How to remove photos from Xiaomi Cloud only: Full Guide

Why photos stay in the cloud after being deleted from your phone

Many Xiaomi users are faced with a situation where photos deleted from their phone continue to take up space in the Xiaomi Cloud. This is due to the synchronization features: by default, the cloud stores all downloaded files regardless of their presence on the device. Moreover, the AutoSync function in the Gallery can automatically restore “deleted” pictures on the next Internet connection.

The problem is compounded by the fact that the cloud storage interface is not always intuitive. For example, in MIUI 14, the path to sync settings is hidden in Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Gallery, and in earlier versions it may have been elsewhere. This creates confusion, especially for users who have recently switched from Android to Xiaomi.

It is important to understand that simply removing photos through the Gallery does not guarantee their disappearance from the cloud. To fully control files, you need to use the web version of Xiaomi Cloud or special settings in the mobile application. Next, we will discuss all working methods, including hidden functions that are not written about in the official documentation.

Method 1: Remove via the web version of Xiaomi Cloud

The most reliable method is to use the browser version of the cloud, which works even if the phone is disabled sync or an outdated version of MIUI is installed.

Instructions:

1. Open your browser and go to i.mi.com (the official website of Xiaomi Cloud).
2. Sign in with your Mi Account account.
3. In the left menu, select the Gallery section (or Photos in English).
4. Find the photos you need, select them with checkboxes and click Delete (basket icon).
5. Important: After deleting, check the Recycle Bin folder in the cloud and clean it, otherwise the files will recover after 30 days.

Open i.mi.com in the browser Chrome/Firefox|Sign in with your Mi Account|Check the section "Gallery" for duplicates|Delete files and clear the basket|Leave your account after completion-->

The advantage of this method is that it can be mass-deleted, for example, you can sort photos by date (Sort → Date) and delete all photos at a time for a certain period, and the web version also offers advanced search by tags and albums, which is not available in the mobile application.

⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Cloud on multiple devices (e.g. Xiaomi Pad 6 and Redmi Note 12), photos deleted via the web version will disappear from all synchronized gadgets.

Method 2: Disconnect synchronization with subsequent deletion

If you only need to remove photos from the cloud without affecting local copies, this method is best. It's based on the temporary disconnection of the phone and the cloud.

Step-by-step:

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Find the Gallery section and turn off sync (the slider should turn gray).
3. Return to the Gallery, select the photos you need and click Delete.
4. Confirm removal from this device (not from the cloud!).
5. Now enable sync again in Mi Cloud.The phone will only start uploading new photos to the cloud, and the old deleted files will remain intact.

This method is especially useful if you want to make room in the cloud without losing local copies, for example, after a trip, you can transfer photos to your computer and then delete them from the cloud, saving only thumbnails to view on your phone.

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Before you turn off sync, make sure that all important photos are saved to your phone or external drive. After the connection with the cloud is broken, it will be impossible to restore deleted files.

Method 3: Use File Manager for local removal

Little-known fact: photos uploaded to Xiaomi Cloud are physically stored in a hidden folder on your phone, which can be manually deleted via File Manager without affecting the cloud, a method that is suitable for advanced users, as it requires working with system files.

Instructions:

1. Open the standard File Manager app (or install it from Google Play if removed).
2. Enable the display of hidden files: click on three dots in the upper right corner → Settings → Show hidden files.
3. Go to /storage/emulated/0/MiCloud/Gallery/
4. This folder contains all the photos synced to the cloud, and delete the files manually.
5. Clean the Recycle Bin in File Manager so that files do not recover.

Note that this method does not remove photos from the cloud, but only breaks their connection with local storage. To completely free up space in Mi Cloud, after this procedure, you need to use Method 1 (web version) or Method 2 (disconnect sync).

⚠️ Note: Do not delete the entire MiCloud folder, which can lead to sync errors. Delete only specific files or subfolders (e.g. Camera, Screenshots). MIUI 15 and newer – in the latest versions, the folder structure may differ.

Using the web version of i.mi.com| Disconnect sync before deletion |Delete via File Manager |Use third-party apps |I do not delete photos from the cloud-->

Method 4: Third-Party Applications for Cloud Management

If standard methods seem complicated, third-party utilities can be used, offering advanced file management features in Xiaomi Cloud, including selective deletion, backup, and recovery.

Top.-3 tested applications:

• 📱 Mi Cloud Manager allows you to massively delete photos by date, size or album.
• 🔍 Xiaomi Cloud Cleaner – scans the cloud for duplicates and empty folders. Supports exporting the list of files to the Internet CSV.
• ☁️ Cloud Photo Remover – specializes in removing photos without affecting other file types (video, documents).

Before using third-party applications, consider:

• 🔐 They require access to your Mi Account, which creates a risk of data leakage.
• 📱 Some features may not work on phones with MIUI 14+ due to tightening security policies.
• 💰 Most applications have paid features (e.g., massively delete more than 500 files at a time).

Examples of Mi Cloud Manager:

1. Download the app from Google Play and log in.
2. Select the Gallery section and select the files to be deleted.
3. Click Remove from the cloud only (not to be confused with Remove everywhere!).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed (may take up to a few minutes with a large number of files).

What to do if photos are not removed from the cloud

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where photos are not deleted either via the web version or via the phone, this can be due to several reasons:

• 🔄 Sync is suspended – try restarting your phone and try again through 10-15 minute.
• 📶 Internet problems – check the network connection. For stable operation of the Mi Cloud, Wi-Fi at a speed of at least 5 Mbps is recommended.
• 🔒 Account restrictions - if you have recently changed your password or suspect a hack, the cloud may block transactions.
• 📱 An outdated version MIUI — cellphone MIUI 11 and below, synchronization errors may occur. Update the firmware through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

If none of these methods worked, try resetting the cloud cache:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Mi Cloud (or Xiaomi Cloud) and click on it.
3. Select Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
4. Restart the phone and try again to delete it.

In extreme cases, contact Xiaomi support via the official website or chat in the Mi Community app.

• Phone model and MIUI version (find in Settings → About Phone).
• The exact time and date of the removal attempt.
• Screenshot of the error (if it appears).

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If photos are not deleted for more than a day, this may indicate server problems with Xiaomi. Check the status of the cloud on status.mi.com (section "Mi Cloud Services").

How to prevent photos from automatically uploading to the cloud

To avoid re-entering unnecessary photos in Xiaomi Cloud, set up sync options in advance, especially for users with limited cloud storage (only 5GB is available for free).

Instructions for setting:

1. Open Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Gallery
2. Turn off the autosynchronization option (slider at the top).
3. Click on Sync Settings (or additionally in older versions of MIUI).
4. In the Sync by section, select Wi-Fi Only to avoid uploading photos via mobile internet.
5. Turn on the option to Sync only when charging if you want to save battery.
6. In the Download Quality section, select Original (if quality is important) or Compressed (if space saving is a priority).

Additional advice:

• 📁 Create a separate album in the Gallery for important photos and enable sync only for it. To do this, in the cloud settings, select Sync only selected albums.
• 🔄 Regularly (once in) 1-2 Check the Recycle Bin folder in the cloud and clean it. 30 days and continue to take place.
• 📱 Use Google Photos as an alternative. It offers 15GB for free and more flexible sync settings.

If you take pictures often but don’t want to upload all your photos to the cloud, consider manually downloading:

1. Turn off autosynchronization completely.
2. In the Gallery, select the necessary photos → Share → Save to Mi Cloud.
3. Only the images you select will be released to the cloud.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing photos from Xiaomi Cloud