How to remove files from Xiaomi Cloud: The Complete Guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face a situation where Mi Cloud cloud storage is overcrowded.The free 5GB volume ends up faster than it seems, especially if automatic gallery synchronization is enabled.This leads to new images no longer being saved in the cloud, and notifications of space shortages begin to annoy.

Cleaning up the cloud is not always intuitive, as files can be duplicated on the device and in the cloud. Many users are afraid to accidentally delete important data from their phone in an attempt to free up space on the server. In this article, we will discuss safe and effective ways to manage your account content.

You will learn about the nuances of working with the web version of the service and the mobile application, we will consider how to properly disable sync before deleting and what hidden cleaning functions exist, Understanding these mechanisms will help to avoid losing valuable memories.

Managing Files via i.mi.com Web Interface

The most reliable way to delete data is to use the official web version of the cloud service, which is convenient because it does not take up the RAM of the smartphone and allows you to work with files as a normal file system on a computer.

The interface of the web version is as concise as possible and resembles a standard conductor. Here you can see all categories of data: Gallery, Contacts, Notes, Recorder and others. File selection is carried out by clicks of the mouse, which greatly speeds up the cleaning process compared to the touch screen.

After selecting the objects that are not needed, just press the delete button in the top menu, the system will request confirmation of the operation, since the action is irreversible for cloud storage, and it is important to understand that when synchronization is enabled, changes can affect the connected devices.

⚠️ Attention: Deleting photos through the web interface with active synchronization will lead to their disappearance on the smartphone. Before mass cleaning, be sure to check the synchronization status in the phone settings.

The web version also allows you to manage hidden albums and recently deleted files, which are stored in the basket for a limited period of time, after which they are permanently destroyed, which gives you an additional chance to recover accidentally erased data if you catch it in time.

💡

The i.mi.com web interface is the fastest way to delete hundreds of files at once using a keyboard and mouse, something that cannot be done through a mobile app.

Delete data through smartphone settings

The mobile app provides more flexible settings to manage specific types of data. To get to the desired section, open Settings, then go to the Mi Account menu and select Mi Cloud. Here you can see detailed statistics of space usage.

In the storage management section, you'll see a list of applications that use the cloud. By clicking on a specific category, like "Gallery," you'll have access to deleting albums or individual snapshots. The system can suggest that you optimize storage by automatically prompting you to delete duplicates or blurred photos.

For users who want to completely clear the data of a particular application, there is an application data management feature. However, be careful: deleting the data of the system applications can lead to a reset of their settings on the phone. Always check whether you delete data only from the cloud or locally, too.

The backup section, which is called Backups, is where you store the casts of your system settings, your application lists and their data, and old backups from long-sold devices take up space and are not useful, can be safely removed by selecting the appropriate device in the list and pressing the cleanup button.

Cleaning backups and application data

Backups are often overlooked hidden users of space, created automatically when connected to Wi-Fi and can weigh several gigabytes. To delete them, go to Backups in the cloud menu.

You'll see a list of all the devices that have ever been connected to your account. Select an old device that you no longer need to know, and when you delete the backup, you'll make room, but you'll lose the ability to reset that smartphone if you buy it again.

It's also worth checking the application data. Some programs, like a voice recorder or notes, can store audio files and text documents in the cloud for years. Go through the list and delete archives that have become obsolete.

Regularly checking this section helps keep things in order, so don't allow dozens of backups from different devices to accumulate unless you plan on restoring them, and it's the easiest way to keep the cloud clean.

Disconnecting synchronization before cleaning

The most common mistake users make is trying to delete files from the cloud without turning off sync, in which case the phone takes the deletion command as a signal to action and erases files everywhere, and to avoid this, you need to adjust the settings correctly.

Go to the Mi Account settings and select "Mi Cloud." This is the "Mobile Network Sync" switch and general sync settings. Turn off sync for the categories you plan to clean. For example, if you want to delete a photo from the cloud but leave it on your phone, turn off Gallery sync.

Once sync is disabled, the system will stop comparing files on the device and server, now you can safely delete data through the web interface, files will remain in the memory of the smartphone, but disappear from the cloud profile.

If you want to continue backing up but just free up space, it’s best to transfer old files to your computer and then turn on sync again.

Using a Recovery Cart

File deletion in Xiaomi Cloud is not instantaneous and irrevocable, there is a buffer zone known as “Recently deleted” in which files are stored for 30 days, after which they are destroyed forever.

This is a security mechanism in case of user error. If you accidentally delete an important document or photo, go to the corresponding "Recently Deleted" album in the gallery or web interface, where you can select a file and click "Restore".

But you have to consider that this partition is also in the cloud, and the files in the cart are still considered used volume, and if you want to get gigabytes free, you have to force the cart to be cleaned.

⚠️ Warning: Forced cleaning of the Recycle Bin makes file recovery impossible by any standard means. Use this feature only if you are sure that the data is no longer needed.

Periodic checks are a good habit, sometimes with screenshots or temporary files that can be deleted immediately without waiting 30 days to run out, which will help keep the cloud in order without any sudden movements.

Freeing up space without deleting files

You don't always have to delete files to get free space. Xiaomi offers Storage Optimization, which allows you to store original photos and videos in the cloud, and leave them on your phone compressed copies of smaller ones.

This feature is especially useful for smartphone owners with little internal storage, and you can access all your photos in full resolution through the cloud, but they don't take up precious gigabytes on the device.

Also worth considering is the option of buying extra space: Mi Cloud rates are quite affordable, and 50 or 200 GB can cost less than a new smartphone with more storage.

Alternatively, it can be migrating archives to other platforms, such as Google Photos or external hard drives, and diversifying storage reduces the risk of loss of information and reliance on a single service.

💡

Use the Cleanup feature in the Security app, and it finds similar photos, screenshots, and large video files that you can delete first.