How to see what takes up memory on Xiaomi: a complete analysis

Modern Xiaomi smartphones, which are based on the shells MIUI or the new HyperOS, offer users a lot of features, but over time, the free space in storage is inexorably reduced. The system begins to warn about the lack of space, applications are slower, and new photos simply have nowhere to save.

It is a mistake to think that removing a couple of old apps will solve the problem globally. Often the bulk of data is cached files, duplicates in the gallery or “heavy” chats of messengers that grow to tens of gigabytes. Competent analysis of disk space allows you to identify real “eaters” of memory and effectively clean the smartphone without losing important information.

In this article, we will take a closer look at built-in diagnostic tools, hidden developer menus, and third-party file system analysis methods. You will learn to distinguish system files from user debris and safely optimize your gadget. Deep cleaning requires understanding the folder structure so that you don't accidentally delete the data you need to run the OS.

Basic analysis through system settings

The easiest and safest way to get the primary information about the storage capacity is to use the standard settings menu, which is standard for most firmware versions: go to Settings, then select About phone and click on Warehouse, where the system provides a summary diagram that visualizes the distribution of data into categories: applications, images, video, audio, etc.

But a standard analyzer often only shows general numbers, hiding details. For example, the "Other" category can take up a significant part of the volume, but not explain what exactly it includes. For a more detailed study, you need to click on a specific category, such as "Applications", to see the sorted list by the amount of space occupied, which allows you to instantly identify the programs that are leading in resource consumption.

It’s worth noting the difference between the size of the application itself and the amount of data it takes up. Often the installation file itself weighs 100 MB, and the accumulated cache and database have grown to 5-10 GB. Cleaning the data in this menu will return the application to state immediately after installation, removing all logins and settings, so use this feature with caution.

⚠️ Note: When cleaning system application data (e.g., Gallery or Themes), you can reset all your personalizations and interface settings to factory values.

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Use the Clear Cache function instead of Clear All Data if you want to save logins and application progress but free up space from temporary files.

Use of the Security App and Category Analysis

Each Xiaomi smartphone has a Security system app preinstalled, which includes a powerful Cleanup tool. Running scans through this module allows you to find not only temporary files, but also large files, duplicate applications and unused ones. APK-Installers: The program interface suggests removing "garbage" in one click, but experienced users are encouraged to check each item manually.

The Big Files section is particularly noteworthy, and this is where often forgotten screen-recorded videos or offline maps of navigators that can take several gigabytes are hidden, and the system sorts them by size, allowing you to quickly find and remove unnecessary heavy objects, and checking this section regularly helps keep the storage in order without going deep into the file system.

It is important to distinguish between files and documents in the context of a cleaner. Documents often contain important work files that an automatic analyzer may find unnecessary if they have not been opened for a long time. Before mass deletion, always check the contents of folders, especially if you use your phone for work.

• 📁 Application cache: temporary data that can be deleted without harming the operation of programs.
• 📦 APK Files: Installation packs that often remain in memory after app updates.
• 🗑️ Recycle Bin: Deleted photos and videos that take up space for another 30 days before final erasure.

Hidden folders and analysis through Explorer

For advanced users who want to see the real picture of disk filling, a standard Explorer is indispensable. /storage/emulated/0), You can manually size folders of popular services, like a folder. Android/data often inflated due to the cache of games and streaming services, and the folder DCIM Stores all your media files.

Inside the Android folder are the obb and data subfolders, which store game files and application data, respectively. Deleting the game folder from here is equivalent to removing it from the phone, and cleaning the cache inside the data may require re-authentication, which provides the most accurate idea of which services consume resources.

Also worth checking is the folders of messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp, which create separate directories for downloading media files that are often duplicated in the gallery, and in the settings of the messengers themselves, you can find built-in memory management tools that show a usage diagram by content type (photos, videos, files).

Analysis of storage through the developer mode

In the MIUI and HyperOS shells, there is a hidden menu designed for developers that provides more detailed statistics than standard settings. To activate it, you need to go to Settings → About phone and quickly click on the MIUI version 7 times. After the message “You became a developer”, a new section “Advanced Settings” → “For developers” will appear in the settings menu.

Inside the developer menu, you need to find Memory Statistics (or Memory Use) and it shows how much RAM is currently occupied and what processes are most active, and while this section is primarily focused on RAM, it indirectly helps you understand which applications are actively working in the background and can generate cache.

For analysis of the permanent storage (ROM) in new versions of Android and MIUI A special analysis tool has been implemented, and it can be called a "Storage Analyzer" or it can be accessed through a special tool. ADB-This tool builds a graphical file map where the size of the rectangles is proportional to the size of the files on the disk, which allows you to instantly find anomalies.

⚠️ Warning: Turning on the developer mode and changing the settings within this menu may affect the stability of the system%.

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Developer mode is a powerful diagnostic tool, but standard system and security tools are sufficient for normal memory cleaning.

Using ADB for deep diagnostics

For users who are ready to connect their smartphone to a computer, the adb shell dumpsys meminfo command or analysis via the adb shell gives the most complete picture. By connecting the device in USB debugging mode, you can upload a list of all the processes and memory they occupy to a text file. This is a professional method that allows you to see even those processes that are hidden from the user interface.

However, there is a simpler way to use ADB to analyze disk space. Adb shell df -h The file system will show a general summary of the file system sections, and the adb shell du -sh /sdcard/* It will show the size of all folders in the root of internal memory, sorted by size, and it allows you to quickly identify the heaviest directories without installing third-party software.

adb shell du -ah /sdcard | sort -rh | head -n 20

Run this command in the terminal will display a list of the 20 heaviest files and folders in your storage. This is a "nuclear" search option that finds everything, including hidden and system files available to the user. Be extremely careful when deleting files found by this method, since system files are critical to running the OS.

• 🔌 Debugging by USB: It should be included in the developer menu.
• 💻 ADB Drivers: Drivers must be installed on your computer.
• 📝 Command Prompt: Requires precise input of command syntax.

Cleaning the cache and optimizing the system

Once you've figured out what's taking up space, there's the cleaning phase, manual file deletion, Xiaomi's system offers the "Extended Cleanup" feature in the Security app. It finds files left over from remote applications and advertising debris. Regular use of this tool prevents a critical mass of temporary data from accumulating.

In Telegram, for example, you can set up automatic cache cleaning: go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory Use and set a timer for 3 days or a week to “Storage Media” to ensure that old photos and videos you see will not take up gigabytes on your device.

Don't forget cloud services. If you have Google Photos or MIUI Cloud sync enabled, use the Free Space feature, which removes photos and videos that are already securely stored in the cloud from your device, which is the safest way to return tens of gigabytes without losing your memories.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)