How to check memory on the phone Xiaomi Redmi: RAM and ROM

Why it’s important to keep track of memory on Xiaomi Redmi

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are known for their price-performance ratio, but even the most powerful Redmi Note 12 or Redmi 10 models eventually start to slow down. 80% of the time, the problem is not the hardware, but the congested memory. RAM is responsible for multitasking, and embedded (ROM) is responsible for storing files. When they are clogged, the phone lags, applications fly out, and the camera may not open for 5-10 seconds.

The manufacturer puts memory monitoring tools in MIUI, but they are hidden in the depths of the menu. Many users do not even realize that their Redmi 9A with 32 GB of storage has only 2 GB of free space left — the system simply does not show warning until the critical moment. In this article, we will analyze 5 working methods of memory verification (including hidden MIUI functions), learn how to distinguish occupied space from cache and give a checklist for cleaning without losing data.

Xiaomi's feature is that even after deleting the apps, some of the files remain in the /Android/obb or /data folder, which is junk that you don't see in the standard file manager, but eats up gigabytes, and we'll show you how to find it and remove it safely.

Method 1: Integrated MIUI tools (without software)

The fastest method is to use MIUI tools, which work on all Redmi models, from the budget Redmi A1 to the flagship Redmi K60 Pro, and do not require superuser rights. Here's how to check memory in 30 seconds:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to About Phone → Memory (on some firmware path: Settings → Storage).
3. The system will show a diagram with the memory distribution: Busy applications, Media Files, Cash and Other.

Note the "System Data" item, which often hides up to 5-10 GB of unnecessary files (updates, log files, remnants of deleted applications) to clear them:

• 🔍 Click on "Clean" in the upper right corner.
• 🗑️ Select “Unnecessary Files” and confirm deletion.
• ⚙️ For deep cleaning, go to Settings → Annexes → Manage applications and sort them by size.

💡

If you see a “Other” item in the Memory section with a volume of more than 3 GB, it is a signal that it is time to clean the /Android/data folder manually (for this purpose, see Method 3).

The disadvantage of the method: MIUI does not show detailed information about RAM (RAM).

1. Click on the “Recent Apps” button** (square or swipe up).
2. At the bottom of the screen will appear a schedule of RAM use.
3. Slip on it – a list of active processes and their “weight” in megabytes will open.

Method 2: Instructions for engineering menus (hidden data)

For advanced users, there is a way to get a full memory diagnosis through an engineering menu, which works on all Redmis with Qualcomm Snapdragon processors (like the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G) and parts of the models on MediaTek (like the Redmi 10C).

Instructions:

1. Open the phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##
2. Go to the Memory Usage tab - here you can see detailed information about RAM: free, occupied by the system, occupied by applications.

To check the ROM (built-in memory) use another command:

##284##

After entering it, a memory test will open, which will indicate:

• ⚠️ Bad Sectors – Bad Sectors (if more than 0, this is a sign of memory wear).

⚠️ Note: If the phone restarts after you have entered the commands, or if the Connection problem message appears, do not try again. This means that your model does not support this method.

Method 3: Manual folder scanning (for experienced)

Standard MIUI tools often hide the real state of memory. For example, after removing a Genshin Impact game, its 4GB cache may remain in the /Android/obb folder. To find and remove such “garbage”, you will need a file manager with access to system folders (for example, FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer).

Step-by-step:

1. Install FX File Explorer from Google Play and give it access to storage.
2. Enable the display of hidden files: Settings → Show hidden files.
3. Go to the root directory (/) and check the following folders:

Pay special attention to the folder /MIUI/debug_log — This is where error logs can be stored. 300-500 They can be safely removed, but only if the phone is stable (otherwise, logs may be needed for diagnosis).

Backup important files | Check free space before and after cleaning | Do not delete folders called com.xiaomi.*|Reboot phone after cleaning-->

⚠️ Warning: Never delete folders /system, /vendor file-extension.odex/.apk It's going to crash the system and it's going to require a flashing.

Method 4: Third-party applications (for in-depth analysis)

If the built-in MIUI tools seem inadequate, use specialized utilities that will not only show the occupied space, but also analyze which applications are "eating" memory in the background.

• 📊 DiskUsage – visualizes memory as an interactive map (even shows hidden files).
• 🔍 Files by Google – automatically finds duplicates, large files and unnecessary cache.
• 🛠️ SD Maid (requires) ROOT) — Cleans system debris, including remnants of remote applications.
• 📈 AccuBattery – monitors RAM consumption in conjunction with battery charge (useful for Redmi with a weak battery).

Example of working with DiskUsage:

1. Install the application and give access to the storage.
2. Press Scan – in 10-20 seconds a pie chart will appear.
3. Tapping on larger segments (like Android or DCIM) for detail.
4. Remove unnecessary files directly from the application (Delete button).

SD Maid is suitable for users with ROOT-She finds rights:

• Remains of remote applications in /data/app.
• Empty folders and broken symbolic links.
• Google Play Services cache, which can take up to 1GB.

💡

Applications like CCleaner or Clean Master are not recommended for Xiaomi, as they often delete important MIUI files, causing shell failures.

Method 5: Testing through ADB (for technicians)

If you’re familiar with Android Debug Bridge (ADB), you can get as accurate memory data as possible, including partition information that the user can’t see, a method that’s useful for diagnosing “hang” updates or when the phone shows the wrong amount of free space.

Instructions for Windows:

1. Download ADB Tools and unpack it into the C:\adb folder.
2. On your phone, enable USB Debugging: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times to unlock Developer Mode), then Settings → Additional → Developer → Debugging over USB.
3. Connect Redmi to your PC and open the command line in the adb folder. Enter: Adb devices If the device is determined, execute: adb shell df -h

The result will be similar to this one:

Filesystem      Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on




/dev/block/mmcblk0p53  30G   25G  5.0G  83% /data

Here:

• /data – user data (applications, files).
• /system – System files (cannot be changed!)
• /cache – update cache (can be cleaned).

To check the RAM, use the command:

adb shell dumpsys meminfo

It will show detailed statistics on each process, including MIUI background services, which often eat up to 1-1.5 GB of RAM.

⚠️ Note: Adb shell rm commands -rf or adb shell dd can permanently damage data. Don't use it without a clear understanding of the consequences!

How to Free Memory on Xiaomi Redmi (without Data Loss)

Memory check is just the first step. If you find that the Redmi Note 11 of 128 GB is only 10 GB free, it's time to act. Here are 5 safe ways to free up space:

For models with a small ROM (16-32 GB), such as the Redmi 9A or Redmi 8, we recommend:

1. Turn off automatic updates to apps in Google Play.
2. Use lightweight versions of apps (e.g. Facebook Lite instead of regular Facebook).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many Xiaomi Redmi users make the same mistakes when working with memory, which leads to even more problems.

• 🚫 Use cleaners like Clean Master: They delete files MIUI, What stops the themes, wallpaper and even the camera.

If after cleaning the memory the phone still brakes, check:

1. Battery health (in Settings → Battery → Battery condition) A worn-out battery causes the system to artificially limit performance.
2. Processor temperature: Overheating (above 60°C) leads to trottling. Use the CPU Monitor for diagnostics.
3. Background Processes: Some applications (such as AliExpress or TikTok) can take up to 500MB of RAM even when rolled up.

💡

If after all the manipulations of free memory less than 10% of the total volume, consider buying a phone with large storage or using cloud services.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions