How to download photos from Xiaomi Cloud: 5 proven ways

Xiaomi Cloud cloud storage has become an integral part of the Mi Account ecosystem, allowing users of Redmi, POCO and Xiaomi smartphones to automatically back up photos, videos and documents. However, many people face difficulties when trying to download photos from Xiaomi Cloud to a computer or other device – the service interface is not always intuitive, and export restrictions can be confusing.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current downloads, from standard mobile app features to mass export workarounds, learn how to save your images in their original quality, avoid synchronization errors, and even restore deleted files. And if you’re using Mi Cloud on devices with MIUI 14/15 or HyperOS, you’ll find some recommendations for new firmware versions.

We warn you in advance: some methods require confirmation by SMS or two-factor authentication. If you have not logged in in a long time, it is better to update your password in advance, this will save time.

1. Download photos through the official Mi Cloud app

The most obvious way is to use the Mi Cloud mobile app, pre-installed on Xiaomi smartphones, which is suitable for selectively downloading individual photos or small albums.

To get started:

• 📱 Open the Mi Cloud app, if it's not available, download it from Google Play or AppGallery.
• 🔑 Sign in to the same Mi Account that your photos are linked to.
• 🖼️ Go to Gallery or Photos (the title may vary depending on the version MIUI).
• 📥 Select the photos you want, click Download (down arrow icon) and the files will be saved to the Download or MiCloud folder on the internal drive.

⚠️ Warning: When downloading via the app, Xiaomi can compress images if they exceed 16 MP. To get the originals, use the web version (described below).

Make sure your phone is connected to Wi-Fi| Check the free space on your device |Update the Mi Cloud app to the latest version |Disable the VPN (can block access to the cloud)

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If the Download button is inactive, try:

1. Reboot the app.
2. Clear the Mi Cloud cache in your phone settings (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Mi Cloud → Storage → Clear the cache).
3. Log out and re-enter the account.

2.Export photos through the web version of Xiaomi Cloud

The Mi Cloud web interface provides more options for file management, including batch download and access to originals without compression, which is universal – works on any device (PC, Mac, tablet).

Instructions:

1. Open your browser and go to i.mi.com (the official address of Xiaomi Cloud).
2. Log in with a login/password or scan the QR- code through the Mi Cloud app on your phone.
3. In the menu on the left, select the Gallery (Photos in English).
4. Tick the necessary photos or click Choose all for mass download.
5. Click Download (cloud icon with a down arrow) The files are archived in ZIP and will start downloading.

🔹 Important nuance: The web version allows you to download no more than 500 files at a time. If you want to export more, break it down into batches.

3. Sync with Google Photos for backup

If you need to not only download photos, but also back up outside the Xiaomi ecosystem, the best option is to link Mi Cloud to Google Photos.

• 🔄 Automatically copy new images to Google Photos.
• 📥 Download archives via Google Takeout (up to 50GB free).
• 🔍 Use powerful metadata search (persons, places, objects).

How to set up synchronization:

1. On Xiaomi phone, open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Google.
2. Enable sync for Google Photos.
3. In the Google Photos app, go to Settings → Backup and Sync and select Original Quality (if you have enough space in Google Drive).
4. Wait for the first synchronization to complete (it can take hours with a large amount of data).

⚠️ Warning: When synced through Google Photos, files from Mi Cloud are not deleted, a copy is created. But if you turn on the option to Remove after copying in the Xiaomi Gallery settings, the originals may disappear from the cloud!

Using the Mi Cloud | mobile app via the web version of i.mi.com| Synchronize with Google Photo| Using third-party utilities | Another way

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4. Download to a computer (Windows/Mac) without a browser

If you need to work regularly with photos from Xiaomi Cloud on your PC, it is more convenient to set up automatic sync through the official desktop application. It is available for Windows 10/11 and macOS.

Step-by-step:

1. Download Mi PC Suite from the official website pcsuite.mi.com (choose the version for your OS).
2. Install the program by following the wizard's prompts. Disable the antivirus while you install it, it can block drivers.
3. Start the Mi PC Suite and log in to your Mi Account.
4. Go to Cloud and select Gallery.
5. Tag the files you want and click Download. By default, they will be saved to the MiCloudDownloads folder on your desktop.

