"Not enough memory" on Redmi: how to free up space on Android without losing data

The message "Not enough memory" on smartphones Xiaomi Redmi appears unexpectedly - often at the most inopportune moment: when installing an update, downloading photos or starting a game. Even if you regularly delete unnecessary files, your Android system can become clogged with hidden junk, app cache, and duplicates. In this article we will look at 10 proven methods free up memory on Redmi —from basic to advanced, including hidden settings MIUI and working with ADB.

The problem of lack of memory is especially relevant for budget models Redmi with 32–64 GB of internal memory (for example, Redmi 9A, Note 8 or Redmi A1), where the system takes up to 10–15 GB out of the box. But even owners of flagships like Redmi K60 or Note 12 Pro+ face freezes due to full storage. We won't advise "just uninstalling apps" - instead we'll show you how to find and delete unnecessary datamove files to a memory card (if supported) and optimize performance. MIUI.

Important: some methods require developer rights or connecting to a PC. If you are a beginner, start from the first steps - they are safe and do not require technical skills. For experienced users, at the end of the article there is a section with ADB-commands and hidden functions MIUI.

1. Memory analysis: what takes up space on your Redmi

Before clearing the memory, you need to understand what exactly fills it. W MIUI has a built-in storage analyzer, but it hides some of the data. Here's how to get the full picture:

1. Open Settings → About phone → Storage. Here you will see a general graph of occupied space, broken down by category (Applications, Images, Video etc.).

2. Click on a category (for example, Applications) → Sorting by size. This way you will find the most "gluttonous" apps.

3. For For detailed analysis, use third-party utilities like Files by Google or SD Maid. They will show hidden files, duplicates and remnants of deleted applications.

What usually takes up space:

• 📱 Application cache —temporary files that accumulate for years (can weigh 5–10 GB!).
• 🎥 High-definition video —even a one-minute video in 4K “weighs” 300–500 MB.
• 📁 Downloads —APK files, archives and documents that you have long forgotten.
• 🔄 Duplicate photos — MIUI and Google Photos often create copies.
• 🗑️ Remains of deleted applications - folders Android/obb and Android/data can remain after uninstallation.

Tip: if in the section System more than 15 GB is occupied - this is normal for MIUI. But if the figure exceeds 20 GB, it’s worth checking for updates or resetting the settings (more on that below).

2. Clearing cache and garbage without data loss

The fastest way to free up 1–3 GB is clear cache. Unlike deleting applications, this will not delete your data (logins, game progress, etc.), but it may slow down the first loading of some apps.

Method 1: Clear cache of all applications

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Manage applications.

2. Tap on the three dots in the upper right corner → Sort by size.

3. Select an application (for example, YouTube or TikTok) → Storage → Clear cache.

4. For mass clearing: Settings → Storage → Clean (button at the bottom of the screen).

Method 2: Removing garbage through MIUI Security

The built-in application Security (or Security) can find unnecessary files:

1. Open Security → Cleaning → Deep cleaning.

2. Select categories (Residual files, Large files, Duplicates).

3. Click Clear and confirm the action.

What can be safely deleted:

• 🧹 Residual files —remains after deletion applications.
• 📂 Downloads —if you don’t remember why you downloaded the file, it is most likely not needed.
• 🔍 Files magazine —log files of system processes (.log, .tmp).

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

Many models Redmi (for example, Note 10, 9A, A1) support memory cards microSD up to 512 GB. However, not all data can be transferred - restrictions are imposed by both MIUIand the Android architecture itself.

What can be transfer to SD card:

• 📷 Photos and videos — via Gallery or Files by Google.
• 🎵 Music and podcasts —manually or through applications (Spotify, Yandex Music).
• 📄 Documents — PDF, Word, Excel.
• 🎮 Game data —only if the game supports transfer (for example, Genshin Impact).

What NOT transfer:

• 📱 Applications — from MIUI 12 Xiaomi has disabled this feature due to performance issues.
• 🔧 System files —the transfer may cause problems.
• 📥 OTA updates —they are always downloaded to the internal memory.

How to transfer files:

1. Insert a card microSD (format it as portable storage, and not as internal memory - otherwise there will be lags).

2. Open Files (Files by Google or standard Explorer MIUI).

3. Select files → Move → select the SD card.

4. Removing unnecessary applications and their remains

Even after deleting an application, its files may remain in the Android/obb i Android/datafolders. And some pre-installed apps (bloatware) from Xiaomi cannot be removed using standard methods.

Method 1: Removing pre-installed applications (without root)

Through ADB possible disable unnecessary system applications:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.mi.browser
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.mi.android.globalFileexplorer

List of packages safe to remove:

• 🌐 com.mi.browser — browser Mi Browser.
• 📁 com.mi.android.globalFileexplorer —standard explorer.
• 🎵 com.miui.player —music player.
• 📺 com.miui.videoplayer —video player.

Method 2: Cleaning folders obb and data

These folders contain game and application data. After uninstalling the app, they often remain:

1. Connect the phone to the PC or use Explorer (for example, Solid Explorer).

2. Go to /sdcard/Android/obb i /sdcard/Android/data.

3. Delete folders with the names of deleted applications (for example, com.tencent.ig for PUBG Mobile).

⚠️ Attention: do not delete the folders of current applications - this will erase their data (game saves, settings, etc.).

5. Optimization MIUI and hidden settings

MIUI has hidden functions that help save space. For example, you can disable automatic loading of themes or limit background activity of applications.

Hidden settings MIUI to save memory:

• 🎨 Disable automatic loading themes: Settings → Themes → Theme settings → Auto-update themes (turn off the option).
• 📱 Limit background activity: Settings → Battery and performance → Battery management → Application selection → set Background limitation for unnecessary apps.
• 🔄 Disable MIUI backup: Settings → Advanced → Backup and reset → Local backup (delete old backups).

How to enable memory compression in MIUI:

1. Activate developer mode: Settings → About phone → Tap 7 times on MIUI Version.

2. Return to Settings → Advanced → For developers.

3. Find the option Do not save actions (or Limit background processes) and set the limit to 2-3 processes.

If none of the methods helped, and there is less than 1 GB of free space left, factory reset may be the only way out. This method will delete all dataincluding photos, messages and applications, so make a backup first.

adb shell
su
cd /data/app
ls