Xiaomi Mi Cloud cloud storage is an indispensable tool for backing up photos, contacts and notes, but the standard 5GB runs out quickly.Many users don't know that the free extension is available without buying a premium subscription. In this article, we will analyze all working methods of increasing the volume - from official shares to little-known life hacks that give you a chance to do so. +20 GB without the risk of blocking the account.
It’s important to understand that Mi Cloud is tightly tied to a Xiaomi account, so all memory manipulation requires a validated profile. If you haven’t signed up or linked your phone number yet, start with this — without verification, most bonuses will not be available. Also, some methods only work for new accounts or when you first connect your device.
We tested all the described methods on current firmware MIUI 14/15 (2026 year) and devices from Redmi Note 12 Xiaomi 14 If you use the old version of the software, some of the functions may be missing – update the smartphone before starting.
1. Registration and initial bonuses: how to get +5GB at once
The easiest way to increase storage is to activate all the starting bonuses when you create a Xiaomi account, which many people miss out on by losing up to 5GB of extra space.
- 📱 Register a new account through the official Mi Account app (not through the browser!). Use a valid email and link your phone number - without this, bonuses will not be credited.
- 🔗 Confirm your email and phone within 24 hours, and delay will result in the loss of some bonuses.
- 📸 Upload the first photo to Mi Cloud via the gallery. +1GB.
- 📱 Connect the first device to your account, and you get more synchronization for your smartphone or tablet. +2GB.
If you have already created an account, check if bonuses are activated:
- Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
- Slip on the line "Storage management."
- In the Bonuses section, see the list of activated gifts.
If you don’t do any of these things, do it now, and the system will complete the memory within 48 hours.
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Use a temporary email to register a second account (e.g. via Temp-Mail) to receive duplicate bonuses, but remember: Xiaomi may block such profiles if a multi-account is detected.
⚠️ Note: Sign up bonuses are only valid for accounts created after 2022. If your profile is older, this method will not work - go to the following ways.
Inviting friends: before +10GB per referrals
One of the most effective ways is through the Mi Cloud referral program, and for every friend you invite who signs up on your link and fulfills the terms and conditions, you get a reward. +1 GB (maximum) +10GB. Here's how it works:
- Open the Mi Cloud app on your smartphone.
- Go to the "Invite Friends" section (may be called "Get more memory").
- Copy the referral link or send an invitation via messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram).
- A friend should sign up for your link, confirm your account, and upload at least 1 file to the cloud.
Important nuances:
- 🔄 The bonus is credited only after the friend has fulfilled all the conditions (registration) + file-loading).
- ⏳ Memory is added within 3-7 days. If more time has passed, check the status of the invitation in the section "My invitations".
- 🚫 No bonuses are awarded for blocked or suspicious accounts.
| Number of friends | Bonus memory | Duration of validity |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 friends | +1 GB each | Constantly. |
| 4-6 friends | +1.5 GB each | Constantly. |
| 7-10 friends | +2 GB each | Constantly. |
| 11+ friend | No bonuses are awarded | — |
💡 Lifehack: If you don’t have real friends with Xiaomi devices, you can use second accounts on the same devices (for example, through Multi-User in the same device). MIUI). Xiaomi can block such schemes with mass invitations.
3. Data synchronization: Hidden GB per activity
Xiaomi is encouraging users to use the cloud more actively by giving bonuses for syncing certain types of data. Many people don't know about this, but for the first backup or enable synchronization, you can get up to +3GB, here's what works:
- 📱 Smartphone Backup: First Full Copy Through Settings → The phone. → Backup gives you +1GB.
- 📇 Contact Synchronization: Activation in Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Contacts, more. +0.5 GB.
- 📅 Notes and Records: Enable Synchronization in the Notes app (Settings) → Synchronization - bonus +0.3 GB.
- 📸 Autoupload photos: set up automatic download in the Gallery (Settings) → Cloud synchronization) — +1GB.
To check which bonuses are already activated:
- Open the Mi Cloud → Storage management → Bonuses.
- See Activity, which shows all the GBs you earned for synchronization.
