Owning a modern Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone requires periodic monitoring of its technical condition. One of the most important components that directly affect interface speed and multitasking is RAM. Users often face situations when devices start to run slower, applications fly out or the system reboots, and the first step in solving the problem should be a qualitative diagnosis of the volume and state of RAM.
Checking RAM on the Chinese giant’s devices may be necessary not only when a malfunction is suspected, but also when buying a used gadget. The market is crowded with models with various modifications, and unscrupulous sellers sometimes try to pass a device with less memory for a more expensive version. There are several reliable ways to verify data, ranging from standard MIUI settings to deep testing through the engineering menu.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available verification methods, from simple visual methods to the use of specialized software, learn how to distinguish software failures from real hardware problems, and understand how to interpret the data correctly, which will allow you to maximize the use of your smartphone resources and take timely measures to optimize the system.
Using built-in MIUI tools to check RAM
The most affordable and quick way to find out the current status of RAM is to use the standard functionality of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS. The developers have built in a basic monitoring tool that allows you to see in real time how many megabytes or gigabytes are free and how many are occupied by active processes.
This is a summary of the boot information, if you see that free memory is less than that. 10-15% This may be a signal to close the background applications, but it is worth considering that Android is designed to keep frequently used programs in the background. RAM to start them quickly, so the memory is full 60-70% in a calm state is absolutely normal for modern versions of the OS.
It's important to understand that a standard controller only shows the current state, but does not do a deep analysis for broken sectors or errors in memory cells. It only states the amount of available space. To study in more detail which processes consume resources, you can click on the cleanup button or go to the developer settings, which displays more detailed statistics for each application you run.
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Use the Memory widget on your desktop to constantly monitor your RAM load without having to go into settings.
Diagnostics through engineering menu and codes
For users who want to access hidden system data, there is an option to log into the engineering menu, a special diagnostic interface designed to test hardware components, including RAM. To get there, you need to open a standard caller and enter a special code. For most Xiaomi and Poco devices, the combination ##6484# or ##4636## works.
Once the code is entered, the CIT (Customer Interface Test) menu will open, and the memory item will be searched for in the test list, often referred to as “Memory” or “RAM Test,” which will allow the system to automatically check for read and write errors, and if critical failures are detected during the test, a warning will appear on the screen indicating a possible hardware malfunction of the memory module.
⚠️ Warning: Be extremely careful when navigating the engineering menu. Changing parameters unknown to you in other sections can lead to unstable phone operation or data loss.
It is worth noting that on newer firmware versions, access to some codes may be restricted by the manufacturer for security reasons.If standard codes do not work, this does not mean that something is wrong with your device. ADB-commands that provide similar functionality without the risk of accidentally changing the settings of the radio module or network.
What if the code doesn't work?
Application of third-party applications for detailed analysis
When built-in tools are scarce, specialized applications come to the rescue from the Google Play store. The leader in this area has been the CPU-Z program for many years. It provides comprehensive information not only about the processor, but also about RAM. The Device tab will show the total amount of RAM, and the System tab will give an idea of how the system manages these resources at the moment.
Another powerful tool is AIDA64, which generates a full report on the hardware of a smartphone. In the RAM section, you will see not only the total volume, but also the type of memory (such as LPDDR4X or LPDDR5), the frequency, and the number of channels available and occupied, which is especially important when comparing different models or when buying a device from hand to make sure that the claimed characteristics are real.
- 📱 CPU-Z: Lightweight app showing basic features and current real-time download.
- 📊 AIDA64: Professional tool for deep diagnostics of all system components, including temperature and voltage.
- 🧹 SD Maid: A cleaning utility that also shows detailed memory statistics and helps manage processes.
Using third-party software gives you the advantage of historical data and graphs, so you can track how memory consumption changes throughout the day and identify "eater" applications that are not working properly in the background, so you can not just state the fact of a lack of resources, but find and fix the root cause of the problem.
☑️ Checking through third-party software
Checking the smartphone when buying from hand
Buying a used device is always a risk of fraud when software changes the display amount of memory. Sellers can “swipe” the phone so that the settings will say 8 GB, although physically set to 2 GB. To protect yourself, you need to conduct a comprehensive check before payment. First of all, install a trusted application for benchmarks, for example, AnTuTu Benchmark or Geekbench.
These programs, when running a test, detect the real hardware and check it against a database. If a smartphone tries to trick the system, the benchmark often issues a forgery warning or shows results typical of much weaker devices. In addition, AnTuTu always indicates the exact amount of RAM available, which is difficult to hide at the level of deep diagnostics.
| Method of verification | Reliability | Difficulty | What shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI settings | Low (easily forged) | Minimum | Claimed amount |
| CPU-Z / AIDA64 | Tall. | Low. | Real type and scope |
| AnTuTu Benchmark | Very high. | Medium | Performance and Real Iron |
| ADB team | Maximum | Tall. | System Logs and Core Parameters |
Also, pay attention to the behavior of the system. If the settings indicate 12 GB of memory, but heavy games are difficult to start, and the interface slows down when you open the tenth application, this is a sure sign that the real memory is much less than the declared. Physical volume cannot be increased programmatically, so the discrepancy of the device behavior with its characteristics is a red flag for the buyer.
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The most reliable way to check the used phone is to launch a heavy benchmark and compare the result with the benchmark indicators of this model on the Internet.
Using ADB for deep diagnostics
For advanced users with access to a computer, the most accurate method is to use the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) debugging bridge, which allows you to get information directly from the kernel of the system, bypassing the graphical interface that fraudsters can modify. To start, you need to turn on Developer Mode and activate USB Debugging in your smartphone settings.
Once you connect the device to a PC, you need to enter a command in the command line to output memory information.
adb shell cat /proc/meminfoThis command will list all the memory parameters. The MemTotal line will show the total amount of RAM in kilobytes. Dividing this number by 1024 twice will give you a value in gigabytes. If the resulting number differs significantly from the stated number (for example, instead of 4 GB shows 2 GB), then the device has been modified or has a hardware problem.
⚠️ Attention: Working with ADB Introducing commands designed to format or modify system partitions (such as wipe or format) can result in complete data loss).
You can also use the adb shell getprop command, which will display all system properties «ram_size» It's a way to double-check the data that we get from the data. /proc/meminfo. This double control eliminates the possibility of a software error in the display and gives a clear understanding of how much hardware you are dealing with.
Typical problems with RAM and their solution
Even on a working device, there can be situations where memory is not working properly, and users often complain about constant reboots or the message “Not enough memory” even when few applications are running, which may be caused not by a physical chip failure, but by a software conflict or a memory leak in one of the applications, in which case cleaning the cache or resetting the settings to the factory helps.
If the problem is hardware, such as overheating a memory chip or detachment from the board (which happens after a fall), the software methods will not help, the symptoms of hardware failure can be artifacts on the screen, cyclical reboots on the Mi or Poco logo, and the inability to boot the system, in which case professional repairs are required at the service center.
- 🔄 Reboot: A simple action that cleanses RAM Temporary files and suspended processes.
- 🗑️ Cache Clearing: Deleting temporary application files can free up a significant amount of space and speed up work.
- ⚙️ Resetting: A radical method that eliminates software errors but requires data backup.
It’s important to update your device’s firmware regularly. Xiaomi engineers are constantly releasing patches that optimize memory and correct code errors that can lead to inefficient use of resources. Ignoring updates can cause even a powerful smartphone to run slowly due to unoptimized software.