Xiaomi Redmi phone says 'Not enough memory' - what to do in 2026

The “Not enough memory” message on Xiaomi Redmi is one of the most annoying problems users face. The phone starts to slow down, apps don’t update, and new photos or videos can’t be saved. The reasons can range from simple filling of the internal drive to failures in the MIUI (branded shell Xiaomi). In this article, we will discuss 10 proven ways to free up space on the Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9A/9C, Redmi 10C and other models – from basic to advanced, including hidden system features.

It’s important to understand that even if you have a microSD card installed, some applications (such as WhatsApp, Telegram or games) default to store data in internal memory, and in low-end Redmi models, its volume is often limited to 32-64 GB, of which the user can actually access only 20-50 GB (the rest is occupied by the system), then step-by-step instructions taking into account the features of MIUI 14 and later.

1. Cleaning up cache and debris through built-in tools

The first thing to do is to use the built-in MIUI utilities, which delete temporary files, remnants of remote applications and cache, which takes up to 5-10 GB on downloaded devices.

How to clean:

  • 📱 Open the Settings. → The phone. → Memory (or Settings) → Memory in new versions).
  • 🧹 Click “Clean” in the Garbage section (the system will automatically scan for unnecessary files).
  • 🔍 Check the Big Files tab – forgotten videos or backups are often hidden here.
  • 🗑️ In the Apps section, tap on any and select “Clear Cache” (not to be confused with “Clean Data” – this will remove the app settings!).

💡 Council: B MIUI 14+ You have a Deep Clean feature that removes system debris that you wouldn't normally clean. Use it once a month.

⚠️ Warning: Do not clear the cache for apps you use frequently (like YouTube or Google Maps) and this will slow them down the next time you run them.

📊 What Redmi model do you use?
Redmi Note 10/11/12
Redmi 9A/9C/10A
Redmi 10C/10 Pro
Another model

2. Transfer applications and data to a memory card

If your Redmi has a microSD slot, you can transfer some of your apps and media files to an external drive.

  • 📲 Not all apps support portability (especially system and some games).
  • 🚫 After the transfer, the application may run slower (depending on the class of the memory card).
  • 🔄 Some data (such as WhatsApp cache) will remain in internal memory.

Instructions:

  1. Insert a memory card (recommended class: UHS-I/U3 or higher).
  2. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
  3. Select an app (e.g. Telegram) → Storage → “Change” → Memory Map.
  4. Confirm the transfer (reboot may be required).

For media files (photos, videos, music):

  • 📷 Open the gallery. → highlight files → More. → Move it → Memory map.
  • 🎵 For music, use the file manager. MI File Manager (pre-installed in the MIUI).

💡

If the memory card is not defined, format it to FAT32 or exFAT through your computer. Redmi with MIUI 12+ supports formatting directly in settings (Settings → Memory → SD Card → Format as internal).

3. Removal of duplicates and unnecessary files

Xiaomi smartphones often create duplicate photos (for example, when editing in the Gallery or using Google Photos).

  • 📄 Screenshots (Screenshots folder or Pictures/Screenshots).
  • 🎥 Video from messengers (folders) WhatsApp/Media, Telegram/Telegram Video).
  • 📁 Backup copies (MIUI/Backup download).
  • 🔊 Voice Messages (Folder Recordings).

How to find and delete:

  1. Open the MI File Manager (or any other file manager)
  2. Go to Categories → Images / Video / Audio.
  3. Sort files by size (the largest ones are usually unnecessary).
  4. To find duplicates, use applications like Files by Google or CCleaner.
Type of fileTypical locationCan I remove it?
Cash Google Play/data/data/com.android.vending/cacheYes (cleared through Settings → Apps → Google Play Store → Memory → Clear cache)
System logs (.log files)/sdcard/MIUI/debug_logYes (unless you debug your smartphone)
APK-file/sdcard/Download or /sdcard/APKYes (if the app has already been installed)
MIUI Update Files/sdcard/Download/romYes (after installing the update)

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from folders /system, /vendor or /data/app It can lead to a system crash and the need to flash it.

4. Optimization of the work of messengers and social networks

Apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, VK and TikTok are the main memory eaters.

  • 📹 Automatically downloaded videos (in Telegram this is a folder) Telegram/Telegram Video).
  • 🖼️ Cash thumbnails and previews (takes up to 1-2 GB in each messenger).
  • 🗃️ Backup copies of chats (in WhatsApp – folder) WhatsApp/Databases).

How to reduce their appetite:

For WhatsApp:

  1. Open WhatsApp. → ⋮ → Settings → Memory and data.
  2. Turn on “Car Download Media” only over Wi-Fi (or turn off altogether).
  3. Delete unnecessary files through Memory Management → Clean.

For Telegram:

  • 🔄 Enable “Optimize Storage” (automatically deletes old files).

