Xiaomi’s “Not Enough Memory”: How to Clean Up Android and Get Back the Place

The message “Not enough memory” on Xiaomi appears unexpectedly: the application is not installed, the photo is not saved, the system begins to slow down. The reason lies not only in the clogged storage, but also in the peculiarities of the MIUI, Xiaomi’s proprietary shell. Even if the phone is left with 1-2 GB of free space, Android can block operations, citing a lack of memory. Why is this?

The fact is that MIUI reserves some of the memory for system needs (cache, updates, background processes), and also uses the /data partition for temporary files. If this partition is full — even if there is free space on the main drive — you will see an error. In addition, on budget models Xiaomi Redmi or POCO often install only 32-64 GB of memory, of which 10-15 GB is occupied by the system. In this article, we will discuss 10 working ways to free memory, including hidden settings and radical measures for the most neglected cases.

1.Cache and garbage cleanup through built-in MIUI tools

The first thing you need to do is use the built-in MIUI utilities, which delete temporary files, residues from deleted applications, and clear the cache without risk to the system. Open the Settings menu → About the phone → Memory (or Settings → Memory on new versions), here you will see a diagram of occupied space and the Clean button.

Important: don’t confuse the app cache (temporary data for fast programs) with the application data (settings, saves, accounts). Clearing the cache is safe, and deleting the data can reset the settings in the application, for example, Telegram or WhatsApp will lose chats if their data is erased.

• 🧹 Cache Clearing: Click Clear Cache in Memory section.This will delete all apps' temporary files.
• 🗑️ Disposal: Use the Clean up button (or Optimize on new versions). APK, Log files and unnecessary downloads.
• 🔍 Memory Analysis: Tap by category (e.g., “Apps”, “Multimedia”) for detailed viewing and manual removal.

If the space is not free after cleaning, check the Other section in the memory diagram. Often there are update files (.zip), system dumps (.dmp) and Google Play Services cache. These can be manually deleted through the file manager (more about this below).

2. Removal of unnecessary applications and their residues

Applications are the main memory eater, and even after deleting, they leave the residual files in /Android/data and /Android/obb folders.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Sort the list by size (slip on the filter icon in the upper right corner).
3. Select an unnecessary application → Delete.
4. After deleting, check the /Android/data and /Android/obb folders through the file manager (such as Mi File Manager) and delete the remaining folders with the program name.

Pay special attention to Xiaomi’s pre-installed apps (called bloatware): Mi Browser, Mi Music, Mi Video, GetApps, and others. They can’t be removed by standard means, but you can disable:

• 🚫 Open the application settings → Disable (this will stop background work and updates).
• 🔧 Complete removal will require root rights or commands ADB (guideline).

Remove unused games and programs

Clear cache for frequently used applications

Check the folders. /Android/data and /Android/obb

Disable pre-installed services Xiaomi

Remove system application updates (if possible)-->

Attention! Do not remove system applications called com.android., com.miui. or com.xiaomi. This can lead to unstable phone operation. For example, deleting com.miui.securitycenter will disable the security center, and without com.android.phone, mobile communication will disappear.

3. Transfer data to a memory card (if supported)

Many Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10, POCO X3) support microSD cards up to 512 GB.

• 📱 Hybrid slot: On some devices, the memory card takes the second place SIM-cards (e.g. in Redmi) 9A).
• 🔄 Formatting: To use the card as internal memory, it must be formatted through Settings → Memory. → Map. SD. Note: This will remove all data from the card!
• ⚠️ Limitations: Not all applications can be moved to SD-System and protected games (e.g., card, PUBG Mobile will remain in internal memory.

To migrate supported applications:

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Select the application → Storage → Change (if the option is active).
3. Specify the SD Card and confirm the transfer.

For multimedia (photo, video, music), the easiest way to set up the default save on the map:

• 📸 In the Chamber: Settings → Preservation site → Map. SD.
• 🎵 In Downloads: Settings → Default location.

⚠️ Attention: Class Memory Cards A1 or A2 (For example, SanDisk Ultra works faster with applications, but even these won't replace internal memory completely. SD-Card critical data – they can be damaged when retrieving the card without safely disabling.

4. Cleaning Hidden System Files and Folders

MIUI creates many hidden files that are not visible in a standard file manager.

