Where are the memory settings in Xiaomi smartphones: detailed instructions with pictures

Are you trying to make room on Xiaomi, but you can’t find where the memory settings are hiding? Or want to check how much free space is left on the internal drive? In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to access memory management on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones – from basic features to hidden tools for power users.

The manufacturer regularly updates the MIUI shell, and the location of menu items may vary depending on the version (from MIUI 12 to MIUI 15).We took these nuances into account and prepared universal instructions that will suit most models, from the Redmi Note 10 to the flagship Xiaomi 14.

1. Standard path to memory settings in MIUI

The easiest way to open your memory settings is through the main Settings menu, which works on all versions of MIUI (12 to 15) and requires no further manipulation.

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen or in the application menu).
2. Scroll down and select the About Phone section (some versions call it About Device).
3. Stick to the item Memory (or Storage - depends on the location).

In this section you will see:

• 📊 Diagram of memory distribution by category (applications, multimedia, system files, etc.).
• 🧹 Clean button – quick cleaning of cache and unnecessary files.
• ⚙️ Advanced settings (top right) – you can enable automatic cleaning or view details for each file type.

If you MIUI 14/15, The interface may be slightly different: instead of about the phone, look for Warehouse directly in the main settings menu (usually on the phone). 3-4 position at the top. POCO Launcher path is the same, but icon design may be different.

💡

Click on any memory diagram segment (such as “Apps”) to see a detailed list of files taking up space and delete them immediately.

2. Alternative ways to open memory settings

Sometimes the standard path is not available (e.g. due to system failure or customized firmware) and alternative methods may be used:

Method 1: Through the notification panel

Quick access to memory information is available through the notification curtain:

1. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
2. Click on the icon. ⚙️ Settings (or tap on the inscription "Memory is filled" - if it is available).
3. In the menu that opens, select the Warehouse.

Method 2: Through the File Manager

The standard Files (or Mi File Manager) app also has access to the memory settings:

1. Open the Files app.
2. In the bottom panel, go to the Category tab.
3. At the top of the screen will appear indicator memory occupancy – tap it.

This method is convenient if you are already working with files and want to quickly check the free space.

3. Advanced memory settings: what can be configured

There are a few useful features hidden in the Memory section that many users don't know about, and let's take a closer look at them:

Large file analysis is especially useful, as it helps you find forgotten high-resolution videos or unnecessary archives that take up gigabytes of space. In MIUI 15, this option works faster thanks to an improved scanning algorithm.

⚠️ Note: Autoclean can delete the cache of messengers (such as Telegram or WhatsApp), which will cause media files to be re-uploaded.

4. Hidden Memory Settings: How to Access

MIUI has hidden memory tools that don't show up in the standard interface, and can be activated through developer mode or special commands.

Method 1: Through the Developer Menu

To open the extended options:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and tap the MIUI version 7 times.
2. Go back to the main settings menu and open a new section for developers.
3. Find the option Background Process Limitation – here you can manually specify how many applications can remain in memory.

Method 2: Through ADB-team

For power users, ADB commands are available to manage memory at the system level, for example, to clear the cache of all applications, use:

adb shell pm trim-caches 100G

This command compulsorily clears the cache, including system files that are not normally deleted through a standard menu.

5. How to Free Memory on Xiaomi: A Step-by-Step Checklist

If your Xiaomi displays a “Memory is full” warning, follow this algorithm:

Pay special attention to the "Other" (or "Other"), which are files that the system cannot classify.

• 🗑️ Remnants of Remote Applications (Lib, Cache folders).
• 📁 Temporary download files (.apk,.tmp).
• 🔄 System logs (.log,.dump).

To delete them, use a root file manager (such as Root Explorer) or Files by Google, which can analyze junk files.

⚠️ Note: Do not manually delete files from folders /system or /vendor — This can lead to the collapse of the system and the need for flashing.

6. Frequent memory problems on Xiaomi and their solutions

Xiaomi users often encounter typical memory-related errors, including the most common:

Problem 1: “Memory is full” but there are few files

The system can show occupied space, although there is almost no space in the file manager.

• 🛑 Hidden system files (e.g. backups of updates).
• 🔄 Partition mounting error (solved by rebooting).
• 📦 Files in a folder /data/app-lib (remnants of old versions of applications).

Solution: Use DiskUsage from Google Play to visualize occupied space.

Problem 2: You can't move applications to SD-map

In MIUI, since version 12, the application port function to the memory card is disabled by default.

1. Put it in. SD-map (exFAT format or FAT32).
2. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
3. Select the application and click Storage – if the Change option is inactive, then the application does not support the transfer.

💡

Starting with MIUI 13, transfer of applications to SD-The card only works for a portion of the programs. System applications and games (e.g, PUBG) cannot be moved.

7.Memory optimization for gaming and heavy applications

If you use Xiaomi for gaming (Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile) or video (CapCut, KineMaster), standard memory settings may not be enough.

Configure virtual memory (Swap)

In MIUI 14/15 appeared an experimental function of expanding RAM due to internal memory:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Expand memory.
2. Select the volume (from 1 to 3 GB) – the system will create a paging file.
3. Reset the device.

This feature is useful for devices with 4-6 GB of RAM, but reduces the free space on the internal drive.

Cleaning up memory before starting the game

To make the game run smoother:

1. Close all background applications through Recent → Close everything.
2. Turn on the game mode in the notification curtain.
3. Turn off auto sync (e.g. Google Photos or Mi Cloud).

To automatically clean up before you start the game, use the Game Turbo app (pre-installed on most Xiaomi devices).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi’s memory settings