RAM is one of the key parameters of a smartphone that affects its performance. RAM It depends on how many apps can run simultaneously without hanging, how quickly tasks are switched and how smoothly the system works. POCO Often faced with the need to know the exact amount of RAM โ whether it is to check the characteristics before buying a used device, diagnose problems or optimize the operation of the gadget.
In this article, we will analyze all available ways to check RAM on Xiaomi smartphones, including standard system tools, hidden engineering menus and third-party utilities. MIUI (12 to 14) and smartphone models, from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra. You will also learn how to distinguish real RAM from virtual (extension through flash memory), and why sometimes the system shows a lower value than indicated in the specs.
If you have never checked your phoneโs hardware before, donโt worry โ all the methods in this article are safe and do not require root rights. The main thing is to follow the instructions carefully and not confuse RAM (RAM) permanently (ROM), which is responsible for storing files.
1. Check RAM through standard MIUI settings
The easiest and fastest way to find out the amount of RAM is to use built-in tools. MIUI. This method works on all modern Xiaomi smartphones, regardless of the model and firmware version. You do not need to install additional applications or activate hidden features.
Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen or in the app menu). Scroll down and select About Phone. Depending on the version. MIUI The path may be slightly different:
- ๐ฑ MIUI 12/13/14: Settings โ The phone. โ All characteristics
- ๐ฑ Old versions (MIUI 11 and below: Settings โ The phone. โ Background
In the Hardware or Device Characteristics block, find the line "RAM" (or "RAM"). Here you will find the exact volume in gigabytes (e.g. 6GB or 8GB). POCO and Redmi with function RAM Expansion (expansion of RAM due to flash memory) here can display the total volume (for example, 8 GB). + 3 GB. We will talk about this in one of the following sections.
If your phoneโs About section looks different, try an alternative path:
- Open the Settings. โ System and device โ Memory.
- At the top of the screen, RAM information may be displayed next to internal storage data.
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On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or POCO F4) information about RAM is duplicated in the Settings section โ Additionally. โ Version. MIUI. Scroll down to the "Hardware" block".
2. Use the diagnostic menu (#4636###)
Androidโs hidden engineering menu provides detailed information about the hardware of the smartphone, including RAM data, which works on all Xiaomi phones, but can be blocked on some firmware (such as Chinese versions). MIUI domestic market).
To open the diagnostic menu:
- Open the phone (calling) application.
- Enter the combination: ##4636## (as a normal number).
- The screen will display Testing or Phone Information menu.
Depending on the version MIUI The menu interface may differ:
- ๐ง Option 1: Go to the Phone Information tab and find the line "Memory" and it will show the total RAM and the available memory at the moment.
- ๐ง Option 2: On some devices, select Usage statistics and scroll to the Memory block.
Note that this menu shows the current state of RAM, not the maximum capacity. For example, if you have 8 GB of RAM, but the system shows 4.2 GB available, this means that the rest of the memory is occupied by background processes. To see the full volume, look at the Total line. RAM or similar.
What if the #4636### combination doesnโt work?
Third-party applications for RAM verification
If standard methods donโt provide enough information or you want to get advanced memory data (such as RAM type, frequency, busy processes), use specialized utilities. We recommend three proven applications that work on all Xiaomi phones without root rights.
1. CPU-Z (Free of charge, without advertising in the main sections)
- ๐ After installation, open the application and go to the Device tab (Device).
- ๐ The "Memory" block will include Total. RAM โ That's the full amount of RAM.
- ๐ You can see the type of memory here (for example, LPDDR4X or LPDDR5) frequency.
2. AIDA64 (free-to-play)
- ๐ Launch the application and select the System section (System).
- ๐ Flick to the "Memory" block - there will be detailed information, including the amount of RAM, the number of channels and even data about the cache of the processor.
3. DevCheck (convenient interface, minimalist design)
- ๐ On the main screen in the "Memory" block, the total amount of RAM and the current load are displayed.
- ๐ The app also shows how much memory is occupied by the system and user applications.
The advantage of third-party utilities is that they often display the real physical amount of RAM, excluding virtual expansion through flash memory. RAM Expansion, where the system can show the total volume (for example, 8 GB) + 3GB, although only 8GB is physically installed.
All I need is information about the volume? โ CPU-Z DevCheck.
Details about memory type and frequency are required? โ AIDA64
It is important to see busy processes in real time? โ DevCheck or Android Assistant
You want a minimalist interface without unnecessary data? โ DevCheck-->
4.The Difference Between Physical and Virtual RAM on Xiaomi
Many modern Xiaomi smartphones (starting with the Redmi Note 10 and the Redmi Note) POCO X3 Pros support technology RAM Expansion (or Memory Extension) is a feature that allows you to use some of your internal flash memory (ROM) as an additional operational memory (RAM). For example, on a phone with 6 GB of RAM can be activated +2 GB and the system will show a total volume of 8 GB.
But it's important to understand that virtual memory is slower than physical memory because it uses storage (which is not originally designed to handle real-time data).
| Parameter | Physical RAM | Virtual RAM (RAM Expansion) |
|---|---|---|
| Speed of operation | Tall (LPDDR4X/LPDDR5) | Low (using flash memory) UFS) |
| Represented in: | All diagnostic utilities (CPU-Z, AIDA64) | Only in the settings. MIUI (section โOn the telephone") |
| Can I turn it off? | No. | Yeah, in the Memory settings. โ RAM Expansion |
| Impact on productivity | Straight (the more the better) | Minimum (suitable for background tasks) |
To find out if your phone has activated a feature RAM Expansion, follow the following steps:
- Go to Settings. โ Additionally. โ Memory (or Settings) โ The phone. โ Memory).
