How to check memory on Xiaomi phone: RAM, ROM and hidden functions

Xiaomi smartphones are some of the most popular devices on the market, but even they are not immune to memory problems: Slowdowns, sudden reboots or reports of space shortages are often associated with overcrowded storage or RAM malfunctions. In this article, we will discuss all available methods of memory verification on Redmi phones, POCO and Mi - from standard instruments MIUI to professional utilities and teams ADB.

You'll learn how to distinguish hardware from software failures, why space disappears for no apparent reason, and what to do if your phone shows the wrong amount of memory, and we'll focus on hidden diagnostic menus that the manufacturer doesn't advertise, but that contain the most accurate data about the state of memory chips.

Instructions are suitable for all modern models, from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra. Even if you are not a specialist, stepping guides with pictures and videos will help you to understand without the risk of damaging the device.

Standard instruments MIUI: where to look

Let’s start with the simplest – built-in shell functions. MIUI. They provide basic information about storage occupancy and RAM usage, but often miss critical details.

To open the memory data section:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Slip on the item Memory (or Storage in new versions).
3. For detail, click on the Memory of the device graph.

Here you'll see:

• 📊 Total ROM (Internal Memory) and Free Space.
• 🔄 Category distribution: applications, multimedia, cache, system files.
• 📱 Use of RAM (real-time) – available in the Performance section.

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If you see a category of "Other" in the "Memory" section, which is a few gigabytes, it's often system debris. It can be cleaned through Settings. → Memory. → Cleaning or Security Application (Security).

However, this method has serious limitations:

• 🚫 No data on memory chip health (wear and tear, broken sectors).
• 🚫 Does not show hidden system partitions that can occupy up to 10-15 GB.
• 🚫 RAM only appears in real time, with no download history.

For a deep diagnosis, other methods will have to be used.

2. Hidden diagnostic menu: ##4636## and other codes

Android smartphone makers, including Xiaomi, hide engineering menus that provide detailed technical information from users. USSD-code.

The most universal code for checking memory:

##4636##

After you enter, the Test menu will open. Select Battery Information (yes, despite the name, there is data on memory) and scroll down to the Usage block, where it shows:

• 📱 Total RAM — total memory.
• 📉 Available RAM — free-range RAM at the moment.
• 🔄 Used RAM — memory (including cache).

To check the internal storage, use the code:

##6484##

He'll open the menu. MTK Engineer Mode (powers phones with MediaTek chips, such as the Redmi Note 11 or the Redmi Note) POCO M4 Go to the Hardware Testing section. → Storage. You'll see here:

• 💾 eMMC/UFHealth - Memory chip state (good means no problem).
• 📊 Life Time – the approximate resource of the chip in percentage (below 70% is a cause for concern).

⚠️ Warning: Do not change the settings in the engineering menus unless you are sure of their purpose. Incorrect settings can lead to data loss or block the downloader.

3. Applications for deep memory diagnostics

Standard instruments MIUI And hidden menus give you limited information, and for full verification, you'd better use third-party tools. 10 Apps and selected top-3:

How to use DevCheck to check your memory:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open the Hardware section.
3. Scroll to the Storage block - here is the type of memory (UFS 2.2, eMMC 5.1, etc.), total and free volume.
4. In the Memory section, see the data about RAM: type (LPDDR4X), frequency, occupied/free volume.

⚠️ Attention: If in AIDA64 or DevCheck displays less memory than the stated memory (for example, 112 GB instead 128 GB), that's OK -- part of the space is occupied by system partitions. 10-15%, This may indicate a counterfeit memory chip (relevant for devices purchased from non-official vendors).

4. Memory check through ADB: for advanced users

If you want the most accurate memory state data, including hidden system partitions, use the following: ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method requires you to connect your phone to your computer, but it gives you access to information that is not available through standard means.

What you'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-driver.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then return to the additional → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 Cable USB (preferably original).

The main commands for memory check:

adb shell df -h

It will show all the memory sections with the free and occupied space.

• /data – user data (photos, applications).
• /system — system-file.
• /cache — cache.

adb shell cat /proc/meminfo

Details about the memory:

• MemTotal is the total amount of RAM.
• MemFree is a free memory.
• Buffers and Cached are the memory used for caching.

adb shell dumpsys meminfo

It'll show you a detailed report on how all the processes and applications use RAM, useful if the phone is slowing down because of memory leaks.

