Modern Xiaomi smartphones take thousands of high-resolution shots that instantly fill the available space. Built-in memory overflows and the system begins to require cleaning, but simply deleting files from the device doesn't always solve the problem. Many users forget that activated sync function saves copies to the Mi Cloud, creating duplicates that continue to take up space on the server or interfere with new download.
To effectively clean cloud albums, you need to understand the difference between a local gallery and a remote storage. Mistakes can lead to the loss of important memories or, conversely, leave digital garbage on the company’s servers. In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithms for safe cleaning, auto-delete settings and subscription management to free up disk space.
Optimization requires attention, because the interface between MIUI and HyperOS has its own navigation features, you will learn to distinguish between album types, manage automatic uploads and use built-in tools to find duplicates. Proper file organization is the key to fast work of your smartphone.
Analysis of the occupancy of the Mi Cloud storage
Before you start deleting, you need to evaluate the current status of your account. Mi Cloud provides 5 GB of free space, which quickly ends when you use the camera actively. Go to your account settings through the Settings → Mi Account menu to see detailed consumption statistics.
The system automatically sorts data into categories: gallery, voice recorder, notes and contacts. Most often, the Gallery section consumes up to 90% of the available limit. If the indicator is red, sync new photos will stop until you vacate space or increase the tariff.
- 📊 Open the Security app and select Cleanup to see a summary of the cloud.
- ☁️ Go to i.mi.com for more detailed viewing of files through the browser.
- 🗑️ Check the Recycle Bin as deleted files can take up space for 30 days.
It is important to note that video files in 4K resolution can weigh several gigabytes each, so they are worth checking first.Removing even a few heavy videos can instantly solve the problem of space shortage.Don't ignore the Hidden Albums section if you've ever used this feature.
Synchronization of the gallery
The main source of cloud filling is automatic uploading of photos. To manage this process, go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Gallery. Here you can flexibly configure what data will be transmitted to the server.
You can turn off sync for certain types of media files, for example, screenshots and images from messengers often do not represent value for long-term storage, and disabling their download will save space for really important pictures.
⚠️ Before you turn off sync, make sure that all important photos are already saved locally or on another medium, otherwise new pictures may not get backed up.
Use the "Storage Optimization" feature, which replaces the original photos on your smartphone with smaller copies, leaving the full versions only in the cloud, which helps free up the device's internal memory, but requires a constant Internet connection to view.
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Enable the option “On Wi-Fi” for sync, so that you do not spend mobile traffic on downloading heavy video files to the cloud.
If you use multiple devices, set priorities: You can only leave photos on your tablet, and you can leave videos and live photos on your main smartphone, and this segmentation allows you to rationally use the free limit of 5 GB.
Removal of albums and duplicates
Manual cleaning is the most effective way to clean up your mess. In the Gallery app, go to the Albums tab and scroll down to the Other Albums section, and it often aggregates automatically created folders from various apps.
To delete the files, press your finger in one photo, then select "Select All" or select specific periods. Then click the delete button. The system will prompt you to move the files to the recycle bin, where they will be stored for 30 days before they disappear.
☑️ Checklist for gallery cleanup
And you can see the albums, "Favorites" and "Hidden," which are also synchronized and take up space, and if you're hiding old documents or checks, it makes sense to put them in the archive on your computer.
Duplicates can occur when synchronization fails. Analyzer applications built into MIUI will help you find the same files. Run the scan through the Tools menu → Cleanup → Duplicates.
Basket and recovery management
Deleted files don't disappear immediately, they end up in a basket, which is also part of the cloud storage, and to make room, you have to clean that partition.
Go to the album "Recently Deleted" at the bottom of the gallery screen, where you can selectively restore deleted footage or delete everything at once, and remember that once you clean the basket, you can't recover it.
| Action. | Storage period | Influence on the spot |
|---|---|---|
| Deletion of photo | 30 days in the basket | Place is not vacated |
| Cleaning the basket | Instantly. | The place is vacated immediately. |
| Recovery | Up to 30 days. | Returns the file to the album |
| Archiving | Indefinitely | Takes up space in the cloud |
There's a nuance with video files: some versions of firmware can remove them from the bin faster than photos. Watch out for system notifications about the end of storage.
Can I recover the photo after cleaning the cart?
Alternative methods of data storage
If 5GB of Xiaomi cloud isn't enough for you, consider alternatives. Google Photos provides 15GB for free (in compressed quality), which is three times more. Integration with Google services is built into Android's default system.
You can also use physical media, and you can regularly download archives to your computer or external hard drive, and this is the most reliable way to save data, regardless of operator rates and service terms.
- 💾 Use it. USB-OTG direct-record adapter.
- ☁️ Set up sync with Yandex.Disk or Dropbox for important documents.
- 💻 Create local backups through Mi PC suite ADB.
Some users prefer to purchase extended storage Mi Cloud. rates are available by subscription and allow you to increase the volume to 50 GB or 200 GB. This is convenient for those who want to have a full copy of the smartphone in the cloud.
⚠️ Note: When changing your smartphone to a device of another brand (not Xiaomi), access to the Mi Cloud is possible only through the browser, since system integration will be absent.
Frequent errors in cleaning
Users often make the typical mistake of thinking they have saved space, such as deleting the Gallery app will not remove photos from the cloud, because they are stored on the server, and data will return when you re-install or log in to your account.
Another mistake is to clean the cache instead of the files themselves, and the cache takes up a little space and recovers quickly, and to save money, you need to delete the original media files.
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Cleaning cloud albums is a complex process involving synchronization management, working with the basket and choosing the right storage for archives.
Don't ignore system updates. In newer versions of HyperOS, compression and memory management algorithms are more efficient, and regular software updates can indirectly help optimize.