What Xiaomi Cloud Stores: A Complete Data List and How to Manage It

Xiaomi Cloud cloud storage has become an integral part of the brand ecosystem, but many users still do not understand what data is automatically synchronized with the company’s servers. Meanwhile, not only the convenience of working with devices, but also the security of personal information depends on it. Unlike competitors like Google Drive or iCloud, Xiaomi Cloud has unique features – for example, deep integration with branded services like Mi Home and Mi Fit, as well as specific settings for Chinese and global versions of firmware.

In this article, we will discuss in detail what types of data Xiaomi Cloud stores on smartphones, tablets and smart devices, how this data is encrypted, and what to do if the synchronization is not working correctly. MIUI, You will also learn how to disable synchronization of specific categories of data without fully logging out of your account, and why it can be critical for security.

1. The main categories of data that Xiaomi Cloud stores

By default, Xiaomi Cloud syncs a wide range of information, but not all data is uploaded to the cloud automatically. Some features require manual inclusion in settings.

• 📱 Contacts and call logs – synced by default when you first log in to your Mi Account, including not only numbers, but also your outbound/inbound call history.
• 📝 Communications (SMS/MMS) — optionally, requires separate permission, stored in encrypted form, but available for viewing through the web interface.
• 🖼️ Gallery (photos and videos) – only synced when the Cloud Gallery function is activated in settings. Supports automatic booting when connected to Wi-Fi.
• 🔄 System settings - includes wallpaper, themes MIUI, display settings, sound profiles and even alarm clock schedules.
• 📍 Notes and records - data from the Notes and Recorder applications (if installed) synchronized in the background.
• 🏠 Smart devices (Mi Home) – automation scenarios, smart home settings, sensor event history (e.g., door openings or gas leakage).

Important: Xiaomi Cloud does not store Wi-Fi passwords (they are synchronized through Google Smart Lock on global firmware) and data of banking applications – their backup is blocked by the security system MIUI. Also, files from folders labeled as Private (for example, in the Gallery or File Manager) do not get to the cloud).

Synchronization works on an all-or-nothing basis for basic categories (contacts, messages), and for other data (photos, notes, settings), you can flexibly adjust what to upload, for example, you can allow the cloud to save only photos in their original quality, but you can prevent video from downloading, which saves space.

2. How to check what data is already stored in the cloud

To see what is stored in your Xiaomi Cloud, you don’t need to install additional applications — all the information is available through standard settings.

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Sign in if you request a password.
3. Scroll down to the Data Synchronization block – here you can see a list of all categories with an indication of the amount of occupied space.
4. Click on any category (such as Gallery or Notes) to see details: the date of last sync, the number of files and the management options.

For a more detailed analysis:

• 🌐 Go to the web version of Xiaomi Cloud (only available in Chrome, Edge or Mi Browser) and see photos, notes and even post history (if sync was enabled).
• 📊 The Mi Cloud mobile app (available on Google Play) has a Statistics section that shows the seat usage graph by category.

⚠️ Note: If you see data in the cloud that you didn’t consciously store (such as old messages or deleted photos), it may mean that automatic sync has been enabled on one of your devices. To avoid leaks, it is recommended to periodically clean the cloud cache through Settings. → Mi Cloud → Clear the cache.

Previous articleXiaomi Cloud Hidden Features: What’s Synced Implicitly

Beyond the obvious categories, Xiaomi Cloud saves data that users often don’t know is activated automatically when using branded services:

One of Xiaomi’s most controversial decisions is to synchronize health data (pulse, sleep, ECG with Mi Band or Mi Watch) that is stored on the company’s servers even after the Mi Fit app is removed, and cannot be exported as standard (only through the Mi Band or Mi Watch). API If you use a smartwatch for medical purposes, it is recommended to make regular local backups through Settings. → The device → Export of data.

4.Security of data in Xiaomi Cloud: encryption and risks

Xiaomi says all data in Xiaomi Cloud is encrypted by protocol AES-256 But there are a few things you should know about when you're transferring and storing:

• 🔐 The encryption keys are stored on Xiaomi servers, not on the user’s device (unlike iCloud, which uses end-to-end encryption for some categories).This means that in theory, employees of the company can access your data at the request of law enforcement agencies.
• 🌍 Regional servers: for users from Russia, India and the EU, data is stored on local servers (Moscow, Mumbai and Frankfurt respectively), which reduces the risk of leaks outside the jurisdiction.
• 📱 Local backups (created through Settings) → Additionally. → Backups are encrypted with a password that only the user knows. They can't be restored without this password - even Xiaomi's support service won't help.

