Why it’s important to know the amount of RAM on a smartphone – and how it affects performance
RAM (RAM) is one of the key components of a smartphone, responsible for application speed and multitasking. On Xiaomi Redmi phones, the amount of RAM can range from 2 GB in budget models to 12 GB in the flagships of the Redmi K series. But how do you know how much memory is installed in your device?
Knowing the exact amount of RAM helps not only when buying a used phone (to avoid cheating), but also when optimizing the system. For example, if you have 4 GB of memory and the background processes take up 3 GB, you should close unnecessary applications or install light versions of the software. In addition, some games (such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile) require a minimum of 6 GB of RAM for comfortable play.
In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to find out how much RAM you can use on Xiaomi Redmi, from standard settings to hidden engineering menus, and why it sometimes shows less memory than the specs say it does, and what to do about it.
Method 1: Using the phone's standard settings
The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools. It works on all Redmi models (from Redmi 4A to Redmi Note 13 Pro+) and does not require the installation of additional applications.
Instructions:
- Open the Settings app (cog icon).
- Go to About Phone (or Device in new MIUI versions).
- Tap on All Features (may be called Full Information or Specifications).
- Find the line RAM (RAM) – here will be the exact amount.
On some firmware, the path may be slightly different. For example, on Redmi 9 with MIUI 12, you need to go to Settings → System → About Phone → Equipment Specifications.
Find the "About the phone" | Check the "All characteristics" | Make sure that the RAM volume is indicated (not to be confused with internal memory) | Compare with the claimed characteristics of the model-->
⚠️ Note: Some custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience) may not have a specification section.
Method 2: Using the Security App
Xiaomi’s proprietary Security app not only protects against viruses, but also provides detailed information about the system, a method that is suitable if standard settings do not show data about RAM.
How to check:
- Open the Security app (shield icon with a tick).
- Go to the Optimization (or Acceleration) tab.
- At the top of the screen you will see a graph of RAM usage indicating the total volume (for example, 6 GB out of 8 GB).
- For details, tap on the schedule - the expanded statistics will open.
The advantage of this is that you can see not only the total amount of memory you're using, but also the current loading of your application memory, and it can help you identify the voracious programs that you want to close or delete.
What to do if the Security app is not available?
Method 3: using third-party applications (CPU-Z, AIDA64, DevCheck)
If the built-in MIUI tools don't give you the information you need, specialized utilities will come to the rescue, showing not only the amount of RAM, but also its type (LPDDR4X, LPDDR5), frequency, and data about the processor and other components.
Top.-3 check-in:
- 📊 CPU-Z — Details of the iron, including Total RAM and usedd RAM. Free, no advertising.
- 🔍 AIDA64 — It's a professional tool with data on every sensor and memory module.
- 🛠️ DevCheck is a user-friendly interface that visualizes the use of RAM in real time.
Example of CPU-Z:
- Install the app from Google Play.
- Open the Device (or Device) tab.
- Find the Total RAM string – this is the total amount of RAM.
CPU-Z|AIDA64|DevCheck|Other|Not using.-->
| Annex | Showing RAM. | Additional data | Advertising |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU-Z | ✅ Yes (exact volume and type) | Processor, GPU, sensors | ❌ No. |
| AIDA64 | ✅ Yes (with module detailing) | Temperature, benchmark | ⚠️ It's in the free version. |
| DevCheck | ✅ Yes (with a schedule of use) | Battery, network, camera | ❌ No. |
⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. AnTuTu Benchmark) may show available memory rather than total storage, because some of the RAM is reserved by Android for the kernel and drivers. CPU-Z or AIDA64.
Method 4: via the Engineering Menu (#4636##)
The Android Hidden Engineering Menu contains advanced system data, including RAM information.This method works on most Xiaomi Redmi smartphones, but requires caution - do not change settings unless you are sure of their purpose!
How to open it:
- Open the Phone app.
- Enter the combination: ##4636### (some models may require ##36446337## for MIUI).
- Select the phone information (or Usage statistics).
- Scroll down to the Memory block, and here will be the Total RAM string.
The engineering menu also shows your current memory usage and running process list, but be careful: changing the settings on this menu can cause your phone to run unstable.
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If ##4636## doesn’t work, try entering it through the Google Phone app (install it from the Play Market if you use a standard Xiaomi call).
Method 5: via ADB (for advanced users)
If you are familiar with Android Debug Bridge (ADB), you can find out the amount of RAM using the command line, this method is suitable for diagnosis or if the phone does not turn on normally (for example, stuck on the logo).
Step-by-step:
- Install ADB on your computer (download Platform Tools from Google).
- Turn on USB Debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times to activate Developer Mode), then go back to Settings → Additional → Developers → Debugging on USB.
- Connect your phone to your PC and type in the command line: adb shell cat /proc/meminfo | grep MemTotal
- The result will be in kilobytes. To translate it into gigabytes, divide it by 1048576.
Example of conclusion:
MemTotal: 6166508 kBThis means that the phone has ~6 GB of RAM installed (6166508 / 1048576 ≈ 5.88).
⚠️ Attention: Use ADB The wrong commands can cause you to reset or damage your data. If you're not sure, you better use other methods.
Why does the phone show less RAM than claimed?
A common situation: you bought Redmi Note 11 with 6 GB of RAM, and the system shows only 5.2 GB. This is not a fraud of the manufacturer, and a feature of Android.
Reasons for discrepancies:
- 📱 Reservation of memory for the system: Android and MIUI They reserve some RAM for the kernel, drivers and background processes, usually 0.5-1 GB.
- 🔄 Video memory: On some models (e.g. Redmi) K50) part of RAM is used as video memory for the graphics processor (GPU).
- 🔧 Firmware: Castom firmware may limit available memory for stability.
To see the real total, use CPU-Z or ADB (method 5). If the difference is greater than 1 GB, this is an excuse to check your phone for viruses or reset your settings.
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The claimed amount of RAM (e.g., 8 GB) is the physical memory on the board. The available amount (e.g., 7.2 GB) is the memory that the user can use after deducting system needs.