How to see the memory capacity of Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: all ways

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is one of the most popular smartphones of 2019, which is still in active use. Over time, many users face a lack of memory: applications slow down, photos are not saved, and the system gives notifications about overflowing storage. But how do you know exactly how much memory is left on the device? And why sometimes the numbers on different menus do not match?

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can check memory on the Redmi Note 8 Pro, from standard settings to hidden engineering menus, how to tell shared memory from available memory, why the system eats up part of the storage, and what to do if the smartphone shows incorrect data, and how to check the RAM, which is responsible for multitasking.

Important: The instructions are valid for MIUI 12-14 (inclusive), but most methods can be used on newer versions of the shell. If your Note 8 Pro runs on custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience or LineageOS), some menu items may differ.

1. Memory check through standard Xiaomi settings

The easiest way is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which give you basic information about the storage, but they don't always show you the whole picture.

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Scroll down and select About Phone.
3. Stick to the Storage line (or Memory in some versions of MIUI).

Here you'll see:

• 📊 Total memory (e.g. 64GB or 128GB).
• 🔳 Occupied space (including system files)
• 🟢 Available space (how much space is left for your files)
• 📁 Category distribution (applications, photos, videos, etc.).

Note that MIUI often shows less memory than the box says. For example, instead of 64 GB, you'll see ~55-58 GB. This is normal: some space is occupied by firmware, recovery and service partitions. More on this in the "memory loss" section.

⚠️ Warning: If you see a message on this menu that says "Memory is damaged" or "Unknown error," this may indicate a problem with the drive, in which case, check the memory through Engineer Mode (see section 4) or contact the service.

2. Detailed analysis of memory in the menu "Storage and USB"

For a deeper analysis, use the Storage and USB section (available in MIUI 12+) where you can see which files are taking up space and clear them immediately.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Storage (or Settings → Memory and USB- drives).
2. Press Internal Memory.
3. Wait for the chart to load (it can take 10–30 seconds).

In this menu you will get an extended statistic:

Tip: If you see that the Other category takes up a lot of space (over 5–10 GB), it could be:

• 🗑️ Residual files after deleting applications.
• 📄 Temporary download files (Download folder).
• 🔄 Messenger cache (Telegram, WhatsApp).
• 📂 Hidden folders of some games (e.g., PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact).

💡

To find the heaviest files, use a file manager (such as Mi File Manager) and sort folders by size, often with older high-resolution videos or undeleted APK- files being the culprits.

3. Check RAM (RAM) on the Note 8 Pro

Redmi Note 8 Pro was released with 6 or 8 GB of RAM. Check how much memory is used in real time, you can in several ways.

Method 1. Through settings:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Then, put it on the memory (or RAM) line.
3. You will see a schedule of RAM usage and a list of active processes.

Method 2. Through the notification panel:

• 📱 Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the notification bar.
• 🔄 Click on the Cleanup icon (broomstick or circular arrow).
• 📊 The window that opens will show the current RAM loading level.

Normal performance for the Note 8 Pro:

• 🟢 1.5-3 GB is occupied - optimal for background work.
• 🟡 3.5-5 GB is occupied — lots of open applications, possible slowdowns.
• 🔴 5.5GB or more is critical load, needs cleaning.

⚠️ Warning: If RAM is constantly loaded 80–90% even after cleaning, this could indicate: 🦠 Virus or malware (check through Google Play Protect). 🔄 Failure MIUI (rebooting or cache resetting will help). 📱 Hardware problems (memory wear, overheating).

Memory check through the engineering menu (Engineer Mode)

If standard methods don't show complete information (for example, after a firmware or reset), you can use a hidden engineering menu, which gives you access to low-level storage data.

How to open Engineer Mode:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the code: ##4636###.
3. Select Testing (or Storage in English).

On this menu you will see:

• 💾 Internal Storage is the total amount of internal memory.
• 📉 Used is occupied space (including hidden partitions).
• 🟢 Available is a real place.
• 🔧 Storage Health status of the storage device (if maintained).

The engineering menu displays the exact amount of memory without rounding, which can differ from the data in standard settings by 1-3 GB. This is due to the fact that MIUI hides service partitions (for example, /vendor or /recovery).

5. Third-party applications for memory analysis

If the built-in MIUI tools don’t suit you, you can use third-party utilities, which often provide more visualization and additional features (for example, clearing the cache in one click).

Top.-3 apps for Redmi Note 8 Pro:

1. Files by Google is the official Google app with the Cleanup feature. 🔍 Shows junk files. 🗑️ Can delete duplicate photos. 📊 Visualizes occupied space by category.

DiskUsage

• 🗺️ Shows files as blocks (the larger the block, the heavier the file).
• 🔍 You can tap the blocks to see the details.
• 📱 It works without the internet.

Warning: Avoid the little-known memory "optimizers" from Google Play.

• 🚫 Run background processes that only increase the load on RAM.
• 📢 Showing aggressive advertising.
• 🔓 May request unnecessary permissions (e.g. access to SMS).

Make a backup of important files

Close all active applications

Connect the charger (if memory is scarce, cleaning may take time)

Check if the developer mode is on (it can block some actions)

-->

6.Why does the smartphone show less memory than the box?

Many Redmi Note 8 Pro users are faced with the fact that instead of the promised 64 or 128 GB, the system shows 5-10 GB less. This is not marriage or cheating - this is how all Android devices work.

Causes of "loss" of memory:

1. Service sections: 📂 /system — firmware MIUI (takes ~3—5 GB). 🛠️ /recovery — recovery section (~500 MB). 🔄 /cache — update cache (up to 1 GB).
2. Formatting: 💾 Manufacturers specify decimal volume (1 GB = 1,000,000 bytes). 🖥️ Android uses a binary standard (1 GB = 1,073,741,824 bytes). 📉 The difference is ~7% (e.g., 64 GB per box = ~59.6 GB per system).

Pre-installed annexes

• 📱 Xiaomi apps (Mi Browser, Mi Video, GetApps)
• 🎵 Google Services (Play Music, Duo)
• 🗑️ They can't be removed without root rights, but you can turn them off.

How do you get some memory back?

• 🗑️ Remove or disable unnecessary preinstalled applications (Settings → Applications → Application Management).
• 🔄 Move files to microSD (if supported).
• ☁️ Use cloud storage (Google Drive, Mi Cloud).
• 🛠️ Make a factory reset (if the memory is littered after long use).

💡

If the difference between claimed and real memory is greater than 10-15 GB, this may indicate a fake drive. Check the smartphone through the AIDA64 app (Storage section).

7 Frequent Memory Checking Errors and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes that lead to incorrect memory data, and here are the most common ones:

Mistake 1: Ignoring the app cache

Many people only clean up garbage, but forget about the cache of messengers and social networks. For example, Telegram can take 5-10 GB of cached media files, and Facebook can take up to 1-2 GB.

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Select an app (such as Telegram).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

Mistake 2: Misinterpretation of “Accessible Memory”

The Warehouse menu shows the memory available to the user, but does not always include:

• 📁 Files in the root folder (/sdcard).
• 🔒 Encrypted data (if encryption is enabled).
• 📱 Other Users’ folders (if multiplayer mode is configured).

Error 3: Using incompatible memory cards

Redmi Note 8 Pro supports microSD up to 256GB, but:

• ❌ SDHC cards (up to 32 GB) can run slower.
• ⚠️ Some SanDisk Ultra cards older than 2018 are not optimized for MIUI.
• 🔄 Once you insert a new card, be sure to format it via your phone (Settings → Storage → Card SD → Format it as internal memory).

⚠️ Warning: If the microSD device becomes braking or overheating after inserting, check the card for authenticity. Counterfeiting often has an underrated recording speed, which leads to failures when recording video to 4K or installing applications.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions