How to watch memory on Xiaomi Redmi 6: full analysis

Owners of the budget but robust Redmi series smartphones often face a shortage of free space to install new apps or save photos. The Redmi 6 model, released in 2018, originally shipped with various drive modifications, and over time, the user inevitably wonders about the current state of storage. Understanding how to properly diagnose system occupancy is the first step to optimizing the device.

There are several methods of verification, from the standard interface of the MIUI shell to the use of hidden engineering codes and third-party utilities. Each method provides different degrees of detail. In this article, we will examine all the options available, explain the difference between types of memory and show how to safely free up space for comfortable use of the gadget.

Basic verification through system settings

The easiest and most affordable way to find out how much space you have left on your device is in the standard settings menu. You need to open the Settings app and scroll down to the About Phone section, which is where you can see the summary of the processor model, the Android version, and most importantly, the free space in internal storage.

However, for more detailed analysis, go to the Memory menu (or Storage in newer versions of MIUI), where the system visualizes data by showing how much application, image, video and system files occupy. Internal memory is the primary resource that fills up the fastest, and its control is critical for performance.

Notice the color scale, which shows the disk's fullness. If the strip is lit in red, it's a signal that the free space is less than 10% of the total, and the system may start to run slower. In this section, you can also start the built-in cleanup by removing the cache and temporary files.

⚠️ Note: Do not try to delete system folders with Android names, MIUI or System through the file manager manually, as this can lead to unstable operation of the operating system.

The interface may vary slightly depending on the firmware version of MIUI Global or China. In some cases, the path to data may be hidden in the Advanced Settings submenu. Always check for system updates, as newer versions of the shells often improve the logic of displaying data on the storage.

Use of the Security App

Xiaomi's firmware preinstalled the system app Security, which serves as the resource management center of the smartphone. When you run it, you will see the Cleanup button, which, when you press it, scans the device. Once you complete the analysis, the system will show not only the amount of garbage, but also detailed statistics on the use of the internal drive.

This tool is convenient because it automatically sorts files into categories: large files, rarely used apps, duplicate photos. You can quickly go to the most “heavy” objects and delete them without digging into the deep settings menu, which is especially useful for users who do not want to waste time on manual search.

Additionally, the Security app has a function to speed up RAM memory. Pressing the appropriate button closes the background processes, freeing up RAM for the current task. While this does not increase the physical amount of RAM, it helps avoid lags when switching between heavy applications.

It is important to use this tool regularly, because app cache tends to accumulate, for example, instant messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp can stealthily take up several gigabytes of space per month of active use.

Analysis through engineering menu and codes

For more advanced users who want to get technical information about memory, there is an engineering menu available. To get there, you need to open the Phone application (set number) and enter a special code. For many Xiaomi devices, there is a combination ##6484##, which opens the CIT test menu.

You can select Version or Storage Test from this menu, which displays information about the type of memory you have installed (eMMC or UFS), although Redmi 6 typically uses the eMMC 5.1 standard.

##4636##

This code opens the test menu, where information often provides more detailed memory usage statistics than standard settings, and you can see how much memory is used by a particular system and how many users are available.

It is safe to use engineering codes unless you change the radio settings or screen calibration, but be careful not to reset the Factory Reset from this menu unless you are sure you are doing so.

The difference between RAM and ROM in Redmi 6

Many users confuse the two main types of memory, which leads to a misunderstanding of the characteristics of the device. RAM (Random Access Memory) is RAM, which only works when the phone is turned on and stores data from running applications. ROM (Read-Only Memory) is a permanent storage where your photos, games and the operating system itself lie.

In the Redmi 6 model, depending on the modification, 3 or 4 GB of RAM and 32 or 64 GB of permanent storage could be installed. It is important to understand that of the declared 32 GB, about 20-22 GB is available to the user, since the rest is occupied by the system partition and service files.

Lack of RAM causes applications to restart when switched, and a lack of ROM causes errors when installing new programs or saving files.For Redmi 6, it is more critical to keep a permanent storage filling, as 32GB in today's environment is not much.

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Use a microSD card only to store photos and videos. SD-The card can significantly slow down the smartphone.

Expanding Memory with a MicroSD Card

Because the built-in volume may be lacking, the Xiaomi Redmi 6 features a microSD card slot, which allows for an increase in media space available to 256GB (officially), although larger cards often work in practice.

To install the map, you need to remove the tray with a paper clip. Note that in some versions the tray is hybrid: in the second socket you can put either a second socket. SIM-Once installed, the system will suggest formatting the card as a "Portifical Storage" or as part of internal memory.

It is recommended to choose the Portable Storage format to be able to transfer the card to other devices without losing data, in which case you can transfer all photos, music and videos to it, freeing up precious gigabytes of internal storage.

⚠️ Note: When formatting a memory card, all data on it will be destroyed. Be sure to back up important files on your computer before installing them.

After setting up, remember to change the default save path to the memory card in the camera and voice recorder apps, which will automatically prevent the system partition from overflowing in the future.

Cache cleaning and garbage disposal

Over time, the residual files of remote applications and browser cache accumulate in the folders of the system. For deep cleaning, you can use the File Manager Explorer, which is also preinstalled in MIUI. Go to the Analyzer section to see the largest files.

Special attention should be paid to the folders of messengers. Android/media/com.whatsapp or similar paths for Viber and Telegram can contain gigabytes of viewed but no longer needed videos and images, their removal is safe and frees up a lot of space.

Also worth checking is the Download folder. Often users forget about downloaded installation files. APK, PDF-Regularly reviewing this folder is a good habit to maintain order.

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Regular cleaning of the Download folder and messenger cache can free up to 30% of space on the internal drive.

Remember to clear the Chrome browser cache or MI Browser. Accumulated history and temporary web page files can take up hundreds of megabytes, which are easily deleted through the browser settings without losing important data.

Hidden functions and optimization of MIUI

The MIUI shell has a number of hidden memory management features, one of which is the ability to limit application background activity. Go to Settings → Apps → Settings → Other settings → Background activity restriction and select No Limits mode only for important applications, and set a hard limit for the rest.

Redmi 6 also has a feature called Memory Extension (in some firmware versions), which provides a portion of the permanent storage for virtual RAM. However, on this model with its eMMC type, enabling this feature can, on the contrary, slow down the phone, so it is better to use the standard 3-4 GB of RAM.

Another useful tip is to disable auto-update apps in Google Play, leaving it only over Wi-Fi, or turn it off altogether by updating manually, which will prevent the phone from downloading updates in the background, taking up space and CPU time.