Wi-Fi connection (autouploading photos only works over Wi-Fi)
Free space on the device (at least 10% of the memory capacity)
Updated version of the Mi Cloud application
Confirmed Xiaomi account (with a linked number)
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⚠️ Note: If you turn off sync after receiving the bonus, the memory will not burn, but new bonuses for re-enable. Also note that uploading photos in the original quality quickly eats up even extended storage - set up compression in the Gallery → Settings → Quality of loading.
4. Participation in promotions and testing: temporary but profitable offers
Xiaomi regularly runs promotions where simple actions can be paid extra gigabytes, often temporary (lasts 1-6 months), but they are easy to convert to permanent memory.
- 🎁 Official forum MIUI (c.mi.com: Promotions often give away memories for testimonials or beta testing.
Example of a stock (2026):
Condition: Take a survey about the new interface MIUI 15 in the Mi Community app. Bonus: +2 GB for 3 months How to secure: Actively use the cloud for 3 months (download files, enable synchronization.
🔍 How not to miss stocks:
- Enable notifications in Mi Community (Profile) → Settings → Notifications).
- Subscribe to the official pages of Xiaomi in VK, Facebook or Twitter.
- Check the Promo section in the Mi Cloud app periodically.
How to cheat the system and extend the temporary bonus?
5. Optimize current storage: free up space without loss
Before looking for ways to expand the cloud, check what your current 5GB is doing. Often users store unnecessary data that can be deleted or compressed. Here's how to make space:
- Remove duplicate photos: Open the gallery → Albums. → Duplicates. Select unnecessary copies and click "Delete".
- Clean the Recycle Bin: At Mi Cloud, go to the Recycle Bin and clean it. Files are stored there for 30 days and take up space.
- Compress Video: Use the built-in tool in the Gallery: select the video → Edit → For mass compression, install Google Files and select the "Free space" option".
- Turn off the autoload of unnecessary data: in the Mi Cloud → Settings → Autoboot disable sync for applications you don’t use (such as Call Records or Calendar).
📊 Analysis of occupied space:
| Type of data | Average volume | How to reduce |
|---|---|---|
| Photos (original quality) | 3-5 MB per photo | Enable compression in gallery settings |
| Video (Full HD) | 100-300 MB per minute | Squeeze it to 720p or cut off unnecessary fragments |
| Backup copies of applications | 500 MB-2 GB | Remove copies of old versions or unnecessary applications |
| Notes and documents | 1-50 MB | Export important notes to Google Drive |
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Regularly cleaning up unnecessary files in the cloud can free up up to 30% of the space, for example, removing duplicate photos and old backups often results in a loss of more than half the space. +1-1.5 GB.
⚠️ Note: When you delete files from Mi Cloud, they also disappear from synchronized devices (if you have the option "Delete everywhere" enabled.
6.Alternative Clouds: How to Use Mi Cloud with Other Services
If all methods are exhausted and memory is still scarce, consider hybrid storage: store some of the data in Mi Cloud and the rest in other clouds.
- 📁 Google Photos: Free 15GB (with Google Drive) Configure autoload photos in compressed quality ("High quality" instead of "Original").
- ☁️ Yandex Disk: gives 10GB for free. Easy for documents and backups.
🔄 How to Automate File Distribution:
⚠️ Note: When using multiple clouds, disable autoloading the same data to different services. For example, if photos are loaded into both Google Photos and Mi Cloud, you are wasting space. → Annexes → Auto-start.
7 Hidden chips: undocumented ways
There are some little-known memory enhancement methods that Xiaomi doesn’t advertise, but they work. Use them at your own risk:
- 🔄 Resetting the Mi Cloud cache: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Mi Cloud. Click Cache Clear and Clear Data. Reboot your device and log in again.
Sometimes the system then offers to re-activate the old bonuses.
Connecting a new device
- If you connect a new smartphone to your account (e.g. Redmi) A3 or POCO X6), The system can offer a bonus +1 GB for the first synchronization.
Changing the region of the account
- In some regions (e.g. India or Indonesia), Xiaomi offers more bonuses.To change region: Go to Settings → Xiaomi account → Personal data: Click Region and select another country (confirmation will be required by SMS).
Mi Pay
🛠️ Technical life hack for advanced:
If you have root access, you can edit the file. /data/data/com.xiaomi.cloud/service/com.xiaomi.cloud.settings.SharedPreferences.xml, change storage_quota. However, this violates the user agreement and may result in the account being blocked without the possibility of recovery.