Xiaomi Cloud: A Complete Guide to Xiaomi Cloud Service

Cloud technology has long been an integral part of digital life, and Xiaomi has not been left out. Xiaomi Cloud is integrated into all devices in the ecosystem, from Redmi and POCO smartphones to smart lamps and robot vacuum cleaners. But what exactly is behind this name? For many users, the cloud is associated only with photo backup, but the service is much broader — and at the same time harbors nuances that you should know about in advance.

In this article, we will take a closer look at how Xiaomi Cloud works, what data it stores, how to turn on or off sync, and answer key security questions. We will focus on hidden features that the manufacturer does not mention in official instructions — for example, how the cloud interacts with Mi Account and why some Xiaomi devices lose some functionality without it. If you have ever wondered whether to trust your data to the Chinese cloud or how to free up storage without deleting important files, read on.

What is Xiaomi Cloud and how did it come about?

Xiaomi Cloud is a proprietary cloud service from Xiaomi, launched in 2012 at the same time as the global expansion of the brand, originally positioned as the equivalent of iCloud for devices based on MIUI, but over time has transformed into a universal platform for the entire Mi Ecosystem ecosystem. Today, the cloud is used not only for backup, but also for remote management of smart devices, synchronizing settings between gadgets, and even as part of a security system (for example, for the Find Device feature).

Interesting fact: Until 2015, Xiaomi Cloud servers were physically located only in China, which raised questions about access speed and GDPR compliance. Now the company has deployed data centers in Singapore, India and the United States, but for users from Russia and the CIS, the Chinese cluster is used by default, which can affect the speed of downloading / uploading files.

From a technical point of view, Xiaomi Cloud is built on the basis of Xiaomi’s own infrastructure with elements of open source software. For example, a modified version of Ceph is used to store files, a distributed file system, and a protocol similar to WebDAV is used to synchronize data between devices, but with proprietary improvements to save traffic on mobile devices.

What data is stored by Xiaomi Cloud: the full list

Many users mistakenly believe that the Xiaomi cloud only stores photos and contacts. In fact, the list of synchronized data is much wider - and some points may surprise.

• 📷 Media files: photos (including screenshots and images from messengers), videos, screen recordings, and by default download files in the original resolution, which quickly eats up the free space.
• 📞 Contacts and call logs: including outbound/inbound call history, blocked numbers and linked accounts in messengers (if access is allowed).
• 📅 Calendars and notes: events from Mi Calendar, texts and attachments from Mi Notes, including voice notes.
• 📍 Location data: history of movements (if Mi Location is enabled), saved addresses in Mi Maps.
• 🔧 System settings: wallpaper, themes MIUI, Quick Settings configurations, Always On Display settings, and even data about connected Bluetooth devices.
• 🏠 Smart home data: automation scenarios for Mi Home, smart lamp settings, robot vacuum cleaners and sensors.
• 🎮 Game data: saves from games (if the developer supports Mi Game Center), game time statistics.
• 🔒 Backup copies of applications: APK-Installed Program Files (only for Devices with Devices) MIUI Global), data from some system applications.

Important: Xiaomi Cloud does not store Wi-Fi passwords, bank card details (unless saved in Mi Pay), browser history, and instant messenger messages (except Mi Messages). However, there is a caveat: if you use Xiaomi-branded versions of apps (such as Mi Browser or Mi Video), their cache and settings can sync with the cloud without explicit warning.

How to enable or disable sync with Xiaomi Cloud

Cloud sync management on Xiaomi devices is done through Mi Account – without an attached account, most of the features of Xiaomi Cloud will not be available.

1. Open the Settings. → Mi Accounts (or Accounts) → Xiaomi on new versions MIUI).
2. Choose Xiaomi Cloud (the cloud may be called Mi Cloud on older firmware).
3. Sign in if you are not already logged in.
4. In the Sync section, you'll see a complete list of data that you can back up. The switches next to each point turn on/off automatic boot.

To turn off all synchronization is enough:

1. Go to Settings → Mi Account → Xiaomi Cloud.
2. Press the icon. ⚙️ (settings) in upper right corner.
3. Select Disable Sync (or Exit from the Cloud on some firmware).

⚠️ Attention: Disabling sync does not delete data already uploaded to the cloud! To completely clear the storage, you need to manually delete files through the i.mi.com web interface or the Mi Cloud mobile application.

