How to increase memory on the TV Xiaomi P1: from flash drive to hidden settings

Why Xiaomi P1 is running out of memory and what to do about it

Xiaomi TV P1 is a popular model with Android TV on board, but even 16 or 32 GB of internal memory is quickly clogged with apps, cache and updates. If you see a notification “Not enough memory” or apps start to slow down, the problem is not only the amount of storage, but also the misallocation of resources. Unlike smartphones, where memory can be expanded micro-SD, Xiaomi TVs are deprived of a card slot — but this does not mean that there are no exits.

In this article, we will analyze all working ways to increase memory on Xiaomi P1 2026, including official methods (connection) USB-drives, system optimization) and less obvious tricks (transfer applications, reset cache through ADB). Important: Not all solutions are equally effective — some are temporary, others require technical skills — and we will be honest about the pros and cons of each approach, and we will also warn about the common mistakes that can turn a TV into a brick».

Before you start, check how much memory is actually occupied: Settings → Device → Storage. If less than 1 GB is free, it’s time to act. If memory is 80-90% clogged, but TV is stable, perhaps the problem is not volume, but fragmentation of data (this is discussed in the section on optimization).

Method 1: Connection USB-storage device (official method)

The easiest and safest way is to use an external drive. Xiaomi P1 supports USB OTG, so you can connect a USB flash drive or hard drive via a USB 2.0 port (located on the back).

• 🔹 File system format: only FAT32 exFAT. NTFS unsupported!
• 🔹 Volume: maximum tested - 2 TB, but optimally 64-256 GB (large drives can slow down).
• 🔹 Speed: for 4K-content is better to take USB 3.0 (blue connector), but P1 speedily USB 2.0 (up to 480 Mbps).
• 🔹 Power: hard drives (HDD) You may not have enough power – use a Y cable with two. USB-plug-in.

How to connect:

1. Format the flash drive in FAT32 (via computer).
2. Put it in. USB-television-port.
3. From the Settings → Device → Storage menu, select “Format as internal storage” (if you need to port applications) or “Use as external” (media files only).

⚠️ Note: When formatted as internal storage, the flash drive will be encrypted and not readable on other devices, and it can also slow down the TV if the drive is slow.

Method 2: Transfer applications to USB (Hidden Android TV feature)

Few people know, but on the Xiaomi P1 you can transfer some applications to an external drive, even if the system does not offer this option by default.

• 📌 USB-a storage device formatted as an internal storage device (see previous section).
• 📌 Developer mode enabled (activated via Settings) → On TV. → 7 times press "Version" MIUI TV").
• 📌 Utility. ADB (Android Debug Bridge on your computer.

Instructions:

1. Connect your TV and computer to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Find out. IP-TV address in Settings → Network.
3. On your computer, open the command line and type: adb connect [IP-address]:5555 adb shell pm set-install-location 2 This forcibly installs external storage as a place for new applications.
4. To transfer already installed applications, use: adb shell pm move-package 2 You can find out the name of the package through adb shell pm list packages.

Not all apps support portability (e.g. Netflix or YouTube may not work), and there may be delays when you start up after the transfer, which is normal for USB 2.0.

Method 3: Clear cache and unnecessary files (without data loss)

Often, the memory clogs not so much the applications as their cache, system logs and temporary files. On Xiaomi P1, you can free 1-3 GB without removing programs:

For deep cleaning, use the Files by Google app (available on Google Play for Android TV) that finds duplicates, large files and debris that are not visible in the standard file manager.

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the cache of system applications (for example, com.xiaomi.mitv.system) - this can cause a failure of the TV start. /system or /vendor!

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If after cleaning the cache applications began to slow down, restart the TV - the system will restore the necessary temporary files.

Method 4: Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If none of these methods worked, and there's less than 500MB of free memory left, you'll have to do a hard reset, which will delete all apps, accounts and settings, but return the TV to its original state. There are two ways to reset on the Xiaomi P1:

• 🔄 Through the menu: Settings → The device → Reset → Erase all data.
• 🔄 Hardware reset: clamp down on Menu + Volume Down on the remote when turning on TV (suitable if the system is not loaded).

What to do after the discharge:

1. Do not restore data from a backup copy – it may contain the same garbage.
2. Install only the necessary applications (e.g. YouTube, Kinopoisk).
3. Turn off automatic app updates in Google Play.
4. Use an external drive for media files.

⚠️ Note: On some of the firmware Xiaomi P1 Google Play may be lost after reset, and to restore it, you need to manually update Google services through the Internet. ADB: adb install com.google.android.gms.apk adb install com.google.android.gsf.login.apk

Method 5: Update the firmware (sometimes solves the memory problem)

Some firmware versions for the Xiaomi P1 had bugs that caused the system to miscalculate space or not clear temporary files. Updating to the latest version can fix this.

1. Go to Settings → About TV → System Update.
2. If the update is available, download it (requires a stable internet connection).
3. After installation, reset the cache (Settings → Apps → Google Play Market → Clear the cache).

If the update does not come automatically, you can install it manually:

1. Download the firmware for Xiaomi P1 from the official website (for example, mi.com/support).
2. Place the file. update.zip root USB-storage.
3. Connect the flash drive to the TV and select Settings → About TV → Update via USB.

After updating, check the memory allocation – sometimes the system starts to display the free space correctly. However, be careful: informal firmware (for example, from forums) may contain viruses or disrupt DRM (which will stop working Netflix, Disney+ in 4K).

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Updating your firmware via USB is the only way to restore the TV to work if it doesn’t turn on after a failed reset.

Alternative methods: risks and limitations

You can find tips on overclocking memory via ADB, changing the build.prop file, or even soldering an additional chip.

• ⚡ Change build.prop: Some users add a line ro.config.low_ram=false, so that the system considers the TV "high performance." In practice, this does not increase memory, but only turns off the optimization of background processes, which can lead to lags.
• 🔧 Memory soldering: Technically possible (on Xiaomi) P1 It uses an eMMC drive, but requires special equipment and skills, and the cost of work often exceeds the cost of a new TV.
• ☁️ Cloud Storage: You can transfer media files to Google Drive or Mi Cloud, but this won’t solve the problem with installing apps.

The only more or less working “unofficial” method is to use the App2SD application (requires root).However, obtaining root rights to the Xiaomi P1 violates the warranty and can lead to:

• 🚫 Air update unit (OTA).
• 🚫 Loss of Widevine support L1 (no 4K streaming).
• 🚫 Unstable system operation (accidental reboots).

If you do decide to root, use Magisk and the Android TV patch (the instructions are on XDA Developers), but remember: there are no confirmed cases of successful memory boost on Xiaomi P1 via root on the forums - only theoretical discussions.

FAQ: Frequent questions about increasing memory on Xiaomi P1