How to go to the cloud Xiaomi (Mi Cloud) and see your photos: all the ways

Xiaomi’s Mi Cloud cloud storage has become an integral part of the brand’s ecosystem, allowing users of Redmi, POCO and Mi smartphones to automatically back up photos, videos and contacts. However, many face difficulties when logging in first or restoring access to old snapshots. This article will help you understand how to properly log in to the cloud via your phone, computer or web version, and what to do if photos are not displayed or you need to restore deleted files.

The Mi Cloud features deep integration with MIUI firmware: by default, the service syncs media files in the background, but not all users know exactly where this data is stored and how to manage it. We will consider not only the basic login methods, but also the nuances of working with different versions of MIUI (from MIUI 12 to MIUI 14), as well as alternative methods of access for devices without an associated account.

What is Mi Cloud and how does it work with photos?

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s cloud storage that provides users with up to 5GB of free space (with the option to expand to 100GB for a monthly fee), the main feature of the service is automatic synchronization of photos and videos from the smartphone gallery.

• 📱 Autoboot: By default enabled in Gallery settings → Mi Cloud: All new images are uploaded to the cloud when connected to Wi-Fi.
• 🔄 Synchronization: Gallery changes (deletion, editing) can be automatically applied to cloud copies, depending on the settings.
• 🗃️ Organization: Cloud photos are sorted by albums (Camera, Screenshots, Downloads) and dates, but do not support tags or facial recognition (unlike Google Photos).
• 🛡️ Security: Data is encrypted when transferred, but Xiaomi does not provide the “private album” feature in the free version.

It's important to understand that Mi Cloud is not a complete analogue of Google Photos or iCloud. For example, there are no tools for advanced editing or creating collages directly in the cloud. The main advantage of the service is close integration with MIUI firmware, which makes it easier to back up without additional applications.

⚠️ Note: If you have disabled the autoload in the gallery settings, new photos will not appear in the cloud automatically. To download them manually, open the album and click Empower. → Download to Mi Cloud.

Ways to log into Mi Cloud: from your phone, computer and through the browser

There are several ways to log in to Xiaomi's cloud storage, and the method depends on your goal: if you want to quickly view a photo, the web version will do, and you can use a mobile app to manage your sync settings.

1. Entry through a mobile application on a smartphone

This is the most direct way, since the Mi Cloud application is preinstalled on all devices with MIUI. The instructions are relevant for Xiaomi 13, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5 and other modern devices:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Scroll down and select Mi Account (or Xiaomi Account in the newer versions).
3. If you are not logged in, enter your login (email or phone number) and password. If your account is already linked, click Mi Cloud.
4. In the Storage Management section, select Gallery or Photos to view media files.

On some devices (such as the POCO X5 Pro), the path may be slightly different: Settings → Memory → Mi Cloud. If you do not find a partition, search by settings (the magnifier icon at the top of the screen).

Wi-Fi or mobile internet enabled

Xiaomi account tied to phone

Mi Cloud App Updated (Google Play)

Unplugged. VPN (It can block access to Xiaomi servers)-->

2. Entry through the web version on the computer

If you want to view photos on a large screen or download them on a PC, use the browser version of Mi Cloud:

1. Go to the official website: https://i.mi.com.
2. Select a region (Russia, Global or other depending on the account link).
3. Enter the login details (email/phone + password) and you may need to confirm via SMS or email when you first log in.
4. After authorization, go to the Gallery or Photos section.

The web version supports preview photos in JPEG, PNG and HEIC formats, as well as playback MP4 and MOV videos. However, to download files to a computer you will need to archive them: highlight the desired pictures → More → Download (files are packaged in ZIP).

⚠️ Note: if the error "Account does not exist" appears when entering through the browser, check the correct choice of the region. Accounts registered in Mi Russia will not work on the global version of the site (account.xiaomi.com) and vice versa.

Alternative method: through the Gallery appendix

On devices with MIUI 13/14, you can view cloud photos directly from the standard gallery:

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Slip on your profile (avatar in the upper right corner).
3. Select Mi Cloud → Photos.
4. This will show all the synchronized albums. To upload photos to your phone, select them and click Download.

