Where in Xiaomi is the storage: analysis of internal and external memory of the smartphone

Have you ever wondered where exactly your photos, videos and apps are stored in a Xiaomi smartphone? Even experienced users sometimes get lost in a maze of folders. /storage/emulated/0/ They don't know how to manage memory properly, and in this article, we're going to go into detail about where the storage is physically and logically located in the devices. Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO, How to get there through the guide and ADB, We also reveal the secrets of the hidden system partitions that occupy the 30% memory.

The thing about MIUI is that it masks the real structure of the file system as a simplified model that the average user can understand. But behind that simplicity, there are nuances: for example, why does an application release less space than its /data/data/ folder? Or why does a microSD card appear as part of internal memory? The answers are in this article, with step-by-step instructions and visual diagrams.

The physical structure of the storage in Xiaomi: what is hidden under the “internal memory”

Xiaomi smartphones have a partitioned storage system, similar to computers, but unlike PCs, there are no regular disk letters (C:, D:). Instead, they use a folder hierarchy with rigid paths.

• 📁 /system — System firmware files (read-only, ~2–4 Damage to this section leads to brick (the device becomes a brick").
• 📁 /vendor — hardware drivers and firmware (modem, camera, sensors) Size depends on the model (e.g. Xiaomi) 13 Pro takes over ~1.2 GB).
• 📁 /data — User data (applications, settings, cache) is where all your content is stored, including hidden application folders.
• 📁 /cache — Temporary files to speed up the system (can be cleaned without consequences).
• 📁 /sdcard — symbolism /storage/emulated/0/, The user sees it as "internal memory".

It is important to understand that /storage/emulated/0/ is not a separate physical partition, but a virtual layer that MIUI overlays on top of the real /data/media/0/. This is done to be compatible with applications that await the standard Android structure. For example, when you connect your smartphone to a PC, Windows sees /storage/emulated/0/, not the real /data.

⚠️ Note: Attempting to root and manually edit files in /system or /vendor without a backup, you will lose warranty and the device will fail. Xiaomi uses partition integrity checks via dm-verity, and any changes can block the system from booting.

How to Open Xiaomi Storage: 4 Ways to Access Files

Depending on the task, you can use different methods to view and manage your memory, and let's look at them from the simplest to the most advanced:

1. Built-in file manager MIUI

The safest way is to use the standard Files app, which shows a simplified structure:

• 📂 Images - photos and screenshots (/Pictures/, /DCIM/).
• 🎵 Audio - music and sounds (/Music/, /Ringtones/).
• 🎬 Videos - videos (/Movies/, /DCIM/Camera/).
• 📄 Documents - files.pdf,.doc,.xls (/Documents/).
• 📦 Downloads – everything you downloaded through the browser (/Download/).

To see the full folder structure, click on the three dots in the top right corner and select "Show hidden files." This will display system folders like.thumbnails (image sketches) or.miad (Advertising SDK data from Xiaomi).

2. Connection to PC over USB (MTP)

When connecting your smartphone to your computer via cable, select File Transfer (MTP) mode. Windows Explorer or macOS will display a structure similar to the built-in manager, but with limitations:

• ❌ You can’t see other users’ folders (if there are multiple accounts on your device).
• ❌ No access to /data/data/ (private application files).
• ✅ You can copy files at speeds up to 40 MB/s (protocol restriction) MTP).

1. Use the original cable (not all USB-C supports data transfer).

2. Enable USB Debugging in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → Settings → Additional → For Developers.

3. Install Mi drivers PC Suite from the official Xiaomi website.-->

3. ADB (for advanced users)

If you need low-level operations (such as cleaning the cache of system applications), use ADB. Connect your smartphone to your PC, enable USB Debugging, and follow the commands:

adb shell


ls /storage/emulated/0/ # Viewing user files




du -sh /data/data/ # Application folder size (requires root)




pm list packages -f # List of all installed applications with paths

4. Root conductors (requires unlocking the bootloader)

Root Explorer or Solid Explorer with root rights will show the entire file system, including:

• 🔒 /data/data/ — Personal data of applications (for example, com.whatsapp/ chat-house).
• 🔧 /system/priv-app/ — systemic APK (removal can break the firmware).
• 🗑️ /cache/ — Temporary files (can be cleaned).

⚠️ Note: In Xiaomi models with MIUI 13+ (For example, the Redmi Note 11 Pro+) Unlocking the bootloader resets all the data and requires you to link the Mi Account to the device, without which, after reset, the phone will turn into a brick with a request for authorization.

Hidden folders and system files: what takes up space without your knowledge

Even if you delete all photos and apps, MIUI can show that 10-20 GB of “unknown data” is occupied.

Critical information: The /data/dalvik-cache/ folder (size 1-3 GB) contains optimized files to speed up application launches, and cleaning it through TWRP or ADB can lead to a cyclical reboot of the device unless the cache is reassembled by the dexopt command.

To find junk files without root:

1. Open "Settings → Memory."
2. Click on "Other Files" - the system will show large folders.
3. Use Files by Google (it analyzes duplicates and unnecessary files).

External memory: how the microSD card works in Xiaomi

Xiaomi smartphones support microSD cards up to 1TB (depending on the model).

• 🔄 Formatting as internal memory (Adoptable Storage function in Android) 6+): map becomes part of /data It's encrypted. Minus: You can't retrieve it without losing data.
• 📁 Formatting as portable: the card is displayed as a removable drive (/storage/XXXX-XXXX/). Plus: you can take out and paste into another device.
• ⚠️ Limitation MIUI: Some apps (such as WhatsApp) do not allow data to be transferred to the Internet. SD-The card, even if it is formatted as an internal.

To transfer applications to the memory card:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Select the application → Storage.
2. Click "Change" and select SD-map.
3. Confirm the transfer (not all applications support this feature).

⚠️ Attention: In models with MIUI 12.5+ (Xiaomi Mi 11 porting applications to the SD-The card may not work properly due to the limitations of Android 11+. The system creates “shadowed” copies of files that take up space on the map and in internal memory.

Insert the card into the slot (hybrid or dedicated)

Format it to FAT32/exFAT (if >32 GB)

In the storage settings, select "Format as internal" (optional)

Reboot the device after formatting

Check the read/write speed (minimum 10MB/s for Class 10)-->

Storage optimization: how to free up space without loss

If your memory is running out and you don’t want to delete anything, use these methods:

• 🧹 Cache cleaning: Settings → Memory. → App cache. Releases 1 to 5 GB.
• 🗑️ Removing duplicates: use Files by Google or CCleaner.
• ☁️ Transfer to the cloud: Mi Cloud gives 5 GB for free, Google Photos – unlimited storage of compressed photos.
• 🔄 Reset to factory settings: extreme method, but returns "clean" system (make backup!).

For advanced users:

adb shell pm list packages -f | grep 'data/app/' # List of user APKs


adb shell du -sh /data/media/0/* | sort -rh # Top of the big folders

💡

The most effective way to free up space is to remove the cache of system applications (such as Mi Video or Mi Browser) that take up to 1GB but are rarely used.

Frequent Xiaomi Storage Problems and Their Solutions

Let’s look at common mistakes and ways to correct them:

If the smartphone shows "damaged" SD-map, try it:

1. Remove the card and check on another device.
2. Connect to the PC and execute the command: chkdsk X: /f (where X: is the letter of the card disk).
3. If it doesn’t help, then you will be lost.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions about Xiaomi storage