How to find out the amount of memory in the Xiaomi phone: all the ways from settings to ADB

Why it’s important to know the real memory of Xiaomi

You bought a Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 with 128GB of storage, but after the first turn on, the system only shows 112GB? That's not a trick of the manufacturer - this is how any smartphone works. Part of the memory is taken up by MIUI firmware, preinstalled applications and system files. But how exactly do you know how much memory is available right now - after updates, installed games and accumulated caches?

In this article, you will find 5 proven ways to check memory on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO — from standard settings to hidden commands for power users. We will also discuss why the performance may differ from the stated characteristics, and what to do if the memory “disappears” for no apparent reason.

🔹 Important: if you plan to buy a used Xiaomi, memory check is a must. Unscrupulous sellers may hide drive defects (such as “broken” sectors) that lead to sudden failures.

Method 1: Using standard MIUI settings

The fastest and safest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools.It is suitable for all models, including the Xiaomi 13T, Redmi A2 and POCO X5 Pro, regardless of the firmware version.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to About Phone (in older versions of MIUI - About Device).
3. Select the item "Storage" or "Memory".
4. Wait for the data count (it can take up to 30 seconds).

The screen will show:

• 📱 Total memory (e.g. 128 GB).
• 🔳 Occupied space (disaggregated by category: applications, photos, systems).
• 📉 Free space (current at the time of inspection).

💡

If the Storage section displays "Counting..." for longer than a minute, restart your phone. This may indicate file system errors.

⚠️ Note: in some firmware (for example, MIUI Global for European market) Warehouse can be located directly in the main settings menu, not in the About section. If you do not find it, search by settings (lamp in the upper right corner).

Method 2: Using the Security App

The Security app not only protects against viruses, it also provides detailed information about memory, which is useful if you want detailed statistics on occupied space.

How to check:

1. Open the Security app (shield icon).
2. Click on the Optimization or Acceleration icon (depending on version).
3. Select the Warehouse tab (may be called Memory).
4. Wait for the analysis (usually takes 10-20 seconds).

Advantages of this method:

• 🔍 Shows large files (more than 50 MB) that can be deleted.
• 🗑️ Allocates garbage files (cache, temporary data).
• 📊 Gives a schedule of memory usage for the last 7 days.

📌 Tip: If you see unused memory (usually gray) in the Security section, it's not a mistake. MIUI Marks reserved space for system updates and temporary files, and cannot be used or cleaned.

Method 3: Through the Engineering Menu (for advanced)

The Engineering Mode is hidden from ordinary users, but allows you to get accurate memory data, including information about the state of the drive (are there broken sectors), a method suitable for Xiaomi on Qualcomm processors (for example, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in Xiaomi 13 Ultra).

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the combination: ##4636###.
3. In the menu that opens, select Testing (or Testing).
4. Go to the Storage tab.

Here you'll see:

• 📌 Internal Storage – Total internal memory.
• 🔄 Available – Free space (may be different from the MIUI 1-3 GB).
• ⚠️ Bad Sectors – Number of sectors damaged (if the value is > 0, the drive requires replacement).

⚠️ Note: Do not change other options in the engineering menu unless you are sure of their purpose. For example, accidentally changing the Band Mode settings in the Telephony section can lead to loss of network.

Method 4: Through ADB (for technical professionals)

If you want the most accurate data, or you suspect that the seller has hidden the real amount of memory (for example, in the used Redmi Note 10 Pro), use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires a computer and minimal knowledge of the command line.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install Google’s Platform Tools.
2. Turn on USB Debugging on your phone (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then go back to Additional Settings → For Developers).
3. Connect the phone to the PC and type in the command line:

adb shell df -h

The result will be similar to this one:

🔹 What do columns mean:

• /data is the main partition with user data.
• /storage/emulated/0 is the virtual disk you see in the conductor.
• If /data is smaller than the stated size (e.g. 64GB instead of 128GB), this may indicate a drive swap or memory partition (e.g., in models with a hybrid slot under SIM + microSD).

Install Platform Tools on PC| Enable USB debugging on your phone | Connect your phone with the original cable | Run the command line on behalf of the administrator-->

⚠️ Note: if you see a device unauthorized error when executing the adb shell command, the phone has not confirmed the debugging request. Unlock the screen and allow the connection in the window that appears.

Method 5: Through Third Party Applications

If you need to visualize memory usage or analyze by category (for example, how much space is occupied by messengers), use third-party utilities. We tested the 3 best applications for Xiaomi:

📌 Advice: If you use ES Conductor, do not delete folders with names:

• Android is the system data of applications.
• MIUI is a firmware file.
• DCIM/.thumbnails – photo miniatures (remove only if you need to make room).

⚠️ Note: Some applications (such as Clean Master) may show incorrect memory data to convince you to clean up.

Why Xiaomi’s memory is “disappearing” on its own

You deleted all the files you didn't want, and the space is still getting smaller, and here are 5 hidden reasons why it happens:

1. Updates MIUI. Each major update (e.g., with a MIUI 13 on MIUI 14) can take up to 3-5 GB. These files are not always deleted after installation.
2. Google Play Services Cache: Google services (especially on global firmware) can accumulate up to 1-2 GB of cache in the background.
3. Logs and dumps. When it crashes, the system creates reports files. /data/tombstones). They can weigh hundreds of megabytes.
4. Backups: Xiaomi Cloud and Google Drive sometimes store local copies of data (such as photos in the original resolution).
5. Viruses or malware: Some Trojans disguise themselves as system files and “hide” data in secure folders.

💡

If memory is declining for no apparent reason, check the /data/log folder through ADB or Root Explorer. Files with the.log extension older than 30 days can be safely deleted.

🔹 How to find and remove hidden garbage:

1. Open Settings → Memory → Cleaning.
2. Press Deep Clean (in some versions – Additional).
3. Select Cash Apps and Downloads.
4. Delete files older than 3 months.

Frequent questions about Xiaomi memory