«Not enough memory on Xiaomi: what to do if the phone is clogged (ways to use it) MIUI 12-14)

The message, "Not enough memory" on Xiaomi smartphones comes up suddenly: you're trying to install an app, take a photo or update the system — and voila, the phone blocks the action, and the problem arises even when there is seemingly still space. What's the catch?

The fact is that MIUI reserves up to 10-15% of memory for system needs (cache, updates, temporary files), if there is less space than this threshold, there is an error, especially for low-end models of Redmi and POCO with 32/64 GB of storage, where after installing MIUI and preinstalled applications, there is critically little space.

In this article, we’ve shown 10 proven ways to free up memory on Xiaomi, including hidden MIUI features that not everyone knows, and why even after cleaning up, memory is eaten back.

1. Check the actual state of memory (not what MIUI shows)

The first thing you need to do is to check how much memory is really free, because MIUI sometimes shows incorrect data due to cache errors.

Open Settings → About Phone → Memory. Here you will see a diagram of the allocation of memory by category: System, Applications, Media Files and Other. Note the item “Other” — if it takes more than 5-7 GB, this is a sign of cache and junk files clog.

For more detailed analysis, use the built-in Security app (shield icon):

1. Launch the app.
2. Go to the "Cleaning" section.
3. Click Deep Clean – the real amount of junk files, including residual data from remote applications, will be displayed here.

If the difference between Settings and Security exceeds 1-2 GB, then the system does not correctly account for the occupied space, in which case rebooting or resetting the cache (more on this below) will help.

2. Remove “heavy” applications (including hidden ones)

The most obvious, but often ignored, way is to remove unnecessary apps, but there are nuances: MIUI hides some system programs that can be removed without harming the phone.

How to find and remove “extra” applications:

• 📱 User Applications: Go to Settings → Annexes → App management. Size and remove the ones you don't use. Pay special attention to games (like Genshin Impact or the likes of the game). PUBG Mobile can weigh 2-4 GB).
• 🔍 Hidden System Apps: In the same menu, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Show All Apps. Here you will find pre-installed Xiaomi services that you can disable or uninstall (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music, GetApps, etc).
• 🚫 Prohibited to be deleted: Do not touch applications called com.android., miui. or those marked as “System” – their removal may cause malfunctions.

To completely delete residual files after uninstallation, use the Residue Cleanup function in the Security app (Cleanup → Deep Cleanup).

3. Clear cache and junk files (including hidden ones)

Application cache and system temporary files can take up to 3-5 GB of memory, especially if you actively use social networks, messengers or games. MIUI offers several ways to clean up:

Method 1: Quick cleaning through “Safety”

• 🧹 Open the Security app» → «Cleanup».
• 🔍 Click Scan - the system will find cache, residual files and unnecessary data.
• 🗑️ Select all items and click "Clear».

Method 2: Manually cleansing cache for individual applications

Some apps (e.g. Telegram, WhatsApp, TikTok) accumulate gigabytes of cache that are not removed by a standard cleanup to remove them:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as Telegram).
3. Click on Storage → Clear Cache and Clear Data (Warning: Last action will reset the app settings!).

Method 3: Delete.thumbdata files (hidden thumbnails)

MIUI creates hidden thumbnail files for the gallery, which can weigh 1-2 GB.

• 📁 Connect your phone to your PC through USB (file transfer mode).
• 🔍 Enable the display of hidden files in Windows Explorer (View) → Hidden elements).
• 🗑️ Find the folders. DCIM/.thumbnails and Pictures/.thumbnails — remove their contents.

Clear the cache through "Security"

Delete the cache for Telegram/WhatsApp/TikTok manually

Check.thumbnails folders for hidden thumbnails

Clear residual files of remote applications

Restart the phone after cleaning

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4. Transfer files to a memory card or cloud

If your Xiaomi supports memory cards (such as the Redmi Note 10 or POCO X3 Pro), file transfers will help free up internal memory.

How to use the memory card correctly:

• 📁 Photo and video: In the Gallery app, select files → «More» → «Move it» → specify the memory card (SD card).
• 🎵 Music and documents: Use a file manager (e.g. Files by Google) to move your Music, Downloads folders.
• 📱 Annexes: B MIUI Only a part of the application can be transferred to SD-To do this, go to Settings. → Annexes → Select the application → Warehouse → Change. → But it'll slow down the app!

