How to Remove Backups from Xiaomi Cloud: 4 Verified Ways

Xiaomi Cloud (Mi Cloud) automatically backs up your data, from contacts and messages to photos and app settings. Over time, these copies take up precious gigabytes, especially if you change your smartphones often or experiment with firmware. The problem is that the standard Mi Cloud interface doesn’t always allow you to delete backups in a single click: some files get stuck in the system, and old backups from previous devices can remain invisible to the user.

In this article, you will find 4 working methods for removing backups, from official tools to hidden features of the web version of the cloud. We will also discuss why some backups are not deleted through the mobile application and how to circumvent this limitation. If you encounter an error “Not enough space in the Mi Cloud” or just want to clean up the archives, read on.

Why do backups take up space in Mi Cloud?

Xiaomi Cloud system reserves data for two scenarios:

• 🔄 Automatic redundancy – is enabled when activating the function in the smartphone settings (path: Settings) → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Backup: The system saves copies once a day if the device is connected to Wi-Fi and charged.
• 📱 Manual backups — created by the user before resetting, updating the firmware or selling the phone, often duplicated and left in the cloud for years.
• 🚀 Hidden copies from previous devices – if you have changed Xiaomi, Redmi or other smartphones POCO, Old backups may take up space but not appear in the main list.

The main problem is an opaque storage system, for example, a 2GB copy can consist of:

• 📞 Contacts and call logs (50MB)
• 💬 Messages and multimedia from SMS/MMS (1,2 GB)
• ⚙️ System and application settings (300 MB)
• 📷 Miniature photos from the gallery (450 MB)

Xiaomi, by default, provides only 5 GB of free space (for new accounts – 10 GB).If you do not clean backups, free space quickly ends, and buying additional volume (from 200 GB). ₽ 50 GB per month is not always justified.

Method 1: Remove from the Mi Cloud mobile application

The easiest method is to use the official Mi Cloud app on your smartphone, which is suitable for removing current backups from an active device, but doesn’t always show copies from old phones.

Open the “Mi Cloud” app on your smartphone

Sign in with the same account as in the cloud

Connect to a stable Wi-Fi (recommended)

Close all background applications-->

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Mi Cloud app (white cloud icon on a blue background).
2. Go to Backup (or Backup in English).
3. Click on your device name at the top of the screen and a list of available copies will open.
4. Select the desired copy and tap the basket icon (🗑️) or the Remove button.
5. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

⚠️ Note: If the delete button is inactive or not, then:

• 🔒 The copy is protected by the system (for example, created less than a day ago).
• 📵 The device from which the backup is made is tied to another account.
• 🌐 You try to delete a copy through the web version where some features are limited.

💡

If there are no old backups on the list, try logging into Mi Cloud via your PC browser – all attached devices, even those that are disabled, are displayed there.

Method 2: Clean up through the web version of Xiaomi Cloud

The i.mi.com web interface provides advanced backup management capabilities, and you can remove hidden backups from previous devices that are not visible in the mobile app.

How to delete:

1. Open your browser on your PC or smartphone and go to i.mi.com.
2. Sign in with your Xiaomi account.
3. In the menu on the left, select Devices.
4. Find the Backups section – all copies from all associated devices will be displayed here.
5. Press three points (⋮) Next to an unnecessary copy and select Delete.

⚠️ Note: In the web version, some copies may be marked as "Secure", which means they are tied to a device that is still actively using the Mi Cloud. To delete such a copy, first untie the device in your account settings (Security). → Devices).

Method 3: Remove via MIUI Cleaner (Hidden Function)

Little-known fact: MIUI has a built-in MIUI Cleaner tool that allows you to manage backups directly from the system, which works on devices with MIUI 12-14 and does not require a connection to a PC.

Instructions:

1. Open the Security app (shield icon).
2. Go to the Cleaner section.
3. Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Deep Cleaning.
4. Scroll down to the Mi Cloud Backups block.
5. Select unnecessary copies and click Clean.

🔹 Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ Faster than the web version (no need to enter a password).
• 🔍 Shows copies that are not visible in the standard Mi Cloud.
• 📱 It works without a connection to the PC.

⚠️ Note: If after cleaning in MIUI Cleaner space in the cloud has not increased, so the copies were deleted only locally (from the phone), but remained in Mi Cloud).

Method 4: Complete ADB cleaning (for power users)

If standard methods did not work, and the cloud remained "unremovable" copies, you can use the ADB debugging bridge. This method is suitable for users familiar with the command line, and requires the inclusion of the developer mode.

Preparation:

1. Activate Developer Mode on your smartphone: go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
4. Download ADB Tools and unpack it into a separate folder.

Commands to remove backups:

adb shell pm list packages | grep backup # Checking backup services


adb shell dumpsys backup # View current backup tasks




adb shell bmgr list transports # List of transports (including Mi Cloud)




adb shell bmgr wipe data # Clean up all local backups




adb shell bmgr disable true # Turning off automatic redundancy

💡

The adb shell bmgr wipe data command only deletes local copies on the device, but does not affect the data in Mi Cloud. For complete cloud cleaning, use it in combination with Method 2 (web version).

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB may lead to:

• 🔧 Mi Cloud Services Failure (registration of account required).
• 📵 Loss of data if you delete system files.
• 🚫 Blocking certain functions (e.g., synchronizing contacts).

If you are not sure about your actions, you should contact Method 2 or contact Xiaomi support via the official website.

What to do if backup copies are not deleted?

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where copies are not deleted either through the application or through the web version.

🔹 Additional steps:

• 🔄 Resetting the Mi Cloud cache: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Mi Cloud → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
• 📧 Changing your account password: Sometimes it resets the session and allows you to see hidden copies.
• 🌍 Change your account region: In the Mi Cloud settings, try changing your region to “Russia” or “Global” (if you have a Chinese version).

How to disable automatic backup?

To prevent the cloud from being filled with unnecessary copies, it is recommended to disable automatic backup or configure it to suit your needs.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Backup.
2. Turn off the automatic backup slider.
3. Click on Backup Settings and uncheck the boxes for unnecessary data (such as Call Records or Wi-Fi settings).
4. In the Schedule section, select Never or set an interval no more than 1 time per month.

💡

If you're a firmware experimenter, instead of auto backup, use manual redundancy before critical operations, which will save you space in the cloud.

⚠️ Note: Disabling automatic redundancy means that:

• 📱 You will lose data when you reset your phone if you forget to make a backup manually.
• 🔄 Contacts and notes will no longer sync between devices.
• 📅 Calendar and reminders will only be available locally.

If you need sync but don’t need full backups, leave only critical options on:

• 📇 Contacts
• 📝 Notes
• 📅 Calendar

FAQ: Frequent questions about deleting backups