatically stores:

• 📱 Contacts, SMS call-book
• 📝 Notes from Mi Notes or Google Keep
• ⚙️ System and application settings
• 🎮 Save games (if synchronization is enabled)

Often, these copies are duplicated or created for devices you no longer use.

To remove unnecessary backups:

1. Go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup of the device.
2. Select the device you want to clean.
3. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Manage backups.
4. Remove old or duplicate copies. Leave only the latest.

If you don’t plan to restore data on your old smartphone, disable backup for it completely:

1. In the same menu, select the device → Disable backup.
2. Confirm the action. This will stop automatic synchronization.

To save space, turn off the reservation of unnecessary data:

1. In the backup settings, uncheck the boxes from the points: 📞 Call log (if you are not in business) 🎵 Music and audio files (unless you use the built-in player) 📁 System settings (unless you plan to reset your phone)

4. Optimization of photo storage: compression and alternatives

If you are not ready to delete photos, but want to save space, use the compression function in Mi Cloud, which allows you to reduce the size of images without critical loss of quality:

1. Open Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Gallery
2. Select the download quality.
3. Switch from the original to the high (compressed).
4. Confirm the changes. New photos will be uploaded in compressed form.

For files already uploaded:

1. In the web version of Mi Cloud highlight photos → More → Squeeze.
2. Select the compression level (recommended Medium for balance of quality and size).

Compression reduces photo size by 30-70% without any visible loss of quality on smartphone screens, but it is better to save the originals for printing or professional processing.

Alternatively, you can transfer your photos to another cloud, for example, Google Photos offers 15 GB for free (with Google Drive), and Yandex Drive offers 10 GB.

1. Download all photos from Mi Cloud in the archive (as described in section 2).
2. Upload them to the new service via a web interface or mobile application.
3. Turn off automatic download in Mi Cloud: Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Gallery → Autoboot.

💡

If you use Google Photos, turn on Free up space after download, which will automatically delete local copies of photos that are already stored in the cloud, freeing up memory on the phone.

5. Clearing cache and temporary files

Application cache and temporary files can take up to 1-2 GB in the Mi Cloud, especially if you actively use synchronization.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Mi Cloud in the list and select it.
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
4. Reset the device.

For deep cleaning:

1. Go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn off sync for unnecessary applications (e.g. Calendar, Weather, Browser).
3. Enable synchronization only for critical data: Contacts, Notes, Photos.

If the amount of Other data in Mi Cloud has not decreased after cleaning the cache, try re-authorizing in the account:

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Account.
2. Press Exit and confirm exit.
3. Go back to your login and password.

This will force the synchronization data to be updated and can free up up to 500MB of space.

⚠️ Note: After you log out of your Xiaomi account, some features of your phone (like Find Device or Mi Pay) will be temporarily unavailable.

6. Mi Cloud cache reset (advanced method)

If standard methods didn’t work, and Mi Cloud still displays Unknown Data or other large files, try resetting the cloud storage cache, a method that is suitable for power users and requires caution.

Instructions for MIUI 12/13/14 and HyperOS:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Click 7 times on the MIUI version to activate Developer Mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Activate Debugging on USB.
5. Connect the phone to your computer and start the ADB (installation instructions – in FAQ).
6. Follow the command: adb shell pm clear com.miui.cloudservice
7. Reset the device.

Once the cache is reset, all unsynchronized data (such as draft notes or unfinished downloads) will be lost, but files already stored in the cloud will remain intact.

If you are not sure about your actions, use a safer method – clean up through Safe Mode:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the power button and hold until the MI logo appears.
3. Once the logo appears, press and hold the Volume Down button until the phone boots into Safe Mode.
4. In this mode, go to Settings → Applications → Mi Cloud → Storage → Clear data.
5. Restart the device in normal mode.

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