🔹 The advantages of this method are:

• 🖥️ Works in the background (you can set up automatic download of new photos).
• 📂 Supports folders and albums (structure is saved).
• 🔄 You can configure two-way sync (changes to the PC will be reflected in the cloud).

🔹 Cons:

• 🐢 Slower than downloading through the browser (especially with a large number of files).
• 🔒 Requires additional software installation (may conflict with other cloud clients).

1. Update the program to the latest version.

2. Reinstall Xiaomi drivers via Device Manager (Windows).

3. Temporarily disable the firewall.

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5. Solving common downloading errors

Even with the right settings, users often encounter problems. Here are the top -5 errors and how to fix them:

1. The error "Failure to download file" (code 403 or 500) 🔧 Solution: Clear the cache of the browser or application. If you use VPN, disable it. Check if your Mi Account has expired (sometimes you need to re-authorize).
2. Photos are downloaded in low quality 🔧 Solution: In the web version of i.mi.com, click three dots next to the file before downloading and select Original Quality. In the mobile application, this option is not available - use the browser.
3. I don't see some photos in the cloud 🔧 Solution: Check the sync settings in Xiaomi Gallery (Settings → Cloud Sync).
4. Download interrupted by 99% 🔧 Solution: Try downloading files one by one or breaking the archive into parts. If the problem persists, use another browser (we recommend Chrome or Firefox).
5. Confirmation is required on SMS every time you log in 🔧 Solution: Add your computer to Trusted Devices under Mi Account settings (Security section). You can also disable two-factor authentication, but this is not recommended for security reasons.

Critical information: If you deleted photos from Xiaomi Cloud less than 30 days ago, they can be restored through the Recycle Bin (i.mi.com → Recycle Bin). After 30 days, the files are deleted irrevocably.

6. Alternative methods: third-party tools and scripts

If standard methods are not suitable (for example, you need to download thousands of photos or automate the process), you can use informal solutions. ⚠️ Careful: They may violate the Mi Cloud rules and lead to account locking.

Popular tools:

• 🤖 Mi Cloud bootloader (Python script for mass download): pip install micloud micloud download --username your email --password your password --album All Photos 🔹 Requires command line knowledge. Detailed instructions on GitHub.
• 📂 Rclone (universal cloud tool): Set up remote access to Xiaomi Cloud via WebDAV. Config example: [micloud] type = webdav url = https://i.mi.com vendor = other user = your email pass = your password
• 🔄 Syncthing: You can set up automatic photo backups from your phone to your PC without going over the cloud. You need to manually set up on both devices.

⚠️ Attention: Using third-party scripts may result in:

• Blocking your Mi Account for “suspicious activity”
• Data leakage if the tool is from an unreliable developer.
• Violation of the Xiaomi license agreement.

If you do decide to use such methods, back up your important data and use a secondary account for tests.

7 Storage Optimization: How to Free Up Space in Xiaomi Cloud

The standard free tariff Xiaomi Cloud offers only 5 GB — this is enough for ~ 1,500 photos in high quality. If the place ends, use these tips:

• 🗑️ Clear the Recycle Bin: Deleted files take up up to 30 days to space. Go to i.mi.com → Recycle Bin and click Clear.
• 📁 Remove duplicates: The Gallery mobile app has a function to search for similar photos (Albums → Duplicates).
• 🔍 Turn off backup of unnecessary data: In the sync settings (Settings → Mi Account → Xiaomi Cloud), turn off copying Call Records, SMS or Notes if you don’t need them.
• 💳 Buy extra space: Tariffs start at 100GB for ~$2 per month. Pay through i.mi.com → Settings → Increase storage.

🔹 Hidden Life Hack: If you use Google Photos paired with Xiaomi Cloud, you can set up automatic deletion from Mi Cloud after copying to Google Photos.

1. Open the gallery on your phone.
2. Go to Settings → Cloud Sync → Autoclean.
3. Turn on the option to delete after backup and select Google Photos as your target service.

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FAQ: Frequent questions about downloading photos from Xiaomi Cloud