Install ADB-PC-driver|Enable debugging on USB phone-on|Connect your phone to the original cable|Start the command line on behalf of the administrator|Check the connection with the adb device command

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⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB Do not modify or delete files manually, which may cause the device to fail and need to flash.

5. How to check memory for broken sectors

If the phone spontaneously restarts, apps crash without errors, or files are corrupted when copied, the cause may lie in broken sectors of the memory chip.

Method 1: Storage Test application

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Select Test Storage.
3. Press Start Test and wait until completion (may take time) 10-30 minute).
4. If the results have strings with Bad sectors or Errors, the memory chip is damaged.

Method 2: Computer (for experienced users)

If the phone is defined as a removable disk, you can check the memory utility CHKDSK (Windows or badblocks (Linux:

1. Connect the phone in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Run the command line on behalf of the administrator.
3. Enter the command (replace X: with the letter of your device):

chkdsk X: /f /r

Flag. /f corrects errors, and /r scout.

Method 3: Through TWRP (if a custom Recovery is installed)

If you have installed it on your phone TWRP, Load into it and select Advanced. → File Manager. Try copying a large file (such as firmware) to internal memory. If the process is interrupted with E:Unable to write, this indicates hardware problems with the chip.

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If the tests show broken sectors, the only solution is to replace the memory chip, which is not economically feasible in most cases (the cost of repair is comparable to the cost of a new phone).

6.Why the phone shows the wrong amount of memory

Many Xiaomi users are faced with a situation where the phone shows less memory than stated in the specs, for example, instead of 256 GB available 230 GB. Let's understand why this happens and when it is normal and when it is not.

Reasons for reducing the available volume:

• 🛠️ Fake memory chips: Cheap clones (especially from unofficial sources) may contain chips with smaller real volume. AIDA64 — If the Storage section shows the volume less than the declared by more than 15%, this is cause for concern.

How to Recover the Lost Space:

1. Transfer photos and videos to SD-Map or cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud).
2. Remove the app cache: Settings → Annexes → Select an application → Memory. → Clear the cache.
3. Turn off automatic backup (if you don’t use it).
4. Check the Download folder – often unnecessary files accumulate there.

⚠️ Note: If after all the manipulations, the free space continues to “disappear” for no apparent reason, this may indicate a virus (for example, a miner stealthily downloading files) or a hardware malfunction of the memory controller. In this case, it is recommended to reset the phone to the factory settings or contact the service center.

7 Frequent Memory Checking Errors and How to Avoid Them

When diagnosing memory, users often make mistakes that lead to incorrect conclusions or even data corruption, and let's take a look at the most common ones.

Mistake 1: Using unverified applications

Many of the tools from Google Play (for example, RAM Booster or Memory Cleaner not only doesn't help, it hurts the system:

• 🚫 Forced to close the background processes, which increases battery consumption (the system is forced to restart applications).
• 🚫 They may contain malicious code (especially if downloaded from third-party sources).
• 🚫 Inaccurate data on the state of memory.

✅ Solution: Use only verified applications (DevCheck, AIDA64) or embedded tools.

Mistake 2: Interrupting memory tests

If you run a broken sector test (for example, through badblocks or Storage Test), do not interrupt the process.

• 🔴 Data loss in the audited section.
• 🔴 Damage to the file system (reflashing will be required).

✅ Solution: Run tests when your phone is 100% charged and don't use it while checking.

Mistake 3: Ignoring backup

Before any memory manipulations (cleaning, tests, reset) be sure to do a backup. Often users lose photos, contacts or messages due to:

• 📸 Clearing the cache of the gallery (removed thumbnails, and sometimes original photos).
• 🔄 Resetting to factory settings without saving data.
• 🛠️ Failed memory tests that damage the file system.

✅ Solution: Use Mi Cloud, Google Drive, or local copying on your PC. For contacts, enable sync with your Google Account.

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If you suspect a hardware memory malfunction, don't try to fix it software. Contact a service center - doing it yourself can make the problem worse.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions