Where to see RAM in the Xiaomi phone: all the ways from settings to ADB

Why it is important to know the amount of RAM on Xiaomi and where to look for it

RAM is one of the key parameters of a smartphone that directly affects its performance. At Xiaomi (including the sub-brands Redmi, POCO and Black Shark), the amount of RAM can range from a modest 2 GB in budget models to 24 GB in flagships for gamers. Knowing the exact volume will help assess why applications slow down, whether it is possible to start a heavy game or whether it is worth updating the firmware if the system begins to “gap”.

The manufacturer does not always specify the amount of RAM on the box or in brief specifications — especially for devices purchased from hands or brought from abroad. In addition, in some Xiaomi models, some memory is reserved for system needs, and the actual available volume may be less than the stated amount. For example, in Xiaomi 13 Ultra with 16 GB of RAM for user tasks, about 12-14 GB remains for user tasks.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to check, from standard MIUI settings to hidden engineering menus and ADB commands. You will learn how to distinguish physical memory from available memory, why data in different sources can diverge, and what to do if the phone does not “see” part of the RAM.

Method 1: Standard MIUI settings (fastest method)

If you need to know the amount of RAM as quickly as possible and without third-party applications, use the built-in MIUI settings. This method works on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones with a shell version from MIUI 10 to MIUI 14 (including HyperOS for new models).

Instructions:

  1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
  2. Go to About Phone (in some versions – About Device or Phone Information).
  3. Slip on the item Characteristics of the device or General information.
  4. Find the RAM line – here will be a physical volume, for example, 8 GB.

⚠️ Note: Some firmware (especially custom ones) may not have this partition or show incorrect data. If you see a value like 3.5 GB on a device with 4 GB of RAM, it’s normal: some of the memory is reserved for GPU and system services.

Device model number | MIUI/Android| RAM volume (RAM)|Root status (ROM) |Root status

-->

Method 2: Developer Menu (advanced information)

The Developer Menu hides detailed memory information, including current RAM load, average usage, and even peak values, which is useful if you want to not only know the volume, but also analyze how memory is consumed by the system.

How to turn on and use:

  1. Activate the Developer Menu: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on the MIUI Version (you will be notified "You've become a developer!").

Additional → For Developers

Memory.

All the memory.

💡 Useful tip: In this menu, you can include the option Do not save actions (in the Application section) so that closed programs do not hang in the background and do not waste memory.

What do the graphs on the developer menu mean?
The "Used" graph shows the current RAM load of all processes, including system ones. The peaks on the graph often occur when the camera is launched, games or app is updated. The "Free" line shows the memory available for new tasks - if this value is constantly below 500 MB, the device begins to slow down.

Method 3: Diagnostic applications (AIDA64, CPU-Z, DevCheck)

Third-party utilities will not only show the amount of RAM, but also provide detailed information about the type of memory (such as LPDDR4X or LPDDR5), its frequency and even the chip manufacturer, which is useful if you plan to overclock the device or compare it with other models.

Top.-3 check-in:

  • 📊 AIDA64 — It shows the full memory specification, including timings and bandwidth. The free version is quite functional.
  • 🔧 CPU-Z — It shows the amount of RAM on the home screen in the Device section.
  • 🛠️ DevCheck is a user-friendly interface that visualizes real-time memory usage.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. AnTuTu Benchmark) may show inaccurate RAM on virtual memory devices (RAM In such cases, focus on data from the settings or ADB.

AnnexIt shows the amount of RAM.Additional informationCons
AIDA64✅ Yeah)Memory type, frequency, timingsPaid version for full functionality
CPU-Z✅ Yeah (basic)Model processor, coreNo memory details.
DevCheck✅ Yes (with schedule)Real-time useAdvertising in the free version
AnTuTu❌ No (only in tests)Performance assessmentDoes not show technical data

Method 4: Engineering menu (for power users)

The engineering menu (#4636##) contains low-level hardware information, including memory data, but on new Xiaomi models (especially HyperOS), this method may not work or require root rights.

How to open it:

  1. Open the Phone app.
  2. Enter the combination: ##4636### (some devices may require ##225###).
  3. Select the Phone Information or Hardware Info tab.
  4. Find the Memory block, and here is the Total RAM string.

