How to Free Cloud Albums on Xiaomi Redmi: A Complete 2026 Guide

Cloud albums on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are a handy tool for automatic backup of photos and videos, but over time they can take up gigabytes of precious space both in the Mi Cloud and on the device itself. Many users are faced with a situation where the system gives a notification of a shortage of space, and the gallery displays duplicates or long-deleted pictures.

In this article, we will discuss 7 working methods for releasing cloud albums, from basic (deleting unnecessary files through the gallery) to advanced (cleaning the sync cache and managing backups through Mi Cloud). Special attention will be paid to the typical errors that cause the vacated space to “return” after a few days, and learn how to configure automatic storage optimization. If you use Redmi Note 12, Redmi 10 or older devices, the instructions will be suitable for all versions of MIUI 12-14.

1.Why cloud albums fill up: the main reasons

Before we start cleaning, it's important to understand what exactly occupies space in cloud albums. In 80 percent of cases, the problem is not with the number of photos, but with the synchronization settings and data duplication.

• 📸 Auto-loading in original quality: by default, Mi Cloud saves photos in maximum resolution, even if you shoot at 12 MP, not 108 MP.
• 🔄 Duplicates in manual and automatic synchronization: if you manually uploaded a photo to an album and then turned on autosynchronization, the system creates copies of the photo.
• 🎥 High-resolution video: one video duration 1 minute-in 4K@30fps can weigh up 400–600 MB.
• 🗑️ Deleted files in the Recycle Bin: Mi Cloud has its own shopping cart, where files are stored for up to 30 days even after being deleted from your phone.
• 🔗 Sync with other devices: if you are logged into one Xiaomi account on several gadgets, photos from them are combined in one cloud.

For example, a Redmi Note 11 Pro user complained that after six months of use, the cloud clogged 12 GB, even though the phone had only 3 GB of photos, the reason was that the system saved thumbnails and previews for each shot, plus duplicated files when editing (original + edited version).

⚠️ Note: If you use Google Photos in parallel with Mi Cloud, both services may conflict and create additional copies.

2. Method 1: Delete files directly through the gallery

The most obvious, but not always effective, method is to delete unwanted photos through the standard Xiaomi Gallery, which is a nuance: if files are synced to the cloud, they must be deleted from both the phone and the Mi Cloud at the same time, otherwise they will be “recovered” the next update.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Gallery app on your Redmi.
2. Go to the Albums → Cloud Albums section (or Mi Cloud, depending on the MIUI version).
3. Press and hold your finger on any file to activate the selection mode. Mark unnecessary photos/video.
4. Slip on the basket icon (🗑️) Important: Select Delete from everywhere (or Delete from Cloud) instead of just from your device.

If the option to delete is not available everywhere, then the files are not synced to the cloud and can only be deleted locally, in which case check the sync settings (for this in the next section).

Disable autosynchronization in Mi Cloud

Download backup copies of important photos on PC

Make sure that files are not used in other applications (such as WhatsApp)

Check the size of the Mi Cloud cart (can be filled)

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The speed of cleaning depends on the number of files. For example, it can take up to 10-15 minutes to delete 500 photos if the cloud is overloaded. Do not interrupt the process, this can lead to loss of data or the creation of broken thumbnails.

3. Method 2: Cleaning the Mi Cloud Recycle Bin

Many users forget that Mi Cloud, like Google Drive, has its own recycle bin where files are stored 30 days after being deleted. Even if you cleared the gallery, the recycle bin can take up gigabytes of space.

How to clean the Mi Cloud cart:

1. Open your browser on your phone or PC and go to i.mi.com (the official Mi Cloud portal).
2. Sign in with the same account as Redmi.
3. In the menu on the left, select the Trash (or Trash).
4. Click Clear the Recycle Bin (or highlight files and delete them manually).

If the cart is not cleaned, try:

• 🔄 Update the browser page (sometimes the process “hangs»).
• 📱 Restart the phone and try again.
• 🌐 Use a different browser (e.g. Chrome instead of Mi Browser).

⚠️ Warning: After cleaning the cart, files will not be recoverable. If you accidentally delete important photos, try to restore them within 30 days through the same cart.

Once a month

Six months

Only when the place ends.

Never cleaned.

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Method 3: Disable autosynchronization of unnecessary albums

By default, Mi Cloud syncs all albums, including screenshots, downloads from messengers and even photos from WhatsApp or Telegram, which leads to the cloud being clogged with debris that can be easily recovered from other sources.

