Xiaomi has run out of memory: how to free up space quickly and safely

Xiaomi’s internal memory is full and the system constantly issues space warnings? This problem is familiar to many users, especially owners of budget models with 32-64 GB of storage. Even if you do not install games or shoot videos in 4K, the memory mysteriously disappears – it is eaten by the cache of applications, duplicate photos, MIUI updates and hidden system files.

Unlike a computer where you can just add a hard drive, there are fewer options on a smartphone: either clean, optimize, or expand the storage with external media, but not all methods are equally effective. For example, deleting the application cache has a temporary effect, and migrating applications to the storage area is not the same. SD-This article shows proven ways to free up memory on Xiaomi, from basic to advanced, with firmware features in mind. MIUI and hardware constraints.

Why Xiaomi is running out of memory fast (and how to prevent it)

The main reason is that it automatically accumulates junk files, and even if you don't download anything, it creates:

• 📁 Application cache (temporary files to speed up work, but often inflated to gigabytes).
• 📸 Duplicates and miniatures photos (MIUI Automatically saves copies when editing in the gallery).
• 🔄 Logs and dumps of the system (debugging files that are created after crashes or updates).
• 📥 Downloads from messengers (pictures, stickers, voice messages from Telegram/WhatsApp forever).

The second common problem is the wrong memory allocation, for example, on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 with 128 GB, the user can only access it. ~110 GB because of service partitions. MIUI It saves up to 5GB to 10GB for updates, and even less space, and many people don't know that Google Play apps are default to internal memory, even if they have a memory. SD-map.

How do you prevent it?

• ⚙️ Turn off auto-save media files in messengers (Settings) → Annexes → [messenger] → Memory. → Autoboot).
• 📱 Clean the gallery basket regularly (files are stored there for 30 days by default).
• 🔄 Set up automatic cache cleanup in Settings → Memory. → Cleaning (select Weekly»).

Method 1: Deep cleaning through built-in MIUI tools

MIUI has a built-in memory analysis and cleaning tool called Memory in the settings, but most users don't use it or don't use it correctly. Here's how to clean it completely:

1. Open the Settings → Memory.
2. Click “Clean” in the “Junk Files” section (this will remove the cache and temporary data).
3. Go to Memory Analysis and select categories: 🗑️ Large files (video, archives, unused files) APK). 📎 Downloads (often unnecessary ones accumulate here) PDF, APK, picture). 📷 Duplicate photos (MIUI automatically finds similar pictures).

MIUI

Important: Restart your phone after cleaning, and some apps (like a gallery) may temporarily run slower until the cache is restored.

⚠️ Note: Do not manually delete the Android folder, this will cause installed applications to fail. MIUI.

Method 2: Transfer applications to SD-The map (and why it doesn’t always work)

If you support Xiaomi SD-cards (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3), You can transfer some of the applications to an external medium:

• ✅ It only works for apps that support this feature (many games and social media sites don’t).
• ⚠️ SD-The card must be formatted as internal memory (in which case it becomes part of the system but will not be read on other devices).
• ❌ Some applications start to slow down after the transfer (especially if the card is slow, the class is lower). UHS-I).

How to move:

1. Put it in. SD-map and format it as internal memory in Settings → Memory. → SD-map.
2. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
3. Select the application → «Warehouse» → «Change» → «SD-map».

⚠️ Note: If you are formatting SD-The card is an internal memory that cannot be retrieved without data loss, and it can also slow down the phone if the card is low-end (e.g. Class 4).

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Before transferring applications to SD-Check the speed of the card using the application A1 SD Bench (must be at least 10 MB/s for recording).

Method 3: Removing System Garbage Through ADB (for Advanced)

If the built-in MIUI tools don't help, you can manually delete unnecessary system files through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that is suitable for users who are willing to work with the command line, the main advantage is access to hidden folders that are usually not visible.

What can be removed safely:

• 🗃️ folder /data/log — System logs (you can delete everything except current files).
• 📦 folder /data/tombstones — memory dumps after failures.
• 🎬 folder /data/media/0/DCIM/.thumbnails — photo and video miniatures.

Instructions:

1. Enable USB debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times, then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and execute commands: adb shell su rm -rf /data/log/* rm -rf /data/tombstones/* rm -rf /data/media/0/DCIM/.thumbnails/*
3. Reboot the phone.

Method 4: Optimize photos and videos (compression without loss of quality)

Photos and videos take up the lion's share of memory, for example, one video in 4K weighs ~500 MB, and 100 photos in RAW weighs up to 2 GB. But they can be compressed without any apparent loss of quality:

Option 1: Integrated compression in MIUI

• Open the Gallery → select a photo / video → “More” → “Squeeze”.
• MIUI will offer compression options (e.g., reducing resolution to Full HD).

Option 2: Compression applications

• 📱 Google Files (automatically finds large files and offers to compress).
• 📸 Photo & Picture Resizer (allows you to set the exact size of the output file).

Option 3: Cloud storage with automatic optimization

• 🌥️ Google Photos (stores originals in the cloud, and leaves compressed copies on the phone).
• 📦 Mi Cloud (Xiaomi built-in cloud, but only 5GB free).

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Compressing photos and videos is the most efficient way to free up memory without losing data, for example, compressing 100 photos in RAW to JPEG will free up ~4.5 GB.

Method 5: Clear cache and application data (which can be deleted)

App caches are temporary files that should speed up programs, but often inflate to inadequate sizes, such as Facebook cache can take 1-2 GB, and Telegram can take up to 5 GB (if you do not clean the downloads).

How to clean the cache correctly:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application → “Storage” → “Clean the cache”.
3. For a complete cleanup, click Clear Data, but it will remove all settings and inputs!

Top.-5 «squandering" applications (according to data MIUI 14):

• 📺 TikTok - up to 1.5 GB of cache.
• 💬 Telegram – up to 5 GB (media files) + cash).
• 🎮 Genshin Impact – up to 15 GB (cache) + game-play).
• 📷 Google Photos – up to 1 GB (miniatures and pre-loads).
• 📘 Facebook – up to 2 GB (news and video cache).

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the cache of system applications (e.g. com.miui.home or com.android.systemui) – this may cause interface failures.

Method 6: Reset to factory settings (last chance)

If all the methods are tried and the memory is still full, it's a radical reset, but it's guaranteed to return the phone to its original state before it's reset.

• 🔄 Backup important data (contacts, photos, messages) through Settings → The phone. → Backup.
• 📱 Make sure you have access to your Mi Account (confirmation will be required after the reset).
• 🔌 Charge your phone at least 50% (reset at low charge can be interrupted).

How to reset:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select “Erase All Data” (not to be confused with “Reset” – it doesn’t clean up memory!).
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

Once reset, the phone will be like new, free memory, but remember, it will delete all data, including:

• 📱 Installed applications and their settings.
• 📸 Photos, videos and music (unless synced to the cloud).
• 📞 Call log and SMS.

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After resetting, do not restore the backup completely – select only the necessary data (contacts, photos) to avoid re-filling the memory with garbage.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory on Xiaomi