⚠️ Note: Not all combinations work on Xiaomi due to limitations MIUI. If nothing happens after entering the code, try an alternative method through the ADB (Also, do not change the parameters in the engineering menu without understanding the consequences – this can lead to a system failure.

Standard settings MIUI|Developer Menu |Third-party apps (AIDA64, CPU-Z)|Engineering menu |I don't know, never checked

-->

Method 5: ADB teams (for technical specialists)

If you want the most accurate data or previous methods didn't work, use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting the phone to a computer, but gives you access to the system's raw data, including backup memory.

Instructions:

  1. Install Platform Tools on your PC.
  2. Turn on USB debugging in the Developer Menu on your phone.
  3. Connect the device to the computer and execute in the terminal: adb shell cat /proc/meminfo
  4. Find the MemTotal string, which is the value in kilobytes (divide by 1024 to get megabytes).

Example of conclusion:

MemTotal: 6000000 kB # ~5.7 GB (device with 6 GB of RAM)


MemFree: 1200000 kB # Free memory




Buffers: 300000 kB #Core Buffers

💡 Useful Tip: To find out how much memory is reserved for graphics, follow the command:

adb shell dumpsys meminfo

Look for the Graphics block or GL.

-->

Frequent problems and their solutions

Sometimes users find that the phone shows less memory than the specifications stated, or the data in different sources do not match.

  • 🔄 Virtual memory (RAM Expansion: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+) Some of the internal memory is used as RAM. In the settings, this can be displayed as 8 GB. + 3 GB, but the actual physical volume is only 8 GB.
  • 🔧 Reservations for GPU: Video chips Adreno (in processors Qualcomm) or Mali (in MediaTek) reserve up to 1-2 GB of RAM. POCO F4 GT 12 GB of RAM is allocated under the schedule ~1.5 GB.
  • ⚠️ Custom firmware: Informal builds (e.g. LineageOS) may not display memory correctly. ADB.

If you suspect that the phone is not seeing part of the RAM:

  1. Check firmware integrity through Settings → About phone → System update.
  2. Reset the settings to factory (carefully! This will delete all data).
  3. Contact the service center - a hardware malfunction is possible (for example, a memory chip dump).
My Xiaomi shows 3.5GB of RAM instead of 4GB. Is that normal?
Yes, that's OK. The manufacturer reserves some of the memory for system needs (graphics, Android kernel, drivers). For example, in Redmi 9A with 4 GB of RAM, the user can access ~3.2-3.5 GB. The exact value depends on the version of MIUI and the services installed.
Can I increase the amount of RAM on Xiaomi?
Physically, no, because the memory is soldered into the motherboard, but some models support virtual memory (RAM Expansion, which uses a part of the built-in drive as RAM. For example, in Xiaomi 12T Pro can be added up to 3 GB of virtual memory. For this: Go to Settings → Additionally. → Memory: Select RAM Extension and specify the desired volume (recommended no more than 2-3 GB). ⚠️ Note: Virtual memory is slower than physical memory and can accelerate wear and tear.
Why is AIDA64 and settings different?
This is due to how systems count memory: MIUI settings show available volume (net of redundant memory). AIDA64/ADB displays physical volume (including reserve). The difference is usually 0.5-1.5 GB. Focus on data from ADB (MemTotal) for accuracy.
How to check the RAM on Xiaomi without turning on the phone?
If the phone is not turning on, you can only find out the amount of RAM by the device model: Find the model on the box or under the battery (for example, M2101K7AG for the Redmi Note 10 Pro). Check the characteristics on the official Xiaomi website or in the GSMArena database. If you need an exact value (for example, for repairs), use utility tools like Mi Flash Tool (you need to connect to a PC in EDL mode).
Does the amount of RAM affect the battery life?
Indirectly, yes. The more RAM, the longer applications can stay in the background without rebooting. This reduces the number of process starts (and each run consumes energy). However, RAM itself does not consume much power, the main consumption comes from the processor and screen. For example, in Xiaomi 13 Lite with 8 GB of RAM, background apps are less likely to restart than in Redmi. 10A 4GB, which can give you +5-10% autonomy for the same tasks.