Owners of modern smartphones often face a lack of built-in memory when trying to install popular mobile projects. One of the most resource-demanding titles remains Genshin Impact, which increases its weight with each major update. Understanding how much space a game takes up is critical to planning a device upgrade or choosing priority apps.
Many users mistakenly rely on data from Google Play, which often shows only the basic size of the download file. The actual volume required for a comfortable game includes unpacked resources, downloaded language packs, and future updates. In this article we will analyze in detail the current situation with memory and optimization methods.
It is worth noting that the growth dynamics of game files does not stop. Developers from HoYoverse are constantly adding new regions, quests and high quality textures. Therefore, figures that were relevant six months ago may no longer be correct today. Let's learn how many gigabytes really (need to be prepared) on your drive.
Official requirements and the real picture
If you go to the official application store, you will see the minimum requirements, which are often misleading. It may indicate a size of about 20-30 GB, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. After the first installation and loading of all the necessary resources, the weight increases by one and a half to two times.
System requirements games require free space not only for installation, but also for temporary files during the unpacking process. If you have less than 5 GB of free space left on your disk after installation, the game may be unstable or may not start at all.
The developers recommend having extra memory for future patches. Each version update, for example moving from 4.x to 5.x, requires temporary space for downloading archives. Without this buffer, the update process may fail.
⚠️ Attention: Never attempt to install a game if you have only as much free space as specified in the minimum requirements. Always leave a reserve of at least 10-15% of the total storage volume for the correct operation of the Android file system.
Before installing heavy games, clear the "Downloads" folder and delete unnecessary videos - this is the fastest way to free up a few gigabytes without losing important data.
Factors influencing the final size of the game
Why does the weight of the game vary so much among different users? The main factor is choice language packs. By default, the client can download audio and texts for all available languages, which takes up a colossal volume.
The quality of textures also affects. In the graphics settings inside the game, you can select the level of detail. The use of high-resolution textures on flagship smartphones significantly increases the data footprint compared to mid-range devices.
Another important aspect is the update history. Old resources are sometimes not deleted automatically, accumulating in the form of “garbage”. This leads to an inflated application size over time, even without the release of major story additions.
- 🌍 Voice language: Each full language pack (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, English) weighs several gigabytes separately.
- 📸 Texture quality: Selecting the “High” or “Very High” mode loads heavier assets to the device memory.
- 🗑️ Accumulated cache: Temporary files of events and previous versions can take up to 5-10 GB of excess space.
Memory capacity table by version and platform
For clarity, we will provide comparative data on how much space the project takes up on different media. It is worth considering that these figures are approximate and may vary depending on the specific build and installed add-ons.
Below is a table showing the evolution of the weight of the game. Please note the difference between the minimum requirement and actual consumption after the content is fully loaded.
| Platform / Status | Min. requirement (GB) | Actual weight (GB) | Recommended stock (GB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android (basic installation) | 25 | 35-40 | 10 |
| Android (all languages + HD) | 30 | 50-60 | 15 |
| iOS (iPhone/iPad) | 25 | 45-55 | 15 |
| PC (Windows) | 70 | 100+ | 30 |
As can be seen from the data, the mobile version has become comparable in weight to full-fledged computer games of previous years. This imposes serious restrictions on the choice of device for gaming.
How to free up space and optimize storage
If your smartphone is full, do not rush to delete your favorite photos. There are several effective ways to reduce a game's footprint without losing functionality. First of all, go to the resource management settings inside the client itself.
In the section Settings → Resources you can see a list of loaded languages. Disable voiceovers you don't use. For example, if you play with Russian voice acting, the Chinese and Japanese audio packages can be safely deleted, freeing up to 10 GB.
☑️ Memory optimization in Genshin Impact
It is also useful to use the built-in cache clearing function. It deletes temporary files left over from past events. This is safe and does not affect your progress or main game files.
⚠️ Attention: Do not use third-party cleaner apps with aggressive algorithms. They may accidentally delete important configuration files of the game, which will lead to the need for a complete reinstallation.
Installation on a memory card: myths and reality
Many users are interested in whether it is possible to transfer Genshin Impact to a microSD card to relieve internal memory. On modern versions of Android, this function works extremely limited or does not exist at all due to data reading speed requirements.
The game requires high speed access to files for streaming textures and music. Most memory cards, even the UHS-I standard, do not provide sufficient performance, which leads to freezes and long loading times.
However, on some shells (for example, older versions of MIUI or specific firmware) it is possible to transfer part of the data. However, the developers do not officially support this method, and stability of operation is not guaranteed.
Why does the game slow down from a memory card?
The random read speed (4K Read) of memory cards is significantly lower than that of internal UFS 2.1/3.1 flash memory. The game constantly loads small files, and the speed bottleneck causes the picture to freeze.
If you still decide to try the transfer, use only class cards V30 or A2. But the best solution will be to buy a smartphone with a large built-in storage capacity of 256 GB or more.
Update process and time consumption of space
Updating a game is the most critical moment in terms of lack of space. When a new patch is released, the system downloads the archive, then unpacks it, replaces the old files and only then deletes the archive.
At peak update times, you may need twice the patch size of free space. If you're missing a couple of gigabytes, the download will be interrupted, and you'll have to start over or clear out the space urgently.
It is recommended to check for updates in advance, when you have access to Wi-Fi and the ability to delete something large (for example, a movie or TV series) during installation. After the process is completed, the deleted data can be returned.
For a successful update, always have at least 15 GB free, even if the patch itself weighs only 5 GB. This is necessary for correct unpacking and replacement of files.
⚠️ Attention: Game characteristics and memory requirements may change with the release of new regions (for example, Natlan or Snezhnaya). Always check the latest information in the official community or launcher before major updates.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Can I play Genshin Impact if I only have 64 GB of memory?
Technically this is possible, but extremely inconvenient. You will have to delete almost all other applications and media files. The game will take up more than half of the total available space, which will slow down the system as a whole.
Why did the game size not immediately decrease after removing languages?
Sometimes changes take effect only after restarting the application or completing background resource optimization. Try completely closing the game through the multitasking menu and launching it again.
Does deleting the game reset my progress?
No, your progress is tied to your account HoYoverse (or a third-party one if you linked it). After re-installing and logging into your account, all data will be restored, but you will have to download the resources again.
How much does the preload of a new update weigh?
Usually the preload is about 70-80% of the full size of the patch. The remaining part is downloaded on the day the update is released. This allows you to start playing faster on release day.
Does memory fullness affect FPS in the game?
Yes, if the memory is full (more than 95%), the system cannot effectively use the page file and cache data. This leads to frame drops and micro-freezes during battle.