Xiaomi’s mobile devices are known for their availability and high performance, but over time, even powerful flagships can start to work slower. One of the main reasons for interface braking and application freezes is often a lack of free RAM. Many users wonder how to accurately know the current amount of RAM and how much of it is actually available for the system, since the numbers in the store specifications and the real metrics in the system may differ.
Understanding how your gadget’s memory works allows you to optimize its performance and extend battery life. There are hidden partitions and developer tools in the MIUI operating system and the new HyperOS that provide detailed information about resource allocation. We’ll look at all the ways to verify it, from simple visual methods to using the console to get accurate technical data.
Knowing the exact amount of free RAM is critical when installing heavy games or professional video editing applications. If the system is experiencing a constant shortage of resources, it will aggressively unload the background processes, which will lead to constant reboots of programs. Let's figure out how to access this information without installing third-party software.
Use of standard system settings
The easiest and safest way to find out basic memory information is to consult the built-in settings menu. In modern shells from Xiaomi, this section is not hidden deep, but the path to it may vary slightly depending on the version of Android and MIUI. Usually users find a general summary here, which shows the total amount of physical memory and the approximate amount of free space.
To get data, you need to go to Settings → About Phone. The menu that opens will be a line “Memory” or “RAM”, which displays a total volume, for example, 6 GB or 8 GB. However, it should be noted that the system does not show details of running processes in this window, giving only a static picture of the “hardware”.
You can find more detailed statistics if you activate the extended display. In some versions of the firmware, you just need to click on the line "MIUI Version" or "Kerole Version" several times in a row to unlock additional monitoring options, which allows you to see not only the total volume, but also the current load as a percentage.
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to modify system files in memory folders unless you have superuser (Root) rights.Interference with the system partition structure can result in a cyclical device reboot.
The standard interface gives a general idea, but deep analysis requires a switch to developer mode, and that's where the tools to manage caching and see the real-world use of resources are hidden.
Activation of Developer Mode for Monitoring
To access professional analysis tools, you need to activate the hidden Developer Menu, a standard procedure for Android devices that does not require root rights and is safe to guarantee, and once you enable this mode, a new section with dozens of technical options will appear in the settings.
To activate the menu, follow the following steps:
- 📱 Open the Settings. → The phone.
- 🔥 Find the line "Version" MIUI» (or "Version" OS» hyperOS).
- 👆 Quickly click on this line. 7-10 Once in a row before the notification “You became a developer” appears».
- ⚙️ Return to the main settings menu and go to Additional → For developers.
In the list that opens, we're interested in the memory section, which can be called differently in different versions of firmware, but most often it's "Memory Usage Statistics" or "Run Services," and it shows a list of all the active processes and the amount of RAM each is currently consuming.
The process in the background is a parameter that shows how many applications the system has in sleep mode for quick start-up, if that number is too large, the interface can slow down, and you can see how much memory the system has reserved for stable operation of the kernel.
☑️ Memory check through settings
Analysis through the debugging menu and statistics
Inside the developer menu, one of the most informative tools is Memory Usage Statistics, which allows you to see not just the moment, but the dynamics of resource consumption over the past 3 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours or day, which is extremely useful for identifying “eater” applications that are quietly using battery power and RAM.
As you go into this section, you'll see a graph and a list of apps sorted by the amount of RAM consumed, and it'll show the average, minimum, and maximum memory usage of each application, which helps you understand why the phone slows down at certain points in time, like when you start a heavy game or messenger.
It's important to distinguish between Cache Processes and Background Processes: Cache Processes are applications that have been launched recently and stored in memory for quick access, but are not performing active actions right now; the system will automatically clear them if you run a demanding game; background processes can continue to perform tasks such as downloading files or tracking geolocation.
For more precise control, you can use the background process limitation function, and in the same developer menu there is the option "Background Process Limit", where you can forcefully limit the number of simultaneous applications, but this should be done with caution, since aggressive restriction can disrupt messengers and alarm clocks.
Engineering menus and hidden verification codes
For users who do not have enough standard Android tools, there is access to the engineering menu through special devices. USSD-This is a deep level of diagnostics for engineers and testers, and you can see not only the amount of memory, but also the type, frequency and health of the chips.
On Xiaomi devices with MediaTek and Qualcomm processors, the codes may differ. The most universal way to call the diagnostic menu is to use the code ##6484## or ##4636##. In the menu that opens, select Memory or Device Information.
The Memory section displays the following critical parameters:
- 💾 Total RAM: Total physical amount of installed memory.
- 📉 Available RAM: Memory available right now to run new applications.
- 🛠️ System RAM: Volume reserved by operating system and drivers.
Using the engineering menu requires caution. Changing the settings in the sections marked as "Write" or "Set" can lead to unstable operation of the radio module or camera (Read/Info).
⚠️ Attention: On new versions MIUI HyperOS and access to the engineering menu through codes can be blocked by the manufacturer. ADB third-party.
Memory check with ADB commands
The most accurate and professional method of obtaining information about RAM is the use of the Android debugging bridge (ADB), which allows you to get raw data directly from the kernel of the system, bypassing the graphical interface, which can hide some details, which will require a computer and a USB-connected smartphone.
Before you start, make sure your phone has USB debugging enabled in the Developer Menu. Connect your device to your PC and open the command line or terminal in the ADB folder. Enter the adb shell command to log into the device shell.
To get a detailed memory report, use the following command:
adb shell dumpsys meminfoThis command will show a huge list of all processes and the amount of memory they occupy, and at the beginning of the list will be a summary, which will indicate: Total RAM (total), Used RAM (occupied), Free RAM (free), and you can also use the cat /proc/meminfo command, which will show information in a format familiar to Linux systems, with detail on each type of buffer.
The advantage of ADB is that it shows the real picture without distortion from the MIUI interface, and you can see how much memory is used under the graphic buffer, how much is cache and how much is available to applications, and it is an indispensable tool for diagnosing memory leaks in specific applications.
Characteristics Comparison: Reality vs. Marketing
Often users are faced with a situation where the characteristics of the smartphone claimed 8 GB of RAM, and the system shows available only 5.5-6 GB. This is not a fraud and not a marriage, but a feature of the architecture of modern mobile operating systems. Understanding this difference helps to avoid false suspicions of malfunction of the device.
Some RAM is always reserved for the Linux kernel on which Android is based, and for hardware drivers (GPU, modem, DSP) – processes that are critical to the phone’s functioning and cannot be released by the user.
Below is a table showing the typical memory distribution on Xiaomi devices with different RAM volumes:
| Claimed by RAM | Available to the system | Reserved. | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4GB | ~2.5 - 2.8 GB | ~1.2 GB | Basic level for Android Go or lightweight builds |
| 6GB | ~3.8 - 4.2 GB | ~1.8 GB | Standard for Budget and Medium Segment |
| 8GB | ~5.5 - 6.0 GB | ~2.0 GB | Optimal for gaming and multitasking |
| 12GB | ~9.0 - 9.5GB | ~2.5 GB | Flagship level with a margin for the future |
Also worth mentioning is Xiaomi’s Memory Extension feature, which allows you to use some of your internal flash memory (ROM) as an addition to RAM. If this feature is enabled, you can see an increased value in the settings, but the actual speed will be lower than that of your physical RAM, due to the slower read/write speed of the drive.