• 📁 folder MIUI: Contains log files (.log), error dumps (.dmp) and temporary update data. Located at the root of internal memory.
• 📁 Download folder: Here they accumulate APK-files, archives and browser downloads, often weighing a few gigabytes.
• 📁 folder DCIM/.thumbnails: Miniatures of photos and videos that the system automatically creates, can be deleted without consequences.
• 📁 folder Android/obb: Game cache files (such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile) can take up to 5–10 GB.

To see the hidden folders:

1. Use a root-enabled file manager (such as FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings.
3. Delete unnecessary files, but do not touch folders with the names system, vendor or efs – this can damage the system.

To delete update files (which often take 1-3 GB):

1. Go to the folder. MIUI/backup/AllBackup or downloaded_rom.
2. Delete files with the.zip extension (these are firmware archives).

5.Use of ADB for deep cleaning (for advanced)

If standard methods don't work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a tool to control your phone through your computer.

• 🗑️ Remove pre-installed applications (bloatware).
• 🔄 Clear the cache of all users (pm clear) --users 0 com.android.vending).
• 📉 Reset application settings to factory.

Instructions for removing unnecessary applications:

1. Download ADB Tools and unpack it on PC.
2. Turn on the phone Debugging over USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version → tap 7 times, then go back to Additional → For developers).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute commands in the command line (open in the ADB folder):

adb devices


adb shell




pm list packages | grep 'xiaomi' # list of Xiaomi apps




pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.browser # example of Mi Browser removal

List of safe packets to remove (for MIUI 12-14):

⚠️ Note: Do not delete packages with the names com.android., com.qualcomm. or com.google. - this can lead to bootloop ( looped download) or loss of functionality (such as mobile or Wi-Fi.

6. Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If none of the methods worked, and there's a critically low amount of free space (less than 500 MB), then you have to hard reset your phone to factory settings, which will delete all the data, including apps, photos, contacts and settings, before resetting:

Create a backup of your contacts (via Google Account)

Save photos and videos to PC or cloud

Record passwords from Wi-Fi and accounts

Make sure the phone has enough charge (minimum 50%)-->

Resetting instructions:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose to erase all data.
3. Confirm the action (a password or pattern lock may be required).
4. Wait until the phone is finished (it will reboot several times).

After discharge:

• 🔄 Do not restore backup via Mi Cloud – this will bring back old files and memory problems.
• 📱 Install only the necessary applications, avoid APK unverified.
• 🔧 Set up automatic cache cleanup in Settings → Memory. → Auto-cleaning.

Critical information: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 8 Pro) may have a “failed to mount /data” error after reset. This is due to partition encryption. To avoid a problem, disable encryption in Settings → Lock and Protection → Encryption (if available) before reset.

7.Memory optimization to prevent recurring problems

To prevent the problem from returning, follow these recommendations:

• 📴 Turn off auto-update apps: Play Store → Settings → Auto-update of applications → Never.
• 📷 Set the camera to shoot in HEIF instead JPEG: Photo format HEIF It takes up 2 times less space at the same quality. → Photo format.
• 🎮 Limit the cache of games: In the game settings (for example, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact: Reduce graphics quality and disable downloading additional resources.
• ☁️ Use cloud services: Set up an automatic photo upload to Google Photos or Mi Cloud, and then delete local copies.

For automatic cleaning:

1. Turn on Settings → Memory → Autoclean and set a schedule (for example, once a week).
2. Install Files by Google – it offers garbage and duplicate files cleanup.

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If you install and delete games frequently, use App Cloner to create a sandbox that allows you to test programs without clogging the main system.

8 Hardware solutions: replacement of the drive or use of OTG

If your Xiaomi is constantly running out of memory and all software methods are exhausted, consider the hardware options:

• 🔧 Replacement of internal storage: On some models (e.g, POCO F1, Redmi K20 Pro can be replaced with a larger memory, requiring disassembly of the phone and soldering skills (or access to the service).
• 📁 Use of the OTG-drive: Through adapter USB-C/OTG You can connect a flash drive or an external one. SSD. Some file managers (for example, FX Explorer supports the work with OTG as with an internal memory.
• ☁️ Streaming instead of storage: For music, use Spotify or Yandex Music online, and watch movies through Kodi or YouTube Premium without downloading.

Before you change the drive, check if your model supports such a modification. For example, in the Xiaomi Mi 11 memory is sealed on the motherboard, and replacement is impossible without the risk of damaging the phone.

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If you decide to replace the drive, choose modules with the same specification (for example, UFS 2.1 for the Redmi Note 10 Pro). Using slower memory (for example, eMMC instead of UFS) will lead to brakes.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory shortages on Xiaomi