How to open and download photos from Mi Cloud: all ways 2026

Xiaomi’s Mi Cloud cloud storage has become an integral part of the brand’s ecosystem, offering users up to 10GB of free space to back up photos, contacts and other data. However, many owners of Redmi, POCO or Xiaomi smartphones face difficulties in trying to access their photos – especially if you need to download them to your computer or restore them after a phone reset. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to view photos in the Mi Cloud, including hidden features and avoiding typical errors.

It is important to understand that Xiaomi’s cloud work has its nuances, from linking a Mi Account account to regional restrictions, for example, users from Russia after 2022 may face blocking access to the global version of the service through the official application — but this does not mean that photos are lost.

This article will be useful for both beginners and experienced users: here you will find step-by-step instructions for smartphones in MIUI 14/15, web version of the cloud, as well as solutions for cases when photos are not displayed or require recovery.

1.Preparation: Checking for synchronization of photos with Mi Cloud

Before you try to open photos, make sure they are uploaded to the cloud at all. Many users wonder why Mi Cloud is empty when there are thousands of pictures on the phone, most often because of a disabled sync or incorrect account settings.

To check the synchronization status:

1. Open the Gallery app on your Xiaomi smartphone.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → Settings → Mi Cloud.
3. Make sure the switch opposite Sync photos is active (blue).
4. Check which account is listed at the top of the screen – it should match the one you’re trying to log into the cloud.

If sync is disabled, turn it on and wait for the download to be completed (time depends on the number of photos and Internet speed). Note: Xiaomi by default uploads only new images to the cloud. To sync old photos, you need to manually select folders in the gallery settings.

⚠️ Note: If you changed your Mi Account password or reset your phone, the sync may have been interrupted, in which case you will need to re-authorize - sometimes with confirmation via a phone. SMS email.

2. View photos through the official Mi Cloud app on your smartphone

The easiest way to access photos is through the Mi Cloud app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones, but even here there are pitfalls: for example, in some regions, the application can redirect to the local version of the cloud (as in the case of Mi Cloud Russia).

Instructions for MIUI 14/15:

• 📱 Open the Mi Cloud app (white cloud icon on a blue background).
• 🔑 Sign in with the same account as your phone (unless you are automatically logged in).
• 📷 Select the Gallery tab or Photos in the lower menu.
• 🔍 Use date or album filters to quickly find the right shots.

In the latest versions of MIUI, the cloud interface has become more minimalist: photos are displayed as a grid with preview (tap on the picture) and download (adrol icon down).

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If the Mi Cloud app doesn’t show photos, try clearing the app’s cache in your phone’s settings (Settings → Apps → Application Management → Mi Cloud → Clear the cache).

3. Access to Mi Cloud via web browser (from phone or PC)

The web version of the Mi Cloud is convenient because it allows you to view photos from any device - even if you do not have a Xiaomi smartphone at hand. However, there is an important nuance: the global and Chinese versions of the cloud have different addresses, and not all photos can be displayed in both versions.

Step-by-step instructions for the PC:

1. Go to the official website: For global version: https://i.mi.com/ For Chinese version: https://cloud.mi.com/ (a VPN is required to access from Russia)

Mi Account

gallery

Photo Photo

Download.

Download

Important detail: not all features are available in the web version, for example, you can not create a new album or edit the metadata of the photo, but you can share a link to the photo (Share → Link option), which is convenient for transferring photos without downloading.

⚠️ Note: When logging into the Chinese version of Mi Cloud (cloud.mi.com) from the European IP-The system can block the account on suspicion of hacking. VPN servers in China or Hong Kong, but don’t forget to turn it off after working with the cloud.

4. Download all photos from Mi Cloud to your computer

If you need to save all the photos from the cloud to your hard drive (for example, for a backup), manually downloading each image will take hours. Fortunately, there are ways to automate the process:

Method 1: Archiving through the web version

• 🖥️ Go to Mi Cloud via your browser on PC.
• 📁 Go to the Gallery section → Select all the photos (check at the top) → Highlight everything).
• 📦 Press More (three dots) → The system will collect all the images in ZIP-archive.
• ⏳ Wait for the archive to be ready (it can take up to 30 minutes for large collections).

