How to Clean the Cloud on Xiaomi Phone: Full Guide with Expert Tips

Xiaomi’s Mi Cloud cloud storage is a handy tool for backing up photos, contacts and documents, but it’s limited. Even 5GB of free space (or 100GB for premium users) can fill up quickly if you don’t keep up with the synchronization. When the cloud is crowded, the smartphone starts to slow down and new backups stop being created. In this article, we’ll look at how to effectively clean the cloud on Xiaomi without deleting important data, and configure the system so that the space doesn’t end too quickly.

Complicating the problem, many users are unaware of which files are taking up space in the Mi Cloud. Often duplicate photos, old app backups or unnecessary microphone recordings, we will show you how to find and remove garbage, and give you tips on how to optimize storage for different models, from the Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra. If you encounter a notification “Not enough space in the Mi Cloud”, the following steps will help solve the problem in 10-15 minutes.

Why Xiaomi Cloud is Fast: The Main Reasons

Before we start cleaning, it's important to understand what's eating up precious gigabytes, and there are three factors that are responsible for 80 percent of the time.

• 📸 Automatically uploading photos and videos in original resolution, such as one video in a single image. 4K Weighs 300-500 MB, and photos with Xiaomi 13 Pro (50 MP) – 10-15 MB each.
• 📱 Backups of applications and system data, cache micrographs, call history and SMS can take up to 1-2 GB.
• 🎤 Voice recordings and notes, voice recordings or voice recordings from Mi. AI Often stored in the cloud without the user's knowledge.

Another common reason is file duplication, for example, if you enable photo sync in both Google Photos and Mi Cloud, the same photos will be stored in two copies, and many forget that Xiaomi's cloud defaults to save screenshots, downloaded files from messengers and even logs of system errors.

How to check what is in the Mi Cloud

To effectively free up space, you first need to analyze the contents of the cloud.

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Go to Accounts and Sync → Mi Cloud (on some models, the path may be different: Memory → Cloud Storage).
3. Slip on the line Storage management or storage details.

Here you will see a diagram of the distribution of space by category: photos, videos, backups, documents, etc. Click on any category to see specific files. For example, in the Photos and Videos section, you can sort media files by size and date, so it is easier to find the heaviest elements.

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If you have Screenshots or Download folder in your file list, check it first, because you often have unnecessary screenshots and memes from social networks.

Step-by-step: how to clean the cloud on Xiaomi

Now, let's get to the point. Here's a generic algorithm that works for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models based on MIUI 12-14. If you have an older firmware version (like MIUI 11), some menu items may be called differently, but the logic remains the same.

Back up important files on your PC or flash drive |

Make sure the phone has enough charge (minimum 30%)|

Connect to Wi-Fi (deleting large files wastes a lot of traffic)|

Close all background apps (especially messengers)-->

Step 1: Remove unnecessary photos and videos

This is the most efficient way to free up space, because media files typically occupy 60 to 80 percent of the cloud.

1. Open Mi Cloud → Photos and videos.
2. Click on the icon. ⋮ (three dots) in the upper right corner and select Sort → By size.
3. Tick the largest files (e.g., videos longer than 1 minute or photos >10 MB)
4. Click Delete and confirm the action.

⚠️ Warning: Deleted files are sent to the Mi Cloud Recycle Bin, where they are stored for 30 days. If you want to vacate space immediately, go to the Recycle Bin after you delete it and manually clean it.

Step 2: Cleaning up backup copies

MIUI automatically creates backups of apps, contacts, and settings, and over time, they accumulate:

1. Go to Mi Cloud → Backup copies.
2. You'll see a list of backups sorted by date, and old copies (like 2022) can be removed.
3. Slip on the unnecessary copy and select Delete.

If you don’t want to lose current backups, but they take up too much space, disable the backup for unnecessary apps:

• Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
• Select an unneeded app (like Duolingo or Likee).
• Turn off Auto Sync with Mi Cloud.

Step 3: Delete voice recordings and notes

Records from the recorder and notes from the Notes app are often synced to the cloud automatically to clear them:

1. In Mi Cloud, select Notes or Recorder.
2. Review the file list and delete unnecessary ones (such as drafts or test entries).
3. For complete cleaning, turn off sync: Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Cloud → Notes/Dictator Sync (move the slider to the left).

Step 4: Clearing Cache and Temporary Files

Some system files (e.g., error logs or Mi Cloud cache) also take up space to delete them:

1. Open Settings → Memory → Cleaning.
2. Select the Cloud tab (if any) or click Deep Clean.
3. Check the Cash Mi Cloud and Temporary Files, then click Clear.

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Do not manually delete files from Contact and SMS categories, which can result in the loss of important data, instead turning them off in your account settings.

How to turn off automatic synchronization and save space

So that the cloud doesn't fill up again in a week, you have to set up sync rules.

• 📴 Turn off autoload photos: Go to Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Mi Cloud → Gallery. Turn off Autoboot or select Wi-Fi Only. Turn on Storage Optimization, which will compress photos before downloading.
• 📱 Eliminate unnecessary apps from the backup: Go to Settings → The phone. → Backup: Click Backup Settings and uncheck the boxes for unnecessary apps (such as games or social media).
• 🔄 Limit the synchronization of contacts and SMS: In Mi Cloud, turn off sync for Contacts and SMS if you use Google Contacts.

If you take photos often but don’t want to clog the cloud, use alternative services:

• Google Photos (free 15GB, but image compression)
• Yandex Drive (10GB free, no automatic compression)
• Local storage (transfer of files to a microSD card).

What to do if Xiaomi’s cloud isn’t cleaned

Sometimes, after deleting files, space in Mi Cloud is not vacated, and this can happen for several reasons:

• 🔄 Cash hasn't updated. Close and reopen the Mi Cloud app, or restart your phone.
• ⏳ The files are still in the bin. As mentioned earlier, the deleted data is stored for 30 days.
• 📵 Sync problems: Check your internet connection and log in to Xiaomi account again.
• 🛠️ Failure to work MIUI. Update your firmware to the latest version or reset your Mi Cloud settings: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Mi Cloud → Warehouse → Clear the data

⚠️ Warning: If the cloud still shows 100% of the space occupied after cleaning, try temporarily linking another Xiaomi account (create a new one) and then returning the old one.

If none of these methods worked, contact Xiaomi via the official website or chat in the Mi Community app. Attach screenshots of the error and specify the phone model - this will speed up the solution.

How to Increase Xiaomi Cloud for Free

If you don't have enough space after cleaning up, you can try to increase the volume of the Mi Cloud without buying a premium subscription.

• 🎁 Promotions and bonuses. Xiaomi periodically gives out additional gigabytes for: Participation in surveys in Mi Community, linking a new device to an account, viewing commercials in the Mi Cloud app.
• 📱 Buying Xiaomi devices. When you buy a smartphone, smartwatch or router, you often get +5–10 GB per year.
• 🔄 Inviting friends. In some regions, there's a referral program, and every friend you invite is given a referral. +1 GB (maximum) +10GB).