Why Xiaomi Cloud is a big question for you
You just unpacked a new Xiaomi smartphone, Redmi or POCO, turned it on — and immediately saw the offer to log into Xiaomi Cloud (or Mi Cloud, as it was called before), the system insists on registering an account, promising “enhanced experience”, but you are not sure whether this cloud is spying on you? Or maybe without it the phone will simply not work properly.
On the one hand, cloud services have long become the standard — Apple has iCloud, Google has Google Drive, Samsung has Samsung Cloud. On the other hand, Xiaomi is not always famous for transparency in privacy. In this article, we will examine what Xiaomi Cloud does, what data it collects, whether it can be abandoned and what will happen if it is done, and compare it with alternatives and give a checklist for those who do decide to use.
Spoiler: Without Xiaomi Cloud, the smartphone will work, but you will lose access to some of the ecosystem's features, such as synchronizing notes between devices or remotely controlling your phone via the web, but the good news is that most cloud features can be replaced by third-party services. Let's get into the details.
What is Xiaomi Cloud and Why You Need It?
Xiaomi Cloud (formerly Mi Cloud) is a cloud storage and sync service from Xiaomi that automatically backs up data from your smartphone to the company’s remote servers. It is built into MIUI firmware and activated when you first turn on your device. The main purpose of the service is to provide seamless work between Xiaomi devices (smartphones, tablets, smartwatches) and protect your data from loss.
In practice, this means that if you:
- 📱 Change your smartphone to the new Xiaomi model, all contacts, photos and settings will be transferred automatically.
- 🔍 If you lose your phone, you can find it through the Cloud web version or block it remotely.
- 📝 Add a note on your smartphone, it will immediately appear on the Xiaomi Pad tablet.
- 🎵 Listen to music through Mi Music, playlists sync between devices.
But there’s a downside: by default, Cloud synchronizes all data, including call history, SMS, voice recorder records, and even Wi-Fi passwords. This is convenient, but raises privacy questions, especially when Xiaomi’s servers are physically located in China (although the company claims that users from other regions are stored on local servers).
What data is synchronized by Xiaomi Cloud by default
If you have not changed your settings after registration, Xiaomi Cloud already collects and stores the following data on its servers:
| Type of data | What exactly is synchronizing? | Can I turn it off? |
|---|---|---|
| 📱 Contacts | All phone book entries, including numbers, email and profile photos | Yes. |
| 📝 Notes | All notes from the Notes app, including attachments (photo, audio) | Yes. |
| 📷 Photos and videos | All media files from the gallery (if Auto Download option is enabled) | Yes. |
| 🔑 Wi-Fi passwords | Saved networks and passwords to them | Yes. |
| 📡 Call history and SMS | List of incoming/outgoing calls and text messages | Yes. |
| 🎵 Music and playlists | Data from the Mi Music app | Yes. |
| ⚙️ System settings | Themes, wallpaper, app shortcuts, display settings | Partially. |
It’s important to understand that photos and videos are synced in full resolution (unlike Google Photos, which uses compression by default), which means that if you have 2GB of 4K video in your gallery, it will take up the same amount of space in the cloud, with a free plan that only gives 5GB (it used to be 10GB, but Xiaomi cut the limit in 2023).
⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi Cloud for backup SMS, then when you change the smartphone to a model of another brand (for example, Samsung or iPhone) to restore messages will be impossible – the backup format is compatible only with devices on the device. MIUI.
Pros and cons of using Xiaomi Cloud
Like any cloud service, Xiaomi Cloud has its advantages and disadvantages. Let's take them into consideration.
✅ Advantages
- 🔄 Automatic synchronization between Xiaomi devices (smartphone) → tablet → smartwatch).
- 🔍 Search for your device via i.mi.com web version (even if your phone is turned off, the last location is saved).
- 📲 Remote control: you can lock your phone, erase data or turn on the beep.
- 💾 Backup before updating MIUI (It is useful if the firmware "flyes").
- 🎨 Synchronize themes and wallpapers – if you customized the interface, the settings will be transferred to the new phone.
❌ Deficiencies
- 🌍 Servers in China (although for European users, data is stored in Singapore and India, it still raises questions about jurisdiction).
- 📦 5GB limit for free account (previously 10GB, but Xiaomi has reduced the volume in 2023).
