Xiaomi Cloud on Android: a full guide to the cloud service from Xiaomi

Why Xiaomi has created its own cloud

If you own a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone, you've probably noticed that the Xiaomi Cloud app (or com.miui.cloudservice in the software list) is pre-installed, and it's not just another junk service, it's the central node of the Mi Account ecosystem that links all your devices into a single system. But what exactly does it do? Why do some users delete it immediately after they buy the phone and others actively use it?

Unlike Google Drive or iCloud, Xiaomi Cloud is designed to be a unique device for MIUI and the brand’s devices, and it doesn’t just store files, it synchronizes system settings, SMS, call logs, notes, and even health data from E-bracelets, while offering 5GB of free space (versus 15GB for Google), and in this article, we’ll look at how the service works, what data it collects, and whether to trust it with confidential information.

There’s an endless debate about the need for cloud services, but the fact remains that without Xiaomi Cloud, you’re unable to recover your phone after a reset, automatically transfer contacts to a new device, or remotely find a lost smartphone. Even if you prefer alternatives like Google Photos or Dropbox, understanding the basic features of Xiaomi’s native cloud is useful – if only to properly disable it.

What is Xiaomi Cloud: The main functions

Xiaomi Cloud is a client for working with the Mi Cloud cloud storage, which is integrated into the Xiaomi ecosystem, and its key feature is deep binding to the MIUI firmware, which allows you to synchronize data that other clouds (such as Google) do not support.

• 📱 System backup: saves settings MIUI, Wallpaper, themes, app data (including Mi Browser, Mi Video, Notes).
• 📞 Synchronization of contacts and SMS: Duplicates phone book and messages to the cloud, which is convenient when changing the device.
• 📍 Device search: Find Device allows you to locate your phone, lock it or erase data remotely.
• 📷 Photo and video storage: an alternative to Google Photos with automatic backup of media files (but with a quality limit).
• 🔄 Synchronizing Notes and Calendar: Works with native Notes and Calendar apps.
• 💪 Mi Fit data: Stores training history, pulse and other metrics from Mi Band fitness bracelets.

It’s important to understand that Xiaomi Cloud is not only storage, but also a tool for migrating data between devices, for example, when you first turn on a new Xiaomi smartphone, the system will offer to restore data from the cloud, including installed applications (if available in the Mi App Store), which eliminates manual configuration, but requires pre-sync.

The service is also closely integrated with Mi Account, which is why you can’t use many of the ecosystem’s features, such as managing your smart home via Mi Home or unlocking your bootloader, but it also poses risks: if your account is hacked, attackers will have access to all the synchronized data.

How to set up Xiaomi Cloud on Android

If you have just bought a Xiaomi smartphone or have never used the cloud, the first thing you need to do is link the device to the Mi Account. Without this, all the functions of Xiaomi Cloud will not be available.

1. Open Settings → Mi Account (or Xiaomi Account in new versions of MIUI).
2. Sign in to an existing account or register a new one (phone number or email will be required).
3. After logging in, go to Settings → Sync (or Xiaomi Cloud in the app menu).
4. Activate sliders next to the data you want to sync (contacts, SMS, notes, etc.).
5. To back up the system, click Backup and select Create Backup.

Note that the first backup can take a long time (especially if you have a lot of photos or videos), it is recommended to do it over Wi-Fi, so as not to waste mobile traffic. Also note that the free tariff is limited to 5 GB - this will be enough for contacts and part of the photo, but a paid subscription may be required for a full backup of the system.

Connect your phone to charge.

Make sure that ≥30% of the battery is free.

Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network

Close the background applications

Check the free space in the cloud-->

If you want to disable sync for individual data (for example, to prevent SMS from leaking to the cloud), just deactivate the corresponding sliders in the Xiaomi Cloud settings. However, remember: disabling the sync of contacts can lead to their loss when resetting your phone.

Data Security in Xiaomi Cloud: What to Fear

The main question that worries users is how secure is personal data stored in Xiaomi Cloud? the service uses encryption during transmission (HTTPS protocol) and storage, but there are a few nuances that you should know about:

• 🔓 Two-factor authentication (2FA): You can turn it on in the Mi Account settings, but it's disabled by default. 2FA Account vulnerable to hacking through phishing or password leakage.
• 🌍 Servers in China: data is stored on Chinese servers by default, raising questions about the authorities’ access to information (under local laws).
• 📱 Access to SMS Call logs: This data is synchronized in plain form (without end-to-end encryption), so it can be read by Xiaomi employees or attackers when a leak occurs.
• 🔄 Delete data: when files are removed from the cloud, they are stored in the trash for 30 days.

