Xiaomi smartphones today are equipped with powerful cameras that create high-resolution images that take up a significant amount of memory. The built-in storage is quickly filled up, and the Mi Cloud system offers automatic synchronization to save important images. However, there comes a point when the cloud space ends, and the user needs to decide how to delete photos in the cloud Xiaomi to make room or clear the gallery of excess.
The deletion process can seem confusing due to the synchronization between the device’s local memory and the remote server. Mistakes often lead to the fact that the images disappear not only from the server, but also from the phone’s gallery, which causes panic among inexperienced owners. Understanding the logic of the Mi Cloud will help avoid the accidental loss of valuable memories.
In this article, we will take a look at all available cloud storage content management techniques, learn how to securely delete files through the web interface and smartphone settings, and how to disable sync so that new images stop downloading to the server.
The principles of synchronization in Mi Cloud
Before you start deleting, you need to clearly understand how exactly the interaction between your device and Xiaomi servers works. Mi Cloud system not only copies files, but creates a mirror copy of them, which is constantly updated. If you take a picture, it is uploaded to the cloud; if you delete it in the cloud, it can also be removed from the phone, if the appropriate option is enabled.
The basic process is to constantly check for changes. When you open a gallery, the app checks the list of files on the device against the database on the server. Bilateral synchronization means that changes apply everywhere. This is convenient for accessing photos from different gadgets, but requires caution when cleaning the archive.
⚠️ Note: Deleting a photo from the Cloud folder in the Gallery app when synchronization is enabled will delete this file from all connected devices.
It is important to distinguish between local copies and cloud originals. Often users store compressed previews in their phone's memory, believing that the full versions are online. Before a mass sweep, make sure that important data is stored on an external medium or computer.
Removal via i.mi.com web interface
The safest and most controlled way to manage files is to use an official website, which allows you to delete photos in the cloud xiaomi without affecting the data on the smartphone itself, if you first turn off sync or act carefully.
Log in using your Mi Account. The site interface replicates the folder structure on the device, but works regardless of your phone's current sync settings. You'll see categories: Photos, Contacts, Messages, and more. Select the Photos section to access the gallery.
- 📸 Select unnecessary pictures by ticking or pressing the Shift key to select the range.
- 🗑️ Click the “Delete” button in the top menu of the toolbar.
- 🔄 Confirm the action in the pop-up window to send files to the basket.
Once deleted, the files are placed in the "Recently Deleted" folder, which stores them for 30 days, which gives you time to recover if you accidentally erase the extra, and only after cleaning the basket, the space in the cloud will be completely freed up.
☑️ Pre-deletion check
Cleaning the gallery on the Xiaomi smartphone
Managing files directly from your phone is the fastest way, but it requires maximum concentration. Open the standard Gallery app and go to the Albums tab. Here you are interested in a folder called Cloud or Mi Cloud.
If you simply delete a photo from the shared All feed, it will also be removed from the cloud when sync is enabled. To avoid this, some users prefer to turn off the download first. Go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Gallery and turn off the switch.
However, if your goal is to clear the cloud storage by leaving files on your phone (if they are there in full size), you need to act carefully. Choose an album, click Select and tag files. After pressing the delete button, the system will warn you of the consequences.
| Action. | With synchronization enabled | With the synchronization off. |
|---|---|---|
| Delete in the Cloud folder | Removed everywhere (phone + server) | Removable only on the device |
| Deletion in the Camera folder | Removed everywhere | Removed only locally |
| Cleaning the basket | Frees up space in the cloud | Frees up space on the phone |
Remember that after you turn off sync, new photos will stop downloading, but the old ones will remain in the cloud until you manually delete them through the web interface or clean the application data.
Turning off photo synchronization
Often, users don't need to delete old files so much as stop automatically downloading new ones. This is true when the free limit of 5GB ends. To stop the process, open your device's Settings and find the Mi Account section.
In the cloud menu, look for Gallery, and here is the main switch, "Cloud Sync," and when it's turned off, the system will stop comparing the local gallery to the server, and all new images will remain in the phone's memory.
⚠️ Warning: Disabling sync does not remove photos that have already been uploaded from the cloud. They will stay there and take up space until you manually delete them.
There's also a feature called "Clear Locks," which allows you to free up space on your phone by leaving your photo in the cloud, which is the opposite of deleting, but it's a useful option to optimize your memory, and use it if you want to save your archive, but the phone is slowing down because of space constraints.
Working with the basket and data recovery
Xiaomi’s security system provides a buffer zone for deleted files, and the recently deleted folder stores photos for 30 days, a critical element that allows you to correct errors made in the rush to free up space.
To recover a file, go to the album "Recently deleted", select the desired image and click the Restore button. The photo will return to its original album and will start syncing again with the cloud if the function is active.
- 🕰️ Files are stored for 30 days, after which they are deleted irrevocably.
- 💾 Occupied space in the cloud is released only after cleaning this basket.
- 📵 Recovery is possible from another device if you are logged in to the same account.
If you want to delete a photo in the cloud forever and immediately, you need to go to this folder and select the option “Clean everything”.
Solving removal and synchronization problems
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where photos are not deleted or deleted incorrectly, this may be due to an unstable Internet connection or errors in the Gallery application, in which case it is recommended to check the status of the network and update the page or restart the application.
If deletion freezes, try cleaning the app cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps → Gallery → Memory and click Clear Cache. This won't delete your photos, but will reset temporary files that may be causing crashes.
If the cloud is 100% full, the sync may not work properly, in which case deleting some files is a prerequisite for the service to return to normal.