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If a Genshin Impact update will not fit, do not delete the game’s app data or folders as a first resort. Check the update notice for the current version, use the official update route for your platform, and free space only by removing files you recognize and no longer need. Update estimates change by patch; Fontaine launched with Version 4.0 in August 2023, so its size is not a guide to current updates.
Why a Genshin Impact update may need more space than expected
The amount shown in an update notice is specific to that version and may refer to the download or pre-installation package—not the total storage needed for the installed game. Voice-over packs can affect the size. HoYoverse’s June 29, 2026 notice for Version “Luna VIII,” for example, estimated 7 GB on PC and 2 GB on mobile for pre-installation with a typical setup using one voice-over pack. HoYoverse said actual download size could vary with installed voice-over packs. Treat those numbers as that update’s estimates, not a standing requirement for later patches. HoYoverse’s Luna VIII update notice
Some updates can also need extra temporary room while files are being prepared. In its December 1, 2025 notice for Version “Luna III,” HoYoverse said a PC voice-over-file restructuring increased temporary space needs during pre-installation and updating. For that version, it advised PC players short on storage to wait and update directly during or after maintenance. That was version-specific guidance, not a general rule for every update. HoYoverse’s Luna III update notice
Use the official update route for your platform
| Platform | Official update route | Can you play during pre-installation? |
|---|---|---|
| PC | Update the launcher, then use its Game Pre-Installation button. Install the released update through the launcher. | Yes. The download uses network bandwidth while you play. |
| iOS | Install the released update through the App Store. Pre-install resources from the game’s Paimon Menu > Settings > Resources > Pre-Install Resource Package, or use the pre-install icon on the login screen. | No. Mobile players cannot play while pre-installing. |
| Android | Follow the in-game update directions or update through Google Play. Pre-install resources from Paimon Menu > Settings > Resources > Pre-Install Resource Package, or use the pre-install icon on the login screen. | No. Mobile players cannot play while pre-installing. |
| Console | Use the console’s update interface. | Not stated in the cited HoYoverse guidance. |
HoYoverse says pre-installation can shorten the resource update when you first enter the new version, even if pre-installation did not finish completely. It is not a way to avoid storage needs: downloading the package still requires available space. HoYoverse pre-installation instructions Version 4.0 update details Version 4.1 update details
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What to do when PC says there is not enough space
- Check the update notice for the specific version and whether it describes pre-installation or the released update.
- Check which drive contains Genshin Impact, then check free space on that drive. Freeing space on a different drive may not resolve the launcher’s error.
- Remove only files you recognize and no longer need, such as personal downloads or old installers. Do not delete game folders or app data based on generic cleanup advice; HoYoverse’s reviewed instructions do not provide a universal safe-to-delete list.
- Reopen the launcher and retry the update.
HoYoverse’s PC FAQ, published September 25, 2020, recommended deleting files if remaining space did not exceed 30 GB, then reopening the launcher and retrying. That is dated advice, not a current universal storage requirement. HoYoverse PC FAQ
Should you delete the app data or reinstall?
Not as a routine space-saving step. The official guidance cited here does not establish that deleting app data, voice-over files, or other game folders is universally safe. Use the built-in pre-installation and official platform update options first, and remove unrelated files you can identify. If you are considering reinstalling, first make sure you can sign back in to the account you use; do not assume deleting local data is necessary to update.
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When waiting is better than pre-installing
If your device is close to full, pre-installation may make the situation worse by requiring room for its package before the update is released. Check the version notice rather than relying on an old estimate. For the Luna III PC update in December 2025, HoYoverse specifically suggested that players with limited storage could wait until maintenance or afterward and update directly. Whether waiting helps depends on the particular patch and its instructions.
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