How to sync Xiaomi Cloud: A complete guide with instructions and tips

Why you need synchronization with Xiaomi Cloud

Cloud storage Xiaomi Cloud is not just a place for backups, and a full-fledged tool for synchronizing data between Xiaomi, Redmi and other devices. POCO. Without the right setup, you risk losing contacts, photos or notes when you change your phone or reset your system, but how exactly does that sync work, and why many users experience errors when they first connect?

In this article, we’ll look at not only the basic steps to activate the Mi Cloud, but also the nuances that the manufacturer often fails to address, such as why sync can freeze 99% when you first back up, or how to avoid duplicate contacts when you restore data, and what types of files are supported, how to set up automatic uploads to the cloud, and what to do if the device doesn’t see the backup.

We will focus on security issues: how to protect your data from unauthorized access, why you should not use public Wi-Fi for synchronization, and what privacy settings are available in Mi Account. If you have ever lost data when updating your firmware or moving to a new smartphone, this guide will help to avoid a repetition of this situation.

What is Xiaomi Cloud and what data can be synchronized

Xiaomi Cloud (or Mi Cloud) is a cloud service from Xiaomi, integrated into all devices of the ecosystem: smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, TVs and even robot vacuum cleaners, its main task is to back up and synchronize data between gadgets, but not all users know that the service supports not only standard contacts and photos, but also more specific types of data.

Here is a complete list of what you can sync through the Mi Cloud:

• 📱 Contacts – automatically backed up and restored when changing devices.
• 📷 Photos and videos – with the possibility of choosing quality (original or compressed version).
• 📝 Notes – from the standard Notes or Mi Notes app.
• 🔄 Call log - history of incoming and outgoing calls.
• 📅 Calendar - Events and Reminders.
• 🎵 Downloads – files from the Download folder (optional).
• 🔧 System settings – including wallpaper, sound circuits and network settings.
• 🏠 Smart Home Data – Mi Home Scenarios and Devices.

It's important to understand that not all data is synchronized by default. SMS And the browser history requires a separate activation in the settings, and there are limits on the scope: the free account provides only 5 GB of space, which is enough on average 2-3 Thousands of photos in compressed format.

⚠️ Note: If you use Google Photos or other cloud services in parallel with Mi Cloud, there may be a sync conflict, such as photos being duplicated and contacts being displayed in duplicate. Before setting up, it is recommended to select one main service for backup.

Step-by-step: how to enable synchronization with Xiaomi Cloud

The Mi Cloud connection process takes no more than 5 minutes, but requires a stable Internet connection. If you do not already have a Mi Account, you need to create it in advance, without it, synchronization is impossible.

1. Open “Settings” on your device Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO.
2. Go to Mi Account (or Xiaomi Account in new versions) MIUI).
3. Click on Mi Cloud (cloud with Xiaomi logo).
4. Enter your account login and password if the system requests authorization.
5. Activate the data sync slider (or Sync in English version).
6. Select data types for backup by clicking on Sync Settings.
7. To automatically upload photos, turn on the option Autoload in the Gallery section.

Once activated, the system will start the first backup, which can take anywhere from minutes to an hour depending on the amount of data, and don't interrupt it, even if the progress bar stays on one value for a long time, which is normal behavior when you put a lot of work on Xiaomi servers.

Check the stability of the Internet connection (preferably Wi-Fi)

Charge the device at least 50%

Free up space in memory (if there is a lot of data)

Disable VPN (can block access to Xiaomi servers)

-->

If the data does not appear in the cloud after synchronization is enabled, check:

• 🔄 Availability of updates MIUI (In older versions, there are cloud bugs).
• 📶 Internet connection quality (synchronization does not work through mobile data, if this is prohibited in the settings).
• 🔒 Correctness of the account data entered (sometimes a re-authorization is required).

How to Recover Data from Xiaomi Cloud to a New Device

Transferring data from one Xiaomi smartphone to another is one of the most popular features of the Mi Cloud. However, many users face the problem when the backup does not appear in the list of available for recovery.

1. Activate the new device and connect to Wi-Fi.
2. At the initial setup stage, select Restore from backup.
3. Log in to the same Mi Account that was used to create the backup.
4. Select the most recent backup from the list (creation dates are indicated).
5. Check the data types for recovery (you can select selectively).
6. Confirm the action and wait for the process to complete (don’t turn off the device!).

