Owners of the popular budget smartphone often face the need to control the occupancy of internal storage, as this directly affects the performance of the system. Xiaomi Redmi 8 is equipped with 32 or 64 gigabytes of internal memory, which in modern conditions requires competent file management. Understanding how exactly space is distributed and which applications occupy the most space is the key to stable operation of the gadget.
Many users mistakenly assume that the amount of available memory is equal to the manufacturer's stated amount, but system files occupy a significant part of the disk immediately after purchase. To avoid sudden reports of space shortages and interface brakes, you need to regularly monitor the state of the drive. In this article, we will discuss in detail all ways to check RAM and ROM, and also consider the hidden diagnostic functions.
Checking through the standard settings menu
The easiest and most reliable way to know the exact amount of free and occupied memory is to use the built-in interface of the Android operating system with the MIUI shell. This method does not require installing third-party software and provides the most reliable data on the allocation of resources. First, you need to unlock the screen and find the Settings icon, which usually looks like a gear.
Once you log in, scroll down to the About Phone section, which contains basic technical information about your device, including the processor model, Android version, and storage data. Click on Storage (or Memory depending on the firmware version) to see a detailed diagram.
On the screen that opens, you'll see a visualization of the occupied space, divided into categories: applications, images, video, audio, etc. System data often takes the lion's share, and this is normal for the stable work of Redmi 8. However, if the category "Other" has grown to a giant size, this can signal the accumulation of cache or residual files of remote programs.
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Periodically check the "Other" section in the repository - there are often forgotten downloaded files from messengers that can be safely deleted.
Note that the interface may vary slightly depending on which version of MIUI is installed on your device. In newer updates, statistics can be presented in the form of convenient graphs that allow you to move with a single touch to clean specific types of files. Regular monitoring through this section helps keep the device in good shape.
Use of the Application Security
Every Xiaomi smartphone has a Security system app preinstalled, which is not only an antivirus, but also a powerful memory management tool, and by running this shortcut, you'll be taken to the device control center, where you'll immediately see the current status of RAM and ROM, one of the quickest ways to assess the situation without going into complex menus.
For a detailed analysis, click on the Cleanup button in the app's main menu. The system automatically scans the internal storage and prompts you to delete unnecessary files, app cache and advertising debris. The cleaning algorithms in MIUI are quite aggressive and find what the user may miss in a manual search.
โ ๏ธ Note: When using Deep Cleanup, carefully look at what the system suggests to remove. Sometimes important documents or saved files from work chats that are better saved are included in the list.
In addition, the Security app has a section called Accelerate, which shows the load on RAM. By closing the background processes through this interface, you free up resources for running a game or a heavy application. This is especially true for Redmi 8, which has a limited amount of RAM of 3 or 4 gigabytes.
โ๏ธ Monthly memory check
Analysis through File Manager
If standard settings only give a general picture, the built-in File Manager allows you to look into the folder structure and see what exactly occupies space. Open the Explorer or Files app on your desktop. Here, the information is presented as categories: pictures, music, documents, downloads and APK installation packages.
Special attention should be paid to the Download folder, where files from browsers and instant messengers often accumulate. Navigating internal memory allows you to manually delete large video files or archives that you have not used for a long time. Unlike automatic cleaning, the manual method gives you complete control over the data that you delete.
At the top of the conductor screen, you usually see a storage occupancy bar, and you click on that, you can go to sorting files by size, and that helps you quickly find the heavyweights that have quietly eaten gigabytes of space, and the trashcan files in the gallery or in the mail client are also often found here.
| Type of data | Where it takes place | Can I remove it? | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash app. | Internal memory. | Yes, it's safe. | Accelerates work after cleaning |
| Files.apk | Download folder | Yes, if it's installed. | Doesn't affect work. |
| System Logs | Hidden folders | Carefully. | It may be necessary to diagnose |
| WhatsApp Media | Media folder | Selectively | Frees up a lot of space. |
Using a file search, you can find duplicate documents or old backups that you forgot to delete. - Xiaomi Redmi 8 It allows you to work comfortably with the file system thanks to the user-friendly interface of the conductor. DCIM/.thumbnails, where miniatures of photos are stored, sometimes occupying hundreds of megabytes.
Engineering menus and hidden tests
For more advanced users who want to access technical information, there is an engineering menu. To get there, open the Phone app and type ##6484##. This will open the CIT (Customer Integration Test) menu for hardware component diagnostics.
You can check the functionality of different modules in this menu, but the memory information here is presented in a technical format. Select Version or Storage to see raw data on the types of drives and their status. This is useful if you suspect a flash memory malfunction or want to know the manufacturer of the chip.
The risks of the engineering menu
There's also code ##4636##, which opens the test menu, and you go to Statistics, and you can see how memory is used by running processes in real time, which helps you identify parasitic applications that are consuming resources even in the background without showing up in the standard running list.
Using hidden codes is a powerful tool, but it requires caution. The technical data displayed here may not be clear to the average user, but is extremely useful in diagnosing performance problems. If the phone is behaving strangely, checking those logs can give a clue about the cause of the crash.
Third-party monitoring applications
When built-in tools are not enough, Google Play apps come to the rescue. Programs like CPU-Z, AIDA64 or SD Maid provide comprehensive information about the configuration of the Xiaomi Redmi 8. They show not only the volume, but also the type of memory (eMMC or UFS), read/write speed and wear of the drive.
The CPU-Z app in the Device tab will show the total amount of RAM and ROM, as well as how many of them are available to the user, which allows you to check the data against the declared characteristics and make sure that you are not a victim of a re-interrupted device with swapped parameters, the accuracy of data in such utilities is usually higher than in system reports.
- ๐ฑ CPU-Z โ Shows detailed information about the processor and memory, including frequencies and load.
- ๐งน SD Maid is a professional tool for residual files and disk space analysis.
- ๐ AIDA64 โ Provides a complete report on all components of the smartphone, including temperature and voltage.
- ๐ Files by Google โ a smart file manager with storage cleaning and analysis features.
Installing third-party software gives you more flexible tools to manage files, such as graphing the time of change or finding files that haven't been opened for more than a year, and with the limited Redmi 8, this becomes critical.
Expanding memory with an SD card
Xiaomi Redmi 8 supports microSD cards up to 256 GB (officially) and even more in practice, which solves the problem of lack of space for photos, videos and music, allowing you to free up internal memory for the system and applications. SIM-slot, so you will have to choose between two SIM cards or SIM and memory card.
Once the card is installed, the system will suggest using it as Portable Storage or Internal Storage, the former being preferred because it makes it easy to transfer the card to other devices without losing data, the latter encrypting the card for a particular phone, rendering it useless without it in case of a breakdown.
โ ๏ธ Note: Working with a memory card in internal storage mode requires a very high write speed (class) U3 or V30). Cheap cards can slow down your entire phone.
You can set up the default save path for the camera and downloads in the appropriate settings of the application. By transferring media files to an external map, you significantly offload the system partition, and the interface speed can increase, since the internal memory will not be crowded.
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Using a quality microSD card is the most effective way to increase the usable storage capacity on Redmi 8 without losing data.