Xiaomi phone memory is not enough: what to do in 2026?

Your Xiaomi, Redmi or yours. POCO Is it giving a notification "Not enough memory" and slows down when installing new applications? MIUI — Even with 128GB on board, memory melts like snow in the sun, not only because of high-resolution photos or heavy games, but also hidden system files, duplicate media and aggressive app caching.

In this article — 12 Proven ways to free up space on Xiaomi, including little-known features MIUI 14/15, We'll look at how to migrate applications to the standard settings. SD-map (yes, it still works on some models!), disable unnecessary system processes, and why clear cache via Settings → The vault has a temporary effect, and the top table.-5 «Memory eaters on Xiaomi smartphones and instructions for restoring deleted files, if you have already rushed to clean up.

1. Diagnostics: What exactly is taking up memory on Xiaomi?

Before you clean everything, identify the main culprits. MIUI There's a built-in storage analyzer, but it hides some of the data:

Open the Settings. → The phone. → Memory (or Settings) → Storage in new versions. Here you'll see the distribution of memory by category: Applications, Media, Files and System. Click on each category to expand the details:

• 📱 Apps: games (Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile) and social networks (TikTok, Instagram) can weigh 5-10 GB each.
• 📸 Media: photo in format.HEIC (They occupy 30% less space than.JPG, Not all programs support them and videos 4K.
• 🗑️ Garbage: temporary update files (MIUI and Google Play), error logs and map cache (Google Maps, Yandex.Navigator).
• 🔄 Duplicate: MIUI often creates copies of photos when editing in a gallery or sending through instant messengers.

For in-depth analysis, use third-party tools such as Files by Google or SD Maid. They'll show hidden files, like:

• 📁 folder MIUI/Backup with backup copies (may weigh up to) 2–3 GB).
• 🎮 Cash games Android/obb (for example, files PUBG Mobile or Free Fire).
• 📥 Downloads from messengers (Telegram/Telegram Images, WhatsApp/Media).

⚠️ Note: Do not manually delete the Android folder, it can break the application. Use only specialized utilities to clean it.

2.Cache and garbage cleanup: what can be removed without risk

Cache speeds up applications, but it grows to giant sizes over time, and on Xiaomi, it can be cleaned in three ways:

Method 1: Standard cleaning through MIUI

Go to Settings. → Warehouse → Cleaning. This is where the system will suggest removing:

• 🧹 Unnecessary files (temporary data, empty folders).
• 🗑️ Application cache (safe for all programs except games – there the cache may contain saves).
• 📥 Downloads (files from the browser and messengers older than 30 days).

Click Clean – this will free up 500MB to 2GB, depending on the time of the last clean.

Method 2: Manually cleansing cache for individual applications

If you need to free up space for a particular app (for example, Instagram or Instagram). VK), Go to Settings. → Annexes → App management, select the right one and click Clear Cache. The Clear Data option is also available for games, but it will reset all settings and progress!

Method 3: Deep Cleaning through Safe Mode

Some system files are not deleted in the normal mode.

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the power button. + Loudness up before the logo appears MI.
3. Select “Safe Mode” (Security Mode).
4. Run Files by Google and delete files from Download folders, DCIM/.thumbnails and MIUI/Backup.

⚠️ Warning: Safe Mode doesn't have third-party launchers or widgets. Don't worry if the interface looks different, that's okay.

3. Transfer applications and files to SD-map

If your Xiaomi supports memory cards (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3 Pro), you can transfer some of the data to the microSD.

• 📱 Applications: Not all programs support portability, such as WhatsApp and Google Play Services remain in internal memory.
• 📸 Photo/video: You can manually transfer or configure automatic saving to the map in the camera settings.
• 🎵 Music and documents: Easily transferred through any file manager.

How to transfer applications to SD-map:

1. Insert a memory card (UHS-I U3 class is recommended for speed).
2. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
3. Select an app (like Spotify) and click on Storage.
4. If the “Change” option is active, select SD-map.

For photo and video:

1. Open the gallery. → Settings → Conservation.
2. Choose «SD-map as the default save location.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi 11 and newer) port applications to the newer ones SD-The card is turned off at the firmware level, and in this case, it's only a root or a phone with a lot of memory that helps.

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If the phone can't see SD-If you want to format it in exFAT format through your computer, it will solve the problem with files larger than 4 GB.

4.Photo and video optimization: how to save gigabytes

Media files are the main memory eater. One photo in format.RAW It can weigh 20-30 MB, and a minute of video in the video 4K — Up to 400MB, Here's How to Cut Their Weight:

Method 1: Change the camera settings

Xiaomi defaults to shoot at maximum resolution to reduce file size:

1. Open the camera. → press on ⚙️ «Settings».
2. Select “Photo Resolution” and install 12 MP instead of MP 48/64/108 MPP.
3. For the video, select Full. HD (1080p) instead 4K.
4. Activate "Compression" HEIF» (If available, the photos will weigh 50% less.

