Xiaomi Cloud cloud storage is a handy tool for backing up photos, but sooner or later users face the need to return pictures back to the device. The reasons can be different from wanting to free up space in the cloud to preparing to change your smartphone or backup before resetting. However, the standard interface of the Gallery app is not always intuitive, and some functions are hidden in the depth of the menu.
In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to transfer photos from Xiaomi Cloud to the internal memory of the phone, from simply downloading individual images to mass downloading entire albums. Particular attention will be paid to the nuances for different versions of MIUI (including MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS), as well as solutions for cases when the cloud is “not visible” in the gallery. If you use the Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or the flagship Xiaomi 14, the instructions will be suitable for all models of the brand.
1.Preparation: Checking the connection to Xiaomi Cloud
Before you start moving photos, make sure your Mi Account is properly synced to the cloud. Without this step, you simply won't see your photos in the gallery.
- 🔄 Update Gallery app: Go to Google Play → My apps. → Updates and check for updates for Xiaomi Gallery (or Mi Gallery on older versions).
- 📱 Check your account login: Go to Settings → Accounts. → Mi Account and make sure you're logged in. If not, log in with the same login that was used to upload the photo to the cloud.
- ☁️ Enable Gallery Sync: In the same account settings, find Sync → Gallery and activate the switch. Wait for the process to be completed (may take up to 10 minutes).
If, after this action, the photos in the cloud never appeared in the gallery, try to force the data to update: open the Gallery, go to the Cloud album (or Xiaomi Cloud), pull the screen down for an update. Some firmware (MIUI 12 and below) may require a phone reboot.
⚠️ Attention: If you are using POCO Launcher or third-party shell, the standard Xiaomi Gallery can be hidden. Find it through the search by app or install from Google Play (officially called Mi Gallery).
2. Method 1: Downloading photos through a standard gallery
The easiest method is to use the built-in tools of the Gallery app, which is suitable for transferring individual pictures or small groups of photos.
- Open the Gallery app (a flower or landscape icon).
- In the lower menu, select the Cloud tab (or Xiaomi Cloud – the name depends on the version of MIUI).
- Find the right album or folder (e.g. Camera, Screenshots).
- Slip through the photo for a preview, then click the Download icon** (arrow down) in the bottom menu.
- For mass download: Hold your finger in one picture, highlight the rest, then click Download in the upper right corner.
Downloaded photos are saved by default to the DCIM → Camera or Pictures → Xiaomi Cloud folder to find them:
- Open any file manager (such as Google Files or Mi File Manager).
- Go on the path of internal memory → DCIM → Camera.
- Sort files by date (by date of change) – fresh downloaded photos will be at the top.
⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi) 9A, POCO M3) When you download through the gallery, the photos are saved in low resolution. To get the originals, use method 3 (web version of the cloud).
Checked the entrance to Mi Account|Updated Xiaomi Gallery|Cloud synchronization enabled|Freely. ≥1GB of memory on your phone-->
Method 3: Transfer entire albums through Cloud Settings
If you want to migrate all photos from the cloud or a particular album (like WhatsApp Images), it’s more convenient to use the Xiaomi Cloud section in your phone’s settings, which works even if the gallery doesn’t see the cloud.
Instructions:
- Go to Settings → Accounts → Mi Account → Xiaomi Cloud
- Select the Gallery section (or Photos on HyperOS).
- Slip on the album you want to download (like Camera or Downloads).
- In the upper right corner, press three dots (⋮) and select Download.
- Confirm the action – all photos from the album will start to be uploaded.
Features of the method:
- 📁 Download all photos from the album, including hidden and deleted (if they are in the cloud).
- 🔄 The process can take time – with a large volume (e.g., 5).+ GB) the phone should not go into sleep mode.
- 📍 Files are saved to the Pictures folder → Xiaomi Cloud → [Title of the album].
| Action. | MIUI 12/13 | MIUI 14 | HyperOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| The path to the cloud in settings | Settings → Mi Account → Cloud | Settings → Accounts → Xiaomi Cloud | Settings → Memory → Cloud storage |
| Download button for the album | Three points. → Download. | Three points. → Download | Long pressing → Save to the device |
| Conservation folder | DCIM/Cloud | Pictures/Xiaomi Cloud | Internal Storage/CloudPhotos |
On HyperOS models (Xiaomi 14, POCO F6), when you download albums through the cloud, photos are automatically optimized for screen resolution. To get originals, use the web version of the cloud (mode 3).