Make sure important photos are downloaded to your device

Export contacts to the VCF file

Save a backup of notes manually

Check if smart devices are connected to the cloud (e.g., a robot vacuum cleaner)

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How much does Xiaomi Cloud cost: tariffs and free space

By default, each Mi Account receives a 5 GB of free space in Xiaomi Cloud. This is a little compared to the competition: Google Drive gives you free space 15 GB, and iCloud — 5 GB, but with the possibility of expanding to 200 GB for $2.99/Xiaomi offers the following paid rates (prices may vary depending on the region):

Important nuances:

• 💳 Payment is accepted only through Mi Pay, Google Pay or bank cards (local payment systems are available in some regions).
• 🔄 Free 5GB doesn’t burn even if you haven’t used the cloud for years, but when you delete your account, your data is permanently erased.
• 📉 If you opt out of the paid rate, your files will stay in the cloud, but (new data) will stop syncing until space is free.
• 🎁 Xiaomi periodically holds promotions, giving out additional gigabytes for completing tasks (for example, inviting friends or participating in testing beta versions). MIUI).

⚠️ Note: When buying a fare through Mi Pay in some regions (for example, in Russia), an additional fee of up to 5% may be charged. To avoid overpayment, link the card directly to the Mi Account settings.

Xiaomi Cloud Security: Should You Trust Your Data?

The security issue of Xiaomi Cloud is regularly raised in the IT-On the one hand, the company claims to encrypt data according to the standard. AES-256 and two-factor authentication. On the other hand, in 2020, researchers from Forbes found that Xiaomi collects data on user behavior (including browser history) even in incognito mode, and in 2021, cloud servers became the target of DDoS attacks, which caused some users to lose access to files for several days.

What is known about data protection today:

• 🔐 Encryption: Files are encrypted during transmission (protocol) TLS 1.3) and stored in encrypted form, but the encryption keys are controlled by Xiaomi, not the user (unlike Proton Drive or Tresorit).
• 🛡️ Two-factor authentication (2FA): Supported, but disabled by default. Included in Mi Account Settings → Security.
• 🌍 Jurisdiction: The main servers are located in China, which means complying with local data retention laws (e.g., Cybersecurity Law of the Internet). PRC).
• 🕵️ Metadata Collection: Even if you turn off sync, Xiaomi can collect metadata about the device model, firmware version, and the device’s metadata. IP-address.

How to minimize the risks:

1. Do not store confidential documents (passports, contracts) in Xiaomi Cloud. For such files, it is better to use Google Drive with client encryption or Cryptomator.
2. Enable 2FA and link your account to a trusted email (not @mi.com, as it can be problematic to recover).
3. Check active sessions regularly in Mi Account Settings → Devices and delete unknowns.
4. For mission-critical data (such as MIUI backups), create a local copy on your PC via the Mi PC Suite.

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If you use Xiaomi Cloud to back up your photos, turn on the Download Compression feature in the cloud settings, which will reduce space consumption by 30-40% without noticeable loss of quality.

Xiaomi Cloud features you didn’t know about

Apart from standard backup, Xiaomi Cloud offers a few little-known features that can be useful for advanced users:

• 🔄 Remote Device Management: i.mi.com's web interface allows you to not only view files, but also send commands to your smartphone (e.g., lock it or trigger an audio signal). SIM-The card is removed but requires a Wi-Fi connection.
• 📱 Transfer data between devices: When you first turn on a new Xiaomi smartphone, you can transfer all settings and files from the cloud without using a cable (similar to Quick Start on iPhone.
• 📊 Usage statistics: The Mi Cloud mobile app has a hidden Analytics section that shows which file types take up the most space (e.g. 60% of the volume is video, 30% is photos.
• 🔗 File Sharing: You can create temporary links to download files without registering (similar to Google Drive).The feature is hidden in the web version of the cloud: highlight the file → Share. → Download link.
• 🛠️ Recovery of deleted files: Within 30 days of deleting files, they are sent to the Recycle Bin where they can be recovered. It's not advertised, but it works consistently.

⚠️ Note: The Find Device Remote Control feature requires that the smartphone enable the option to Allow Remote Control in Mi Account settings. → Xiaomi Cloud → Security settings. Without this, blocking or clearing data from the web interface will not work.

Xiaomi Cloud Problems and How to Solve Them

Despite the convenience, users regularly experience sync errors, slow downloads or sudden data loss, and consider typical problems and ways to solve them:

If standard methods don’t help, try:

1. Sign out of Mi Account and log in again.
2. Clear the cache of the Mi Cloud app in the phone settings.
3. Reset network settings (Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings).
4. Install the latest version of MIUI through Settings → System Update.

⚠️ Note: If the backup from Xiaomi Cloud is not restored after resetting your phone to factory settings, check if your Mi Account region has changed. For example, if your account was registered in China and you are now using global firmware, the data may not be tightened. Solution: Change the account region in the settings (confirmation is required for the account). SMS).

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Before resetting your phone to factory settings, make sure to check that the backup in Xiaomi Cloud is successful. Go to Settings → Mi Account → Xiaomi Cloud → Backup and make sure the date of the last copy is up to date.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi Cloud