Xiaomi Cloud Storage is Full – 7 Ways to Free Up Space

You saw the “Cloud Storage Full” notification on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO — And now you can't sync photos, contacts, or notes? The problem is familiar to millions of users: the standard 5GB in the Mi Cloud ends up faster than it seems, especially if you're actively using an automatic backup, Xiaomi Gallery, or Mi Drive.

In this article, 7 proven ways to free up space in the Xiaomi cloud, including hidden settings that not everyone knows.

• 🔍 How to find and delete unnecessary files (including duplicates and cache)
• ⚙️ What synchronization settings can be turned off without loss
• 💰 Whether to buy additional space - comparison of tariffs in 2026
• 📱 Alternative clouds that integrate with MIUI rootless

And then we'll answer the question: why does Xiaomi's cloud eat up the place even when you're not downloading anything? MIUI automatically.

1. Check what exactly takes up space in the Mi Cloud

Before you delete files at random, you need to understand the structure of the occupied space. In the Xiaomi cloud, the space is distributed between:

• 📸 Photos and videos (Xiaomi Gallery)
• 📱 Backup copies (settings, SMS, callbook)
• 📝 Notes (Mi Notes)
• 🎵 Recordings from the voice recorder and XiaoAI voice
• 📁 Mi Drive files (similar to Google Drive)
• 🔄 System Logs (Hidden Files for Diagnostics)

To see the details:

1. Open the Mi Cloud app (or go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud).
2. Slip on the "Storage" line at the top of the screen.
3. The system will show a diagram of occupied space by category.

Attention! If the diagram has the category "Other" (grey segment) - these are usually system logs that MIUI It's designed for debugging. You can manually remove them (Section 3).

Photo and video cleaning: what can be removed without risk

Photos and videos are the main eaters of space in the Mi Cloud, but you need to delete them carefully so you don't lose important photos. Here are 3 safe ways to do this:

Method 1. Remove duplicates and blurred photos

MIUI has a built-in tool for finding duplicates:

1. Open the gallery (Xiaomi Gallery)
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → «Management» → «Duplicate».
3. Select unnecessary copies and click “Delete”.

💡 Tip: Before mass removal, turn on sorting by date (Gallery) → Albums. → Sorting so you don’t miss important pictures.

Method 2: Disable the autoloading of raw files

If you are taking pictures in a format RAW (For example, on Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi Note 12 Pro+), The cloud saves both files: compressed JPEG and» DNG (Weighing 20 to 50 MB each:

1. Go to Camera Settings → Photo format.
2. Select "Only" JPEG» (unless post-processing is required).
3. In Mi Cloud, remove the old ones RAW-Files: filter by.dng format.

Method 3: Transfer old photos to another cloud

If you are sorry to delete memories, but there is not enough space, export them to Google Photos, Yandex Drive or Mega.

1. In the Gallery, select a folder (e.g., “2022”).
2. Tap "Share» → «Save to... and select another cloud.
3. After downloading, remove the originals from the Mi Cloud.

Remove duplicates in the Gallery

Turn off autoboot. RAW-file

Transfer old photos to Google Photos

Check the Screenshots folder (often gigabytes of unnecessary)

Clean the Mi Cloud Recycle Bin (files are stored there for 30 days)-->

3. Delete hidden backups and system files

MIUI It creates automatic backups even if you haven't turned them on. These files take anywhere from 500MB to 2-3GB and often go undetected:

Step 1: Turn off unnecessary synchronization

Go to Settings. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Synchronize and turn off:

• 📱 «Contacts (if you use Google Contacts)
• 📞 «Call journal (not useful to most people)
• 📝 «Notes (if you do not use Mi Notes)
• 🎵 «Records” (voice notes and calls)

Step 2: Remove old app backups

MIUI Stores application settings (such as game or instant messenger data) in the Backup section to clear:

1. Open the Mi Cloud → «Backup copies».
2. Choose a device (if there are several).
3. Tap on three points. → «Management of backup copies».
4. Remove old versions (e.g. backups from 2022).

Step 3: Clear the system logs

These files are created for diagnosis and take up to 1 GB. You can delete them as follows:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 5-7 times on the line "Version" MIUI», to enable the developer mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Find “Error Logs” and click “Clear”.

4.Mi Drive Optimization: Delete Unnecessary Files

Mi Drive is the equivalent of Google Drive in Xiaomi's ecosystem, but many users don't even know it exists.

• 📄 Documents from WPS Office or Mi Notes
• 🎬 Videos uploaded via Mi Video
• 📦 Archives and APK-files (if downloaded through the browser)

How to clean Mi Drive:

1. Open the Mi Drive app (or go through the Mi Cloud) → «Mi Drive»).
2. Sort files by size (slip on the sort icon at the top).
3. Delete:

basket

If you use Mi Drive for work, make a local copy of important files before you delete them.

1. Select files to Mi Drive.
2. Slip "More» → «Save it to the device».

5. Alternative clouds: what to choose instead of Mi Cloud

If you don’t have enough of 5GB of Mi Cloud cleanup, consider alternative services that integrate better with the Mi Cloud. MIUI:

How to transfer data from Mi Cloud to another cloud:

1. Download files from Mi Cloud to your phone (via Mi Cloud) → Warehouse → Download).
2. Install an alternative cloud application (like Google Drive).
3. Upload files there (manually or through “Autoboot”).
4. Turn off sync in Mi Cloud for free categories.

How to buy additional space:

1. Open the Mi Cloud → «Warehouse».
2. Slip "Buy a Place" and select a tariff.
3. Pay via a linked card or Mi Pay.

💡

Before buying a tariff, check if you have a stock. Xiaomi often gives discounts for the first 3-6 months (for example, 200 GB for 99). ₽/months instead of 150 ₽).

7. How to prevent Mi Cloud filling in the future

To prevent the problem from recurring, set up preventive measures:

Setting 1. Limit autoloading photos over the mobile network

By default, Xiaomi Gallery syncs photos even through the 3G/4G, It's a very fast waste of cloud space and traffic to fix it:

1. Open the gallery. → «Settings» → «Mi Cloud».
2. Turn off "Mobile Network Synchronization".
3. Turn on "Wi-Fi only."

Setup 2. Eliminate folders from synchronization

Not all folders in the gallery need to be uploaded to the cloud, like screenshots or memes from messengers, to rule them out:

1. In the Gallery, go to Albums.
2. Slip three dots next to an unnecessary folder (e.g. Screenshots).
3. Select “Do not sync with Mi Cloud”.

Setup 3. Set up automatic cleaning

MIUI It can automatically delete old files from the cloud if the space runs out:

1. Go to Settings. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Warehouse.
2. Tap “Storage management» → «Auto-cleaning».
3. Enable the option and select a period (e.g. delete files older than 6 months).

Setting 4. Check "Other" regularly

Every 2-3 months, go to Mi Cloud and watch the category "Other."

• 🗃️ Cache of applications (for example, from Xiaomi Community)
• 📜 Error logs (see section 3)
• 📦 Temporary files from updates MIUI

💡

The most reliable way not to lose space is to disable the autoload of unnecessary data (call log, notes, records) and leave only photos / videos and contacts.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Mi Cloud