Method 2: Sync with Mi PC Suite (for Windows)

The official Mi PC Suite utility allows you to sync photos between your phone and your computer, including those stored in the cloud. Download the program from the official website, connect your phone to USB and select the option Backup → Restore from Mi Cloud.

A stable Internet connection (preferably via cable)

There is enough free space on the PC (photos take up the original volume)

Adblockers are disabled (they can interfere with the loading)

Closed other browser tabs to speed up the process

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5. Problem Solving: Photos are not displayed or downloaded

A common complaint of users is that "Mi Cloud is empty, although synchronization is enabled." There may be several reasons, and we will discuss the most common ones:

Problem 1: Photos uploaded to another account

If you used multiple Mi Accounts (for example, changing your phone), photos could be shared across different cloud storages. Check all associated accounts in your phone settings: Settings → Accounts → Mi Accounts.

Issue 2: Regional constraints

From 2022, users from Russia are automatically redirected to Mi Cloud Russia (https://cloud.mi.ru/), where functionality is stripped down.

Problem 3: Not enough space in the cloud

The free Mi Cloud is limited to 10GB, and if you exceed the limit, new photos stop downloading. Check the occupied space in the Mi Cloud → Storage application.

• 🧹 Remove unnecessary backups (Site Storage Management).
• 💳 Buy an additional seat (from 20 GB per ~100 rubles/month).
• 🔄 Transfer old photos to your PC and remove them from the cloud.

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If photos are missing from Mi Cloud after the MIUI update, try rolling back the Gallery app via APKMirror or wait for a patch from Xiaomi.

6.Alternative ways: access to Mi Cloud without official methods

In rare cases (such as blocking an account or losing access to a phone), you have to use non-standard solutions, we do not recommend hacking or circumventing two-factor authentication, but there are legal methods:

Method 1: Recovery through MIUI backup

If you previously backed up your phone in Settings → Additional → Backup, photos could be saved to a local.mbk file.

1. Download the Mi Backup Extractor (available on GitHub).
2. Open the backup file through the program.
3. Go to the MiCloud/Photos folder, where you can store your thumbnails and originals.

Method 2: Calling for Xiaomi Support

If the photos are critically important (for example, they are the only copies of family photos), contact support via:

• 📧 Email: support@mi.com (English).
• 💬 Online chat on the site mi.com/support.

In the letter, specify:

• 🆔 ID Your Mi Account (can be found in your profile).
• 📅 The date the photos were uploaded to the cloud.
• 📸 Names or dates of the photos (if you remember).

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi support may request proof of identity (passport scan) to restore access to your account.Never send such documents through unofficial channels!

7 Security: How to Protect Photos in Mi Cloud

Cloud storage is convenient, but not without risks. In 2023, there were cases of data leakage from Mi Cloud due to vulnerabilities in the API.

Step 1: Set up two-factor authentication (2FA)

1. Get in to Mi Account. → Security.
2. Activate the option of two-step verification.
3. Link a phone number or an authenticator app (e.g. Google Authenticator).

Step 2: Limit access to personal albums

In Mi Cloud, you can create private albums that will not be visible when you share the device:

• Open the Gallery → Select a photo → Add to the album → Create a new one.
• Set a private box when creating an album.

Step 3: Download backups regularly

Don't just rely on the cloud, create local copies of important photos.

• 🖥️ Programs: Google Photos (autoboot), Amazon Photos (unlimited storage for Prime owners).
• 💾 Devices: external SSD-accumulator NAS-servers (e.g., Synology).

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To check if your photos are leaked, use Google Image Search, upload one of your photos (not personal!) and see if it appears on other sites.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Mi Cloud and photos