If the backup is not displayed, the reasons may be as follows:

⚠️ Note: When you restore data from Mi Cloud, all current files on the device, conflicting with a backup, will be overwritten. For example, if there is a contact in the cloud with the same name but a different number, it will replace the local version. Before restoring, export important data manually.

💡

If you restore data to a device with a different model (for example, from the Redmi Note 10 to the Xiaomi 13), some system settings may not be transferred correctly, in which case it is better to restore only contacts, photos and notes, and adjust the rest manually.

Automatic synchronization of photos and videos

One of the most useful features of the Mi Cloud is that it automatically uploads photos and videos, so you don't have to manually copy media files to your computer or external drive, but by default, this option is often disabled or not working properly. Here's how to set it up correctly:

1. Open the Gallery app on your device.
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to Mi Cloud (or Cloud) section.
4. Activate the autoload slider.
5. Choose Boot Quality: Original - no compression (takes up a lot of space in the cloud); High - minimal compression (recommended); Medium - strong compression (saves space).

Wi-Fi

mobile

Once activated, all new photos and videos will automatically upload to the cloud.

• 📸 Files taken in Pro mode or RAW, They may not be loaded in their original capacity.
• 🎥 Videos longer than 10 minutes are sometimes broken into pieces.
• 🔄 If you delete a file from the gallery, it will also disappear from the cloud (unless the Recycle Bin option is enabled).

Solving common synchronization errors

Even with the right setup, Xiaomi Cloud users sometimes encounter errors, and below we’ll break down the most common problems and ways to fix them, which are not always obvious.

1. "Can't connect to the server" error

This error usually occurs due to:

• 🌍 Geographical restrictions – Xiaomi servers may not be available in some countries.
• 🔒 ISP Blocks – Some Mobile Operators Restrict Access to Cloud Services.
• ⏳ Maintenance of servers (usually at night Beijing time).

Solution: Try connecting through VPN (For example, Cloudflare’s Warp, or switch to another network (from mobile data to Wi-Fi, or vice versa).

2.Syncs hang on 99%

This is a classic Mi Cloud problem related to:

• 📎 Large amounts of data (for example, thousands of photos).
• 🐢 Slow download speeds (especially on mobile).
• 🔄 Conflict with other cloud services (e.g. Google Photos).

Decision:

1. Connect to stable Wi-Fi.
2. Close all background applications.
3. Restart the device and repeat the synchronization.
4. If it doesn’t work, turn off autoloading in Google Photos while copying.

3. data is not restored on the new device

This is most often due to:

• 🔑 Mi Accounts on Old and New Devices.
• 📅 Outdated backup (over 30 days).
• 📱 Version incompatibility MIUI (for example, backup MIUI 12 not restored to MIUI 14).

Solution: Check that:

1. Both devices use the same account.
2. The backup copy is created no later than a month before the restoration.
3. Version. MIUI The new device is no older than the previous one.

💡

If none of these methods worked, try creating a new backup on your old device and repeating the recovery. Sometimes backup files get corrupted during long-term storage on Xiaomi servers.

Security and privacy in Xiaomi Cloud

Many users are wary of storing personal data in the cloud because of the risk of leakage. Xiaomi claims that all files are encrypted during transfer and storage, but there are a few points to be aware of:

• 🔐 Two-factor authentication (2FA) — Be sure to enable it in your Mi Account settings to protect your account from hacking.
• 🌐 Account Region – when registering, choose your real region (for example, Russia), otherwise you may have problems accessing services.
• 📡 Public networks – avoid syncing through open Wi-Fi (such as at cafes or airports) as traffic may be intercepted.
• 🗑️ Delete data – when you delete files from the cloud, they end up in a basket where they are stored for 30 days.

To check what data is stored in your cloud:

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. In the Mi Cloud section, you will see all backups and files.
3. To delete unnecessary data, click on the three dots next to the file and select Delete.

If you sell or transfer your device to another person, you must:

1. Sign out of Mi Account in the settings.
2. Make a reset to factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Resetting).
3. Remove all backups from this device to Mi Cloud (via the web version).

⚠️ Note: If you have forgotten the password from Mi Account and associated email/The phone number is unavailable, it will be extremely difficult to restore access to the cloud. Xiaomi requires proof of identity through a passport scan, and support is answered within a few hours. 3-7 Keep your login data in a secure location!

FAQ: answers to frequent questions about Xiaomi Cloud