How to check memory on Xiaomi phone: all the ways from internal storage to SD-map

Have you noticed that Xiaomi is running out of space for new photos or apps? Or just want to know how much free space is left on the device? In this article, we will explore all possible ways to check memory on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones, from standard MIUI tools to hidden features and third-party utilities.

Whether you’re using a flagship model like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra or the budget Redmi Note 12, the memory check algorithm is the same for most devices based on the same system. MIUI 12-14 We will also explain how to distinguish internal memory from external memory (SD-maps), and what to do if the system shows incorrect data.

If you've never looked at memory settings before, don't worry: our step-by-step picture and video tutorials will help even a beginner understand, and for power users, we've prepared hidden memory diagnostics methods through the engineering menu and ADB that are not covered in the official guides.

1. Standard method: Memory checking through "Settings"

The easiest and fastest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which is suitable for all Xiaomi models, including Redmi and POCO, regardless of the firmware version.

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Scroll down and select About Phone (on some models – About Device).
3. Stick to the item Warehouse (or Memory in older versions of MIUI).

Here you will see total memory, occupied space and free space, broken down into categories: applications, photos, video, audio, etc. The screen also displays a memory usage schedule, which helps you quickly assess what exactly takes up the most space.

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If you see the "Storage" section, you see the inscription"SD-"card" but not using it -- it could be a system error. Try re-extracting and pasting the memory card or restarting the phone.

On some devices (such as the Xiaomi 13T or POCO F5), the path may be slightly different:

• 📱 Settings → Memory and storage (for MIUI 14)
• 📱 Settings → Additionally. → Memory (for older versions)
• 📱 Settings → System system → Storage (on some firmware for the global market)

⚠️ Note: If this section displays significantly less memory than claimed in the phone’s specs (e.g. 64GB instead of 128GB), this may indicate a fake firmware or hardware defect. In this case, we recommend checking the device through Fastboot or contact the service center.

2 Memory check through "Security" (Cleaner)

MIUI has a built-in Security app (or Cleaner on global firmware) that not only cleans garbage, but also shows detailed memory information, which is convenient if you want to check your memory and make room at the same time.

Instructions:

1. Open the Security app (shield icon with a tick).
2. Go to the Cleanup tab (or Storage in English).
3. At the top of the screen you will see total memory and free space, and below – a breakdown by file type.

The advantage of this method is that you can immediately free up memory by deleting cache, temporary files or unnecessary applications, for example, if you see that Cash takes 5-10 GB, you can click Clear and free up space without manually deleting each file.

3.Using the MIUI file manager

Xiaomi’s built-in File Manager (or Files) is another handy memory checker that shows not only the total size but also the size of each folder, which helps you find voracious files.

How to use:

1. Open the Files app (document folder icon).
2. At the top of the screen you will see a memory indicator with a percentage of occupancy.
3. Slip the indicator to see a detailed breakdown by category (e.g. Images, Videos, Audio).
4. To find out the size of a particular folder, click on it and select Properties or More.

The advantage of this method is that you can sort files by size and delete the largest ones right away, for example, if you find a 2GB to 3GB video that you don't need for a long time, you can delete it right from the file manager.

Remove duplicate photos|Clear the folder "Downloads"|Check the folder size"DCIM" (photo)|Remove the old ones APK-file|View the size of the messenger cache (Telegram, WhatsApp)-->

If you use SD-The card, in the file manager, will show it as a separate storage unit to check its memory:

1. Open the files.
2. In the top menu, select SD-map (or External Storage).
3. Information about the free and occupied space will be displayed at the top of the screen.

⚠️ Attention: If SD-The card is not defined, but is physically inserted into the slot, try the following actions: Remove the card and paste it again. Reboot the phone. Check the card on another device (possibly damaged), format the card via the phone (all data will be deleted!). If the problem persists, the card may not be compatible with your Xiaomi model (e.g., some phones don’t support cards larger than 512GB).

Memory check through the engineering menu (for experienced users)

If standard methods don't show the full picture (for example, you suspect that the system is hiding some memory), you can use the engineering menu, which is suitable for advanced users and requires caution.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the combination: ##4636## (some models may not work).
3. Select Storage Information (or Storage)

Here you will see detailed information about all memory partitions, including system partitions, which are usually hidden from the user, such as how much space /system, /data or /cache takes up.

If you want more information, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

1. Connect your phone to your PC and enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → Press 7 times, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
2. Open the command line on your PC and type: adb shell df -h
3. You will receive a list of all sections with an indication of the free and occupied space.

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The engineering menu and ADB display the real state of memory, including hidden system partitions, which is useful if you suspect that the phone is “cheating” with the display of storage capacity (for example, shows 64 GB instead of 128 GB).

5. Third-party applications for memory analysis

If Xiaomi’s built-in tools don’t suit you, you can use third-party utilities, which often provide more detailed analysis and additional features, such as searching for duplicates or large files.

Top.-3 memory-checking:

• 📊 Files by Google – shows not only the amount of memory, but also offers to clear unnecessary files (cache, duplicates, old screenshots).
• 📊 SD Maid is an advanced tool for analyzing and cleaning memory (requires root access for full functionality).
• 📊 DiskUsage – visualizes memory usage as an interactive map, where large files are displayed as large blocks.

How to use Files by Google:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and go to the Cleanup tab.
3. The app will automatically scan the memory and show what can be deleted.
4. Click Free Space to delete unnecessary files.

The advantage of third-party apps is that they often more accurately identify junk files that embedded MIUI tools may miss, such as SD Maid finding remnants of remote applications that continue to take up space.

⚠️ Note: Some memory cleanup apps (especially from unknown sources) can delete important system files or show false space shortage warnings. Use only proven high-ranking Google Play utilities.

6. Memory check via computer

If the phone doesn’t turn on or you prefer to work on a large screen, you can check Xiaomi memory through your computer. USB-cable and access to the phone file system.

Instructions for Windows:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB.
2. On your phone, select File Transfer (or MTP) mode in the connection notification.
3. Open this computer (My computer) on the PC.
4. Find your Xiaomi in the list of devices and open it.
5. Right-click on the folder of the phone and select Properties - here you will see a free and occupied space.

For more detailed analysis, you can use programs like WinDirStat or TreeSize, which scan the file system and show which folders take up the most space, for example, you might find that the DCIM/Camera folder weighs 20 GB because of old photos.

If the phone is not detected by the computer:

• 🔌 Check it out. USB-cable (it is better to use the original cable).
• 🔌 Try another one. USB-port (preferably) USB 3.0).
• 🔌 Install Xiaomi drivers (you can download from the official website).
• 🔌 Turn on Debugging. USB developer-setting.

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Connecting via a computer is the only way to save data if the phone doesn't turn on, but is defined as a removable drive, in which case you can copy important files before resetting or repairing.

7 What to do if the memory shows incorrect data?

Sometimes users find that the phone shows less memory than it should be in terms of characteristics. For example, instead of 128 GB, 110-115 GB is displayed. This is normal: some of the memory is taken up by firmware and system files. However, if the difference is too large (for example, 64 GB instead of 128 GB), this can be a sign of a problem.

Possible causes and solutions:

If you suspect that the memory is fake (for example, the seller replaced the chip with a less capacious one), check the real volume through Fastboot:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Volume Down + Power to enter Fastboot.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and type in the command: fastboot getvar all
4. Find the partition size bar – the actual memory capacity will be indicated here.

If the data do not match the stated, this is a reason to return the phone under warranty or contact the service center.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory on Xiaomi