Xiaomi Cloud Subscription: What It Is, How It Works, and Is It Worth Paying?

Xiaomi Cloud cloud storage has long been an integral part of the brand ecosystem, offering users a convenient way to synchronize data between devices - from Redmi and POCO smartphones to Mi Band smartwatches and Mi TVs. However, in 2022, the company introduced a paid subscription, which caused a lot of questions: Why is there less free space? Why pay for what was previously available without restrictions? And most importantly - is it worth it to subscribe to Xiaomi Cloud or can you get by free tariff?

In this article, we will take a look at how paid subscriptions work, what features they open, how much it costs in 2026 for different regions (including Russia), and compare it with alternatives like Google Drive or Yandex Disk. You will also learn how to disable autopayment if the subscription was signed up accidentally, and what to do if after payment there is no additional space in the cloud.

What is Xiaomi Cloud and why you need a subscription

Xiaomi Cloud is a cloud service from Xiaomi that allows you to store data backups, synchronize contacts, photos, notes and even device settings between gadgets of the same ecosystem. Until 2022, the service was completely free, offering up to 5 GB of space for each user. However, with the growth of devices and data volumes, Xiaomi decided to monetize the service by introducing paid tariffs.

Xiaomi Cloud Premium is an advanced version of the cloud that provides:

• 📦 More space – from 50 GB to 2 TB depending on the tariff.
• 🔄 Priority Synchronization – Files are uploaded and updated faster.
• 🔒 Additional security features, such as advanced encryption for backups.
• 📱 Support more devices in one ecosystem (up to 10 devices at a time).

But here's the nuance: free 5GB is now divided into several categories, like just 1GB for smartphone backups, and the rest of the space is taken up by photos, notes and other data, which means that even if you don't store anything in the cloud except contacts, sooner or later you'll either have to clear the space or pay.

Free vs paid Xiaomi Cloud: key differences

To understand whether you need a subscription, compare free and paid accounts on the main parameters:

Note that even a paid subscription doesn’t remove the limit on file size — the maximum file size is 2GB (versus 10GB to 50GB for competitors like Google Drive), which is critical if you plan to store high-resolution video or large archives in the cloud.

💡

If you need to download a file larger than 2GB, break it down using an archiver (like 7-Zip or WinRAR) and download it in parts.

How much does Xiaomi Cloud subscription cost in 2026?

The subscription fee depends on the region and the chosen tariff, and in Russia the prices look like this (at the time of the article update in June 2026):

• 💰 50 GB - 99 ₽/month ₽/year (savings 17%).
• 💰 200GB - 299 ₽/month ₽/year (savings 16%).
• 💰 2 TB - 999 ₽/month ₽/year (savings 16%).

In comparison, in Europe and the US, tariffs are 30 to 50 percent more expensive, with 200 GB per month costing Europeans €3.99 and US users $3.99, while Xiaomi regularly runs promotions, especially during sales (such as 11.11 or Black Friday), when annual subscriptions can be bought at a discount of up to 50 percent.

Important: Payment is debited automatically, unless you turn off auto-renewal, and Xiaomi does not notify you of the upcoming debit - money is simply withdrawn from the attached card, which is one of the most common causes of user complaints.

How to Sign Up or Cancel a Subscription

To buy a Xiaomi Cloud Premium subscription, follow the following steps:

1. Open the settings on your Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO smartphone.
2. Go to the Xiaomi Account → Xiaomi Cloud section.
3. Click on the Update (or Buy a Place) icon.
4. Choose the desired rate and term (month/year).
5. Pay by card, Google Pay or other available method.

If you change your mind or accidentally subscribe, you can cancel it:

Open Xiaomi Cloud in settings | Go to Subscription Management |Click Cancel Auto-Renewal |Confirm SMS or Password |Cert email with Cancellation Confirmation-->

⚠️ Caution: Cancellation of autopayment does not mean immediate termination of access to premium features; you continue to enjoy all benefits until the end of the paid period:

• If you exceed the free rate limit (5GB), the data will be deleted without the possibility of recovery.
• If the data is stored in 5 GB, access to them will remain, but new files will not be downloaded.

What happens if you don’t pay: the consequences of expiring your subscription

Many users are faced with an unpleasant surprise: after the expiration of the paid period, Xiaomi not only blocks the download of new files, but begins to delete old ones if their total volume exceeds 5 GB.

• 🗑️ Photos and videos are deleted first (in order from old to new).
• 📱 Smartphone backups are erased 30 days after subscription expires.
• 📝 Notes and contacts remain, but synchronization is terminated.

Important: Xiaomi does not provide any notifications about the upcoming deletion of data, and the only way to save files is to manually download them to the device or transfer them to another cloud before the end of the paid period.

💡

If you decide not to renew your subscription, download all important data in advance. After the tariff expires, you can not restore deleted files even through support.

To avoid data loss, follow this algorithm:

1. Open the web version of Xiaomi Cloud on your computer.
2. Select folders with important files (such as Camera or Backups).
3. Click Download - the data will be packed in ZIP-archive.
4. Save the archive to your hard drive or other cloud (Google Drive, Mega).

Xiaomi Cloud Alternatives: Should You Switch to Other Services?

If you are not satisfied with the limitations of Xiaomi Cloud (small free space, deletion of files after the subscription expires, low limit on file size), consider the alternatives:

The main disadvantage of alternatives is the lack of deep integration with MIUI firmware. For example, Google Drive does not automatically back up SMS, calls and system settings, as does Xiaomi Cloud. If this functionality is important to you, you will either have to put up with the limitations of Xiaomi, or use a combination of several services.

Frequent Problems and How to Solve Them

Xiaomi Cloud users often experience errors, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

• ❌ "Failed to synchronize data" Solution: Check the Internet connection, disconnect VPN, If it doesn't work, delete your Xiaomi account in the settings and log in again.
• ❌ "There is not enough space, although subscription is active" Solution: Update the Xiaomi Cloud app to Google Play or App Store.Sometimes Xiaomi servers delay the application of the tariff - wait 24 hours.
• ❌ "Files not loaded (Error 403) Solution: This error is linked to locking on the IP. Try connecting via mobile internet or other Wi-Fi.

⚠️ Note: If you don't add a cloud after you pay for your subscription, don't rush to write in support:

1. Check if the money has been charged (sometimes the payment is processed up to 3 days).
2. Update the data in the Xiaomi Cloud app (pull the screen down for an update).
3. Reset the device.

If the problem remains – contact in support with a check for payment and a screenshot of the error.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions