How to view photos in the cloud Xiaomi: all the ways + mistake-making

Xiaomi Cloud (or Mi Cloud) cloud storage has become an integral part of Xiaomi’s ecosystem, especially for Redmi smartphone owners, POCO It automatically backs up photos, contacts, notes, and even surveillance footage, but many users have difficulty finding or viewing their images in the cloud — especially if they have been removed from the device or synced incorrectly.

In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to access photos in the Mi Cloud: through a mobile application, web version, computer, as well as consider hidden functions such as recovering deleted images and eliminating synchronization errors. We will pay special attention to the features of working with the cloud on devices without Google services (for example, Xiaomi for the Chinese market) and the nuances of tariff plans.

1. How to enter the cloud Xiaomi from your phone: Step-by-step

The most obvious way to view a photo is through the official Mi Cloud app on your smartphone, but there are pitfalls, from the lack of an app in some regions to problems with authorization.

First of all, make sure that your device is syncing photos.

1. Open Settings → Accounts → Mi Account.
2. Go to the Xiaomi Cloud section.
3. Find the Gallery or Photo item and check if the switch is active.

If sync is enabled but the photos are not displayed, try to force the data to update:

• 🔄 In the same section of Xiaomi Cloud, tap the update icon (or swipe down on the cloud gallery screen).
• 📶 Check your internet connection – the cloud doesn’t work through some of the VPN Or with a weak Wi-Fi signal.
• 🔒 Make sure you are logged in to the same Mi Account that was used for backup.

Gallery synchronization enabled in Mi Account settings

The device is connected to stable Wi-Fi (not mobile data)

Updated cloud data (swipe down or update button)

Use the correct Mi Account (check in Settings) → The phone)

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If the Mi Cloud app is not available on your device (this happens on firmware for the European market), you can download it separately:

• 🌍 For global firmware: Google Play.
• 🇨🇳 For Chinese firmware: via the App Store (if available) or the official Xiaomi store.

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On firmware devices MIUI China (for the Chinese market) access to the cloud can be restricted without linking a Chinese phone number. In this case, use the web version via a browser (see next section).

2. Viewing photos through the browser: web version of Mi Cloud

The Xiaomi Cloud web interface is a universal way to access photos from any device, whether it’s a computer, tablet or someone else’s phone, and the main advantage is that you don’t need to install apps, but there are some nuances, especially with two-factor authentication and regional restrictions.

To log into the cloud via the browser:

1. Go to the official website: i.mi.com.
2. Enter the username and password from your Mi Account.
3. If two-factor authentication is enabled, confirm the login via SMS or the Mi Security app.
4. In the main menu, select the Gallery or Photos section.

In the web version, additional features are available that are not available in the mobile application:

• 🖼️ Package download: you can download several photos at once in ZIP-archive.
• 🗑️ Recycle Bin: Recover deleted images within 30 days (if you didn’t clean the cart).
• 🔍 Search by date/place: photo filtering by geolocation tags or calendar.

Please note the free tariff restrictions:

5GB (free)

50GB

100GB

200 GB or more

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

3. Access to photos from a computer: official and alternative methods

If you need to download a photo on a PC or laptop, you have three main options: the web version (discussed above), the desktop application Mi. PC Suite, or synchronization through Mi Cloud in Windows Explorer.

Method 1: Mi PC Suite

Xiaomi's official utility not only allows you to manage files on your phone, but also access cloud data, and you can download it from pcsuite.mi.com.

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB (file transfer mode).
2. Sign in to Mi Account in the application.
3. Go to the Cloud section → gallery.
4. Select the desired photos and click Export.

Method 2: Connecting Mi Cloud as a network disk

Few people know, but Xiaomi Cloud supports the WebDAV protocol, which allows you to connect it as a network drive in Windows or macOS. This is convenient for automatic synchronization of photos.

1. Open the Conductor. → This computer → Connect the network disk.
2. Enter the address field: https://cloud.mi.com/v1/webdav/tmp/ (Replace tmp with your unique ID Accounts that can be found in the cloud settings).
3. Enter the username and password from the Mi Account.
4. Now, the photos from the cloud will be displayed as a local folder.

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Connection via WebDAV is unstable at free rates. For stable operation, a paid subscription (from 50 GB) is recommended.

Method 3: Synchronization through third-party services

If the official methods don’t work, you can use intermediary services like RaiDrive (Windows) or Mountain Duck (macOS) that support WebDAV.

• 🚫 Mi's not working. PC Suite (a common problem on Windows 11).
• 🔒 Access to i.mi.com (corporate networks) is blocked, VPN).
• 📁 You need to automate the backup of the photo on NAS or another cloud service.

⚠️ Note: When connecting Mi Cloud as a network drive, avoid editing photos from your phone and PC at the same time. This can lead to version conflicts and data loss. If you need to edit a picture, download it locally first, and then upload it back.

4. How to recover deleted photos from the Xiaomi cloud

One of the most painful things is accidentally removing photos from your phone and the cloud, and fortunately, Mi Cloud provides a recovery mechanism, but with very tight time limits, and here's how to get those lost photos back.

