Many Xiaomi smartphone owners are facing the problem of suddenly running out of free space in Google Drive cloud storage. Often the reason for this is the automatic backup of chats in WhatsApp messenger. By default, the application is set to store all data every day, which can take up gigabytes of disk space without your knowledge.
Devices based on the shell MIUI or HyperOS have their own features of managing resolutions and background processes, but the settings of the messenger remain standardized. Disabling this feature allows you not only to save space in the cloud, but also reduce traffic and battery consumption, as the phone ceases to constantly synchronize media files.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the available ways to manage redundancy, learn how to completely prohibit copy creation, how to change the frequency of their appearance, or transfer data storage exclusively to internal memory of the device, bypassing Google cloud services.
Why Xiaomi Owners Should Manage Auto Save
The main reason users are keen to limit their background activity is because of the limits of free storage: Google Drive’s standard account provides just 15GB of space that is shared between email, photos and app backups. Active dialogue with lots of videos and photos can quickly exhaust that limit.
In addition, the constant background loading of data affects the autonomy of the Xiaomi smartphone. the process of encryption and file transfer requires the resources of the processor and communication module, which is especially noticeable on models with a smaller battery.
- 📉 Saving disk space in Google cloud storage.
- 🔋 Reducing battery charge consumption due to the absence of background load.
- 📶 Maintaining mobile traffic when using networks 4G/5G.
Keep in mind that abandoning cloud redundancy requires more care to protect your data, and if you lose or damage your phone, it will be impossible to restore your correspondence history without a pre-created copy, so it is important to weigh the risks before making changes.
⚠️ Warning: Completely disabling backup means that when you reinstall the app or change your smartphone, your correspondence history will be lost forever.
For those who use multiple devices or change gadgets frequently, it is wiser not to turn off the feature completely, but to change its settings, for example, you can remove heavy video recordings from the reservation, leaving only text messages and photos that take up less space.
Completely disabling backup in Google Drive
The most effective way to stop uploading data to the cloud is to change the settings inside the WhatsApp app itself, a method that is universal for all versions of Android installed on Xiaomi devices and does not require superuser rights.
You have to open the app and go to the settings menu. The interface may vary slightly depending on the version of the MIUI firmware, but the navigation logic remains the same. You have to find the section responsible for chats and their safety.
☑️ Algorithm of actions in the application
Once you log into the backup menu, you'll see your current status and last save date. That's where the switch is, which lets you break communication with cloud storage. Click on Backup (or "Backup") to reveal additional options.
In the window that opens, look for the line “Backup to Google Drive.” The default option is “Daily” or “Weekly.” Tap this item and select “Never” from the list that appears, which will immediately stop any attempts by the app to upload data to Google servers.
It is important to note that when you select the option “Never”, the system can warn you about the risks of data loss. Confirm your decision. After that, the status will indicate that the copy is disabled, and the last save date will cease to be updated.
What happens to local copies?
Setting up local storage and refresh rate
If you think a complete shutdown is too radical, you can simply reconfigure your copy creation options. Android allows you to flexibly manage this process by leaving data on your device but not sending it to the Internet. This is true for users who store important data only locally.
In the same reservation settings menu, you can change the frequency of copy creation, instead of daily mode, select Weekly or Monthly, which will significantly reduce the load on the system and the Internet channel, while maintaining the ability to restore data in the event of a failure.
| Parameter | Description of the impact | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Every day. | Maximum relevance, high traffic consumption | For important work chats |
| Weekly | Balance between conservation and resource expenditure | Optimal for most users |
| Only on Wi-Fi. | Savings in mobile traffic | It is necessary at a limited tariff |
If this switch is active, backup will occur even when using 4G/5G, which can lead to unexpected costs, and it is recommended to put this slider in an inactive state, allowing synchronization only over Wi-Fi.
For Xiaomi owners with a large amount of internal memory, local storage is the preferred option: Backup files take up space in the hidden folder of the system, but they do not affect the quota of your Google account.
Managing video files in backups
The bulk of backup data is usually video, weighs significantly more text messages and static images, and WhatsApp provides the ability to remove video from the backup process, which allows you to reduce the size of the copy by many times.
To do this, from the Backup menu, find the Video switch. If it's on, all video messages and the videos you receive will be uploaded to the cloud. Turn off this switch to save only photos and text.
This setting is especially useful for users who are in numerous group chats where media files are constantly exchanged, and you can save space while still being able to recover text history.
⚠️ Note: Disabling video in the reservation settings does not remove previously uploaded videos from the cloud. To delete them, you need to go to Google Drive via a browser or a separate application.
Once you change the settings, the system will suggest you create a new backup with the updated settings. You can agree or do it later manually. The new copy will weigh significantly less than the previous one.
Cleaning existing copies in Google Drive
Once you have disabled automatic copy creation, it is recommended to delete old files that are already taking up space in your account, which can be done directly through the messenger interface or through the Google Drive app.
WhatsApp's Backup settings often display space size and storage management button, and by clicking on it, you can see a list of existing copies and delete unnecessary ones, but more detailed control is provided through Google's file manager.
Open the Google Drive app on your Xiaomi smartphone or through your browser on your computer. Go to Storage or Backups. Find the file with the name corresponding to your phone number and delete it.
The way to Google Drive:
Menu (three stripes) → Backup → Find WhatsApp → DeleteDeleting the file will free up space instantly. If you decide to back up again in the future, the system will create a new file from scratch without restoring the deleted archive.
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Use Google’s Files app or Xiaomi’s built-in Explorer to find and remove old local copies of WhatsApp in the Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases folder if you need to make room on your phone urgently.
The Impact of MIUI Settings on WhatsApp
The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS have aggressive power saving settings that can conflict with backup processes. Sometimes users turn off copying in an application, but the system blocks it from working at the OS level, or vice versa, prevents the process from being completed.
Check your battery settings for WhatsApp. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps → WhatsApp → Battery. Make sure you select No Limits or Background Work mode if you want your backup (even local) to be successful on schedule.
Also worth checking permissions. In the App Permissions menu, make sure WhatsApp has access to storage and network. Without those permissions, even local copying will be impossible, and the app will constantly issue errors.
- 🔋 Check the energy saving mode: it should not block background processes.
- 📂 Make sure you have access to files and media.
- 🌐 Check the stability of the Wi-Fi connection when setting up.
Sometimes cleaning the app cache helps if the settings aren’t saved or the interface isn’t working properly.This is a standard maintenance procedure for Android devices that doesn’t affect your personal data, but resets temporary files.
Frequent questions and problems when disconnecting
Users often face ambiguous situations during the setup process, such as when Google Drive is disabled, the app may continue to show the status of “Waiting for Wi-Fi” or “Preparation”, which is normal, since the process can be started on a timer, but not be able to terminate due to new settings.
Another common issue is data portability: If you decide to switch to an iPhone or another brand, not having a cloud copy on Google Drive will make it harder (migration) for data. Xiaomi's ecosystem has its own "Mi Mover" tool that can migrate local data, but cross-platform transition requires the cloud.
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Disabling backup is a balance between saving space and losing data. Only choose local storage if you regularly backup your entire phone system.