How to Clean Xiaomi Cloud: Delete Unnecessary Files and Free Up Space in Mi Cloud

Xiaomi Cloud Storage (Mi Cloud) is a convenient service for automatic backup of photos, contacts, notes and other data from Redmi, POCO and Mi smartphones. However, even 5 GB of free space (or 100 GB by subscription) sooner or later end up - especially if you actively use synchronization. In this article, we will discuss how to clean the Xiaomi cloud from unnecessary files, optimize its operation and avoid errors when deleting.

The problem of crowded clouds is familiar to many: the smartphone starts to issue notifications about space shortages, stops syncing new photos, and backups are created with errors. The reasons for filling up the storage are different: duplicate photos, old backups of attached devices, app cache, or even files from long-deleted accounts, we will show you how to find and remove all this junk without losing important data.

It's important to understand that cleaning the cloud is not just about freeing up space, it's also about preventing personal information from leaking out. For example, backups can store SMS with confirmation codes, call history, or banking application data, so you should look carefully before you delete files on a mass scale.

Why Xiaomi Cloud is Fast: The Main Reasons

Even if you don't manually upload files to Mi Cloud, storage can fill up unnoticed, and here are the most common reasons:

• 📸 Automatic sync of gallery photos (on by default on most Xiaomi smartphones) Every new photo or video is duplicated in the cloud, taking up space.
• 📱 Backups of devices: When you change your phone or reset your settings, old backups stay in the cloud and can weigh several gigabytes.
• 📝 Synchronization of notes, contacts and SMS. Even text data takes up space, especially if you actively use the Notes app or save multimedia messages.
• 🔄 Cache and temporary files from Mi Cloud, Gallery or Browser applications, which are sometimes stored in the cloud instead of local storage.
• 👥 Files from connected devices: If several gadgets are tied to one Xiaomi account (for example, a smartphone) + Fitness bracelet Mi Band, their data also take place.

The cloud is filled up especially quickly by users who:

• 📷 Take a lot of photos in format RAW or video 4K (One such file can weigh 50–100 MB).
• 🔄 Smartphones are often changed and backups are created “just in case».
• 📱 Use the cloud as the primary storage for documents (e.g. scanned passport copies, checks, contracts).

⚠️ Note: If you deleted a photo or file from your phone, but it stayed in the Mi Cloud, the cloud is still occupied. Sync works both ways: delete from the device ≠ cloud-out.

How to check how much space is occupied in the cloud Xiaomi

Before you clean the vault, you need to know what's taking up space.

1. Open the Settings app on your Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO smartphone.
2. Go to Accounts → Mi Cloud (or just find Mi Cloud through the Settings search).
3. At the top of the screen you will see a storage usage chart broken down by categories: Photos, Videos, Backups, Documents, etc.
4. Click on any category to see a detailed list of files.

You can also check the occupied space through the web version of Mi Cloud (sign up under the same Xiaomi account):

• 🌐 Go to the Warehouse tab.
• 📊 This shows the total amount of occupied space and a list of all files sorted by size.
• 🔍 Use search by extensions (for example,.mp4 For video or.zip for archives, find the heaviest files.

If you see that most of the space is occupied by the category "Other files", most likely it is cache or temporary data, and it can be deleted without the risk of losing important information.

Step-by-step: How to remove unnecessary files from Mi Cloud

Xiaomi’s cloud cleanup can be done from a smartphone or via the web, and we recommend using both for maximum efficiency.

Method 1: Remove via mobile application

This method is convenient for quick cleaning of photos, videos and backups:

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Cloud.
2. Select the category you want to clear (such as Photos or Backups).
3. Click on the basket icon (🗑️) or select files manually (long press to highlight multiple items).
4. Confirm the deletion. The files will be put in a bin where they will be stored for another 30 days before the final erasure.

For backups:

1. Go to Mi Cloud → Backup copies.
2. Select the device you want to remove.
3. Click Delete backup and confirm the action.

Make sure important files are saved locally or on PC|

Check the backup date – it may be outdated |

Sort files by size to remove the heaviest ones |

Browse the cart – there may be files that can already be permanently deleted-->

Method 2: Cleaning up via the web version of Mi Cloud

The web interface is more convenient for mass deletion of files and work with documents:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. On the left menu, select Warehouse.
3. Check boxes for unnecessary files or folders (you can sort by type, date or size).
4. Click Remove (basket icon).

The advantage of the web version:

• 🖥️ It is easier to work with large amounts of data (for example, delete hundreds of photos at a time).
• 🔍 There is an advanced search by file name or extension.
• 📁 You can create folders and move files between them (for example, to sort before deleting).

⚠️ Note: Deleting files from Mi Cloud via the web version doesn't delete them from your smartphone (and vice versa).Sync works independently, so after clearing the cloud, check if files are left on the device if you need them.

How to Clean the Recycle Bin in Mi Cloud and Free Up the Place

Deleted files in Mi Cloud are placed in a shopping cart that is stored for 30 days before being erased, to make room immediately:

1. Open the Mi Cloud app on your smartphone or go to the web version.
2. Find the Recycle Bin section (in the mobile application it can be hidden under the menu “More” or “More”).
3. Select all files (or select the ones you want) and click Clear the Recycle Bin or Delete Forever.

If the basket is not cleaned:

• 🔄 Try updating the page or restarting the application.
• 📱 Make sure you have a stable internet connection (cleanup errors are often linked to a poor network).
• 🔧 Reinstall the Mi Cloud app through Settings → Annexes.

Once the cart is cleaned, the storage space will not be available immediately, but within a few hours (sometimes up to a day), which is normal – Xiaomi servers take time to process.

💡

If you deleted an important file from your Recycle Bin by mistake, try to restore it within 30 days. To do this, open the Recycle Bin in the Mi Cloud web version, highlight the file and click Restore.

Xiaomi Cloud Optimization: How to Prevent Fast Filling

To avoid cleaning Mi Cloud every month, set up automatic optimization:

• 📸 Turn off autoloading high-resolution photos: Open Settings → Mi Cloud → Gallery. Select the download quality and set the Average instead of the Original.
• 📱 Set up a backup schedule: Go to Mi Cloud → Backups: Turn off automatic copying or set intervals (e.g., once a week instead of daily copying).
• 🗃️ Use local storage for temporary files: In applications like Notes or Screen Records, select save to your device rather than to the cloud.

Also useful:

• 🔍 Regularly (every 1-2 months) check the Warehouse section in Mi Cloud for large or outdated files.
• 📁 Create separate folders for different types of data (for example, “Working documents”, “Personal photos”) – it is easier to control the volume of data.
• 🔄 Export important data to a PC or external drive periodically and then remove it from the cloud.

Frequent Mistakes in Cleaning Xiaomi Cloud and How to Avoid Them

Many users experience problems after cleaning the Mi Cloud, and here are the most common errors and solutions:

If the cloud is still filling up quickly after cleaning, check:

• 🔄 Is screenshots or screen recordings synchronized (they can take up a lot of space).
• 📱 Are there files in the cloud from older devices that you no longer use.
• 📎 Are there no attachments from messengers (for example, from Telegram or WhatsApp) stored in the cloud).