Where to look at Xiaomi RAM: the complete guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to quickly check the specifications of the device. Especially relevant is the question when the phone starts to run slower or you plan to run a resource-intensive game. Knowing the exact amount of RAM helps to understand how effectively the gadget copes with multitasking.

With MIUI and the new HyperOS, hardware can be hidden in different menus, and manufacturers often use marketing tricks to put numbers in the model name that don't match the actual configuration.

There are several proven ways to access this information, from standard settings to hidden engineering codes, and we will look at each method in detail so you can choose the most convenient one for your situation.

Checking through the standard settings menu

The easiest and safest way to find out the amount of RAM is to look at the system menu, which requires no third-party software installation and is available on any device with a MIUI shell. However, it only displays the total amount available to the system, without detailing by frequency or memory type.

To start, open the Settings app on your desktop or in the notification curtain. Scroll down to the bottom and find About Phone, which is where all the basic information about the model, the processor, and the memory is collected.

At the top of the screen, you'll see the Memory bar, which will show two values: the amount of internal storage and the amount of RAM, for example, saying "128 GB / 8 GB" means that you have 128 gigabytes for files and 8 gigabytes of RAM.

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Please note that the user is always less than the declared amount due to the resources reserved by the system.

Sometimes you can see the Expand Memory button on the same menu, and if it's active, the system uses a portion of the permanent storage as additional RAM, which can affect the final numbers in performance tests.

Use of the Security App

Xiaomi smartphones pre-installed the system application Security, which acts as an antivirus and optimizer, and it also provides quick access to the boot status of the system, including the use of real-time RAM.

Launch the Security app (green shield icon) and you'll see a pie chart on the home screen showing the CPU and memory loads you're currently using, and if you click on the center of the circle or the Clean button, you'll see more detailed statistics.

• 📊 It shows how many megabytes are occupied right now.
• 🚀 Allows you to quickly free up resources by closing background processes.
• 📱 Displays a list of the “heaviest” running applications.

This tool is useful not only for viewing characteristics, but also for diagnosing “brakes”, and if the memory is filled up quickly after cleaning, then some application is not working correctly in the background.

It’s important to understand the difference between total and free. Android tries to keep as many commonly used applications in RAM as possible to run them quickly, so low free memory percentages are normal.

Hidden Codes and Engineering Menu

For deeper analysis, you can use hidden codes that open up technical tests, which is a professional method that allows you to see not only the volume, but also the status of memory modules.

Open the Phone app and dial the code ##6484##. This is the command to log into the CIT engineering menu. If the code didn't work, try ##4636##, which opens the test menu.

⚠️ Note: Do not change the settings on the engineering menu that you do not know the value of. This can lead to unstable operation of the device.

From the CIT menu, select Version Information or Memory Check, which will show you detailed information about the type of memory you have installed (such as LPDDR4X or LPDDR5) and the actual amount you recognize.

Using codes is a great way to check your phone before you buy it from hand, and if the settings menu says 8GB and the engineering menu says less, it may have been flashed or has hardware problems.

Analysis of characteristics through third-party utilities

If built-in tools are not enough, specialized applications from Google Play come to the rescue, providing as much detailed information as possible, including frequency, number of channels and the memory chip manufacturer.

One of the most popular tools is CPU-Z or AIDA64. Once installed, run the program and go to the Device or Memory tab, and here you will see the exact name of the RAM module.

The advantage of these tools is that they're not just going to show 8GB, but they're going to show you a specific standard, the current frequency in MHz, and the load on each channel, which is especially important for gamers and enthusiasts.

Installing third-party software gives you more flexible monitoring capabilities, such as a CPU-Z widget on your desktop, which allows you to see how much RAM is free at any time without going to the applications.

Memory Expansion in MIUI and HyperOS

Modern shells Xiaomi offers a function of virtual extension of RAM, which allows you to use part of the built-in storage (ROM) as an additional RAM to improve multitasking.

To check the status of this feature and add virtual gigabytes, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Expanded Memory. Here you will see the switch and volume selector slider.

The amount available depends on the device model. You can usually add 2 to 5 GB of virtual memory. Once turned on, the phone will suggest rebooting so that the changes take effect.

⚠️ Attention: Active use of memory extension can accelerate the wear of the built-in drive, as the number of write cycles increases.

Should I turn this on? On devices with 4-6 GB of physical RAM, it will give a tangible increase in performance. If you have a flagship with 12 GB or more, the difference will be almost invisible, and the consumption of the storage will increase.

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Expanding memory is useful for budget models, but on powerful flagships it is better to keep it off to save disk life.

Table of memory in popular models

To make it easier for you to navigate, we have prepared a summary table with the characteristics of the popular Xiaomi series of smartphones, which will help you quickly understand what to expect from a particular device.

Note that there may be different versions within the same model, for example, the Redmi Note 12 can be sold in 4/128 GB or 6/128 GB configurations.

Knowing the type of memory is also important. LPDDR5 is significantly faster and more energy efficient than the legacy LPDDR4X. This affects the speed of downloading games and switching between heavy applications.

Frequent problems and their solution

Sometimes users notice that the available amount of memory is less than the stated amount, or the system writes about a lack of resources, this can be due to software errors and the peculiarities of Android.

One common cause of memory fat is background processes and bloated app cache. Regular cleaning through the Security menu helps solve the problem.

• 🔄 Reboot the device to reset temporary files.
• 🗑️ Remove unused applications.
• ⚙️ Turn off auto-start for heavy programs.

If the problem persists, you may need to reset to factory settings, before doing so, be sure to back up important data so you don’t lose contacts and photos.

⚠️ Before resetting your settings, make sure that the battery is at least 50% so that the phone does not turn off at a critical moment.

In some cases, discrepancy in numbers may indicate a need for firmware updates. Check for updates in the About Phone section and install the latest stable version.

Questions and Answers (FAQ)