How to Free Cloud Albums on Xiaomi: Full Guide with Secret Chips

Why Xiaomi Cloud Albums Are Filling Quickly and What to Do About It

Xiaomi’s cloud albums are a handy tool for automatically syncing photos and videos between devices, but over time they inevitably get clogged with unnecessary files. Even if you regularly delete photos from your phone, copies of them continue to take up space in the Mi Cloud. The problem is compounded by the fact that the free tariff is limited to only 5 GB, and the expansion of storage requires a monthly payment.

Many users are faced with a situation where the cloud is crowded and new images are no longer synced, and standard cleaning methods through the Gallery application often do not work: deleted files from a phone can stay in the cloud for years. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to free up space, from basic to hidden functions that are not written in the official documentation.

Special attention will be paid to automatic storage optimization, a feature that allows you to compress old photos without losing quality for viewing, which saves up to 40-60% of space, but it is not turned on by default for all users.

Method 1: Delete files directly through the Mi Cloud

The most obvious, but not always effective, method is to manually clean the web version of the cloud, which is useful if you know exactly what files you can delete and want to control the process. Importantly, deleting from the cloud does not affect local copies on your phone, but if sync is enabled, files can disappear from other devices.

To get started:

• 🌐 Go to i.mi.com and log in to your Mi Account.
• 📁 Select the Gallery section → Albums or Files → Images.
• 🗑️ Mark unnecessary files (you can highlight entire folders) and click Delete.
• 🔄 Remember to clean the Recycle Bin - files are stored in it for 30 days before final deletion.

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Before mass deletion, sort files by date or size (Sort button in the upper right corner), making it easier to find the largest videos or duplicates.

The main disadvantage of the method is that there are no filters, for example, you can't delete all screenshots or low-resolution photos with one click, you have to manually view thousands of files, which takes hours, and the web version of the cloud often slows down when working with large folders.

⚠️ Note: If you have Autoboot enabled in the gallery settings, deleted files from the cloud can be reloaded the next time you connect to Wi-Fi. Before cleaning, disable autosynchronization in Settings → Synchronization → Autoboot to the cloud.

Method 2: Storage optimization (compression of old photos)

Few people know, but Xiaomi offers a built-in tool for compressing old photos — storage optimization — that reduces file sizes while keeping them visually good enough to view, freeing up to 50 percent of the space without losing important images.

How to enable optimization:

1. Open the Gallery app on your phone.
2. Go to the Albums. → Xiaomi's Cloud.
3. Tap the three-point menu (⋮) top-right.
4. Select Storage Management → Optimization.
5. Set up the parameters: 📅 Optimize files older – select a period (e.g. 1 year). 📉 Quality after optimization – High recommended (compression up to 70% of the original).

Start optimizing

It can take anywhere from minutes to hours, depending on the number of files. Once optimized, check the recently optimized folder in the cloud, where compressed versions will be stored. Originals can be manually deleted or left for backup.

Method 3: Removing duplicates and similar photos

One of the main reasons for cloud overflow is duplicates and similar images, such as when shooting in HDR or Panorama, Xiaomi saves several variants of a single frame, and many users take a series of photos with minimal differences, forgetting to delete the extra ones.

To search for duplicates:

• 🔍 In the Gallery app, go to the Albums → Xiaomi's Cloud.
• 📊 Select Control. → Similar photos (or Duplicates, depending on version) MIUI).
• 🖼️ The system will automatically group similar images together, so you can manually view them, or you can trust an algorithm to tell you to leave the best shot.
• 🗑️ Click Remove selected for mass removal of duplicates.

Xiaomi's algorithm analyzes not only visual similarities, but also metadata (film time, geolocation, camera settings) and helps you find even those takes that look different, for example, if you took two frames at 1 second intervals, the system will suggest leaving a clearer one.

⚠️ Note: The duplicate search function only works for photos taken on Xiaomi devices, and images uploaded to the cloud from other phones or cameras will not be analyzed.

Method 4: Transfer files to another cloud or PC

If you don't want to delete files permanently, but you need to make room in the Mi Cloud, the best option is to transfer them to another storage, such as Google Photos, Yandex Drive, or your computer hard drive, a method that is suitable for backing up large archives (such as vacation videos).

Instructions for transfer:

1. 💻 Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (select File Transfer Mode).
2. 📂 Open the folder. DCIM → Camera or Pictures on the phone.
3. 🔄 Copy the desired files to a computer or external drive.
4. ☁️ Upload them to another cloud (for example, through the web version of Google Drive or the desktop application Yandex Drive).
5. 🗑️ Remove the originals from Mi Cloud (via the web version or Gallery app).

To automate the process, you can use apps like SyncMe or FolderSync that sync files between clouds on a schedule, for example, you can set up a weekly transfer of new photos from Mi Cloud to Google Photos.

When transferring, pay attention to file formats. For example, Google Photos compresses images above 16 MP at a free rate, and Yandex Drive retains original quality, but limits the download speed for large files.

Method 5: Clearing Cache and Temporary Cloud Files

Even after files are removed from the cloud, their thumbnails and metadata can remain in the app's cache.This doesn't free up space in the cloud itself, but speeds up the gallery and reduces traffic consumption.Cash can take up to 1-2GB on your phone, especially if you often browse old albums.

How to clear the cache:

• ⚙️ Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 Find the Gallery and Mi Cloud apps.
• 🧹 Choose a storage area in each of them. → Clear the cache.
• 🔄 Restart your phone to apply changes.

Delete unnecessary files via i.mi.com|Optimize old photos|Transfer important files to another cloud|Clear the cache of the Gallery and Mi Cloud apps|Disable autoboot to save space-->

If you've cleaned the cache, you've got low-resolution photos in the gallery, don't worry, it's temporary. The next time you open the file, the system will download the original version of the file, and to speed up the process, connect to Wi-Fi and manually open the albums you want.

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse Clear cache with Clear data!The second option will delete all app settings, including linked accounts, and may result in the loss of local thumbnails. 1-2 month.

More tips: How to prevent cloud overflow

To avoid having to clean Mi Cloud regularly, set up preventive measures:

• 📱 Turn off autoloading of unnecessary files: C Settings → Synchronization → Upload to the cloud, disable screenshots, GIFs and videos. Set a limit on the size of files you download (for example, up to 10 MB for photos).
• 📊 Use local albums: Create a Time Photos folder on your phone and eliminate it from sync. Use a separate album with manual upload to the cloud for important shots.
• 🔄 Set up automatic cleaning: In the Gallery → Settings → Storage management enable Delete files older than 30 days (not available on all models).

If you shoot video frequently, pay attention to resolution and bitrate. For example, 4K@60fps video takes up 5-10 times more space than Full HD@30fps. In camera settings (Settings → Video → Quality), choose a balance between quality and file size.

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Regular cloud cleaning and autoloading saves up to 70% of the space, and the optimal schedule is to check the storage every 2-3 months and delete unnecessary files over a year.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi cloud albums