Smartphone owners often face a situation where a device compulsively offers to store data in the cloud or, conversely, hides information from other users. In the Xiaomi ecosystem, this issue is especially acute due to the deep integration of Mi Account and Google services. Many users confuse system backup with synchronizing specific applications, such as games, which leads to unexpected resets of progress or, conversely, to the leakage of personal statistics.
Understanding how data exchange works between your Redmi or POCO and servers is critical to keeping your contacts private. You may want to keep them, but you don't want your friends to see what you're playing for, and you don't want them to see how long.
In this guide, we will not only look at the technical aspects of disabling cloud services, but also the specific profile settings that are often ignored.The correct configuration will prevent automatic uploading of screenshots of achievements and hide your gaming status from prying eyes.
Differences between Mi Cloud and Google Play Games
The first step to controlling data is to clearly distinguish synchronization sources: Xiaomi devices run two powerful storage systems in parallel: the proprietary MIUI shell (or HyperOS) and Google services. Mi Cloud is primarily focused on system data: contacts, messages, voice recorders and schedules.
At the same time, game progress is most often tied to the Google Play Game account or internal developer accounts, such as Tencent Games or miHoYo. Disabling sync in your phone settings does not always mean stopping data transfer within a particular application.
⚠️ Warning: Completely disabling your Google account on your device will result in the inability to download new apps from the Play Market store and loss of access to purchased programs.
To manage these processes, you use a central settings node. Go to Settings → Accounts and Sync. Here you will see a list of all the services connected. This menu decides the fate of your data: will it be duplicated on the server or will remain only in the memory of the smartphone.
Synchronization setting in Mi Account
Xiaomi's ecosystem offers its own cloud service, which by default tends to reserve as much information as possible. This is convenient when losing your phone, but redundant for those who value privacy. To manage this, you need to log into Settings → Mi Account.
Inside the account menu is Cloud, and you click on it and you'll be taken to the detailed data management menu, where you can selectively turn off sync for a gallery, voice recorder or browser, but for games, this section is less relevant, because it doesn't store progress levels directly unless the game uses specific Game Center plugins.
It is important to note the Hide Device feature. If your goal is to hide gaming activity from friends in the Mi contact list, you need to find the privacy settings in the Security app or in the Mi Account profile. Disabling status visibility "Online" or "Plays on..." often solves the problem without having to turn off all sync.
- 📱 Go to the Mi Account settings via the top curtain or main menu.
- ☁️ Select the "Cloud" option to manage system data backups.
- 🔒 Find the Privacy section to hide the activity status of games.
- 🚫 Turn off synchronization switches for unnecessary data categories.
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Use guest mode or second space if you want to completely isolate your game activity from your main profile without deleting your account.
Managing the Google Play Games Profile
The main mechanism for keeping progress in most mobile projects today is Google Play Games, which allows you to continue your play on your tablet after playing on your phone, but it also broadcasts your activity. The Play Games app (a green joystick icon) is the central hub for these settings.
Open the app and click on the profile avatar in the top corner. In the drop-down menu, select Settings → Change profile data. Here are key visibility switches. You can make your profile closed so that no one sees your games list, achievements and time spent in the apps.
Also worth paying attention to auto-logins. In some games, progress is saved instantly at launch. To break this connection, sometimes you need not just change your profile settings, but turn off a particular application in the list of associated ones. This is done through the Settings menu → Apps and notifications → Permissions, where you can restrict the game from accessing your Google account.
| Parameter | Where to find out. | Shutdown effect |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility of profile | Play Games → Settings | Your friends don’t see your activity. |
| Auto-entry | Google Settings → Security | The game does not automatically enter the account |
| Continuing progress | Inside every game | Progress is not saved in the cloud |
| Health data | Google Fit/Health | Steps don't translate into games |
☑️ Checking privacy settings
Disabling synchronization in specific games
Not all games rely on Google. Many popular projects, such as Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty Mobile, use their own account systems or third-party services like Facebook and Twitter, and in such cases, the phone's settings are powerless, you need to look for options inside the app itself.
Usually, the settings are in the Settings section (cogs) inside the game, in the Account or Center tab, and there may be a Log Out or Untie Account button. Importantly, before you do this, make sure you remember your local ID or back up if the game allows you to play offline, otherwise the progress will be lost irrevocably.
There's also a nuance with background synchronization. Some games continue to send telemetry and statistics even when you're not in the game. To stop this, go to Phone Settings → Apps → All apps, find the right game, select Mobile Data and disable background mode. This will stop data transfer when the application is folded.
⚠️ Warning: Unbinding your online game account without first linking to another login method (e.g., mail) can result in a complete blocking of access to your game character.
What happens to the achievements when disconnected?
Use of a second insulation space
If you want to not just disable sync, but completely separate your gaming and personal lives, the Second Space in MIUI is the perfect solution, creating a virtual clone of your system with separate accounts, files and applications.
You can create a second space without logging into your primary Mi or Google account. All games installed there will consider the device new. Progress will be made separately, and no synchronization with the main profile will occur. This is the best way to hide game statistics from prying eyes if someone has access to your main account.
To activate, go to Settings → Second Space → Enable Second Space. The system will ask you to create a separate password or fingerprint to log in. After switching, you will be on a clean desktop where you can install games and configure them fully autonomously.
- 🔄 Creates a completely isolated environment on a single device.
- 🔐 Protects data with the main profile from applications in the second space.
- 🎮 Allows you to run two copies of the same game at the same time (in some cases).
- 🚫 Ensures no synchronization with the main cloud storage.
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The second space is not just about hiding icons, it’s about fully virtualizing the system, making it the most reliable way to share data.