- Find the "RAM Extension" or "Memory Extension" section.
- If the function is enabled, it will indicate how many gigabytes are added (e.g., the number of gigabytes added, +3GB).
Tip: If you use your phone for games or resource-intensive applications (such as Genshin Impact or Lightroom), itโs best to turn it off. RAM Expansion: Virtual memory can cause slowdowns due to low data exchange speeds. For everyday tasks (social networks, instant messengers), the feature is useful on budget models with 4-6 GB of RAM.
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Physical RAM is always more important than virtual RAM, if the phone specs say "8 GB" + 3 GB", the real amount of RAM is 8 GB, and 3 GB is a reserve of flash memory.
5. RAM verification via ADB (for advanced users)
If you need the most accurate RAM data (for example, for fault diagnosis or performance testing), you can use the tool. ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method requires connecting the phone to a computer and basic command line knowledge, but it gives the most detailed information.
To find out the amount of RAM through ADB:
- Enable Developer Mode on Phone: Go to Settings โ About the phone. Press 7 times on the line Version. MIUI, until you have been notified you have become a developer!.
- Activate USB debugging: Return to Settings โ Additional โ Developer. Turn on the USB debugging switch.
Connect your phone to your computer and open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux).
adb shell cat /proc/meminfo | grep MemTotalIn the answer you will see a line of the form:
MemTotal: 6144000 kBThis means that the total amount of RAM is 6 GB (6144,000 KB). = 6GB).
Additionally, a command can be executed to check current memory usage:
adb shell dumpsys meminfoThis command will output a detailed report on the RAM load, including data on each running process.
Method ADB useful if:
- ๐ You suspect that the phone doesnโt see part of the RAM (for example, only 6 GB is available out of 8 GB).
- ๐ You need to check if the function is working properly. RAM Expansion.
- ๐ You are testing custom firmware and want to make sure that the allocation of resources is correct.
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If the adb shell command does not work, make sure that the computer has drivers for Xiaomi and enabled file transfer mode (MTP) when you connect the phone.
6.Why does the phone show less RAM than the specifications?
Sometimes users notice that the settings or diagnostic utilities display less RAM than the manufacturer claimed. For example, the phone was sold as a model with 8 GB of RAM, and the system shows 7.5 GB or 6 GB. This does not always mean a malfunction โ there are several reasons for this behavior.
System reserves
- ๐ฑ Some RAM is reserved for the Android kernel and drivers, for example, on phones with 6 GB of RAM, the system can โtakeโ up to 1 GB for its needs.
- ๐ฑ On flagship models (Xiaomi 13 Pro, Black Shark 5) the reserve is less โ about 500 MB.
Function RAM Expansion
- ๐ฑ If the RAM extension is activated through flash memory, the system can show the total volume (physical). + virtual memory).
- ๐ฑ To see the real volume, turn off. RAM Expansion in settings or use the application CPU-Z.
Hardware malfunctions
- โ ๏ธ If the phone falls or is repaired, it may damage one of the RAM chips, in which case the system "does not see" part of the memory.
- โ ๏ธ Check your phone with help ADB (Section 5) โ if the MemTotal team shows a value significantly below the stated, this is an excuse to contact the service center.
4. Custom firmware
- ๐ฑ On unofficial versions MIUI or custom builds (e.g. LineageOS) may be incorrectly configured kernel, resulting in the "loss" of part of RAM.
- ๐ฑ The solution is to return the official firmware via Fastboot or Recovery.
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If the difference between the declared and the actual amount of RAM exceeds 10% (for example, 8 GB instead of 6 GB), this is a reason for diagnosis. The normal difference is up to 500-800 MB for system needs.
7. How to increase the amount of RAM on Xiaomi (if it is not enough)?
If your phone is slowing down because of a lack of RAM, there are a few ways to optimize its performance or even artificially increase the amount of RAM, and let's look at all the methods available, from simple to radical.
1. Activate RAM Expansion
- ๐ Go to Settings. โ Memory. โ RAM Expansion.
- ๐ Select the amount of virtual memory (usually available 1-3 GB).
- ๐ Reboot the phone.
This method is suitable for budget models (Redmi). 9A, POCO M3), But donโt expect miracles โ virtual memory is slower than physical memory.
2. Optimize background processes
- ๐ ๏ธ Turn off autoloading of unnecessary apps: Settings โ Annexes โ Auto-start.
- ๐ ๏ธ Use Battery and Performance Mode (in settings) to limit background activity.
- ๐ ๏ธ Install a light firmware (for example, MIUI Lite for weak devices).
3. Install a custom core (requires root)
- ๐ง Some custom cores (e.g. FrancoKernel) allow more efficient management of RAM.
- ๐ง Dangerous method โ if installed incorrectly, the phone may stop turning on.
4. Buy a phone with a large amount of RAM
- ๐ฐ If your model supports a replacement motherboard (for example, POCO F1), You can find a donor board with a large amount of memory.
- ๐ฐ For most modern smartphones Xiaomi RAM soldered into the processor, so upgrade is impossible.