4. Method 3: Download via the web version of Xiaomi Cloud (for originals)
If you want to get the best quality photos or standard methods don't work, use the browser version of the cloud, which is universal and suitable for all devices, including PCs.
Step-by-step:
- Open your browser on your phone (Chrome or Mi Browser is recommended) and go to https://i.mi.com.
- Sign in with the same Mi Account as you do on your phone.
- From the menu on the left, select Gallery (or Photos in English).
- Find the album or folder you want. Use date filters in the upper right corner for convenience.
- Select photos: For single download: open the photo and click Download (down arrow). For mass: hold your finger in one picture, highlight the rest, then click Download in the bottom menu.
Downloads.
Download
DCIM/Camera
Advantages of the method:
- 🔍 All originals are available without compression (unlike mobile gallery).
- 🖥️ You can download a photo on a PC and then transfer it to your phone via cable or Mi Drop.
- 📂 It supports downloading entire folders in the form of ZIP-archive (up to 2 GB at a time).
⚠️ Attention: When downloading via the browser on the phone Large files (>50MB) may not load due to the limitations of the mobile version of the site. In this case, use a PC or break the download into parts.
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If the web version of the cloud opens in Chinese, add?locale at the end of the address.=ru_RU (case: https://i.mi.com/?locale=ru_RU).
5. Method 4: Automatic synchronization with internal memory
If you want your photos from the cloud to be automatically duplicated on your phone, set up sync in the Gallery, a method that is convenient for permanent backups, but requires enough free space on your device.
How to turn on:
- Open the gallery and go to the cloud.
- Tap on the profile icon (or ⋮ → Settings).
- Select Auto Download (or Auto Download on HyperOS).
- Activate the switch and specify the conditions: 📶 Wi-Fi only (recommended to avoid wasting mobile traffic). 🔋 When charging (optional, to save battery).
Camera
Once set up, new photos uploaded to the cloud from other devices will automatically appear in the phone’s gallery, and existing images will start downloading in the background (may take several hours).
Where are the automatically downloaded photos stored?
- On MIUI 14 and below: Pictures → AutoDownload.
- HyperOS: Internal Storage → MiCloud → AutoSync.
How to turn off automatic synchronization?
6. Problem Solving: Cloud is not displayed or photos are not downloaded
If you are following the instructions but photos from Xiaomi Cloud don’t appear in the gallery or download, check out the following points:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The cloud is not displayed in the gallery | No authorization in the Mi Account | Go to Settings → Accounts and log in again |
| Photos in the cloud, but not downloaded | Not enough space on the phone | Clean up the memory (delete unnecessary files or transfer them to a memory card) |
| When downloading, it gives an error | Unstable Internet connection | Connect to Wi-Fi or restart your phone |
| Downloaded photos blurred | Gallery clutching preview | Use the web version of the cloud for originals |
| No albums in the cloud. | Synchronization disabled for gallery | Enable it in Settings → Mi Account → Synchronization |
If the problem persists, try resetting the gallery cache:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find the Gallery and select the Warehouse.
- Click Clear Cache (Do not delete data!).
- Reboot your phone and try again.
For custom firmware POCO models (e.g., POCO X3 Pro on MIUI by POCO), you may need to install the original Xiaomi Gallery from APKMirror, as the standard app sometimes conflicts with the cloud.
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If after all the manipulations, the photos are not downloaded, check the status of Xiaomi Cloud servers on status.mi.com.
7.Alternative methods: transfer via PC or third-party applications
If the standard methods don’t work or you need to transfer a huge amount of photos (tens of gigabytes), consider alternative options:
- 💻 Download photos from i.mi.com to your computer (in the form of a computer) ZIP-Connect your phone to your PC via cable (in file transfer mode). DCIM/Camera phone-on.
- 📱 Mi Mover: Install Mi Mover from Google Play. Select Get from the cloud and log in. Tick the right albums and click Move.
- ☁️ Third-party cloud services: Download photos from Xiaomi Cloud on your PC. Upload them to Google Photos or Yandex Drive. Install the corresponding app on your phone and sync files.
Mac users may need additional software (such as Android File Transfer) because the Finder doesn’t always correctly display the Xiaomi file system.
⚠️ Note: When you transfer photos via Mi Mover, they are saved to the MiMover folder on the internal drive. DCIM/Camera manually.