Xiaomi’s “Not Enough Memory”: How to Free Up Your Phone Without Losing Data

The message “Not enough memory” on the Xiaomi smartphone always appears inappropriate: in the midst of shooting a video, when trying to update the application or download an important document. 9A With 32 GB on board, and for flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra, where memory is “eating up» 4K-In this article, 10 proven ways to free up space, including hidden features MIUI, Which is not obvious to even experienced users.

Most people’s biggest mistake is to delete everything in the hope of “saving something,” an approach that often leads to the loss of important data or, on the contrary, does not have a significant effect, because the main memory eaters remain intact, we will analyze which files can be deleted without risk, how to transfer applications to the memory card (even if the system does not allow it), and why standard cleaning of the cache in MIUI works inefficiently.

1. Analysis of occupied space: what exactly eats memory?

Before you delete something, you need to know which files are taking up the lion's share of memory. MIUI has a built-in tool for this, but it's hidden in the depth of the settings.

Settings → About the phone → Memory → Memory analysis

The system will show you the distribution by category: applications, multimedia, cache, system files, etc.

• 📱 Apps – especially games (Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile and social networks (TikTok, Instagram) that cache gigabytes of content.
• 🎥 Video - even a 10-minute video in the 1080p weight ~1 GB, a 4K — 4GB.
• 📁 System files – Log files are often hidden from crash reports and updates.
• 🗑️ The basket is in MIUI Deleted files are stored here for up to 30 days and take up space.

If the built-in analysis seems inadequate, use third-party utilities like Files by Google or SD Maid, which will show duplicate files, large caches, and even “junk” from long-deleted applications, for example, after uninstalling Facebook, up to 500 MB of unnecessary data can remain in memory.

2.Cache cleaning: why does the standard method not work?

Many Xiaomi users are used to going to Settings → Apps → Clear cache, but this method only removes the cache of individual programs, not the system.

1. Open Security (Shield icon)
2. Select Cleanup. → Deep cleaning.
3. Check boxes against all items, including Residual Files and Large Files.
4. Click Clean and confirm the action.

This method removes:

• 🧹 System process cache (including MIUI Launcher and Google Services).
• 🗑️ Temporary files from updates (OTA-packages weigh up to 2GB).
• 📦 APK-Installed application files (remain after updates).

Important: After a deep cleaning, some apps (like YouTube or Chrome) can take longer to load when they first run, which is fine, as they will have to recover the cache again.

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If the memory runs out quickly after cleaning, check the settings of Google Photos: by default, the service can save original images on the device even after downloading to the cloud.

3. Transfer applications to memory card: bypassing the limitations of MIUI

Many Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note) 10 or POCO X3 Pro does not officially support the transfer of applications to SD-But there's a workaround through the map. ADB (Android Debug Bridge, which works on most devices MIUI 12/13/14.

For this:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
2. Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, install it. ADB-drivers and execute the command:

adb shell pm set-install-location 2

After that:

• 📱 Most applications can be transferred to the map through Settings → Annexes → [Select an application] → Memory. → Change.
• ⚠️ Some system applications (such as Mi Home or Google Play Services) cannot be moved, they will be grey in the list.
• 🔄 After transfer, do not remove the memory card without first returning applications to internal memory – this will lead to the collapse of programs.

⚠️ Attention: Transfer of applications to SD-The card may slow down their performance, especially if the class card UHS-I For games and heavy programs (such as Lightroom), it is better to use internal memory.

Make a backup copy of the data|Check the speed class of the card (recommended) UHS-II)|Enable debugging on USB|Install ADB-PC drivers|Transfer only non-system applications-->

4. Optimization of multimedia: how to compress photos and videos without loss of quality

Photos and video are the main memory eaters. For example, Xiaomi 12 Pro with a 50 MP camera creates images weighing 10-15 MB each, and minute video in 4K@60fps - up to 400 MB.

How to change the camera settings:

1. Open the Camera app.
2. Touch the gears (⚙️) → Photo permission.
3. Choose 12 MP instead of 50 MP (if available).
4. For video: Video settings → Resolution → FHD (1080p).

For additional savings, enable automatic upload to the cloud (Google Photos or Mi Cloud) and then delete local copies.

Settings → Free up space → Delete copies from the device

5. System garbage removal: Hidden MIUI files

MIUI is known for leaving behind gigabytes of unnecessary files that are not visible in standard Explorer.

• 📂 folder MIUI The root of the memory is where the themes, wallpaper and launcher cache are stored. Delete everything except the theme folder (if you use custom themes).

To access hidden folders, use Xiaomi’s File Manager (enable hidden files in settings) or third-party apps like Solid Explorer.

⚠️ Attention: Do not delete folders Android/obb For installed games, it will lead to their collapse. Also avoid folders with the names miad. MIUI) and miui_analytics (Analytics data if you do not want to disrupt the system.

6. Disable unnecessary system processes and applications

MIUI, by default, runs a lot of background processes that consume memory and resources, some of which can be turned off without harming the system:

• 🚫 Mi Video, Mi Music, Mi Browser – If you don’t use Xiaomi’s standard apps, turn them off via the app:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → [Select App] → Disable

• 📡 Auto-update MIUI — Turn off downloading updates on the mobile network:

Settings → About Phone → System Update → ⚙️ → Auto download over Wi-Fi

• 🔍 Analytics and Advertising – Limit Data Collection:

Settings → Privacy → Special Permits → MIUI Analytics → Disable

It’s also helpful to disable auto-run apps that wake up when you turn on your phone or connect to Wi-Fi:

Settings → Battery and Performance → Application Launch Management

You can manually ban auto-runs for Facebook, Instagram and other voracious programs, which will not only save memory, but also extend battery life.

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Disabling auto-run applications can free up to 1-2 GB of memory by preventing the creation of unnecessary cache files and logs.

7.Use of cloud storage and external storage

If internal memory is sorely lacking and the microSD card is not helping (or not), consider the following options:

• ☁️ Google Photos – Free high quality photos (up to 16 MP) without limiting the volume. Enable Backup and Sync and delete local copies.
• 💾 Mi Cloud – Xiaomi has its own cloud with 5GB for free.Suitable for backups of contacts, notes and some apps.
• 🖥️ OTG-Driver – connect the flash drive through USB-C/OTG-adapter. MIUI supportive FAT32 and exFAT (up to) 2 TB).
• 📀 Portable SSD — If you want to store large files (such as movies or projects), use an external drive with a file. USB-C.

To automate file transfer to external media, use the FX File Explorer or Total Commander application with the USB OTG plugin.

Important: when using cloud storage, turn off automatic downloading of media in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram) so that files do not duplicate on the device.

8.Reset to factory settings: a last resort

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

1. Back up via Settings → About Phone → Backup or Mi Cloud.
2. Save photos and videos to your PC or cloud.
3. Write down usernames/passwords from your accounts (especially Mi Account if linked to your device).

For discharge:

Settings → About the phone → Reset settings → Erase all data

After discharge:

• 🔄 Do not restore your backup completely – select only contacts, messages, and important files.
• 🚫 Don’t install all apps at once – add them as needed.
• 📱 Set up background restriction for applications in Settings → Battery → Choice of applications.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 8 Pro) may lock the bootloader after a reset if Bootloader was previously unlocked.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory on Xiaomi