How to Clean Xiaomi Cloud Storage: The Complete 2026 Guide

Why clean up Xiaomi Cloud and what is stored there?

Xiaomi Cloud (or Mi Cloud) automatically stores your photos, videos, contacts, notes and app backups. By default, each user is given 5 GB of free space, but this is not long enough – especially if you are actively using a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone.

When space runs out, the system starts to issue notifications to free up memory or buy extra space, but before you pay for an extension, it's worth figuring out what exactly takes up space and how to delete it without losing important data. In this article, we'll look at the current ways to clean up the Mi Cloud in 2026, including hidden settings and nuances for different models.

It is important to understand that Xiaomi Cloud synchronizes not only with a smartphone, but also with other devices of the ecosystem (for example, Mi Band, Mi Home or Xiaomi Pad tablets). Therefore, cleaning from one gadget may not give the expected effect – you need to check the storage from all the devices associated with it.

Method 1: Delete unnecessary files via the web version of Mi Cloud

The most reliable method is to log into the Mi Cloud via a browser on your computer or phone, which allows you to see a complete list of files, including those that are not displayed in the mobile application.

1. Go to the official website: i.mi.com and log in to your Mi Account.
2. In the menu on the left, select the Storage section, and you'll see a diagram of occupied space by category.
3. Click on the category (such as Photos or Documents) and tick the files you want to delete. For mass selection, use the Select All button at the top.
4. Click Delete and confirm the action. The files will be sent to the Recycle Bin, where they will be stored for another 30 days before final deletion.

⚠️ Note: The Mi Cloud web version does not have a file sorting function by date or size, and to find the largest files, you will have to manually browse folders or use a filter by type (for example, Video or Archives).

📸 Photos and videos that are duplicated in Google Photos or on a memory card

📄 Old backups of applications (especially if the application has been deleted long ago)

📱 Backups of smartphones that are more than 2 years old

📝 Notes and notes that are no longer relevant

🔄 Files from the Download folder, if they are saved locally-->

Method 2: Cleaning up with the Mi Cloud mobile app

If you don't have access to a computer, you can control the storage directly from your smartphone.

1. Open the Mi Cloud app (a white background cloud icon) and if it's not available, download it from Google Play or AppGallery.
2. Slap the icon. ⚙️ Settings in the upper right corner and select Storage Management.
3. The system will show the occupied space by category. Click on any category (e.g. Gallery) to see the list of files.
4. Select the files you don't need and click Delete. Unlike the web version, there's a size sorting feature here, so use it to quickly find the heaviest files.

🔹 Feature for users POCO: In the firmware MIUI for POCO Mi Cloud can be called Cloud Services or hidden in the Settings menu. → Xiaomi account. If you don't find it, search for settings.

⚠️ Note: In the mobile application, it is not possible to delete backups of system settings (Settings) → Backup. To do this, you will have to use the web version or disable autosave in the smartphone settings.

Once a month

Six months

Only when the place ends.

Never cleaned.-->

Method 3: Turning off automatic synchronization

Often, the Mi Cloud space ends because of automatic synchronization that users don't even notice. Xiaomi defaults to save to the cloud:

• 📱 Backups of applications and system settings (every 24 hours).
• 📸 Photos and videos from the gallery (if Autoboot option is enabled).
• 📝 Notes, calendar and contacts (synchronized in real time).
• 🎮 Game data (if the game supports cloud storage).

To stop this process:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Open the Sync section and turn off sliders in front of unnecessary categories (such as Gallery or Notes).
3. To disable backups, go to Settings → System → Backup and deactivate the Automatic Backup option.

💡 Useful tip: If you need sync only for contacts, leave only the Contacts option on and turn off the rest. This will save up to 2-3 GB per year (depending on smartphone usage activity).

Method 4: Delete old backup copies

Backups are one of the main space eaters in the Mi Cloud, each copy can weigh between 500MB and 2GB, and if you change your smartphones or reset your settings frequently, dozens accumulate, and you can only delete them via the web version:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. In the menu on the left, select Backups.
3. You'll see a list of all the saved copies, with the device model and the date of creation, and notice the size of each one -- it's on the right.
4. Tick unneeded copies (for example, from a phone you no longer use) and click Delete.

⚠️ Attention: Deleting the backup is irreversible. If you restore the phone from the cloud, the data will be taken from the last copy you saved. If it's not there, you'll have to configure the device from scratch.

Method 5: Clearing Cache and Temporary Files

In addition to user data, Mi Cloud accumulates temporary files and cache that take up to 500-700 MB. They are not visible mainly in storage, but they affect the total volume.

1. Go to the web version of Mi Cloud (i.mi.com).
2. In the menu on the left, select Settings.
3. Scroll down to the Storage Management section and click Clear Cache.
4. Confirm the action. The process can take a few minutes.

🔹 For users MIUI 14+: In newer versions of firmware, the cloud cache clears automatically when you restart your phone. If that doesn't happen, check your optimization settings in Settings. → Battery and productivity → Optimization.

⚠️ Caution: Clearing the cache does not delete your personal files, but it can reset the sync settings. After the procedure, it is recommended to restart the phone and check that all important data (contacts, notes) are in place.

💡

If the cloud isn't freed up after clearing the cache, try logging out of your Mi Account on all devices and then logging in again, sometimes helping to sync changes.

What if the Mi Cloud space is not vacated?

Sometimes, after deleting files, the occupied space in the Mi Cloud does not decrease, this is due to a delay in sync or failures on the server side of Xiaomi.

• 🔄 Update your page in the web version or restart the Mi Cloud app on your phone. Sometimes the data is displayed with a delay of up to 24 hours.
• 📱 Check other devices. It's possible that files were deleted from one gadget, but left on another (for example, on the Mi Band or tablet).
• 🛠️ Clear the app cache: Go to Settings → Annexes → App management. Find Mi Cloud and click Clear Cache. Reboot phone.

Write in support.

Xiaomi

mi.com/support

🔹 For Redmi Note 12 users and later: There is a bug in these models that causes backups to duplicate. Check in the web version of Mi Cloud if there are copies with the same dates but different sizes.

💡

If you don't get a room after all the manipulation, try creating a new backup of your phone and then removing the old one, sometimes it wakes up the system and forces it to recalculate the space it's occupied.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up Xiaomi Cloud