Xiaomi was caught in a scandal in 2021 over the collection of user data (including browser history) without explicit consent, after which the company tightened its privacy policy, but the risks remain.If you store sensitive information on your phone (such as document scans or passwords), it is better to use alternative clouds with end-to-end encryption, such as Proton Drive or Cryptomator.

⚠️ Note: If you are selling or transferring your Xiaomi smartphone to another person, be sure to log out of the Mi Account and reset to factory settings. Otherwise, the new owner will be able to recover your data from the cloud, including photos and photos. SMS!

For additional protection, it is recommended:

• Use a unique password for Mi Account (not the same as for email or social networks).
• Enable 2FA via Google Authenticator or SMS.
• Check your Settings → Mi Account → Devices for suspicious sessions.
• Disable synchronization of SMS and call logs if they contain confidential information.

Comparison of Xiaomi Cloud with alternatives: Google Drive, iCloud, Yandex Disk

To understand whether to use Xiaomi Cloud, compare it with popular analogues on key parameters:

And you can see from the table that Xiaomi Cloud is winning in MIUI integration, but it's losing out on free storage and security. For example, Google Drive offers 3 times more space, and iCloud offers end-to-end encryption for some of the data, but none of them can back up MIUI settings or Mi Band data.

If you want the most reliable storage for photos and documents, you should combine Xiaomi Cloud (for system backups) with Google Photos or Mega (for media files). And if you only use Xiaomi devices and do not store sensitive data, the native cloud can be a convenient one-stop solution.

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To save space in Xiaomi Cloud, turn off automatic high-resolution video downloads. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Cloud → Gallery → Download quality and select Medium over Original.

How to Free Up Space in Xiaomi Cloud

Free 5GB on Xiaomi Cloud runs out quickly, especially if you sync photos and videos. Here are a few ways to free up space without buying extra volume:

1. Remove unnecessary backups: Go to Settings → Xiaomi Cloud → Backup. Select old backups (like from the previous phone) and delete them.
2. Clean the Recycle Bin: Deleted files are stored in the Recycle Bin for 30 days. To free up space immediately, open Xiaomi Cloud → Recycle Bin and click Clear.
3. Turn off synchronizing unnecessary data: Go to Settings → Sync and deactivate sliders for Screen Recording, Notes, or other rarely used data.
4. Press Photos Before Downloading: In the Gallery Settings (Xiaomi Cloud → Gallery), select Medium Quality over Original.

Move your files to another cloud:

• Download photos to your computer via the web version of Xiaomi Cloud, and then upload them to Google Photos or Yandex Disk.

If you still don't have enough space, you can buy extra space.

• 50 GB – ~$1 per month (or ~$10 per year).
• 200 GB – ~$2 per month (or ~$20 per year).
• 2 TB – ~$10 per month (or ~$100 per year).

⚠️ Note: When you delete files from Xiaomi Cloud, they are deleted from all synced devices. If you want to save photos on your phone but free the cloud, copy them to another folder or memory card first.

Frequent problems with Xiaomi Cloud and their solutions

Despite the convenience, users often encounter errors when working with Xiaomi Cloud, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

1. Contacts or SMS are not synchronized

Causes: disconnected synchronization, Internet problems, Mi Account malfunction.

Decision:

• Check if sync is enabled in Settings → Xiaomi Cloud.
• Reboot the phone.
• Log out of Mi Account and log in again.
• If the problem persists, clear the cache of the com.miui.cloudservice application in Settings → Applications.

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

Causes: problems on the Xiaomi side, blocking VPN or firewall, incorrect date/time settings.

Decision:

• Check your internet connection (it’s better to use a mobile network if Wi-Fi is blocking the cloud).
• Turn off the VPN or add i.mi.com to firewall exceptions.
• Make sure the date and time on the phone is set automatically.
• If an error appears when backing up, try creating a backup through Settings → About Phone → Backup.

3.Photos are not uploaded to the cloud

Reasons: insufficient space, disabled boot, restrictions of mobile traffic.

Decision:

• Check out the free space in Xiaomi Cloud → Storage.
• Enable autoboot in Settings → Xiaomi Cloud → Gallery.
• Allow the Gallery app to use mobile traffic in the background.
• Restart the download process by clicking Sync Now.

4. Device search is not working (Find Device)

Reasons: disconnected geolocation, lack of Internet on the lost phone, resetting settings.

Decision:

• Make sure that your lost phone has Geodata and Mobile Data/Wi-Fi enabled.
• Try sending a command to Play the sound through the web version of Find Device.
• If the phone is turned off, wait until it connects to the network (the lock command will be executed the next time you turn on).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

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Xiaomi Cloud is not just storage, but a key element of the MIUI ecosystem. Without it, you lose the ability to back up your system, search for a device and synchronize data between Xiaomi gadgets. However, if privacy is more important to you than convenience, it is better to limit sync or use alternative clouds.