Owners of brand smartphones Redmi often face a situation where the physical memory of the device is full, but the photos do not disappear anywhere. This happens thanks to cloud services that automatically upload images to remote servers to save space and protect data. However, access to these files is not always obvious to the average user, especially after a factory reset or when changing accounts.
Understanding this how to view photos in the cloudis a critical skill for any ecosystem user. Android. Depending on the settings of your device, images can be stored in a proprietary service Mi Cloud or in universal storage Google Photos. Below we will analyze both options in detail so that you can easily find your memories.
Before you start, make sure that your device is connected to the network Wi-Fi or has a stable mobile connection. Loading a gallery from the Internet requires traffic, and without a connection you will only see previews or empty albums. Also check under which account you are logged in, since the data is strictly tied to a specific ID user.
Identification of the cloud service being used
The first step is to determine where exactly your pictures are uploaded. On smartphones Xiaomi and Redmi by default, synchronization with the manufacturer's own service is often activated, but many users also use solutions from Google. The further algorithm of actions depends on this.
Go to the menu Settings of your smartphone and find the section responsible for accounts. Usually it is at the very top of the list or in a subsection Accounts and synchronization. Here you will see a list of all linked services. If there is an account there Mi Account with an active cloud icon, then some of the photos can be stored there.
At the same time, check for an account Google. Even if you didn't set it up manually, the first time you turn on your phone, you'll often be signed in automatically. It is this account that is responsible for the operation of the application Google Photos, which is the de facto standard for storing media on Android. Having both accounts means that your photos may be duplicated or distributed between two different storage locations.
Pay attention to the synchronization status. Next to the service name there should be a check mark or indication that synchronization is enabled. If the icon is crossed out or missing, automatic uploading may have been disabled previously, and only old photos may be in the cloud.
⚠️ Attention: If you reset your phone to factory settings and do not remember your account password Mi Account, logging into the Xiaomi cloud will not be possible without restoring access through support.
Viewing photos through the Mi Cloud service
The proprietary cloud from Xiaomi is integrated directly into the "Gallery" system application. This makes the viewing process as convenient as possible, since it does not require the installation of third-party software. The work algorithm is based on the principle of “invisible synchronization”: you see all the photos in one feed, but physically they can be located on the server.
To make sure that you are looking at cloud data, open the application Gallery and go to the Albumstab. At the very top of the list there is often a special album with the name Cloud or Cloud. By clicking on it, you will be taken to the interface for managing remote files.
All photos that have been uploaded to the servers are displayed here Mi Cloud. It is important to understand the difference between local and cloud images. If you see a cloud icon with a down arrow in the photo thumbnail, it means the original file has been deleted from your phone to save space and is only stored online. To view it in full quality, you will need to click on the image and wait for it to load.
The web interface functionality is also available for more in-depth management. If it’s difficult to find the photo you need through your phone, you can use a computer. Go to the official website of the service and log in using your Mi ID. The full archive is available there, including recently deleted files that have not yet been erased from the recycle bin.
Use the "Free up space" function in the Gallery settings to automatically delete copies of photos from your phone that are already securely stored in the Mi Cloud.
Access to the Google Photos library
Service from Google works a little differently and is often the primary storage option for users who don't want to be locked into one phone manufacturer's ecosystem. The application Google Photos is pre-installed on most devices Redmi and requires special attention when setting up viewing.
Launch the application Google Photos on your device. At the bottom of the screen you will see a navigation bar with tabs: Photo, Search, Library. If synchronization is turned on, you will see all your photos in chronological order, no matter where they were taken - on this phone or on the tablet.
The key status indicator is your profile avatar in the upper right corner. Click on it to see the backup status. If it says “Backup is enabled,” it means that all new photos are automatically sent to the cloud. If you see an error or pause message, new pictures may not be displayed on other devices.
A feature Google Photos is a powerful content search. You can search for photos by searching for "sea", "cat" or "documents", and the system will find them in the cloud, even if you have never created albums manually. This is possible thanks to machine learning technologies that analyze every loaded pixel.
| Features | Mi Cloud | Google Photos |
|---|---|---|
| Integration | System gallery | Separate application |
| Free volume | 5 GB | 15 GB (shared with Gmail) |
| Compression quality | Original or compression | Express or Original |
| Search | Basic (by date/album) | Advanced (by objects) |
Google Photos allows you to search for images by text in the picture and object recognition, which makes navigation through a huge archive much faster.
Setting up synchronization and download quality
For comfortable viewing, it is important to correctly configure the download settings. Incorrect settings can lead to photos taking up too much space in the cloud (the limit will quickly be exhausted) or, conversely, being uploaded in poor quality, which is not suitable for printing.
