How to Free Xiaomi Cloud: From Photos to Backups

Xiaomi Cloud (or Mi Cloud) cloud storage is an integral part of Xiaomi’s ecosystem, but its standard 5GB runs out quickly, especially if you’re actively using backup, photo sync, or recordings from Mi Band devices. When the memory is full, the smartphone starts to issue notifications about the lack of space, and new backups stop being created. In this article, we’ll look at all possible ways to free Xiaomi Cloud – from manual cleaning to hidden features that are not written in the official documentation.

It's important to understand that just removing files from the cloud is not enough. You need to optimize your sync settings so that the space doesn't fill up again in a week, and we've analyzed the current methods for 2026, including changes in Mi Cloud policy after the MIUI 14/15 update, and put them together into a single guide, and if you're using Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or Xiaomi 13 devices, the instruction will work for them.

Why Xiaomi Cloud is filling up quickly: the main memory eaters

Before you clean the cloud, you need to understand what's taking up space, and Mi Cloud doesn't just store what you download manually.

• 📸 Photo and video from the gallery (automatic synchronization via Settings) → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Even if you delete the photos on your phone, they can stay in the cloud.
• 📱 Backups of devices (created when changing firmware or manually) One copy weighs 1-3 GB.
• 📞 Contacts, notes and SMS (synced by default and take up to 500 MB).
• 🎵 Records from Mi. Band/Poco Watch (data on steps, sleep, pulse - before) 1 GB per year).
• 📁 Files from Mi Drive (if you used the service before it was shut down in 2023).

To see detailed statistics, open Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Storage Management. This shows the distribution of memory by category. Please note that some data (such as backups) may not appear in this menu, but take up space.

Method 1: Remove backups (releases up to 3GB)

Backups are the largest garbage in the Mi Cloud. They are created automatically when you update MIUI or manually through Settings → About Phone → Backup. The problem is that old copies are not deleted by themselves — they need to be cleaned manually.

How to delete:

1. Open Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup.
2. Choose a device (if there are several).
3. Click on any copy and select Delete. To clean it completely, delete all copies except the freshest.

Save important data on a PC or other cloud service

Check the date of the last copy (it may be outdated)

Make sure your phone has local backup enabled (Settings → Additional → Local Backup)

Turn off automatic copy creation (if not necessary)

-->

Attention! If you delete all backups, it will not be possible to recover data when you reset your phone, and we recommend leaving at least one last copy or transferring it to Google Drive through third-party utilities like Swift Backup (requires root).

Method 2: Clean up photos and videos from the Gallery (up to 2-4 GB)

Automatic photo sync is a handy feature, but it quickly clogs the cloud. Even if you delete a photo on your phone, they can stay in the Mi Cloud to make room:

1. Open Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Gallery
2. Press Photo Management.
3. Select albums or individual files and delete them. Use a date filter for mass deletion.

If the photos are not deleted or are loaded for a long time, try an alternative method:

1. Visit i.mi.com from PC.
2. Sign in and go to the Gallery section.
3. Use the Ctrl+A keys (select everything) and delete unnecessary files.

💡

Before mass deletion of photos, download their archive on PC. Mi Cloud does not have the function of recovering deleted files!

Important: After removing photos from the cloud, they will not disappear from your phone (unless Delete from the device after sync is enabled). To turn off automatic photo uploading in the future, go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Gallery and deactivate the switch.

Method 3: Delete data from Mi Band and other devices

If you use the Mi Band 7/8 fitness bracelet, Poco Watch or other Xiaomi gadgets, their data (steps, sleep, pulse) is automatically synchronized with the Mi Cloud. in a year or two they can take 500 MB-1 GB.

How to clean:

• 🏃 Open the Mi Fitness app (or Zepp Life for new models).
• 📊 Go to Profile. → Settings → Data management.
• 🗑️ Select Clear Data and specify a period (e.g., Data older than 1 year»).

If you no longer use the bracelet, turn off its sync with the cloud:

1. In Mi Fitness go to Profile → Devices.
2. Select your gadget and click Disable Sync with Mi Cloud.

💡

Mi Band data is stored in Mi Cloud even after you delete the Mi Fitness app.

Method 4: Clearing Contacts, Notes, and SMS

Contacts, messages and notes take up little space (usually up to 500 MB), but cleaning them helps if the cloud is clogged with "tiny stuff."

Instructions:

1. Contacts: Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Contacts and click Delete Backup. This will only delete the cloud copy, the contacts themselves on the phone will remain.
2. Notes: Open the Notes app, select unnecessary posts and delete them. Then sync the changes to the cloud (Settings → Sync).
3. SMS: Delete old messages in the Messages app, then go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Messages and click Sync to update the cloud.

⚠️ Note: If you use Google Contacts or other backup services, first check that contacts are duplicated there.Otherwise, after cleaning up Mi Cloud, you may lose them when you reset your phone.

Method 5: Disabling unnecessary synchronization

Many Mi Cloud features are enabled by default, but not everyone needs them. By disabling the over-sync, you will prevent cloud from filling up in the future.

What can be turned off:

If you do not use Mi Cloud for backup, you can disable it completely:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn off the synchronization switch.
3. Remove all data from the cloud (Remove all data at the bottom of the screen).

💡

If you disable Mi Cloud completely, install an alternative to backup, such as Google Drive or Swift Backup (for root users).

Method 6: Use alternative clouds (if 5GB is low)

If you are actively using backup and 5 GB in Mi Cloud is constantly lacking, consider the options:

• 🌐 Google Drive (15GB free) Suitable for backups via Swift Backup or Titanium Backup (requires root).
• ☁️ Yandex Drive (10 GB free) You can set up automatic photo upload through the app.
• 📱 Local storage, keep backups on. SD-card SSD (through OTG-adapter).
• 💰 Paid expansion of Mi Cloud. 50 GB is worth ~300 rubles/year, 200 GB — ~1000 rubles / year. issued in Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Buy a place.

For automatic synchronization with Google Drive:

1. Install Swift Backup from Play Market.
2. Provide root access (if any) or use ADB.
3. Configure backup in Google Drive through the app menu.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party clouds, disable automatic backups to MIUI, Otherwise, the data will be duplicated in both Mi Cloud and Google Drive, taking up space twice.

Method 7: Resetting Mi Cloud (last resort)

If the cloud is full of unknown data and standard methods don’t work, you can perform a full Mi Cloud reset, which will delete all data, including backups, photos and synchronized information.

How to reset:

1. Go to account.xiaomi.com and log in.
2. Select Account Management → Mi Cloud.
3. Click Reset the Cloud (or Delete all data).
4. Confirm the action via SMS or email.

Consequences:

• ❌ Data from Mi Band and other devices will be erased.
• ✅ 100% free space in the cloud.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Cloud release