☑️ Optimization of messengers

Done: 0 / 4

5. Use of cloud storage and backups

If your internal memory is filled with photos or documents, move them to the cloud. Xiaomi offers a few options:

1.Mi Cloud (Xiaomi's built-in cloud):

  • 🌥️ Free gives 5 GB (can be expanded to 100 GB for a fee).
  • 📱 Automatically synchronizes contacts, notes, photos.
  • 🔒 Data is encrypted but stored on Xiaomi servers (consider this for sensitive information).

How to turn on: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization.

2.Google Photo:

  • 📸 Free storage of photos in compressed quality (up to 15 GB per account).

How to set up: Open Google Photos → Profile → Settings → Backup and Sync.

3. Yandex Disk or Mail.ru Cloud:

  • ☁️ Yandex gives 10 GB for free, Mail.ru – 8 GB.
  • 📁 Support automatic upload of photos (configure in the mobile application).

⚠️ Warning: Before deleting local files, make sure they are fully uploaded to the cloud. Use mobile Internet only with unlimited rates - uploading photos "eats" up to 1-2 GB of traffic.

6. Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If nothing works and there is a critically low amount of free memory (less than 500 MB), you will have to make a hard reset, which will delete all data, including apps, photos and settings, but return the smartphone to its original state.

How to reset Redmi without losing data:

  1. 🔄 Backup: Photos/video - copy to PC or cloud. Contacts - sync with Google Account or Mi Cloud. Messages - export through SMS Backup & Restore (Play Market App).

After a hard reset on Redmi with MIUI 14+, the system automatically reserves up to 3 to 5GB for updates.

What happens if you interrupt the discharge?
If you turn off the phone during the reset, it may stop loading (called a “brick”), in which case you will need to run the firmware through Fastboot or contact the service center.

7 Advanced Methods: ADB and root access

If you're a power user, you can free up memory with ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or root rights. These methods are risky, but they allow you to:

  • 🗃️ Remove system applications (bloatware) that cannot be uninstalled in standard ways.
  • 🔧 Transfer the application cache to the memory card (requires init.d scripts).
  • 📦 Amend the section /data to increase the available space.

Instructions for removing Bloatware via ADB:

  1. 🖥️ Install. ADB Tools on PC (download from the official Android website).
  2. 📱 Put the debugging on. USB on Redmi: Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Tap 7 times to turn on developer mode → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB
  3. 🔌 Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.weather2 (substitute com.miui.weather2 packet).

List of safe to remove MIUI system applications:

  • 🌦️ Weather: com.miui.weather2
  • 📰 News: com.miui.player (Mi Video)
  • 🎵 Music: com.miui.music
  • 📺 Mi TV: com.miui.videoplayer

⚠️ Note: Do not remove applications with com.android. or com.qualcomm packages. this will cause your phone to fail!

8. Alternative firmware (for enthusiasts)

If standard methods don’t help and the phone is slowing down due to memory shortage, consider flashing on custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience).

  • 🆓 No pre-installed garbage (bloatware).
  • 📉 Less memory consumption due to optimized core.
  • 🔄 Regular updates (unlike older versions) MIUI).

Risks:

  • ⚠️ Loss of warranty (if the phone is under warranty).
  • 🔋 Possible battery or camera problems (not all custom firmware is perfectly adapted).
  • 📱 The need to unlock the bootloader (bootloader).

🔧 How to Sweat Redmi:

  1. Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool.
  2. Download the firmware for your model from the XDA Developers or 4PDA forum.
  3. Install it through TWRP (Castom Recovery).

💡

Custom firmware requires technical skills, and if you're a beginner, it's best to seek help from topic forums or experienced users.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory on Xiaomi Redmi

🔹 Why does it fill up quickly after cleaning up the memory?
It's because of this: 📱 Automatic caching of applications (especially social networks and instant messengers). 📁 Hidden updates MIUI (The system reserves space for them). 🗑️ Logs and dumps of the system (folder) /sdcard/MIUI/debug_log). Solution: Turn off auto-update apps in Play Market and clean the cache regularly through Settings → Memory.
🔹 Can I increase the internal memory of Redmi?
Physically, no. But you can: 📱 Use the memory card as internal memory (formatting through Settings) → Memory. → Map. SD → Settings → The internal memory. minus: the card will be encrypted and will not be read on other devices. 🖥️ Connect the outside OTG-drive (flash drive via adapter).
🔹 Why apps aren’t ported to a memory card?
It's a limitation of Android and MIUI: 🚫 Some apps (e.g. WhatsApp, Banking) block the transfer for security reasons. 📱 In the new versions of Android (10)+) portability SD-The card is limited (developers can disable it). 🔧 Solution: Use ADB Forward transfer (pm move-package command).
🔹 How to find out which apps take up the most memory?
Go to Settings. → Annexes → App management and sort by size. You can also use third-party utilities: 📊 DiskUsage (shows a memory employment graph). 🔍 SD Maid (analyzes garbage and duplicates).
🔹 What to do if after all the manipulations, the memory still runs out?
Possible causes: 📱 Failure of the file system (will help reset or flashing). 🛠️ Failure of the drive (check through the AIDA64 or at a service center). 🔄 Mistake in MIUI (If the problem is hardware, contact the service - you may need to replace the memory chip.