⚠️ Note: If you are using Xiaomi Cloud on a Chinese firmware device (e.g. Redmi) K60 Pro for the PRC market, your data may be subject to China’s retention law, which obliges companies to provide data to authorities on request (MIUI Global, it's not relevant.

To protect the data as much as possible:

1. Turn off message sync and call logs – these are the most vulnerable categories.
2. Use two-factor authentication (setting up in Settings) → Mi Account → Security).
3. Export your important data (photos, contacts) to your local storage or third-party clouds (Google Drive, Yandex Disk) on a regular basis.
4. Check the active sessions in Settings → Mi Account → Devices and remove unknowns.

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If you sell or transfer your Xiaomi smartphone to another person, it is not enough to just log out of your Mi Account. Be sure to reset to factory settings (Settings) → The phone. → Reset settings) and untie the device from the cloud via the web version of Xiaomi Cloud. otherwise, the new owner will be able to recover your data when the phone is first turned on.

5. How to manage data in Xiaomi Cloud: add, delete, restore

Cloud storage management in Xiaomi is intuitive, but there are a few hidden features that will make it easier to work with:

Adding data to the cloud

To manually upload files (such as documents or archives):

1. Open the File Manager (Standard Application) MIUI).
2. Select the files you need, click More → Download to Mi Cloud.
3. Select the destination folder (by default - Mi). Cloud/Downloads).

Limitations: maximum size of one file is 2 GB, formats are supported: JPG, PNG, PDF, DOCX, ZIP, MP4 For photos and videos, it is better to use the Cloud Gallery - it is optimized for media files.

Deletion of data

To make room:

1. Go to Settings. → Mi Cloud → Storage management.
2. Select a category (e.g. Gallery or Notes).
3. Click Delete next to unnecessary files or select Clear Everything.

⚠️ Note: Deleting files from Xiaomi Cloud does not remove them from your device, only from the cloud. → Memory, the original files could be replaced by cloud links, in which case deletion from the cloud will lead to data loss.

Data recovery

To restore data to a new device:

1. When you first turn on your phone, select Restore from backup and log in to Mi Account.
2. If the phone is already configured, go to Settings → Additionally. → Backup → Restore.
3. Select the latest backup and confirm the recovery.

Important: Recovery replaces the current data on the device (contacts, messages, settings) with those stored in the cloud, and it is recommended to make a local copy of important information.

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Xiaomi Cloud allows you to recover data selectively, such as contacts or photos only. In the recovery menu, uncheck the unneeded categories. This is convenient if you want to transfer only some of the information to a new phone.

6.Challenges with Xiaomi Cloud and their solutions

Even proven services have failures, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

If none of these methods helped, contact Xiaomi via:

• 📧 E-mail: support@xiaomi.com (response 3–5 days).
• 💬 Chat on the official website (working in English and Chinese).
• 📱 Application Mi Community (Section Help).

In rare cases, the problem may be due to account locking (for example, if fraud is suspected).If you see a message when you log in to Mi Cloud, try:

1. Reset your password through account.xiaomi.com.
2. Send a passport scan to unlock mail@xiaomi.com (required to unlock).
3. If your account is linked to a Chinese phone number, you may need help from a local office.

7. Xiaomi Cloud Alternatives: When to Use Other Services

While Xiaomi Cloud is convenient for ecosystem users, in some cases it is better to use third-party solutions:

• 📁 Google Drive / Google Photos – if you are actively using Google services (Gmail, Calendar, Docs) Advantages: 15 GB free, better integration with Android, file sharing.
• 🍎 iCloud — if you have Apple devices (iPhone, Mac, iPad) synchronization between ecosystems works poorly, but for backups with iPhones, it's the best option.
• ☁️ Yandex Disk / Mail.ru Cloud - for users from Russia. Advantages: not blocked by Roskomnadzor, there is offline access, 10-32 GB free.
• 🔒 Proton Drive/Tresorit — if privacy is a priority, these services offer end-to-end encryption, but they pay for it.
• 💾 Local storage is for cloud-free backups. You can use external storage. SSD or NAS-Automatic backup drive via Syncthing or Resilio Sync.

Comparison of Xiaomi Cloud with the main competitors:

⚠️ Note: If you decide to switch from Xiaomi Cloud to another service, export all data manually first. Automatic migration (e.g. from Mi Cloud to Google Drive) is not supported. To transfer photos, you can use the Google Photos app with the function Backup, and the contacts - export to the.vcf file through Contacts. → Settings → Exports.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Cloud