- 🔒 No end-to-end encryption (unlike iCloud or Proton Drive, data can theoretically be read by Xiaomi employees).
- 📱 Reference to MIUI — Backups are incompatible with other brands.
- 📊 Analytics collection – even if you disable sync, Xiaomi still collects data about your device usage (this is spelled out in the privacy policy).
💡
Xiaomi Cloud is convenient for users of the Xiaomi ecosystem, but if you are planning to change your brand or value privacy, it is better to use alternatives like Google Drive or Nextcloud.
How to Disable or Remove Xiaomi Cloud
If you decide that you don’t need Xiaomi Cloud, you can turn it off completely or partially.
🔧 Partial shutdown (leave only the necessary functions)
- Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
- Scroll down to the Synchronization block.
- Turn off unnecessary items (such as Call History or SMS).
- To disable autoload photos, go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Gallery and deactivate the option.
❌ Complete disabling (delete your Xiaomi account)
If you want to delete your account and all data from the cloud:
- Go to account.xiaomi.com and log in.
- Select Account Management → Delete the account.
- Confirm the action via SMS or email.
- On your smartphone, reset to factory settings (Settings → About Phone → Resetting) to remove the binding to the device.
⚠️ Note: After deleting your Xiaomi account, you will lose access to all ecosystem services, including: 🎮 Mi Game Center (Achievements in Games). 🏠 Mi Home (Management of a Smart Home). 📱 Themes: If you use Xiaomi smart devices (lamps, robot vacuum cleaners), they will have to be reconfigured from scratch.
☑️ What to do before removing Xiaomi Cloud
Xiaomi Cloud Alternatives: What to Use Instead
If you’ve opted out of Xiaomi Cloud but want to keep backup and sync functionality, here are a few alternatives:
| Service | Pluses | Cons | Free volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌍 Google Drive | Android integration, 15GB free, secure encryption | Synchronize photos in compressed quality (originals take place in the cloud) | 15GB |
| 🍎 iCloud | End-to-end encryption, convenient for Apple users | Only 5GB free, poor integration with Android | 5GB |
| 🔒 Nextcloud (self-hosting) | Full control of data, no limit on the scope | You need to rent a server or set up a home NAS | Unlimited* |
| 📁 Syncthing | Decentralized synchronization without cloud, open source | No web access to files, more difficult to set up | Unlimitedly |
| 🔗 Dropbox | Simple interface, good download speed | Only 2GB free, expensive fares | 2GB |
* For Nextcloud, the volume depends on your server.
If you’re worried about privacy, the best options are Nextcloud (if you’re ready to handle the setup) or Syncthing (for syncing between your devices without the cloud). For most users, Google Drive is the best solution – it’s already pre-installed on all Android smartphones and offers 15GB for free.
💡
If you choose Google Drive, disable the High Quality option in your photo backup settings, so your photos will be saved in the original resolution but will take up space in the cloud.
Xiaomi Cloud Security: Should You Trust?
One of the most controversial issues is how secure Xiaomi Cloud is and whether it can be trusted with personal data.
🔐 What Xiaomi Says About Security
- 📌 Data from EU and Russian users is stored on servers in Singapore and India (not China).
- 🔑 Encryption is used. AES-256 data transmission.
- 🛡️ Two-factor authentication is supported for authorization (SMS or-app).
- 📄 The Privacy Policy states that data is not transferred to third parties (except as provided by law).
⚠️ Risks and Controversies
Despite Xiaomi’s claims, the service has a few issues:
- 🇨🇳 Chinese jurisdiction: Even if the data is stored in Singapore, the company is subject to Chinese laws, which require the authorities to provide the data on request.
- 🕵️ Data collection scandals: Xiaomi was accused of collecting data about users’ browsers in 2020 (the company denied the allegations, but admitted that it was collecting anonymous analytics).
- 🔓 There is no end-to-end encryption like Proton Drive or Signal, which means that Xiaomi employees can theoretically access your data.
- 📊 Usage Analytics: Even if you turn off sync, Xiaomi still collects data about the device model, version MIUI and other "technical" parameters.
If you store sensitive information in the cloud (such as document scans or work files), it is better to use end-to-end encryption alternatives (Proton Drive, Tresorit) or abandon cloud services altogether in favor of local backup.