Xiaomi Redmi Note 9: how much memory in the phone and how to use it effectively

Why memory is important for the Redmi Note 9

Choosing a Xiaomi Redmi Note smartphone 9 It often comes down to a tradeoff between price, performance and internal memory. 2020 It's still popular today because of its balanced features and accessibility, but many users are faced with a dilemma: will enough be enough? 32 GB for everyday tasks or is worth overpaying for 64/128 The answer depends not only on your habits, but also on your characteristics. MIUI — Xiaomi’s proprietary shell, which takes up part of the memory out of the box".

In this article, we will discuss:

• 📱 Exact memory for all versions of Redmi Note 9 (including regional versions)
• 🔍 How to check the space and what takes up the most memory
• 💾 Can I expand memory with a microSD card and what nuances are there? MIUI
• ⚖️ Comparison with competitors (Samsung, Realme) in terms of price / memory
• ⚡ Storage optimization: what can be removed without risk to the system

We're going to focus on hidden memory reserves that many people don't consider, like the Redmi Note. 9 s 32 GB is available to the user in all ~22-24 GB after installation MIUI And pre-loaded apps, which is critical if you're planning to install heavy games or shoot videos in the video. 4K.

Redmi Note 9: How much memory is in each

Xiaomi has released Redmi Note 9 in several configurations, which differ not only in memory, but also in the amount of RAM (RAM). Here is a full list of official versions with the actual available space after installing the system:

*Note: Redmi Note 9S/Pro — separate line with another processor (Snapdragon) 720G), It is often confused with the basic model.

Key observations:

• 🔹 The 32GB version uses 5.1 eMMC slow memory, which affects the speed of downloading applications.
• 🔹 128GB models come with faster memory UFS 2.1 – performance difference is noticeable when working with heavy files.
• 🔹 In China, sold modification with 128 GB, but in Europe and Russia it is rare.

⚠️ Note: If you buy Redmi Note 9 from hand, check the real memory through Settings → The phone. → Some vendors are swapping firmware to hide memory wear (especially for 32GB models).

How to check the space and what takes up memory

To find out how much memory is available on your Redmi Note 9, follow the following steps:

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the About Phone section. → Warehouse.
3. Wait for the chart to load (it can take up to 30 seconds).

The system will show the distribution of memory by category:

• 📁 System files (~8-12 GB): MIUI, Android kernel, pre-installed applications.
• 🎵 Multimedia (photo, video, music): usually takes up the most space.
• 📱 Apps: Games and programs (for example, Call of Duty Mobile can weigh in) >2GB).
• 🗑️ Cache and garbage: temporary files that can be cleaned.
• 🔄 Other: downloads, documents, APK-file.

For detailed analysis, use the built-in Cleanup tool:

1. Go to Settings. → Annexes → Cleanup.
2. Press Deep Cleanup. → The system will show large files and unnecessary data.

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If the diagram in the "Storage" section doesn't update, reboot your phone. MIUI Incorrectly displays occupied space after installing updates.

Typical memory eaters on the Redmi Note 9:

• 🎮 Games: Genshin Impact (~4GB), PUBG Mobile (~1.5 GB).
• 📸 Video in the video 4K: 1 minute = ~375 MB (at 30 frames/s).
• 📱 Social media: Facebook/Instagram cache 1-2 GB media files.
• 🔄 Updates MIUI: every update weighs ~1.5-2 GB (installed on top of the old version).

⚠️ Note: If you see the category Reserved by the system in the Warehouse section (3-5 GB, don't try to delete it. These are critical files for recovery. MIUI faulty.

Can I expand my memory with a microSD?

The Redmi Note 9 supports microSD cards up to 512 GB (officially tested with SanDisk Ultra 400 GB).

• 🔄 Hybrid slot: in the phone one tray under 2 nano-SIM + 1 microSD or 1 nano-SIM + 1 microSD, so you can use two at the same time. SIM-Memory card is not allowed.
• 📁 Formatting as an Internal Memory: MIUI It allows you to combine the card with the built-in memory (Adoptable Storage function in Android:
• ⚡ Read/write speed: Choose class cards for full-time work A2 or UHS-I U3 (for example, Samsung EVO Cheap class cards C10 They will be slowed down when they launch applications from them.

How to set up a memory card:

1. Insert microSD into the slot (the phone must be turned off).
2. Turn on the device and wait for notification of the new card.
3. Go to Settings → Storage → SD card.
4. Choose Use as internal memory (to merge) or Portable storage (for normal use).

Format the map in FAT32/exFAT on PC (if) >32 GB)

Check the speed with the application A1 SD Bench

Put the card in the slot SIM2 (if 1 is used SIM)

Configure saving photo/video to the map in the camera settings-->

Advantages and disadvantages of memory expansion:

Comparison with competitors: who offers more memory for the same money

At the time of its release (2020), the Redmi Note 9 was one of the leaders in price/memory ratio in the budget segment, but today (2026) that has changed.