This method is convenient if you want to quickly find a picture and save it locally, but note that photos downloaded through the gallery can have a reduced resolution (the option "Saving traffic" in the cloud settings).

Through the app on the phone.

Through the web version on the computer

Through the gallery

I don't use the Xiaomi cloud.-->

Why photos are not displayed in Mi Cloud: common problems and solutions

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where there is no photo in the cloud, even though synchronization is enabled, the reasons can be different from trivial errors to system failures, let's analyze the typical cases and how to fix them.

If none of these methods worked, check the status of Xiaomi servers on the Downdetector website. Sometimes problems with access to the Mi Cloud are massive and related to technical work on the company's side.

How to recover deleted photos from Mi Cloud

Xiaomi provides the ability to recover deleted photos within 30 days of their removal – but only if they were synced to the cloud.

1. Log in to Mi Cloud via the web version or mobile app.
2. Go to the Recycle Bin section (in the web version it may be called Recently Deleted).
3. Select the desired photos and click Restore.
4. Files will return to the main gallery of the cloud and start syncing with the phone (if autoload is enabled).

Important: the Recycle Bin in Mi Cloud is cleaned automatically after 30 days, and it is impossible to recover photos after this period.

If the photos were deleted from both the phone and the cloud, the chances of them returning are minimal, in which case you can try data recovery programs (for example, DiskDigger or Recuva), but they work only with the device’s local memory, not with the cloud.

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Before you delete your photos from the gallery, check if they are synced with the Mi Cloud. To do this, open the picture and look at the cloud icon in the upper right corner: if it is illuminated in blue, the photo is in the cloud.

Photo Sync Settings: How to Optimize Mi Cloud

By default, Mi Cloud syncs all photos in the original resolution, which quickly consumes free 5 GB. To manage this process, go to the cloud settings:

1. Open your Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud
2. Choose Gallery or Photo.
3. Here we can: 📶 Enable/disable Mobile Autoboot (only works via Wi-Fi by default). 🖼️ Change the quality of uploaded photos (original or compression). 📁 Eliminate individual folders from sync (e.g. Screenshots or Downloads).

To save space, we recommend:

• 🔍 Clean your cart in the cloud regularly (deleted photos take up to 30 days).
• 📉 Install Quality: Compressed (photos will weigh 2-3 times less with minimal loss of quality).
• 🚫 Disable autoload for folders with memes, stickers or temporary files.

If you take RAW photos often (like the Xiaomi 13 Ultra), consider that these files can weigh between 20 and 50 MB each, and it makes sense to upload them to the cloud selectively rather than automatically.

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Optimal settings for most users: autoload only over Wi-Fi, compressed photo quality and eliminating folders with unnecessary files (screenshots, downloads) This will allow you to meet the free 5 GB and avoid synchronization problems.

Data Security in Mi Cloud: How to Protect Your Photos

While Xiaomi claims to encrypt data when it transmits, the cloud does not provide full privacy guarantees, here are some tips for protecting personal photos:

• 🔐 Use two-factor authentication for your Xiaomi account (set up in Mi Account) → Security).
• 📵 Do not store photos of documents (passports, credit cards) or intimate pictures in the cloud – it is better to use local storage with encryption (for example, the Private folder in the Xiaomi gallery).
• 🔄 Change your account password regularly (every 3-6 months).
• 🛡️ Check active login sessions: Mi Account → Devices – If you see an unfamiliar device, immediately terminate the session.

Also, look at the privacy settings in the cloud itself:

1. Go to Mi Cloud → Settings (cog in the upper right corner).
2. Turn off the option "Allow gallery access from other applications" if you do not use it.
3. Check which apps have access to your photos (Authorized Apps section).

If you sell or transfer your Xiaomi smartphone to another person, be sure to:

1. Sign out of your Xiaomi account (Settings → Mi Account → Sign out).
2. Make a reset to factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Resetting).
3. Remove your device from the trusted list in your account (via the Mi Cloud web version).

⚠️ Note: if you do not follow these steps, the new owner of the smartphone will be able to access your photos in the cloud through the Gallery app, even without knowing the password from the account. MIUI.

FAQ: Frequent questions about working with photos in Mi Cloud