How to bring Xiaomi Cloud to your computer desktop: official and alternative ways

Xiaomi Cloud (Mi Cloud) cloud storage has become an integral part of Xiaomi’s ecosystem, allowing users to sync photos, contacts, notes and backups between devices. However, many people face the challenge of how to quickly access the service directly from the desktop of the PC without opening the browser every time. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods – from installing an official client to creating web shortcuts and integrating through third-party tools.

It’s important to understand that Xiaomi doesn’t offer a desktop application for Cloud in the classic sense (like Google Drive or iCloud), but that doesn’t mean there’s no solution. We’ve tested all the working methods on Windows 10/11 and macOS Ventura/Sonoma, and also considered the nuances of authorization through Mi Account accounts with links to Chinese and global servers. If you need to not just open the web version, but automate file downloads or receive notifications of new backups, here you will find the answers.

1.Official way: Web version of Xiaomi Cloud via shortcut

The easiest and safest method is to create a shortcut on the desktop that will open the web version of Mi Cloud in the default browser, which does not require additional software installation and works on any OS.

Here's how to do it:

• 🌐 Open the browser and go to the official website: https://i.mi.com/ (global version) or https://account.xiaomi.com/ (authorization).
• 🔗 After authorization, copy URL-page https://i.mi.com/#/cloud (It may vary slightly depending on the region).
• 🖥️ On the desktop, right-click the mouse button. → Create → Label. Put the copied in. URL and name a label (e.g., "Mi Cloud").
• 🎨 To change the label icon, right-click on it. → Properties → You can download the official logo of Xiaomi Cloud in.ico format or use system icons.

The advantage of this method is instant access to the cloud without unnecessary clicks. However, there are also disadvantages: the browser will open in a new tab, and you will have to use a web interface to download files. If you need to automate synchronization (for example, for smartphone backups), read on.

2. Alternative method: Progressive Web App (PWA) for Mi Cloud

PWA (Progressive Web App) technology allows you to “install” a website as a separate application on the desktop. This solution works in modern browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox) and simulates a native application: without an address bar, with the ability to send notifications and work offline (limited).

Instructions for Windows/macOS:

1. Open Xiaomi Cloud in Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
2. Sign in to your Mi Account account.
3. Click on the icon. ⋮ (three points) in upper right corner → Install this site as an app (or Install this site as an app in English version).
4. Confirm installation. The app will appear in the Start menu (Windows) or in Launchpad (macOS), and you can also pin it to the taskbar.

PWA-The Xiaomi Cloud version behaves like a separate program: it can be run in a separate window, fixed on the desktop and even assigned hotkeys, but the functionality remains the same as in the browser - without background file synchronization. More tools will be needed to work with the cloud (see next section).

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If PWA-The application does not open after installation, check the browser settings: in Chrome go to chrome://flags/#enable-desktop-pwas-run-on-os-login and enable the option "Allow" PWA log in".

3. file synchronization via Mi PC Suite (official client)

Mi PC Suite is Xiaomi’s official smartphone management software, and while its primary purpose is to back up and update the firmware, it also allows you to view and download files from Xiaomi Cloud (but not download them back!), a method that is suitable for those who often work with phone backups.

How to set up:

• 📥 Download Mi. PC Suite from the official website: https://pcsuite.mi.com/ (Choose a version for your OS).
• 🔌 Install the program and connect the Xiaomi smartphone USB (data-transmitting).
• 🔑 Sign in to your Mi Account account in the app.
• 📁 Go to Backup or Files – this will be where data from the cloud linked to your device will be available.

Limitations of the method:

Mi PC Suite is convenient for one-time backup operations, but does not replace a full-fledged cloud storage client. If you need two-way sync (like Google Drive or Dropbox), consider the following method.

4. Automatic synchronization via rclone (for advanced users)

If you want full integration of Xiaomi Cloud with your PC file system (for example, for automatic backup or work through Explorer/Finder), you can use rclone utility. This is a console tool that supports mounting cloud storage as local drives, including Mi Cloud (via WebDAV).

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install rclone from the official website: https://rclone.org/.
2. Run the command to configure a new remote storage: rclone config Select WebDAV as the type of storage.
3. Enter the connection settings for Xiaomi Cloud: URL: https://dav.i.mi.com/dav/Vendor: Other Login and Password: Your Mi Account details.

rclone mount mi-cloud: X: --vfs-cache-mode full

where mi-cloud is the name of your remote storage in rclone and X: is the letter of the disk.

Once installed, Xiaomi Cloud will appear as a separate drive in this computer (Windows) or Finder (macOS).

• 📂 Copy files with drag and drop (drag-and-drop).
• 🔄 Set up automatic sync via Task Scheduler (Windows) or launchd (macOS).
• 🔍 Search files through system search (e.g. Everything or Spotlight).

⚠️ Note: When using rclone, your Mi Account password is stored in a configuration file in an open form (unless encryption is configured:

1. Use two-factor authentication in Mi Account. 2. Limit access rights to the rclone.conf file (on Linux/macOS: chmod 600 ~/.config/rclone/rclone.conf). 3. For Windows, store the config on an encrypted disk (e.g., BitLocker).

Create a backup copy of important data|Install the latest version of rclone|Check the stability of the Internet connection|Disable the antivirus at setup time (may block mounting)-->

5. Third-party clients for Xiaomi Cloud: review and risks

You can find third-party programs that are labeled as “Xiaomi Cloud clients” (such as Mi Cloud Manager or Xiaomi Cloud Desktop) but most of them are informal and may pose security risks. We tested some popular solutions, and we found that:

We do not recommend using unofficial clients for the following reasons:

• 🔐 Security: such programs request a username/password from Mi Account, which can lead to data leakage.
• 🛠️ Instability: Many solutions stop working after updates API Xiaomi.
• 📜 Xiaomi may block account for using uncertified customers.

If you need a reliable way, stop at rclone or official methods (web version, PWA). To automatically upload photos from your smartphone, you should use the built-in Mi Cloud features on your phone (settings → account → Synchronization of photos).

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No third-party software guarantees 100% compatibility with Xiaomi Cloud. Official methods (web, PWA, Mi PC Suite) are the only secure way to work with the cloud.

6.MacOS Solution: Integration with Finder (iCloud + Xiaomi)

Mac users may find it difficult to work with Xiaomi Cloud because Apple limits the integration of third-party cloud services. However, there is a workaround: mounting through WebDAV and then adding to the Finder sidebar.

Instructions:

1. Open Finder and press Command + K (or select Switch → Connect to the server).
2. Enter the address: https://dav.i.mi.com/dav/ Enter the username and password from Mi Account.
3. After connecting, drag and drop the Xiaomi Cloud folder into the Favorites section in the Finder sidebar.
4. For automatic connection when you start, add the server to System Settings → Users and Groups → Login Objects.

Please note:

• 🔄 Sync only works manually – Finder does not support automatic file updates in WebDAV.
• 📁 Not all files can be displayed correctly (e.g., smartphone backups).
• 🔒 For security, use the App Password instead of the main password (configure in Mi Account). → Security).

This method is convenient for periodic access to files, but not suitable for full synchronization. For backups, it is better to use Time Machine + rclone (see the previous section).

FAQ: Frequent questions about working with Xiaomi Cloud on PC