Conclusions from the comparison:

• 💰 Redmi Note 9 remains the cheapest option among competitors with 64 GB.
• ⚡ Samsung Galaxy M31 and POCO M2 Pros use faster memory UFS 2.1, which affects the speed of downloading applications.
• 📱 Just Samsung and Samsung. POCO It offers a separate microSD slot, which allows you to use two different microSD slots. SIM-card and memory card simultaneously.
• 🔄 Realme 6 limits microSD support to 256 GB (vs. 512 GB).

If you are critical of the maximum amount of memory for minimal money, Redmi Note 9 with 64 GB + 512GB microSD will be cheaper than similar configurations of competitors, but if comfort is important (two of them are not the same as the other two). SIM-map + memory, worth considering POCO M2 Pro or Galaxy M31.

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Redmi Note 9 wins in price, but loses in memory speed and usability microSD. If the budget allows, it is better to consider models with a high-end design. UFS 2.1 and a separate card slot.

Memory optimization: what can be removed without harming the system

Even if you have a 32GB version of the Redmi Note 9, you can free up a few gigabytes by following these guidelines. MIUI.

Safe methods of cleaning:

• 🗑️ Application Cash: Go to Settings → Apps, select any app (e.g. YouTube) and click Clear Cache.This will not delete account details, but will free up to 1-2 GB.
• 🎵 Downloads: Download folder often contains unnecessary APK-Files, archives and documents. Check it through Files. → Downloads.
• 📸 Photo/video duplicates: use the Google Photos app (Free space function) or Files by Google to search for duplicates.
• 🔄 Unused applications: MIUI You can disable (but not delete) pre-installed programs, such as Mi Video, Mi Music or GetApps, and you can deactivate in Settings. → Annexes → Application management.

What can not be removed:

• 🚫 Folders. MIUI, Android or System in the Root Directory.
• 🚫 Files with the.odex or.vdex extension are components of system applications.
• 🚫 Google Play Services Cache, or Push Notifications Will Stop Working.

For advanced users:

If you’re actively shooting videos or installing a lot of games, consider moving some of your data to cloud storage:

• 🌥️ Google Photos: Freely stores photos in compressed quality (up to 15 GB per account).
• 🌥️ Mi Cloud: 5 GB free for Xiaomi users (synchronizes contacts, notes, photos).
• 🌥️ Yandex Drive: 10GB free of charge when registering (convenient for backups).

⚠️ Note: When using cloud services, turn off automatic downloading of media files in mobile data. For example, in Google Photos, go to Settings → Mobile traffic and select Wi-Fi only, otherwise you risk spending gigabytes of traffic.

Frequent memory problems on the Redmi Note 9 and their solutions

Redmi Note 9 users often experience memory-related errors, and here are the most common problems and ways to solve them:

1. Message "Not enough memory", although the place is

Reason: MIUI It reserves some of the memory for updates and cache:

• Restart your phone – sometimes the system miscalculates the free space.
• Clear the cache through Settings → Warehouse → Clean up.
• If the problem recurs, check the Download folder for large files (e.g., undeleted files). APK).

2. The memory card is not determined

Causes and solutions:

• 🔹 The map is formatted in NTFS (MIUI supports FAT32/exFAT). Reformat it on the PC.
• 🔹 Slot contacts are dirty. Gently wipe them with an alcohol napkin.
• 🔹 The map is damaged. Check it on another device.

3. Applications are not installed on a memory card

If you have configured microSD as internal memory, but the applications are still installed in the built-in storage:

1. Go to Settings. → Annexes → Established.
2. Select the application and click Move to SD-The card (not all programs support this function).
3. If the option is inactive, check that the card is formatted as internal (Settings) → Warehouse → Map. SD → Settings → Formatting as an internal).

4. slow operation when using microSD

If the phone is slowing down after transferring applications to the card:

• 🔹 Use the class map A2 or UHS-I U3 (For example, SanDisk Extreme).
• 🔹 Do not carry system applications (for example, Google Play Store) to the map).
• 🔹 Turn off automatic updates of applications installed on SD.

5 Memory ends quickly for no apparent reason

The fault is the hidden files and the cache.

1. Install Files by Google and start storage analysis.
2. Check the folders: Android/data — cache of games and applications. DCIM/.thumbnails — photo/video miniatures. MIUI/backup — backup MIUI.

Settings → Applications → Google Play Services → Storage → Clear cache

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If the memory is still running out quickly after cleaning, check the phone for viruses (for example, through Malwarebytes). Android/obb.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions about Redmi Note Memory 9