Owners of the popular Redmi 8 budget model often face the need to free up the device’s internal memory by moving media content to virtual storage. MIUI offers its own backup tools that are integrated directly into the system gallery, making the process of managing snapshots as user-friendly as possible. However, not everyone knows exactly where these settings are hidden and how to access files if they were deleted from the phone but remained on the server.
The main tool for working with images in the cloud is the Mi Account, which is associated with the device when you first set up, which is used to encrypt data transfer to the company's servers, ensuring that your memories are safe even if your smartphone is lost or broken. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the ways to access your photos, from standard system applications to the web version of the service.
It’s worth noting that shell interfaces may vary slightly depending on the version of Android and the relevance of the firmware installed on your Redmi 8. We’ll look at the universal navigation paths that work on most current software builds, and also pay attention to possible synchronization errors. Understanding the principles of cloud storage will allow you to effectively manage space and quickly find the desired images.
Synchronization settings of Xiaomi Cloud Gallery
Before searching for photos in the cloud, you need to make sure that the sync function is activated and works correctly on your device. By default, the system may offer to enable this option, but often users skip this step or turn it off to save mobile traffic. To activate, go to the Settings menu, select your Mi Account profile at the top of the screen and click on Xiaomi Cloud.
In the services that open, find the Gallery icon and switch the switch to the active position. The system will suggest you choose the sync mode: only over Wi-Fi or also over the mobile network. The optimal choice for Redmi 8 is Wi-Fi Only mode, as this will prevent rapid packet traffic consumption when downloading heavy photos and high-resolution videos.
Once the function is enabled, the device will start to load the media library back to the server. You can track progress in the same menu, which will indicate the number of downloaded items and the remaining free space. If the synchronization is frozen, try switching the switch switch switch off / on or check the stability of the Internet connection.
- 📸 Auto-upload: New images are saved to the cloud immediately after creation when the network is available.
- 🔄 Two-way communication: Deleting a photo on your phone will remove it from the cloud if the “Clear Memory” mode is not turned on».
- 📶 Standby mode: when the battery is discharged, the load can be suspended to save energy.
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Use Clear Memory mode in your sync settings to automatically delete photos from your phone that have already been successfully uploaded to the cloud, freeing up gigabytes of space on Redmi 8.
Viewing photos through the Gallery app
The fastest and most convenient way to view photos in the cloud on Redmi 8 is to use the standard system application Gallery**.It has a built-in tab that combines local files and cloud data into a single tape. Open the application and pay attention to the top of the screen: there are usually tabs Photos, Albums and a specialized tab Cloud or cloud icon.
If you're in the Albums tab, scroll down to the very end, and you'll find sections marked with a cloud icon, like All Photos or Recently Deleted. When you click on them, you'll see images that don't physically take up space on your device but are viewable through an Internet connection. The quality of thumbnails you display can be reduced to speed up loading.
When you open the full size of a photo, the system will load the original from the server. If the Internet is slow, you can see a blurry image that will gradually become clear. It is important to understand that a stable data channel is required to view a large number of photos, otherwise there may be delays or display errors.
☑️ Checking the display of cloud photos
Use of the web version of i.mi.com
Sometimes you have to look at a photo from a computer or other device that is not authorized in the Xiaomi ecosystem.** In this case, the ideal solution is the web interface of the cloud service. You do not need to install any additional programs, any modern browser and Internet access is enough. Go to i.mi.com in the address bar.
On the login page, enter your Mi Account, which is the same login and password used on your Redmi 8. The security system can request a sign-in confirmation via SMS code or push notification to your phone, which is standard data protection procedure, and after successful login, you will be on the main menu of the cloud service.
Select the Gallery icon from the website interface, and you'll see a folder and album structure that's identical to the one you see on your smartphone, where you can not only view images, but also download them to your computer, sort them by album or delete unwanted frames. The web version is optimized for mouse and large screen management.
| Function | In the annex Gallery | On i.mi.com | In the Mi Cloud (PC) app |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viewing photo | Yes (online/offline) | Yes (only online) | Yes (only online) |
| Downloading the original | Yes. | Yes (selective/archive) | Yes. |
| Album-making | Yes. | Yes. | Limited. |
| Deletion of photo | Yes. | Yes. | Yes. |
Access through the file manager
For more advanced users who are used to working with the file system, an alternative way to view through standard Explorer** is available.This method allows you to see not only images, but also file metadata, and move them between folders. Open the Explorer (or File Manager) application on your Redmi 8.
In the Explorer interface, find the cloud storage section, which is usually in the side menu or the main Overview tab. Choose Xiaomi Drive or the same name that corresponds to your account, and here the files are presented as a tree structure, which makes it easier to find specific pictures by date or folder.
It is worth considering that through the file manager, it is not always possible to preview photos in high quality without their pre-downloading to cache. This may be less convenient for quick viewing of the gallery, but indispensable for batch operations with files, such as moving or copying to other directories.
⚠️ Note: When working through a file manager, be careful to rename the system folders of the cloud. Changing the directory structure can lead to synchronization errors and loss of communication between the device and the server.
Hidden albums and a basket
There's a mechanism in MIUI to hide sensitive photos, which also applies to cloud storage, and if you've been hiding them in Hidden Album, they won't show up in the shared feed even when you've synced them, unless you type in a special password or a pattern lock, and you'll have to go to the Gallery's settings and select the appropriate item to access them.
The recently deleted photos, which you or the system delete, don't disappear immediately, but they move to this special cloud basket that you store for 30 days, and it allows you to recover randomly erased images, even if you've already cleared your phone's memory.
To view the contents of the shopping cart, go to the albums, scroll down and find the section "Recently deleted." Here you can select specific files and click the recovery button. However, remember that after the 30-day deadline, files are permanently deleted and their recovery is impossible even through support.
- 🔒 Privacy: Hidden albums require additional authorization to view.
- ⏳ Retention period: deleted photos are in the basket for exactly 30 days.
- 📂 Location: Hidden albums are synced separately from the main gallery.
What to do if you forget the password from the hidden album?
Solving Access and Synchronization Problems
Despite the stability of Xiaomi services**, users can experience errors when trying to view photos in the cloud. A common problem is the message “failed to sync” or endless waiting for downloads. First of all, check the amount of free space in your Mi Cloud. Free tariff usually provides 5 GB, which quickly end when you shoot active video.
If there is space but photos are not loaded, try clearing the Gallery app cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Gallery → Memory and click Clear Cache. Don't confuse it with clearing the data, as this can reset the settings of the Gallery itself, although it won't remove your photos from the cloud.
Problems can also arise from an outdated version of system components: Make sure your Redmi 8 has the latest security and Google Play service updates installed. Sometimes conflicting versions of software cause cloud authorization to go wrong and media access is blocked.
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90% of problems with access to cloud photos are solved by checking free space in the Mi Cloud and reconnecting to the Wi-Fi network.
⚠️ Warning: Do not try to use third-party apps to “accelerate” sync or break the cloud limits.This may result in your Mi Account being blocked by Xiaomi’s security system for suspicious activity.