Where to see memory on Xiaomi phone: a complete guide with pictures and secret chips

Have you bought a new Xiaomi or noticed that the old smartphone started to slow down and the applications crashed with the error "Not enough memory"? The first thing to do is check the free space on the internal drive and memory card (if installed). But where exactly to look at this data in MIUI? Spoiler: more ways than you think!

In this article, we will analyze all possible methods - from the obvious (via phone settings) to the hidden (using the engineering menu and the scalables). ADB-You will learn how the memory display on the Redmi Note 12 and POCO X5 Pro, why the system can show less space than the manufacturer claimed, and how to clear the cache without losing data. SIM-This card will help you not lose memory when installing a second SIM card.

1. Standard method: Memory verification via MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools. It is suitable for all Xiaomi models, including the Redmi 10C, POCO F4 and even the outdated Mi A2 on pure Android.

Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen) and do the following:

1. Scroll down and select About Phone.
2. Slip on the Warehouse (on some firmware this item may be called Memory).
3. Wait for the data load - the system will scan the internal drive and SD-map (if inserted).

The screen will show:

• 📊 Total memory (for example, 128 GB or 256 GB)
• 🟢 Free space (in green)
• 🔴 Occupied place (red or orange)
• 📁 Category distribution (applications, photos, videos, system files, etc.)

💡

If you have Xiaomi with MIUI 14+ firmware, swipe down the memory schedule and a detailed analysis with cleaning recommendations will open.

Note that some models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro+) have a Clean button on this menu that deletes cache and temporary files without risking personal data. But don’t overdo it: frequent cache cleaning can slow down applications as they have to re-upload data.

Quick access via notification panel (MIUI 12 and later)

You want to go through the settings? The latest versions of MIUI have added a handy shortcut. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar, and then:

1. Put the badge on. ⚙️ Settings (or swipe two fingers down for full panel disclosure).
2. Find the Warehouse widget (usually it displays the percentage of memory occupancy).
3. Tap the widget – the same menu will open as in the first method.

This method works on Xiaomi 13T, POCO F5 and other modern models, and if the widget is missing, you can add it.

• 🔧 Click the empty space on the notification panel → Edit.
• 🔍 Find the Warehouse in the list and drag it to the active area.

3. Memory verification via file manager (including hidden files)

Xiaomi's embedded Files (or File Manager) not only shows the occupied space, but also allows you to analyze folders by size. This is useful if you want to find memory eaters.

1. Open the Files app (the folder icon on the home screen).
2. In the lower menu, select Device (for internal memory) or SD-card (if any).
3. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner → Storage analysis.

The system will plot and show:

• 📂 Large files (video, archives, disk images)
• 🗑️ Garbage files (remains of remote applications, temporary data)
• 🔍 Duplicates (same photo or document)

An important nuance: if you connect your phone to your PC via USB, the Windows file manager can show different numbers than MIUI. This is normal – the system reserves some of the memory for its needs (for example, for updates), the difference is usually 5-10 GB.

4. Hidden methods: engineering menu and ADB-team

If standard methods don't show the full picture (for example, you suspect that memory is leaking due to a virus or system error), you can use advanced tools. Careful: these methods require accuracy!

Method 1: Engineering menu (for experienced users)

Dial in the phone application the code:

##4636##

Go to the Storage Information tab, and you'll see the technical details of the /data partition (where user files are stored) and /system partition (system files). Don't change anything in this menu, it could crash!

Method 2: ADB-teams (for developers)

If you have a PC and the Developer Mode on your phone is enabled, connect the device via USB and execute in the command line:

adb shell df -h

The command will display a table with the memory partitions and their fullness.

Filesystem      Size  Used  Avail Use% Mounted on




/dev/block/mmcblk0p53




115G   45G   70G  39% /data

Enable the developer mode (7 taps by build number in "About phone")

Activate debugging over USB in the developer settings

Install Xiaomi drivers on PC

Download the ADB platform from Google’s official website

Connect the phone to the original USB-cable-->

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB It can violate the warranty if you change the system files. df is enough for a normal memory check. -h — It's safe.

5. Features of memory check on different Xiaomi models

Not all Xiaomi smartphones are the same. Here are the key differences to consider:

On Xiaomi with virtual memory support (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro), a portion of the internal drive can be backed up for RAM. To see the real volume, disable this feature in Settings → Additional → Expansion of memory.

💡

On POCO and Black Shark, the memory menu may differ from the standard MIUI. If you don't find the right item, try searching by settings (the magnifying glass icon at the top).

6.Why is Xiaomi showing less memory than claimed?

Did you buy the Xiaomi 12T Pro with 256GB of storage and the system only shows 230GB? That's not a hoax! Here are 4 reasons for this discrepancy:

1. Binary vs decimal count: Manufacturers count 1GB = 1,000,000 bytes and Android 1,073,741,824 bytes (1024³). Difference ~7%.
2. System section: MIUI reserves 3-10 GB for firmware, recovery and updates.
3. Even after the reset, Google and Xiaomi services (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Community) remain.
4. File system: F2FS or ext4 takes up ~1–2 GB of service data.

⚠️ Note: If the difference between claimed and real memory exceeds 15-20 GB, this may indicate that the memory is not real:

• 🛠️ Fake device (especially if you bought it with your hands).
• 🐛 Virus that creates hidden files (check with antivirus, for example, Dr.Web).
• 🔄 Formatting error (relevant after firmware).

To verify the authenticity of the memory, use the AIDA64 app (Storeroom → NAND Flash section) to show the actual size of the memory chip.

7.How to free up memory on Xiaomi without losing data?

If less than 10 percent of the room is left, the phone will start to brake. Here are safe ways to clean it (from simple to complex):

• 🧹 Cache removal: Settings → Warehouse → Clear cache (does not delete personal files).
• 📸 Photo Optimization: In Google Gallery, enable Save Space – Original content will be stored in the cloud.
• 🎵 Compression of Music: In Mi Music, Choose Low Quality for Offline Tracks.
• 📦 Transfer to SD-Map: In Settings → Applications select the program → Warehouse → Change (not working for all applications).
• ☁️ Cloud Services: Upload files to Mi Cloud or Google Drive, and then delete local copies.

🔥 Emergency method: If the phone says "Memory is full" but you haven't saved anything, check the folders:

• /DCIM/.thumbnails – photo miniatures (can be removed)
• /Android/data – cache of games (for example, Genshin Impact can take up to 10+ GB).
• /Download – downloads from the browser (often there are unnecessary APKs).

💡

Xiaomi with MIUI 13+ has a Deep Clean feature in the storage menu, which removes not only the cache, but also the residual files of deleted applications. Use it once a month.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory on Xiaomi