Why Xiaomi Cloud Photos May Not Be Available
Xiaomi’s Mi Cloud cloud storage automatically backs up photos from your smartphone, but sometimes users face access problems, ranging from the banal (no internet) to the technical (sync failures). For example, if you turn off autoboot in gallery settings, new images simply won’t get to the cloud. Another common case is resetting your phone to factory settings without first disabling your Mi Account, which blocks access to files.
Another trap: Xiaomi limits free cloud space to 5GB (for new accounts, 10GB as part of the promotion), sync stops when the limit is exceeded, and old photos can be automatically deleted after 30 days without paying a subscription, which is critical if you relied on the cloud as a single copy.
Finally, problems arise when using custom firmware (for example, LineageOS or Pixel Experience), where Mi Cloud services are not working correctly, in which cases manual configuration is required through official software.
Method 1: Viewing photos through the application "Gallery" on a smartphone
The easiest method is to use the standard Xiaomi Gallery, which is integrated with the Mi Cloud. Open the app and go to the Albums → Cloud section, where you will see all synchronized photos, grouped by date and event.
If the Cloud album is missing:
- 🔄 Update the Gallery app via Play Market or Mi App Store.
- 📱 Go to Settings. → Accounts. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud and enable the Synchronization Gallery option.
- 🔒 Make sure you are logged in to the same Mi Account that was used to upload the photos.
You can use the traffic saving mode (in the Mi Cloud settings) to speed up preview loading, but this will reduce the quality of the preview. Full-sized versions load only when a particular shot is opened.
Sign in to Mi Account on your phone
Enable gallery sync in Mi Cloud
Update the Gallery app to the latest version
Connect to Wi-Fi to speed up loading-->
Method 2: Access via i.mi.com
If your phone is not available, use the browser version of Mi Cloud:
- Go to i.mi.com and log in.
- Select the Gallery section in the left menu.
- Use date filters or albums to find the right photos.
The web interface supports batch download (up to 500 files at a time) and shared link building.
- 🖼️ Maximum file size: 20 MB (for free accounts).
- 📤 Download speed depends on the tariff: free account is limited to 1 Mbps.
- 🔍 Search for metadata (geoteges, faces) works only in the paid version.
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If the photos don't show up in the web version, clear your browser cache or try another one (e.g. Chrome instead of Safari).It sometimes helps to disable the VPN, which can block access to Xiaomi servers in some regions.
Method 3: Viewing PC via Mi PC Suite
The official Mi PC Suite software allows you to manage cloud files from your computer. Download the program from the official website and follow the steps:
- Connect your phone to your PC via USB (File Transfer Mode).
- Sign in to Mi Account in the program.
- Go to the Cloud section → gallery.
Mi PC Suite supports photo preview in formats JPEG, PNG and HEIC, but not RAW-files (e.g., from Xiaomi 13 Ultra cameras) will require conversion through third-party tools like Adobe Lightroom.
How to Open HEIC on Windows
The advantage of the Mi PC Suite is that it can selectively sync folders, for example, you can eliminate screenshots or memes to save space in the cloud.
Access errors and their solutions
If the photos are not uploaded or displayed incorrectly, check the following points:
| Mistake. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| I was unable to connect to the server. | IP lock or problems on the side of Xiaomi | Use a VPN (like ProtonVPN) or check the status of services at status.mi.com |
| Not enough space. | Free storage limit exceeded | Clear unnecessary files in Settings → Mi Cloud → Storage Management or Pay for a Subscription |
| Photos are not synchronized | Autoboot or weak signal is disabled | Enable Wi-Fi Autoboot in Gallery Settings and restart synchronization |
Pay particular attention to the error The device is not certified. It occurs when you use informal firmware.
- Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
- Tap 7 times on the build number to activate the developer mode.
- Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable OEM unlocking.
Through the Gallery app on the phone
In a browser on i.mi.com
Through Mi PC Suite on PC
In other ways.-->
How to Recover Deleted Photos
Xiaomi provides a 30-day recovery period for deleted files to return the images:
- Open i.mi.com and log in to your account.
- Go to the basket (the icon in the upper right corner).
- Select the desired photos and click Restore.
If the basket is empty, try:
- 🔍 Use Google Photos (if you have synced with it).
- 💾 Check backups on Google Drive (if you used Mi Mover).
- 🛠️ Call for support for Xiaomi with an indication ID Account and approximate date of deletion.
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Recovery is possible only within 30 days of deletion, after which the files are permanently deleted from Xiaomi servers.
For critical photos, we recommend double redundancy: simultaneously in Mi Cloud and Google Photos or on a physical drive.
Automatic synchronization setting
To automatically upload new photos to the cloud:
- Open the Settings. → Accounts. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
- Activate the gallery synchronization switch.
- Click on Synchronization Settings and select:
The original sync option (without compression) is available for Xiaomi 12/13 series models, but this will quickly exhaust free space – for example, one photo with Xiaomi 13 Pro in RAW format takes up to 50 MB.
If the synchronization is slowing down, check:
- 📡 Internet connection quality (minimum download speed – 2 Mbit / s).
- 📱 Free space on the phone (requires at least 10% of the memory capacity).
- 🔄 PO updates: in MIUI 14 corrected bugs with synchronization freeze.
How to Protect Your Photos in the Cloud
Mi Cloud encrypts data when it is transferred, but for additional protection:
- 🔐 Enable two-factor authentication in your Mi Account settings.
- 📌 Use Private Albums (available in the Gallery to hide personal photos).
- 🔄 Change your account password regularly (every 3-6 months).
For sensitive images, it’s better to use local encryption through apps like Cryptomator or VeraCrypt before uploading to the cloud, which is true for document photos or passport scans.
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Before selling or transferring your phone, be sure to untie your Mi Account in Settings → Accounts → Mi Account → Delete your account. Otherwise, the new owner will have access to your cloud data!
Also note the geotags: Xiaomi saves the location by default. To remove them, open the photo in the Gallery, click Edit → Details and delete the location tag.