When it comes to firmware for Xiaomi smartphones, users often wonder not only about new features, but also how much space the system takes up on the internal drive. The weight of Android 11 on the brand’s devices can vary significantly depending on the model, version of MIUI and preinstalled applications. For example, Google’s “naked” Android 11 weighs about 1.5-2 GB, but in the implementation of Xiaomi this figure increases by 2-3 times.
Why does it matter? It's not just about free disk space. Xiaomi's Android 11 firmware often takes 4-6 GB, and on budget models (like the Redmi 9A or POCO M3) it can make up up as much as 20% of total storage.
- 📊 The exact weight of Android 11 on popular models Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO
- 🔍 How to check the place occupied by the system (3 ways)
- ⚡ Why Xiaomi firmware weighs more than pure Android
- 🛠️ Can you reduce the weight of the system without root rights?
- ⚠️ Risks of Deleting System Files and How to Avoid Them
Weight of Android 11 on Xiaomi: official data on models
Xiaomi does not publish exact figures by firmware weight, but data can be obtained from update files (.zip) or through analysis of internal memory. Below is a table with real values for popular devices updated to Android 11 (MIUI 12.5-13):
| Model | MIUI version | System weight (GB) | Weight with pre-installed applications (GB) | Share of total memory (128 GB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Mi 11 | 13.0.6 | 5.2 | 7.1 | 5.5% |
| Redmi Note 10 Pro | 12.5.7 | 4.8 | 6.5 | 5.1% |
| POCO X3 Pro | 12.5.3 | 4.5 | 6.0 | 4.7% |
| Redmi 9T | 12.0.8 | 4.1 | 5.7 | 4.5% |
| Xiaomi Mi A3 (Android One) | 11.0.0 (stack) | 2.8 | 3.2 | 2.5% |
Note: on Android One devices (for example, Mi A3), the system weight is almost 2 times less than on MIUI. This is due to the lack of branded shells and duplicate services. Also, the weight can increase after updates - each security patch or bug fix adds 50-200 MB.
⚠️ Note: On budget models (e.g. Redmi) 8A or POCO C3) With 32GB of storage, the system can take up to 8-9GB together with pre-installed applications.This leaves the user with less than 20GB for personal files!
2 How to Check the Weight of Android 11 on Your Xiaomi
There are three reliable ways to know how much space your firmware takes up on your device, the first and easiest is through standard settings:
- Open the settings → About the phone → Memory.
- Click on the memory usage schedule.
- The System section will show the total weight (including MIUI and Android kernel).
The second way is through ADB (for advanced users):
adb shell df -h /dataThis command will show the volume of the /data partition where some of the system files are stored. For accurate analysis, you can use the DiskUsage utility from Google Play.
The third method is to extract the firmware file (.tgz or.zip) from Xiaomi’s official website and check its size. For example, the firmware for the Redmi Note 9 Pro (Android 11) weighs ~2.3 GB in the archive, but after unpacking and installation takes ~5 GB.
Check the list of pre-installed applications in Settings → Apps
Remove the cache of system services through Settings → Memory → Clean
Disable unnecessary system components (such as Mi Video or Mi Music)
Transfer media files to SD-card (if supported)
Reset your phone to factory settings (extreme case)-->
3 Why Xiaomi firmware weighs more than pure Android
The difference in weight between the stock Android 11 and MIUI is explained by several factors:
- 📦 Duplicate services: Xiaomi adds its own analogues of standard Google apps (for example, Mi Browser instead of Chrome, Mi Video instead of YouTube).
- 🎨 Branded shell: MIUI Includes unique themes, animations and widgets that take up hundreds of megabytes.
- 🔒 Security and analytics: Mi Cloud, Security App and tools for the Chinese market are integrated into firmware (even in global versions).
- 📱 Support for gestures and features: For example, Game Turbo, Second Space, or App Lock require additional libraries.
In addition, Xiaomi often leaves files in firmware for different regions (including China), even if you use the global version. For example, in Redmi Note 10 you can find unnecessary fonts for Indian languages or Cyrillic keyboards that are never used.
What is “debloating” and is it worth it?
4.How to reduce the weight of Android 11 without root rights
You can actually reduce the space you're using in a legal way without hacking your phone.
- Delete the system application cache: Go to Settings → Memory → Cached Data. Click Clear (this is secure and does not delete important files). On some models (e.g. POCO F3) this frees up to 1-1.5 GB.
- Disable unnecessary apps: Go to Settings → Apps → App Management. Select the unnecessary (e.g. Mi Pay or Mi Community) and click Disable.
This does not delete files completely, but stops them from working and frees up RAM.
Transfer of data to SD-map:
If your Xiaomi supports Adoptable Storage (e.g. Redmi Note 8 Pro), you can expand your memory with microSD.
adb shell sm set-force-adoptable trueAfter that, the option of formatting the card as an internal drive will appear in the memory settings.
⚠️ Attention: On devices with UFS 2.2 (e.g. Xiaomi) 11T) portability SD-The map can slow them down. You better use the class map. A2 or UHS-I.
💡
Before disabling system applications, check them in Google Play. If the application can be updated (such as Mi Calculator), it is safe to disable it. If there are no updates, it is a critical system component.
5 Risks of Manipulation of System Files
Many users try to manually delete files from the /system partition to free up space, which is dangerous for several reasons:
- 💥 Loss of stability: Deleting.odex or.jar files can cause a cyclic reboot (bootloop).
- 🔄 Problems with OTA-Updates: Modified system partitions block installation of official patches.
- 🔒 Lockdown MI-On some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi 10) unauthorized changes lead to activation of Anti-Rollback.
If you do decide to clean up, use proven tools like Universal Android Debloater (requires you to clean up). ADB) or SD Maid (for safe cache cleaning) Make a backup via Mi before any action. PC suite TWRP.
6. Alternative firmware: is it worth switching to caste
One radical way to reduce the weight of the system is to install custom firmware like LineageOS or Pixel Experience. For example, LineageOS 18.1 (based on Android 11) weighs only ~1.8 GB, which is 2-3 times less than MIUI.
However, there are pitfalls:
- ⚠️ Loss of function: Custom firmware often doesn't work IR Blaster, Game Turbo or Xiaomi brand gestures.
- 🔋 Autonomy: Optimizing energy consumption by stock MIUI usually better than on AOSP-firmware.
- 📱 Compatibility: Not all models are well supported (e.g., for the POCO M2 Pro may not be stable build).
If you decide to switch, use the official instructions from the XDA Developers forum and check compatibility with your model through Twrp.me. To start, you can try the Xiaomi.eu firmware - it is a modified MIUI without Chinese software, but with OTA support.