How to Clean Up Xiaomi Cloud: 5 Proven Ways to Free Up Your Space

Cloud storage Xiaomi Cloud is a convenient tool for automatic backup of photos, contacts and documents from smartphones Redmi, POCO and Mi. However, even free 5 GB (or 10 GB for some regions) quickly end if you do not monitor the synchronization. In this article, we will discuss how to clean Xiaomi Cloud from unnecessary files without deleting important data, and what to do if the space is still not vacated.

The problem of crowded cloud is relevant for users who have not looked into the sync settings for years. The default system saves duplicate photos, old app backups and even deleted messages from Mi Messenger. We will show how to find and remove this “garbage”, and also reveal a hidden function of cleaning the cloud cache, which Xiaomi does not mention in the official documentation.

Why Xiaomi Cloud is Fast: The Main Reasons

Before we start cleaning, it's important to understand what kind of data is taking up space, and 80 percent of the time, there are three things that are problematic:

• 📸 Automatic upload of photos and videos in the original resolution (especially important for owners of Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi Note 12 Pro)+ 200MP cameras).
• 📱 Backups of systems and applications that are created when you change firmware or reset settings. One such copy can weigh 2-4 GB.
• 🗑️ Hidden sync files, including Mi Cloud cache, error logs, and temporary data (e.g. from Mi Fit or Mi Home app).

Less obvious "eaters" of the place:

• 🎵 Download music from Mi Music (if you've ever used this service).
• 📄 Documents and PDF, automatically saved from the Mi Browser or WPS Office.
• 💬 Chat archives from Mi Messenger or Mi Talk (yes, they're still stored somewhere!).

To find out exactly what’s taking up space, go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Storage Management. This shows a diagram of the data distribution by category. If a partition takes up a disproportionate amount of space (e.g., “Other Files” – 3 GB), this is a sure sign that it’s time to clean.

Method 1: Remove photos and videos from the cloud (without losing your phone)

The easiest way to free up space is to delete media files that are no longer needed. Importantly, deleting from the cloud does not affect files on your phone unless they have been synced as cloud-only. Here's how to do this:

1. Open the Gallery app on your Xiaomi smartphone.
2. Go to Mi Cloud (usually displayed under the Cloud or Devices section).
3. Select unnecessary files (multiple selection mode can be used).
4. Press Delete. → Only from the cloud.

If the Mi Cloud album is not displayed, check the sync settings:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Gallery.
2. Make sure the Sync Gallery switch is active.
3. Click Photo Management in the Cloud – you can delete files in packs by date.

Only unnecessary files are selected (check dates and events)

Files saved locally or on another medium

Auto Sync is disabled (unless you want your files back)

Checked folders "Recently deleted" and "Basket" in the cloud-->

⚠️ Warning: If you use Free up gallery space, the system can automatically delete local copies of files, leaving only cloud-based ones, which will result in photos disappearing forever when you turn off sync.

Method 2: Cleaning system and application backups

Backups are the second largest space eater in Xiaomi Cloud, and are automatically created by the system when:

• 🔄 Updates to the firmware through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 📱 Resetting to factory settings.
• 🔧 Manual creation of backup through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

To remove old copies:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Storage Management → Backups.
2. Select a device (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro).
3. Click on the date of creation of the copy and select Delete.

If there are too many copies, you can delete them all at once:

Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Backups → Delete all copies

⚠️ Note: If you delete all backups, you will not be able to restore settings and data the next time you reset your phone!

💡

Before removing backups, export important SMS and contacts to.vcf via Contacts → Contact Management → Import/Export.

Method 3: Clearing the cache and temporary Mi Cloud files

Few people know, but Xiaomi Cloud accumulates a hidden cache that doesn't appear in the standard storage management interface.

• 🔄 Synchronization Logs (File Loading Errors).
• 📁 Temporary preview files for photos and videos.
• 📊 Cloud usage statistics (e.g. download schedules).

To clear this cache:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Mi Cloud (or Xiaomi Cloud) in the list.
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
4. Reboot the phone.

For deeper cleaning (if the cache is not removed):

Settings → Xiaomi Account → Sign out of your account


Reboot the phone




Go back to the account

This method also helps if Mi Cloud freezes when downloading files or shows an error that failed to sync.

Method 4: Disable autosynchronization of unnecessary data

By default, Xiaomi Cloud syncs everything from notes to voice recorders, and you can turn off a lot of that data so it doesn't take up space. Here's what you can safely deactivate:

• 📝 Notes (if you do not use Mi Notes).
• 🎤 Recorder (audio recordings take up a lot of space).
• 📅 Calendar (if you use Google or other service).
• 📍 Location (movement history from Mi Location).

How to turn off synchronization:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Scroll down to the Data Sync section.
3. Turn off unnecessary items (the slider should turn gray).

So, you should pay special attention to synchronizing the gallery, and if you're photographing a lot, but you don't want to upload it to the cloud,

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Gallery.
2. Select the Synchronization Settings.
3. Activate the option to download only over Wi-Fi.
4. Set a file size limit (e.g., File Only < 5MB).

💡

Disabling gallery autosynchronization can save up to 70% of the cloud space if you take high-resolution photos frequently.

Method 5: Delete data from third-party Xiaomi apps

Many Xiaomi apps automatically store data in the Mi Cloud, even if you don’t use it.

• 🏠 Mi Home – The history of smart device management.
• 🏃 Mi Fit - data from fitness bracelets Mi Band.
• 🎮 Game Center - Game Savings.

To delete this data:

1. Open the application you want (such as Mi Fit).
2. Go to Profile → Settings → Data Management in the Cloud.
3. Choose Delete Data or Clear History.

For Mi Home:

1. Go to the app, select a device (e.g. Xiaomi Robot Vacuum).
2. Press. ⋮ → Settings → History → Clean up.

If the application does not have the option of cleaning through the interface, try:

Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Storage Management → Applications


Select the desired application → Delete data

What to do if the space in the Xiaomi Cloud is not vacated?

Sometimes even after cleaning all the files, Mi Cloud shows that the space is occupied.

• 🔄 hung sync (files deleted but no changes applied).
• 📊 Display error (interface cache shows outdated data).
• 🔒 Hidden system files that are not displayed in the user interface.

Decisions:

1. Forced synchronization: Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → ⋮ (top-right) → Synchronize
2. Clean up the Mi Cloud app: Settings → Applications → Mi Cloud → Storage → Clear the data Attention: After that, you will need to re-enter the account.

If nothing helps, contact Xiaomi via:

• 📧 Official website: account.xiaomi.com → Assistance.
• 📱 Mi Community appendix (feedback section).

⚠️ Note: Do not use third-party software to clean up Mi Cloud (such as Cloud Cleaner for Xiaomi) that requires access to your account and can steal data or block the cloud.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up Xiaomi Cloud