How to remove backup from Xiaomi Cloud: all ways

Why you should delete backups from Xiaomi Cloud and when you need them

Xiaomi Cloud Cloud automatically backs up your data, from contacts and messages to system settings and photos. This is convenient until the space runs out. The free fare offers just 5GB that fill up quickly, especially if you’re actively using a Redmi smartphone, POCO or Xiaomi’s flagship 13/14 series. At some point, the system starts giving notifications about space shortages, and new backups stop being created.

Removing old backups is the only way to make room without buying extra volume. But there's a nuance here: some copies may be linked to a Mi Account, and deleting them will affect the synchronization of data between devices. For example, if you delete a backup of a Mi Fit, the history of training on a Mi Band or Xiaomi Watch smartwatch can be reset. So before cleaning, it's important to understand what data is stored in each copy and how deleting it will affect the work of gadgets.

Another reason to remove it is privacy, because if you sell or transfer a smartphone to another person, old backups in the cloud can contain personal information, such as Wi-Fi passwords, call logs, messages to Mi Messages, and even after you reset your phone to factory settings, that data will remain in the cloud unless you manually delete it.

How to check which backups are stored in Xiaomi Cloud

Before you delete something, you need to figure out what data is taking up space, and there are two ways to do that: through the Mi Cloud mobile app or the web version of the service, both of which will show you the full list of backups, their size and the date of creation.

Through the mobile application:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Slip on the item Backup of the device.
3. Choose your device from the list (if there are several).
4. Scroll down to the History backup block – all saved versions will be displayed here.

Through the web version (on a computer or phone):

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. In the menu on the left, select Backup.
3. Click on your device name and a list of all backups will open with their size.

Note the Size column – often the largest copies are created when you first backup or postmajor system updates (for example, when you switch from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14). Also check if the data is duplicated: sometimes the same copy can be displayed twice due to synchronization failures.

Delete backups through the Mi Cloud mobile app

The easiest way to clean up the cloud is to use an official app on your smartphone, a method that works for most MIUI 12-14-based Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, the main condition is that the phone must be connected to the Internet and logged in to the same Mi Account where copies are stored.

Step-by-step:

Important details:

• 📱 Deletion is only possible for copies created from this device, and if you want to clear the backup from an old smartphone that you don't use anymore, you'll have to use the web version.
• ⏳ The process can take a few minutes, especially if the copy weighs more than 1 GB. Do not interrupt it or close the application.
• 🔄 After deleting the vacant space will not be available immediately - sometimes it takes up to 24 hours for changes to appear in the account.

⚠️ Note: If you delete a copy that was created less than a day ago, the system can automatically start a new backup when you next connect to Wi-Fi. To avoid this, disable autosynchronization in Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup → Automatic backup.

Remove via the web version of Xiaomi Cloud (from a computer or phone)

The web interface of Xiaomi Cloud is convenient in that it allows you to manage backups from any device, even if the original smartphone is lost or broken. For example, you can delete copies from the old Redmi Note 9 without having it at hand.

How to remove the backup through the browser:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in to your account.
2. In the left menu, select Backup.
3. Click on the name of the device you want to delete.
4. In the backup list, click on three dots (⋮) Next to the correct version and select Delete.
5. Confirm the action in the window that appears.

Advantages of this method:

• 🖥️ Access from any device – no need to look for an old smartphone.
• 📊 Easy viewing of all copies in one place, including data from multiple gadgets.
• 🔍 Sorting by date and size to quickly find the largest files.

⚠️ Note: If you delete a backup through the web version and then try to create a new one from the same device, the system may give an error "Not enough space" within a few hours. wait 12-24 hours or try to create a copy from another gadget.

What to do if the backup copy is not deleted

Sometimes when trying to clear the backup, users encounter errors: the Remove button is inactive, the process hangs during the preparation stage, or a message appears “failed to delete”, the reasons can be different, from temporary failures of Xiaomi servers to account restrictions.

Common problems and their solutions:

• 🔄 The copy is used by another device — if you recently restored data on a new smartphone, the backup may be blocked.Solution: wait until sync is complete (usually takes 1-2 hours).
• 📵 No internet connection – check that Wi-Fi or mobile network is stable. For large copies (over 2 GB), it is recommended to use Wi-Fi.
• 🔒 Account restrictions – if you have recently changed your password or email in your Mi Account, the system can block cloud transactions.
• ⏳ Server issues – sometimes Xiaomi Cloud services are overloaded, especially after new versions are released MIUI. Check the status of the servers at status.mi.com.

If none of these methods worked, try an alternative method:

1. Create a new backup (even if space is scarce, select a minimum dataset).
2. Wait until the process is completed.
3. Try to delete the old copy again, sometimes it works.

How to Free Up Space in Xiaomi Cloud Without Removing Backups

If you don’t want to lose backups, but space is sorely short, there are a few ways to optimize storage:

1. disable backup of unnecessary data:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup.
• 🔧 Tap on Backup Settings.
• ✅ Check off unnecessary items, such as Call Records, Notes, or Wi-Fi settings (unless they are critical).

2. Reduce the frequency of automatic backup:

• 📅 In the same backup settings, select the Schedule.
• 🔄 Set the interval 1 time per month instead of Daily or Weekly.

3. Move your important data to another cloud:

• 📁 Copy photos and videos from Xiaomi Cloud to Google Photos or Yandex Drive.
• 📩 Export contacts to a.vcf file and save it to your computer.

💡

If you often make backups, but space is always not enough, consider buying an additional volume. 50 GB in Xiaomi Cloud costs about 300-400 rubles a year – this is cheaper than losing important data.

You can also use local backup to your computer through the Mi PC Suite, which doesn't take up space in the cloud, but requires manual control, to create a local backup:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC via USB (in File Transfer mode).
2. Download and install Mi PC Suite.
3. In the program, select Backup and follow the process.

Radical method: resetting the device to factory settings

If standard methods don't work and you need to make room quickly, you can resort to a complete reset of your phone, which will remove all data from your device, including its associated backups in the cloud, and use it only as a last resort, such as before selling your smartphone.

How to reset Xiaomi to factory settings:

1. Back up your important data to your computer or other cloud (if there is still room left).
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase all data.
4. Enter the password from your Mi Account (if requested).
5. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.

After discharge:

• 🔄 The device will restart and return to the “out of the box” state".
• 📱 All backups associated with this smartphone will be removed from Xiaomi Cloud (unless they have been synced with other gadgets).
• 🔑 When you first turn on, you will be asked to recover data from the cloud – refuse if the goal was to vacate space.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro) POCO X3 Pro) after reset, you may need to re-authorize your Mi Account to unlock your device. If you forget your password, restore it in advance at account.xiaomi.com.

💡

Factory resets are the last chance to free up space in the cloud if other methods fail, but remember: all data from the phone will be permanently deleted, including photos, messages and installed apps.

Frequently asked questions