How to turn off sync for individual albums:

1. Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Cloud
2. Slip on the gallery (or Photos).
3. In the album list, uncheck the boxes from unnecessary categories, for example: 📱 Screenshots 🤖 Downloads. 📎 WhatsApp Images

5-10 minutes

Once autosynchronization is disabled, new files from these albums will no longer be in the cloud, but the old ones will remain. They must be manually deleted (see Method 1).

💡

If you share screenshots frequently through instant messengers, install Screenshoter (from Google Play) – it automatically cleans old screens and does not sync them with the cloud.

5. Method 4: Storage optimization through Mi Cloud settings

Xiaomi offers a built-in cloud storage optimization tool, Mi Cloud Storage Management, which allows you to:

• 🔍 Find large or duplicate files.
• 🗑️ Clear the synchronization cache (can take up to 1-2 GB).
• 📊 View statistics on the use of space.

How to start optimization:

1. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Cloud.
2. Put it in storage (or Storage Management).
3. Choose Optimize or Clear the cache.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.

If you don't have the option to Manage Storage, your version of MIUI doesn't support this feature, in which case use Method 6 (Manual Cleaning via ADB).

Method 5: Resetting gallery synchronization (advanced method)

If cloud albums are “glutchy” — showing deleted photos, not syncing or taking up space for no apparent reason — resetting gallery settings will help, a method that removes all connections between local and cloud files, but does not touch the photos themselves.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Gallery app and tap on it.
3. Select Warehouse → Clear data and Clear cache.
4. Reboot the phone.
5. After the reboot, open the Gallery and wait for the re-sync with the Mi Cloud (can take up to 30 minutes).

⚠️ Warning: After resetting, all albums in the gallery will return to the default state. You will have to reconfigure the folder display (for example, hide unnecessary categories like Screenshots or Downloads).

This method is particularly useful if:

• 🔄 Photos are duplicated in the gallery despite the removal.
• 🚫 Cloud Albums Have Not Been Updated For Several Days.
• 📱 Phone shows error Not enough memory, although there is enough space.

7. Method 6: Manual cleaning through ADB (for power users)

If standard methods didn’t work, and the cloud still shows 10+GB of “invisible” files to the busy, a corrupted synchronization database could be the cause, in which case cleaning through ADB (Android Debug Bridge) will help.

Important: This method requires connecting the phone to a PC and basic command line knowledge. Wrong commands can lead to data loss or gallery failure.

Step-by-step:

1. Install. ADB-drivers on PC (you can download from the official Android website).
2. On the phone, turn on Developer Mode (go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap 7 times on this item).
3. In the Developer Settings, activate Debugging over USB.
4. Connect Redmi to your PC and open the command prompt (cmd in Windows or Terminal in macOS/Linux).
5. Enter the commands in order: adb devices (should display your device) adb shell pm clear com.miui.gallery (gallery reset) adb shell rm -rf /data/data/com.miui.gallery/cache/* (cache cleanup)
6. Reboot the phone.

Once you restart, the gallery will start syncing again, which deletes all temporary files and resets the sync settings, but does not affect the photos themselves in the cloud or on the device.

💡

Use ADB only if other methods have failed. Before cleaning, back up your photo on your PC or external drive.

8. Method 7: Alternative cloud services (if Mi Cloud is not satisfied)

If problems with Mi Cloud occur regularly, consider alternative photo backup services, such as:

• 🌐 Google Photos: Offers 15GB free (shared with Google Drive), easy-to-use photo search and automatic storage optimization.
• 🍎 iCloud (for Mac or iPad users): Integration with Apple’s ecosystem, but only 5GB free.
• 📦 Yandex Disk: 10 GB free, convenient for users from Russia (fast download / download).
• 🔗 Amazon Photos: unlimited storage for Amazon Prime owners (subscription costs) ~200–300 ₽/month).

How to transfer photos from Mi Cloud to another service:

1. Download all photos from Mi Cloud on PC (via i.mi.com).
2. Upload them to a new cloud service (like Google Photos).
3. Turn off autosynchronization in Mi Cloud (see Method 3).
4. Remove unnecessary files from Mi Cloud (see Method 1).

Alternative services have the advantage of more flexible photo compression settings, such as Google Photos, which allows you to choose High (free) or Original (pay for space), whereas Mi Cloud always saves the originals.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi cloud albums