In the application Google Photos go to the settings through the profile menu. Find the section Backup and then Upload quality. There are two main options here: “Express” (compressed photos, do not take up space in the limit) and “Original quality” (takes up space in Google storage). The choice depends on your needs for free space.
In the ecosystem Xiaomi the settings are deeper. Go to Settings → Mi account → Xiaomi Cloud → Gallery. Here you can enable the option Synchronization. The "Delete local copies" function is also available, which turns your phone into a thin client: photos are stored only on the network and are loaded on demand when clicked.
Do not forget about mobile traffic restrictions. In the settings of both services, you can prohibit downloading and uploading photos via the mobile network 4G/5G. This will save your data plan from unexpected charges, but will slow down the appearance of new photos in the cloud if you are not connected to Wi-Fi.
☑️ Checking sync settings
Recovering deleted pictures from the cloud
One of the main advantages of using cloud storage is the ability to recover accidentally deleted photos. If you delete a photo from your phone's gallery, it does not instantly disappear from the servers, but is moved to a special trash bin.
In the application Google Photos go to the tab Library and select the item Trash. Deleted items are retained here for 60 days (extended to 5 years for Google One subscribers). You can select the pictures you want and press the button Restore, after which they will return to the main feed and phone memory.
In the service Mi Cloud the procedure is similar. Go to the web version of the cloud through a browser or to the gallery settings on your phone. Find the section Deleted. The list of files there has a limited storage time (usually 30 days), so you need to act quickly. Restoring will return the files to the album from which they were deleted.
Cloud services provide a second chance, but are not an eternal archive for irretrievably erased information without the ability to roll back.
⚠️ Attention: The "Empty Trash" function deletes files permanently. Before clicking this button, carefully check whether there are any important documents or rare frames there.
What to do if the photo is not in the cart or in the gallery?
Check the archive in Google Photos. Sometimes users accidentally archive pictures, hiding them from the general feed, but not deleting them. It is also worth checking the “Recent” folder on the device itself if synchronization has not yet worked.
Solving problems with display and loading
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the cloud shows emptiness, although the photos have definitely been downloaded. Most often, the problem lies in account desync or network connection failures. First of all, check whether the account is selected in the application.
Try to force refresh the feed. In Google Photos this is done by swiping down the photo list screen. You may need to re-login: log out of your account in the settings and log in again by entering your password. This will force the application to re-request the list of files from the server. Mi Cloud You may need to re-login: log out of your account in the settings and log in again by entering your password. This will force the application to re-request the list of files from the server.
If the problem persists, clear the application cache. Go to Settings → Applications → find the desired application (Gallery or Google Photos) → Memory → Clear cache. Do not confuse this with the "Clear data" button, as this may reset the app settings, although it will not delete the photos themselves from the cloud.
It is also worth checking the date and time on the device. If the clock is lost, a secure connection HTTPS with the cloud servers will not be established and synchronization will stop. Make sure that the “Use network time” checkbox is checked in the date settings.
90% of synchronization problems can be solved by simply rechecking the account password and switching the type of Internet connection from Wi-Fi to a mobile network and back.
⚠️ Attention: Application interfaces and menu layout may vary slightly depending on the version shell MIUI or HyperOS. If you do not find the menu item, use the search in your phone settings.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to view photos in the cloud without the Internet?
Full viewing is not possible, since the files are physically located on the servers. However, if you previously opened these photos on this device, they may have been saved in the cache. In offline mode, you will see only those thumbnails that managed to download earlier.
What will happen to the photos in the cloud if I sell a Redmi phone?
Nothing will happen to the photos, since they are linked to your account (Mi Account or Google), and not to the device itself. After the sale, simply log out of your accounts on your phone (make a reset), and your data will remain safe in your personal account.
How to download all photos from the cloud to your computer?
For Google Photos use the Google Takeout service, which allows you to download the entire archive in one archive. To Mi Cloud go to the website i.mi.com, select a gallery, check the boxes of the desired photos and click the "Download" button.
Why are the photos in the cloud blurry?
The traffic saving mode is probably turned on or "Express" (compressed) version downloaded. Open the photo in full screen and wait a couple of seconds - the application should load the original in high resolution if you have a good Internet connection.
How much space do photos take up in the free version of the cloud?
Mi Cloud provides 5 GB for free. Google gives 15 GB, but this space is common for mail, disk and photos. Once the limit is exhausted, downloading new photos will stop until you free up space or buy a subscription.