Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to free up the internal memory of the device without losing important photos or documents. Mi Cloud storage becomes the ideal solution for backing up data, but not all users know where to look for these files after synchronization.
Understanding the structure of the cloud service allows you to effectively manage the media archive and ensure the safety of data in the event of loss of a gadget. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the ways to view the content of your account, from standard system tools to advanced methods of working with the web interface.
We will look at the nuances of working with different types of data, from gallery to notes, and answer frequent questions that arise when working with the ecosystem of MIUI and HyperOS. Proper organization of files in the cloud is the key to the security of your personal information.
What is Mi Cloud and where is the data stored
Mi Cloud is a proprietary cloud service developed by Xiaomi to integrate with the MIUI operating shell and the new HyperOS. It allows you to synchronize contacts, messages, voice recorders, system settings and, of course, photos between all devices tied to the same Mi Account. Data is physically placed on the company’s secure servers, which eliminates their loss when a smartphone breaks.
It’s important to understand that the service provides 5GB of free space by default, which is standard for the industry. High-resolution video storage may require a tariff expansion. Synchronization only occurs when you connect to Wi-Fi, unless the settings indicate otherwise, which saves mobile traffic.
The cloud file system is logically divided into categories: Gallery, Recorder, Notes and Application Backups. This separation helps the user navigate content quickly without mixing system backups with personal photos. Access to this data is protected by password from the account and, if necessary, two-factor authentication.
⚠️ Attention: Deleting a file from the cloud via a web interface will cause it to be deleted on all synchronized devices.Be careful when cleaning storage!
Viewing files through smartphone settings
The fastest way to check sync status and see previews of some files is to use the built-in menu of the system. To do this, go to Settings and select Mi Account (or Xiaomi Account), which displays general information about the placement and the list of services involved in the data exchange.
Clicking on the Cloud icon will take you to the Sync Control menu, where you can see which apps have access to download data, for example, you can prevent the gallery from syncing over the mobile network, leaving only Wi-Fi, or completely disable the backup of certain folders.
To view content in some categories, such as Notes or Recorder, it is often enough to simply open the corresponding standard app on your phone. If sync is enabled, you will see all the recordings ever made on your other Xiaomi devices, even if they were removed from your current device.
☑️ Verification of synchronization status
Using the Mi Cloud web version from a computer
For full file management, especially if you need to download original photos or restore contacts to a new phone, it is most convenient to use a browser on a PC. Go to the official i.mi.com website and log in by entering your Mi Account. The site interface is fully adapted for desktop screens and repeats the logic of the mobile menu.
On the left side of the screen, you have a navigation menu that includes Gallery, Contacts, Notes, Recorder, Device Search and Storage Management, and if you click on any of these, you'll see a list of files sorted by date of addition, and the Web version allows you to download files in groups and one, which makes data transfer much faster.
The special feature is Device Search, which is only available through a web interface or security app, which allows you not only to see the location of the gadget, but also to remotely take a picture with the camera or erase all data, a critical feature in the event of theft.
| Section of the cloud | Type of supported files | Web version capabilities | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| gallery | JPG, PNG, HEIC, MP4 | Viewing, downloading, deleting | Depends on the tariff. |
| Contacts | VCF, CSV | Editing, import/export | |
| Notes | Text, lists | Viewing, copying the text | No restrictions. |
| Dictaphone | M4A, MP3 | Listening, downloading | Depends on the tariff. |
What to do if the web version is not loaded?
Work with Gallery and Hidden Albums
The majority of data in the Xiaomi cloud is occupied by photos and videos. The Gallery app on the smartphone has a separate tab or album called Cloud Photos, which stores media files that were deleted from the device to save space, but saved in backup.
If you’ve used the Hidden Album feature on your phone, sync enabled, these photos can also be accessed in the cloud, but you’ll need additional authorization (password or fingerprint) to view them.
When you remove a photo from the cloud gallery, it moves to a cart that is stored for 30 days, which gives the user time to recover randomly deleted frames, but if you clean the cart, file recovery will become impossible without contacting support, which rarely helps in such cases.
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Turn on the "Free Space" function in the gallery settings, which automatically removes photos from your phone that have already been successfully uploaded to the cloud, keeping them available for viewing in the stream.
Access problems and their solution
Often users are faced with a situation where files are not synced or displayed in the cloud. The most common reason is an unstable Internet connection or the termination of a subscription for additional space.
Another common problem is to desynchronize the time and date on the device. If the clock on a Xiaomi smartphone is very different from real time, the security server can block the connection. Check the settings in the Date and Time section and enable automatic determination.
In some cases, cleaning the cache of the Mi Cloud service helps. To do this, go to Settings → Applications → All applications, search in the list of Mi Cloud (or Xiaomi Services) and click “Clear Data” → “Clear Cache.” This will not delete your files, but update the service access tokens.
⚠️ Note: If you change your Mi Account password, be sure to update it in the cloud settings on all devices, otherwise sync will stop before you re-authorize.
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90% of sync problems are solved by simply rechecking the password and the stability of the Wi-Fi connection.