Cloud storage as an alternative:

If you don’t have a memory card, use the clouds:

To automatically upload photos to Google Photos:

1. Install the Google Photos app.
2. Run it and click on the avatar → Photo Settings → Backup and Sync.
3. Select “High Quality” (non-original size) for unlimited storage.

⚠️ Note: If you delete photos from your phone after uploading to the cloud, they will only remain online.Make sure the backup is successful before you clear the gallery.

5. Disable or limit the "gluttonous" MIUI features

MIUI contains several functions that can imperceptibly eat away at memory:

1. Theme shop and animation

• 🎨 Go to Settings. → Registration → Topics and disable automatic themes loading.
• 🖼️ B Settings → Display. → Select “No Animation” – this will speed up work and reduce the memory load.

2. Automatic recording of conversations

The MIUI call recorder saves audio files that can take up gigabytes to turn off:

1. Open the phone app.
2. Click on three points → “Settings” → “Recording conversations”.
3. Turn off Auto Recording and delete old records.

3. MIUI update cache

The system stores firmware files that can weigh 1-2 GB. To delete them:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🗑️ Press three points. → «Remove the downloaded package».

4. Background Limitation for Applications

Some apps (like Facebook, Instagram) continue to run in the background, consuming memory to limit them:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the application → «Battery and productivity».
3. Set "Background Limitation."

💡

If after disabling the functions of the phone began to work faster, but the memory still ends – check the folder /MIUI/debug_log. It can accumulate error logs up to the 500 MB. Remove them manually through file manager.

6.Reset the partition cache (without data loss)

If you do all the manipulations, the memory still disappears, the Wipe cache partition will help, not delete your files or applications, but clear up system debris, which can take up to 1-3 GB.

Instructions for MIUI:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select the language (English / Chinese).
4. Go to Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
5. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.
6. Restart the phone (Reboot).

After the reboot, check the space, it should increase. If the problem remains, it may be the fault in the file system (more on this in the next section).

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse Wipe Cache with Wipe Data! The second option will completely reset the phone to factory settings, removing all data.

7. Check the file system for errors

Sometimes the memory disappears due to file system damage, especially if the phone is not properly turned off (for example, when the battery is drained), in which case the check through the PC will help.

Method 1: Through Windows (CHKDSK)

1. Connect your phone to your PC in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Open “This Computer” and remember the letter of the drive (e.g. Xiaomi (E:)).
3. Run the Command Prompt on behalf of the administrator.
4. Enter the command: chkdsk E: /f /r (replace E: with your drive letter).
5. Wait for the check to be completed and restart the phone.

Method 2: Through SD Maid (for power users)

SD Maid (available on Google Play) can find broken files and duplicates, and after scanning it will show:

• 🗃️ Empty folders.
• 🔄 Duplicate photo/video.
• 🗑️ Residual files of remote applications.

For deep cleaning in SD Maid:

1. Launch the application and grant superuser (root) rights, if any.
2. Select “CorpseFinder” (search for residual files).
3. Click "Run" and delete what you found.

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If you didn't get your free space back after checking the file system, but your phone was more stable, you had a problem with fragmentation, and you should repeat the check regularly (every 2-3 months), especially if you're connecting your phone to your PC frequently.

8.Extreme measures: reset to factory settings

If none of these methods worked, and the phone still writes "Not enough memory," it's a hard reset, which will delete all the data, so first, you can:

• 📱 Make a backup copy through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset → Local backup.
• 🖥️ Copy photos, videos and documents to your PC or cloud.
• 📝 Write down logins/passwords from accounts (they will be deleted!).

How to reset:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
2. Select “Reset” → “Delete all data”.
3. Enter. PIN-code (if required) and confirm.

Once reset, the phone will restart to its original state. Don't restore the backup right away -- first check if the memory problem has been resolved. If so, recover the data selectively to avoid a repeat clog.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M3) After the reset, you may need to re-assign your Mi Account. Make sure you remember your login and password!

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory on Xiaomi