Where to look at memory on Xiaomi: a complete guide to checking built-in and RAM

Did you buy a new Xiaomi smartphone or notice that the old one is running slower? The first thing you need to check is the amount of free memory. MIUI There are several ways to know how much space is occupied by files, cache and applications, and also check RAM (RAM). But not all users know where to look at this data.

In this article, we’ll break down all the official and hidden memory check methods on Xiaomi, including Redmi models, POCO You'll learn how to distinguish internal memory from RAM, where to look at detailed statistics on occupied space and how to clean unnecessary files directly from the system menu. MIUI They don't show the full picture.

1. Memory check through basic Xiaomi settings

The easiest way is to go to the standard settings menu, which works on all Xiaomi smartphones regardless of the MIUI version (10 to 14) and the model (Redmi 4A to Xiaomi 14 Ultra).

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the desktop).
2. Scroll down and select the About Phone section.
3. Slip on the item Warehouse (or Memory in older versions).

Here you'll see:

• 📱 Internal memory – total volume and free space.
• 🔄 The system is occupied – how much space takes up MIUI and pre-installed annexes.
• 📁 Other files – cache, temporary data and garbage.
• 🎵 Multimedia - Photo, Video and Music.

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If there is no detailed breakdown in the Storage section, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Show internal memory.

Please note: in some firmware (for example, MIUI Global), the Warehouse item may be located directly in the main settings menu, rather than inside the About phone.

2 Detailed Memory Analysis in MIUI Storage

MIUI offers a built-in tool for deep space analysis, MIUI Storage, which shows not only the total numbers, but also which applications and files occupy the most space.

How to open it:

1. Go to Settings. → Warehouse.
2. Stick to the internal memory graph.
3. Wait for the scan to be completed (it can take up to 30 seconds).

What you'll see:

• 📊 Diagram of occupied space by category (applications, images, videos, etc.).
• 🗑️ Large files – list of the most “heavy” items (for example, video in the video). 4K or APK).
• 🧹 Cleaning recommendations — MIUI It will tell you that you can safely remove.
• ⚙️ Storage settings – here you can enable automatic cache cleaning.

Important: if you see a category of Other files with a volume of several gigabytes, this often means that the device has accumulated a cache of applications or remnants of remote programs. MIUI Storage.

3. RAM Memory Check (RAM) on Xiaomi

RAM is responsible for multitasking and smartphone speed, and if it's not enough, the device will start to slow down or force applications to close, and you can test your RAM usage on Xiaomi in a number of ways.

Method 1. Through settings:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap the MIUI version several times until the message “You’ve become a developer!” appears.
3. Go back to the main settings menu and find a new section for developers.
4. Scroll down to the Memory block – here will be a graph of RAM usage.

Method 2. Through the menu of recent applications:

• Click on the recent apps button (square at the bottom of the screen).
• In the upper right corner, a graph will appear with the inscription Used X from Y GB – this is the current RAM download.
• Slip on the chart to see detailed statistics for each application.

Once a week |Only when the phone is slowing |Never checked |Using third-party apps-->

⚠️ Attention: if free RAM If you are constantly less than 20% of the total, this may indicate a memory leak in one of the applications, in which case it is recommended to restart the device or check active processes through Settings. → Annexes → All applications → Three points. → Show system-based.

4.Using Xiaomi File Manager

MIUI has a built-in File Manager (or Files by Xiaomi) that allows you not only to view files, but also to analyze the occupied space by folder, which is useful if you need to find specific “heavy” files.

How to use:

1. Open the Files app (the folder icon on the desktop).
2. In the lower menu, select Categories.
3. Slip on the category Big Files or Storage Analysis.

Advantages of this method:

• 🔍 You can sort files by size and date of creation.
• 🗂️ Shows hidden folders (e.g..thumbnails with thumbnails of images).
• 🧹 Allows you to delete unnecessary files without going to other menus.

Check the Download folder for old files|Remove duplicate photos and videos|Clear the app cache in the folder Android/data|See the section "Big Files" (usually) >100 MB)|Check the folder. DCIM screenshots-->

Tip: If you often download files from instant messengers (for example, Telegram or WhatsApp), check the folders of Telegram and WhatsApp. WhatsApp/Media — Gigabytes of unnecessary media files can accumulate there.

5. Third-party applications for memory analysis

If you don't like the built-in MIUI tools, you can use third-party utilities, which often provide more detailed information and additional features, such as one-click garbage cleanup.

Top.-3 apps:

⚠️ Attention: Some applications (e.g, SD Maids require root rights to work properly, without which they will not show all system files, and be careful with optimization features, which sometimes delete the necessary data.

Example of Files by Google:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open it and allow access to the files.
3. Go to the Cleanup tab.
4. Click Free Space – the app will show you what can be removed.

6. Memory check via ADB (for advanced users)

If you want the most accurate memory information, including hidden system partitions, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is suitable for advanced users, since it requires a connection to a computer.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB on your computer (you can download from the official Android website).
2. Turn on USB debugging on your smartphone (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 taps → For developers → USB debugging).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command:

adb shell df -h

This command will display a table with information about all memory parts, including:

• /data – User data and applications.
• /system is the MIUI system files.
• /cache – update cache and temporary files.

To check the RAM, use:

adb shell dumpsys meminfo

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The adb shell df-h command shows real memory usage, including hidden system partitions that are not visible in Xiaomi's standard settings.

⚠️ Attention: misuse ADB Do not delete or modify partitions unless you are sure of your actions.

7.Frequent memory problems on Xiaomi and their solutions

Sometimes users are faced with situations where the memory on Xiaomi behaves incorrectly: shows incorrect data, quickly fills up or “disappears” for no apparent reason.

Problem 1: Memory is full, but files are scarce

Reason: often the blame is app cache or system files that don't show up in the standard manager.

• 🧹 Clear the cache through Settings → Warehouse → Clean up.
• 🔄 Restart the device – sometimes it resets temporary files.
• 🛠️ Use it. SD Maid to search for junk files.

Problem 2: After the MIUI update, memory decreased

The reason: newer versions of firmware may take up more space.

• 📱 Check the size of the section /system through ADB.
• 🗑️ Remove old backups of updates in the folder /cache.
• 🔄 Reset the settings to factory (if the problem is critical).

Problem 3: Memory shows wrong volume

Reason: sometimes it's a MIUI bug, especially after you reset your settings.

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📊 Check the memory through ADB third-party.
• 🛠️ Update the firmware to the latest version.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions