Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face situations where the device starts to run slower or stops accepting updates due to lack of space. The phrase “how to go to memory” can mean things from simple cleaning of storage to deep analysis of system partitions through an engineering menu or computer. Understanding the structure of the Android file system in the shell of MIUI or HyperOS is critical for competent maintenance of the gadget.
Many users mistakenly believe that removing photos solves all problems, but garbage is often hidden in the cache of applications or system logs. In this article, we will examine all ways to access data from standard conductor to advanced debugging methods, learn how to distinguish user memory from system memory and safely delete excess.
Standard Ways to View Storage
The most obvious and safe way to do this is to use built-in tools. MIUI provides a user-friendly interface to monitor disk occupancy. To access basic information, you need to go to Settings → About Phone → Storage. This shows a general space allocation diagram divided into categories: apps, images, videos, etc.
But the standard analyzer often hides details. For deeper immersion, it's better to use the built-in Explorer app, which allows you to see not only media files, but also folder structure. Unlike third-party solutions, the system explorer has the necessary permissions to display hidden directories that are created by applications.
- 📂 Click on the folder icon in the top corner to go to file system view mode.
- 📊 Use the built-in analyzer to sort files by size.
- 🗑️ Cleanup helps you quickly delete temporary files, but requires manual verification.
It’s important to understand the difference between internal memory and an SD card if it’s supported by your model. The system often offers to transfer photos and music to an external medium, freeing up the high-speed space for the OS to run.
⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from folders with system application names (e.g. com.android.systemui) even if they take up a lot of space.
Regularly checking the storage through standard means is the best way to prevent slowing down your smartphone. Don't wait for a notification of a critical shortage of space to appear.
Working with Android folder and hidden data
In modern versions of Android (starting with version 11), access to the Android root folder is limited by security policies, which are designed to protect application data, but make it difficult to manually clean it. To go in there and see the content, a standard explorer may require special permission or not show the files at all.
To circumvent these restrictions, many users install third-party file managers, such as Total Commander or RS File Manager, requesting access to All Files, allowing you to see the entire structure. Inside the Android/data folder, you store game cache, offline navigator maps, and instant messenger data.
Why is the Android folder hidden?
Cleaning this directory requires caution: Deleting the folder of a particular application will reset it or delete saved progresses in games. However, if the game is deleted and the folder remains, this is a dead load that can be safely eliminated.
- 🎮 Folders with game names often weigh several gigabytes after deleting.
- 💬 Messenger directories (WhatsApp, Telegram) contain media files that can be transferred.
- 🗺️ Cache cards (Yandex, Google Maps) take up a lot of space when used actively.
Use file extension search to find heavy archives or forgotten downloads. Often, deep in the bootloader folders are application installers (.apk) that are no longer needed.
Analysis of the occupied space through the engineering menu
For a more technical analysis of how busy memory is, there is a hidden developer menu that allows you to see the real partition distribution, which is especially useful in diagnosing “not enough space” errors when visual files do not occupy the entire volume.
To get into the debugging menu, you need to activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About the phone and quickly click 7-10 times on the MIUI version field. After that, a new option will appear in the settings menu “Advanced Settings” → “For developers”.
Inside the developer section, find Memory Statistics or use commands through ADB to get a detailed report, which is an input for advanced users who want to understand what process is eating up resources.
There is also a secret code to log into the test menu that runs on many Qualcomm and MediaTek processors. Type ##6484## (or #4636##) on your phone. You can find memory tests on the CIT menu that opens, but beware: changing the settings in this menu can cause the device to reset.
⚠️ Warning: The engineering menu explicitly prohibits the "Wipe data" or "Format partition" feature unless you plan to completely reset your phone.
Using ADB for deep cleaning
The most powerful way to log in to Xiaomi’s memory is to use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) from your computer, a method that gives you rights close to root access, allowing you to remove system debris that is not visible to the average user.
To get started, you need to include USB Debugging in the developer menu. Then connect your smartphone to your PC with a cable. You need to install Platform Tools on your computer. After you connect to the command line, type a check command:
adb devicesYou'll see a debugging confirmation request on your phone, click "Allow." Now you can manage files. The adb shell command immerses you in the device shell. Use real-time memory viewing:
adb shell dumpsys meminfoThis tool shows how much RAM and memory each process takes, and it's an indispensable tool for finding voracious applications that mask their activity.
☑️ Preparation for work with ADB
With ADB, you can remove system applications that you normally can't touch. For example, removing embedded Xiaomi services that you don't use can free up hundreds of megabytes. But remember, only remove the one that you're 100% sure of.
Table: Main sections of Xiaomi memory
Understanding partition structure helps avoid cleaning errors, and here is a table of the main partitions you may encounter in-depth system analysis.
| Section | Description | Can I clean it? |
|---|---|---|
| /system | System files of OS and firmware | No (only through flashing) |
| /data | User data, applications, photos | Yeah (selectively) |
| /cache | Temporary system files | Yes (safely via Recovery) |
| /vendor | Iron drivers and settings | No. |
| /persist | Calibration of sensors and IMEI | Absolutely not. |
As you can see from the table, the /data partition is the main user activity field, and this is where your content is stored. The /persist partition is not allowed to be touched, because damage to it leads to loss of network signal or sensors inoperability.
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System and vendor partitions are protected from writing in normal mode, and they require superuser rights (Root) and an unlocked bootloader to change them.
Cleaning through Recovery Mode
If the phone is loading but the memory is so full that it freezes, you can use Recovery Mode, which is a special boot mode independent of the main system.
Turn off the smartphone completely to enter. Then press the power button and the Volume Up button at the same time. Hold until the Mi logo appears. The menu uses volume buttons and the power button to navigate.
Wipe Cache is available here, and it's secure and only deletes temporary system files without affecting your personal photos or contacts, and it's a great way to go deep into the cleanup levels without losing data.
- 🔄 Wipe Data – Complete reset (removes everything!).
- 🧹 Wipe Cache – Cleaning the cache (safe).
- 🔙 Reboot - Reboot to the system.
Use this method if standard booting is not possible. Once the cache is cleared, the system often starts to work noticeably faster, as erroneous logs and temporary update files are deleted.
⚠️ Warning: In Recovery mode, the touch screen may not work. Use the volume buttons to move up/down and the power button to confirm the choice.