Step 1: Checking the basket

Deleted photos are put in the cart and stored there for 30 days (free rate) to recover them:

1. Open Mi Cloud (web or application)
2. Go to the Gallery section → Basket.
3. Select the desired photos and click Restore.

Step 2: Recovery through Version History

If the photo has been changed or overwritten, you can try to roll back to the previous version.

1. In the web version of Mi Cloud, find the album you want.
2. Click on the three dots next to the photo and select Version History.
3. Select the date when the photo was in its original state and click Restore.

Step 3: Appeal for Support (Extreme Case)

If the photos were deleted more than 30 days ago, but they are critically important (such as documents or unique footage), you can try writing in support of Xiaomi with a request for restoration.

• 📧 Write to support@mi.com Theme: Data Recovery from Mi Cloud".
• 📄 Attach screenshots of confirmation of account ownership (for example, information about the tied phone).
• 📅 Exact dates when the photos were uploaded and deleted.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi does not guarantee data recovery beyond 30 days, even for paid users.The odds are higher if you had an active subscription at the time of deletion.In the future, set up automatic backup for multiple clouds (for example, additionally in Google Photos).

5. Solving photo synchronization problems in Mi Cloud

A common complaint of users is that photos are not uploaded to the cloud or not fully displayed. MIUI This is a systematic approach to diagnosing and correcting problems.

Problem 1: Photos are not automatically uploaded

Check the following settings:

• 📶 Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Data Transfer: Enable Autoload Multimedia.
• 🔋 Settings → Battery → Power Saving Mode: Add Mi Cloud to Exceptions.
• 📡 Settings → Annexes → Application management → Mi Cloud → Data: Allow background data transfer.

Problem 2: Photos are uploaded but not displayed in the cloud

It could be caching or synchronization failure.

1. Clear the Mi Cloud app cache (Settings) → Annexes → Mi Cloud → Clear the cache).
2. Sign out of your account and log in again.
3. Update the Mi Cloud app to the latest version.

Problem 3: The “Not Enough Space” Error

Even if you have a free 5GB, the system may show this error because of:

• 🗃️ Hidden backups: Check the Storage Management section in Mi Cloud – there may be old app backups.
• 🎥 Video files: they take up more space than photos. Try uploading them to the cloud separately.

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Go to Phone Information → Select a network operator and wait for the settings to be updated.-->

6. Alternative ways to back up photos on Xiaomi

Relying on Mi Cloud is risky, with service crashing and free 5GB running out quickly, and consider reliable alternatives and automatic backups.

Option 1: Google Photo

Despite the competition between Xiaomi and Google, Google Photos remains the best backup solution:

• 📸 Unlimited storage (compressed photos up to 16 MP).
• 🔍 Powerful search by objects, persons, places.
• 🤖 Automatic synchronization when connecting to Wi-Fi.

To set up:

1. Install Google Photos from Google Play.
2. Open the app and log in to your Google account.
3. Enable Backup and Synchronization in the settings.

Option 2: Local storage + storage

For users who don’t trust the cloud, it’s best to:

• 💾 MicroSD card: set up to save the photo to the card by default (Camera settings) → Preservation site).
• 🖥️ Automatic backup on PC: use Mi PC Suite or Syncthing to sync folder DCIM computer-operated.
• 🔌 NAS-drive: if you have network storage at home (for example, Xiaomi Mi Router with a connected hard drive), set up automatic photo upload through the device. FTP.

Option 3: Other cloud services

If Mi Cloud is not satisfied, consider:

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For maximum reliability, use the rule "3-2-1": 3 copies of data (original) + 2 backup 2 Different types of carriers (cloud) + local-disk), 1 A copy outside the home (for example, in the cloud).

7 Data Security in Mi Cloud: What You Need to Know

Storing personal photos in the cloud always raises privacy questions. Xiaomi claims to be encrypted, but there are nuances worth keeping in mind.

How does Xiaomi protect your photos?

• 🔐 Encryption: Data is transmitted via protocol HTTPS, stored in encrypted form.
• 🛡️ Two-factor authentication: mandatory for sensitive operations (password change, account recovery).
• 🌍 Servers in Europe: for EU users, data is stored on servers in Germany and Finland (correspondingly) GDPR).

Risks and how to minimize them

• 🕵️ Data breaches: Mi Account data breaches in 2020. To protect yourself: Use a unique password (not like other services). Enable two-factor authentication (Mi Account settings) → Periodically check haveibeenpwned.com for leaks.
• 📲 Third-party access: If you sell/transfer a phone, be sure to log out of your Mi Account and reset your device to factory settings.

How to remove photos from Mi Cloud?

If you decide to abandon the cloud, it is important not only to delete the photo, but also to clear the metadata:

1. Delete the photo via the web version or app.
2. Clean the basket in Mi Cloud.
3. Turn off gallery sync in your account settings.
4. For full account cleanup, please contact support with a request for data deletion (right to be forgotten by GDPR).

⚠️ Note: If you are using Mi Cloud on a firmware device for the Chinese market (MIUI China, your data may be stored on servers in China, which means that it is subject to local government access laws.

FAQ: Frequent questions about viewing photos in the cloud Xiaomi