How to check the memory status on your Xiaomi phone: a complete guide with instructions

Smartphone memory is like a closet in an apartment, over time it gets clogged with unnecessary things and useful items lost in the chaos of files. On Xiaomi phones with a MIUI shell, checking the memory status can provide valuable information: from free space to junk files that slow down the system. But how to properly diagnose memory without deleting important data? And what tools did the developers provide?

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways to check memory on Xiaomi, from standard MIUI features to professional utilities that will show hidden problems, learn how to distinguish the cache of applications from system debris, why internal memory melts by itself, and what to do if the phone shows incorrect data about free space, and at the end - a checklist for quick optimization and answers to frequent questions.

1. Built-in tools MIUI: flash-check

The MIUI shell offers several ways to monitor memory right out of the box, which does not require additional applications and is suitable for most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models (from Mi 8 to Xiaomi 14).

The easiest way is through the "Storage" menu.

1. Open the settings (cog icon).
2. Go to About Phone → Storage (or Memory in older versions of MIUI).
3. Wait for the data to load – the system scans internal and external memory (if you have a microSD card).

Here you'll see:

• 📊 Diagram of occupied space by categories: applications, multimedia, documents, cache.
• 🔍 Cleaning recommendations — MIUI automatically finds unnecessary files (for example, duplicate photos or outdated cache).
• ⚙️ Clean button – removes garbage with one tap (but be careful – sometimes erases useful data from the Downloads folder).

Note the Other section in the diagram, which is more than 5 to 10 GB, and it's a signal of system debris accumulation (logs, temporary files, remnants of deleted applications), and then deep cleaning will help, which we'll talk about in the Safe Mode section.

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If the storage menu does not display a memory card, reboot your phone – sometimes MIUI does not recognize the microSD without reconnecting.

2. Detailed analysis through "Security App"

The Security app (or Global Firmware Security) is Xiaomi's Swiss diagnostic knife, which not only tests memory, but also finds viruses, optimizes autoboots, and shows hidden processes.

1. Launch the Security app (shield icon).
2. Click on Cleaner (or Cleaner).
3. Choose Deep Clean and wait for the scan.

Unlike the standard Warehouse menu, here you will receive a detailed report:

• 🗑️ Garbage files: residues after uninstallation of applications, empty folders, outdated APK.
• 📁 Large files: video >500MB, unused archives, heavy documents.
• 🔄 Duplicates: Repeated photos, music or contacts (relevant after transferring data from another phone).

Important: The Security App sometimes flags as “junk” files from the Android/data folder that may belong to games or instant messengers. Before cleaning, check the list manually — especially if you use Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile or Telegram with local cache.

Memory check through the engineering menu (for advanced)

If standard methods don't give you a complete picture, you can check the Engineering Mode, which is hidden from ordinary users, but allows you to check the state of flash memory at the controller level.

To open the engineering menu:

1. Type the code on your phone keyboard: ##4636##
2. In the menu that opens, select Testing.
3. Go to the Storage section.

Here you will see the technical data:

If the Health Status is bad or critical, it means that the flash memory is physically worn out.

• 🛠️ Make an urgent backup of the data.
• 📉 Avoid recording large files (video) 4K, game).
• 🔧 Contact the service center – you may need to replace the memory chip.

4. Third-party applications for deep diagnostics

The built-in MIUI tools don't always show the full picture, for example, they don't show memory fragmentation (spraying files into different sectors, which slows down) or wear on NAND cells.

Top.-3 tested applications:

• 📱 AIDA64: displays (UFS/eMMC), Read/write speed, chip temperature. Free version is limited in functionality.

Example of the report from AIDA64 for Xiaomi 11T Pro:

Storage:




- Type: UFS 3.1 (Samsung KLUFG8RHDA-B2D1)




- Total: 256 GB




- Free: 89.2 GB (35%)




- Read: 712 MB/s




- Write: 480 MB/s




- Health: 92% (good)

If you look at Health, if it's below 80 percent, it's a sign of memory degradation -- especially for phones over 3 years old.

⚠️ Note: Do not use your phone as an external drive (via the phone) OTG) Frequent overwriting speeds up wear and tear of cells. NAND.

Close all background applications

Connect your phone to charge (scanning consumes battery)

Create a backup copy of important data

Provide access to storage for the selected utility-->

5. Memory check in Safe Mode (Safe Mode)

If the phone is slowing down and the memory is melting by itself, the problem may be in the background or viruses. To rule out the impact of third-party applications, run diagnostics in Safe Mode.

How to activate Safe Mode on Xiaomi:

1. Press the power button before the turn off menu appears.
2. Press and hold the item "Switch off (or turn off power)."
3. Confirm the transition to Safe Mode (the phone will reboot).

In safe mode:

• 🔎 Check the free space through Settings → Storage. If it's increased, it's one of the user applications that's to blame.
• 📉 Run the Security App and do a deep cleanup. In Safe Mode, it works more efficiently.
• 🛠️ Remove suspicious programs (if memory is free, the problem is solved).

To exit Safe Mode, just restart your phone. If you get your memory eaten back after you return to normal, it could be:

• 🦠 Virus or spyware (check out Malwarebytes).
• 🤖 System process failure (e.g., mediaserver creates gigabytes of logs).
• 📱 Hardware malfunction of the memory controller (requires diagnosis in the service).

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Safe Mode is the only way to identify “invisible memory eaters” who masquerade as system processes.

Hardware diagnostics: when software methods do not help

If all of the above methods did not reveal problems, but the phone still behaves strangely (for example, shows the wrong free space or freezes when writing files), the reason may be a hardware malfunction:

• 💾 Wear of flash memory: modern chips UFS They're designed to take 300 to 500 rewrite cycles, and then the speed drops, and the cells start to fall off".
• 🔌 Controller problems: responsible for distributing data to cells, and when the phone crashes, it may not see part of the memory.
• 🔋 Overheating: If the memory chip temperature exceeds 70°C, this leads to recording errors.

How to check the hardware status:

1. PC test: Connect your phone to your computer and run CrystalDiskMark or H2testw. These programs will check the speed and integrity of memory.
2. Contact vertebrae: If the phone falls or gets wet, check the microSD connector (if any) for oxidation.
3. Diagnostics in the service: to check soldered contacts of memory will require disassembly of the device.

Signs of hardware problems:

⚠️ Note: If the phone is warranty, do not open it yourself! in Xiaomi hardware diagnostics of memory is carried out free of charge as part of warranty service (provided there is no mechanical damage).

7.Memory optimization: how to prevent problems

Memory checks are only half the battle, so to avoid repeated failures, follow simple rules:

What to do regularly:

• 🗓️ Once a month, clean the cache through Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Clear the cache.
• 📂 Transfer heavy files (video, games) to a microSD card (if supported).
• 🔄 Use cloud services (Google Photos, Mi Cloud) to automatically sync photos.

What to avoid:

• ❌ Do not fill the memory "to the end" - always leave 10-15% of free space for the system to work.
• ❌ Do not install applications from unverified sources – they may contain hidden miners or viruses that devour memory.
• ❌ Do not remove the microSD card while writing data – this causes file system damage.

For models with UFS 2.1 and below (e.g. Redmi Note 9, Mi 9T), it is especially important to avoid fragmentation.

1. Move files manually (for example, all photos in one folder, music in another).
2. Use applications like SD Maid to defragment (root required).

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On phones with UFS 3.0/3.1 (e.g. Xiaomi 12/13/14), fragmentation is less critical thanks to Host Performance Booster (HPB) technology.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi memory