Xiaomi Cloud Gallery (or Mi Cloud Gallery) is a cloud storage for photos and videos designed specifically for the Xiaomi ecosystem, POCO Or Xiaomi, they've probably come up against the idea of saving media files in the cloud when they first launch. But what is it? How does Xiaomi Cloud Gallery work, how is it better (or worse) than its peers like Google Photos, and whether it should be trusted with personal photos?
In this article, we will go through all aspects of the service in detail, from basic features to hidden settings that will help save space on the phone and protect data, and answer the most common questions users ask, for example, why photos disappear from the gallery after synchronization or how to restore deleted files. If you are just starting to use the Xiaomi ecosystem or want to optimize your experience with the cloud, this guide is for you.
What is Xiaomi Cloud Gallery and Why You Need It?
Xiaomi Cloud Gallery is a part of the Mi Cloud service, designed to store, sync and back up photos and videos. It is essentially an analogue of Google Photos or iCloud, but with a link to a Xiaomi account (account.xiaomi.com).The service automatically uploads media files from your smartphone to the cloud, freeing up space on the device, and allows you to view them from any gadget – whether it is another phone, tablet or even a computer via the web version.
The main tasks that Xiaomi Cloud Gallery solves:
- 📱 Backup: Protecting photos from loss when your phone breaks or resets.
- 🔄 Sync: Accessing the same files from multiple devices (e.g. Redmi Note 12 and Xiaomi Pad 6).
- 🗑️ Memory optimization: the ability to delete local copies of photos, leaving only the cloud versions.
- 🔒 Security: Encrypting data during transmission and storage (according to Xiaomi).
It’s important to understand that Cloud Gallery is not a standalone app, but a feature integrated into the standard Xiaomi Gallery (com.miui.gallery), which only works when you log in to your Mi Account account and sync enabled, without which all photos will be stored exclusively on your phone.
How to sync photos in Mi Cloud
The sync process in Xiaomi Cloud Gallery is automatic, but it can be customized to suit your needs. By default, the service uploads to the cloud:
- 📸 All new photos and videos taken on the phone camera.
- 🖼️ Screenshots (if not disabled in settings).
- 🎨 Images saved from messengers or browser (optional).
The algorithm of the work is simple:
- You take a photo or video on your smartphone.
- When you connect to Wi-Fi (or mobile internet, if allowed), the file is uploaded to Mi Cloud.
- After successful download in the gallery next to the file appears the icon of the cloud ⛅.
- If the "Free space" option is enabled, the local copy can be deleted (only the cloud version remains).
The loading speed depends on several factors:
| Factor. | Impact on synchronization |
|---|---|
| Quality of Internet connection | With slow Wi-Fi or mobile internet, downloading can take hours. |
| File size | Photo in RAW or video 4K They take longer to load than the compressed ones. JPEG. |
| Energy saving settings | In the "Ultra-Economic" mode, synchronization can be suspended. |
| MIUI version | On older versions (e.g, MIUI 12) possible loading bugs. |
Critical Feature: Xiaomi Cloud Gallery does not support background loading on some smartphone models (e.g., Xiaomi Cloud Gallery, POCO X3 Pro on MIUI This means that synchronization may be interrupted if you close the Gallery app".
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To speed up the load, connect to Wi-Fi before you first switch on sync and charge your phone to 50 percent or more, which will reduce the risk of interruption.
How to Enable and Configure Xiaomi Cloud Gallery
You can activate the Xiaomi Cloud Gallery in two ways: through your phone settings or from the Gallery app. Let's look at both.
Method 1: Through the MIUI settings
- Open Settings → Accounts and Sync → Mi Account.
- Sign in if you have not already logged in to your account.
- Go to the Mi Cloud section → gallery.
- Activate the gallery synchronization switch.
- Click on Sync Settings to select which files to download (photos, videos, screenshots).
Method 2: Through the "Gallery" app
- Open the standard gallery on your phone.
- Tap on three points (⋮) In the upper right corner, select "Mi Cloud".
- Turn on synchronization and set up the settings (load quality, automatic space freeup, etc.).
After activation, it is recommended to check the following settings:
Enable Wi-Fi-only download (to avoid wasting mobile traffic)
Set the quality of the "Original" (if it is important to maintain the original resolution)
Disable screenshot sync (if you don’t need it in the cloud)
Enable the option to “Free space” (if the phone has little memory)
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If the photos do not load after synchronization is enabled, check:
- 🔌 Internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data).
- 🔋 Battery level (on some models, synchronization is blocked when the charge is below 15%).
- 📥 Free space in Mi Cloud (free is only 5 GB).
What to do if the synchronization is suspended?
How much does Xiaomi Cloud Gallery cost and how to increase the space
By default, each Mi Account gets 5GB of free cloud storage, which is enough for about:
- 📷 1,500–2,000 photos in 12 MP resolution (compressed).
- 🎥 30-50 minutes of video as Full HD.
- 📄 1,000–1,500 documents (PDF, DOCX).
If 5GB isn't enough, you can buy extra space. Current rates for 2026:
| Storage volume | Monthly cost (₽) | Cost per year (₽) |
|---|---|---|
| 50GB | ~50 | ~500 |
| 200GB | ~150 | ~1 500 |
| 2 TB | ~300 | ~3 000 |
You can pay for the subscription through:
- 💳 Bank card (Visa, Mastercard, Mir).
- 💰 Qiwi, WebMoney or Yandex.Money (in some regions).
- 📱 Mobile phone balance (not available in all countries).
Important: If you don’t renew your subscription, file access is saved, but new photos will stop downloading, and Xiaomi doesn’t delete data immediately after the expiration date – it stays in the cloud for another 30 days (in case you change your mind).
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Before buying additional space, check which files take up the most space.It may be worth removing old backups or duplicate photos.
Xiaomi Cloud Gallery Data Security: Should You Trust?
One of the main questions users ask is how securely to store personal photos in the cloud Xiaomi? SSL-encryption for data transmission and AES-256 But there are a few nuances to this:
Safety benefits:
- 🔐 Two-factor authentication (2FA) for the Mi Account account.
- 🛡️ Opportunity to configure "Application Block" to access the gallery.
- 🌍 Xiaomi servers are located in several countries (including Russia for local users).
Potential risks:
- 🕵️♂️ Xiaomi can theoretically analyze metadata of photos (date, location) for targeted advertising.
- 📵 If you lose access to your account (forget your password or phone number), it will be difficult to recover photos.
- 🇨🇳 Some users fear that the data could be shared with Chinese authorities (although Xiaomi has officially denied this).
For additional protection, it is recommended:
- Enable two-factor authentication in the Mi Account settings.
- Do not store confidential photos (passports, tickets, intimate photos) in the cloud.
- Periodically download backup copies to the computer.
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If you are afraid of data leakage, before uploading to the cloud, you can archive photos with a password (for example, in the cloud). ZIP Encrypted) and upload the archive.
Xiaomi Cloud Gallery is different from Google Photos
Many Xiaomi users are faced with a choice: whether to use the built-in Xiaomi Cloud Gallery or go to Google Photos.
| Criteria | Xiaomi Cloud Gallery | Google Photo |
|---|---|---|
| Free seat | 5GB (all cloud, including backups) | 15GB (common with Gmail and Google Drive) |
| Quality of storage | Original or compression (to choose from) | "High quality" (compression) or original (paid) |
| Search for photos | Basic (by date, albums) | Recognition of persons, objects, text |
| Integration with MIUI | Deep (automatic synchronization) | Requires manual adjustment |
| Access to PC | Only via i.mi.com (limited) | Full Web Interface and Desktop Application |
What is the best way to use Xiaomi Cloud Gallery:
- 📱 Smartphone owners Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO, Those who want to integrate with the maximum MIUI.
- 💰 Those who are not willing to pay for Google One (15GB in Google Photos are fast running out).
- 🔒 Users who trust Xiaomi more than Google (subjectively).
Who better to choose Google Photos:
- 🔍 People who often search for photos by content (such as “beach” or “cat").
- 💻 Who works with photos on the computer (more convenient interface).
- 🌍 Who uses other Google services (such as Gmail or Docs).
Can you use both services at the same time? Yes, but it's not always convenient: photos will be duplicated, and space on the phone will take two cloud clients, the best option is to choose one service and customize it to your needs.
How to Recover Deleted Photos from Xiaomi Cloud
If you accidentally delete photos from Xiaomi Cloud Gallery, they can be restored within 30 days (if they were synced to the cloud).
- Open the Gallery app on your phone.
- Go to the Albums section. → Basket.
- Select the files you want and click "Restore".
If there are no photos in the cart, try:
- 🌐 Go to the web version of Mi Cloud from your computer and check the folder "Recently deleted".
- 📧 Write in support of Xiaomi (if the files were critically important).
- 🔍 Use data recovery software (e.g., DiskDigger) if photos are not already overwritten on your phone.
⚠️ Note: if you delete photos before syncing with Mi Cloud, you can’t restore them through the cloud, in which case only specialized software to recover files from the internal memory of the phone will help.
To avoid future data loss:
Enable automatic synchronization with Mi Cloud
Periodically copy important photos to your computer or external disk
Use two clouds (e.g. Mi Cloud) + Google Photos) for duplication
Check the cart before final cleaning
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