Method 2: Convert existing photos and videos

To compress files already made, use:

• 📱 Google Photos: Automatically compresses photos when uploaded to the cloud (settings) → «Quality of loading» → «High" instead of "Original»).
• 💻 HandBrake (for video): Convert 4K full HD minimally.
• 📱 Photo & Picture Resizer (for Android): reduces the resolution of the photo to the desired size.

Method 3: Remove duplicates and failed photos

MIUI creates duplicates when editing a photo or shooting in mode HDR/Night Mode, to find them:

1. Open the gallery. → Albums. → Duplicates (in new versions) MIUI).
2. Or use Files by Google → «Cleanup» → «Duplicate».

On Xiaomi smartphones with 108 cameras+ MP (e.g. Mi 11 Ultra or Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) Turn off Superpixels in the camera settings – it saves duplicates of each shot in low and high resolution.

5. Removal of unnecessary applications and their residues

Many users delete apps but forget about their residual files and cache, for example, after uninstallation, Facebook may remain in the app. 500 MB of garbage in folders Android/data and Android/obb.

How to completely remove the application:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an unneeded app (such as Mi Video or Mi Music).
3. Click on “Delete”, then “Clear Cache” and “Clear Data”.
4. Use Files by Google to search for the remaining files by app name.

List of safe to remove system applications (without root):

• 🎵 Mi Music is a standard player that can be replaced with Spotify or YouTube Music.
• 🎬 Mi Video – Video player with unnecessary features.
• 📰 Mi Browser – a browser with advertising, better to use Chrome or Firefox.
• 📡 Mi Remote – Remote if you don’t use it.
• 🎮 Game Turbo is a utility for gamers, but it consumes resources in the background.

⚠️ Note: Do not remove system apps marked “System Update” or “Google Play Services” – this can cause malfunctions in the phone.

How to disable pre-installed applications (without deleting):

If the application cannot be removed, it can be disabled:

1. Go to Settings → Apps.
2. Select an app (such as Mi Pay).
3. Click “Disable” – it will disappear from the menu and stop updating.

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Removing unnecessary applications frees up not only memory, but also RAM (RAM), which speeds up the phone.

6. Hidden MIUI functions for memory release

MIUI It has a few hidden tools that even experienced users don't know about, and they help make room without manual cleaning.

Function 1: "Lite Mode" (Lite Mode)

This mode turns off animations, background processes and reduces memory consumption:

1. Go to Settings → Special features → Lite Mode.
2. Activate the mode and restart the phone.

Savings: up to 1-1.5 GB by disabling unnecessary services.

Function 2: Cleaning “Other” Files

In the Settings section → The storage is a category "Others", which can take up to 5-10 GB:

1. Click on "Others."
2. Select “Update Files” and “Error Logs” – they can be deleted without consequences.

Function 3: Disabling Automatic Booting in Messengers

Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber are all downloading media files by default, to stop this:

• 📱 In Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Autoboot media → Choose "Never».
• 💬 On WhatsApp: Settings → Warehouse → Autoboot media → Turn off for mobile data and Wi-Fi.

Function 4: Restriction of background activity

Many applications continue to run in the background, consuming memory, to limit them:

1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Management.
2. Select an app (like Facebook) and set the “Background Activity” limit to “Limit.”

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V MIUI 14/15 There is a hidden option "Deep Clean" - hold your finger on the "Clean" item in the storage settings to activate the advanced mode.

7.Use of cloud storage and backups

If you don't have enough space on your phone, move some of the data to the cloud. Xiaomi offers its own solution, Mi Cloud, but it has limitations:

How to set up autoload in Google Photos:

1. Install the Google Photos app.
2. Go to Settings → Backup and Synchronization.
3. Enable Backup and Sync and select High Quality (unlimited space) or Original (from Google quota).
4. In the “Storage Management” section, click “Free space” – this will remove photos from your phone that have already been uploaded to the cloud.

⚠️ Before mass-deleting photos from your phone, check that they have actually uploaded to the cloud. To do this, open Google Photos on another device or through the web version.

8.Extreme measures: reset to factory settings

If all the methods are tried and the memory is still running out, it's a radical method, but it will return the phone to its "clean" state.

How to reset Xiaomi to factory settings:

1. Save all important data (photos, contacts, messages) to the cloud or PC.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select “Erase all data”.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

What will be removed:

• 📱 All installed applications and their data.
• 📸 Photos, videos and music (if not saved) SD-map).
• 📞 Contacts, SMS Call logs (unless synced with Google or Mi Account).
• 🔑 Wi-Fi passwords and system settings.

How to recover data after resetting:

1. When you first turn on, select the recovery from a backup (Mi Cloud or Google Drive).
2. Install the necessary apps from Google Play.
3. Download photos from the cloud (for example, through Google Photos).

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 9 and older) may require re-assignment of the Mi Account after reset!

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Factory reset is the last chance if your phone is infected with viruses or littered to the limit, but only use it after you have backed up!

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory on Xiaomi