Xiaomi Redmi 8 smartphone owners often face a situation where internal storage is overflowing and the lion’s share is occupied by files with the mysterious label “Other” This system storage accumulates temporary data, remnants of deleted applications, error logs and cache that is not always correctly deleted by standard means. Understanding what is hidden in this section is the key to freeing up gigabytes of space.
There are several proven ways to free up memory on a device running on the shell of MIUI. We will consider both safe methods through standard settings, and deeper ways to clean through the computer and special utilities that will help return the gadget performance.
It is important to approach the process systematically so as not to accidentally delete important system files or personal photos. Redmi 8 has a fixed amount of internal memory that is not extended by microSD cards, so competent file management becomes a critical skill for each user.
Analysis of vault occupancy
Before you start taking action, you need to determine exactly what types of data are in the category “Other”. Standard Android tools often do not give detailed information, so you should use a built-in analyzer or third-party tools to visualize the structure of folders, which will allow you to understand whether one particular messenger or system logs are the cause of the garbage.
The MIUI storage system analyzer allows you to see the distribution of data into categories. If you see a partition bloated to unthinkable sizes, such as more than 10-15 GB, it almost always indicates the accumulation of social media cache or tails from remote programs. In some cases, the cause may be suspended system update files.
⚠️ Note: Do not delete files with the.xml or.conf extension from the system folders, even if they seem unnecessary. MIUI or app malfunctions.
For detailed analysis, you can use the Explorer app to enable hidden file displays, which will open up access to service directories where temporary data is often hidden, and visualization helps you understand what is eating up the place and choose the right cleaning strategy without risking losing important information.
Cleaning through standard MIUI settings
The first and safest step is to use the built-in Cleanup tool, which is suitable for regular maintenance and removal of obvious debris. Click on the Security icon and select Cleanup. The system will automatically scan the device for temporary files, ads and residual data.
Inside the cleaning tool, go to Deep Clean. Here, Xiaomi Redmi 8 will offer to delete large files, unused apps and duplicate photos. Pay special attention to the App Cache section, where gigabytes of data from browsers and social networks are often accumulated. After scanning, the system will provide a list of files that can be safely deleted.
☑️ Checklist for quick cleaning
It’s also worth checking your specific app settings. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, select a heavy app (like YouTube or Chrome) and click Memory, which allows you to force the cache to clear, which often frees up a significant amount of space in the Other section, which is effective because it deletes temporary data without affecting your accounts and correspondence.
Removing garbage from messengers
The main memory eaters on modern smartphones are messengers. Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber store all the received media files in the memory of the device, and over time this creates huge archives that the system classifies as “Other”; cleaning this data requires a personalized approach for each application.
In Telegram, cleaning is most effective thanks to the built-in tool. Open the application, go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory Use. Here you can click the button “Clear Telegram cache.” A unique feature is the ability to set autodelete the cache, for example, once a week or a month, which will prevent the partition from re-inflating.
WhatsApp has a slightly different procedure. Inside the app, go to Settings → Data & Storage → Storage Management. You'll see a chat list sorted by volume. When you remove media from specific dialogues, you free up space. It's important to do this regularly, as the videos and photos you've accumulated over the year can take up to 5-10GB.
Hidden folders of messengers
Remember that once the messenger cache is cleared, your correspondence remains intact, only temporarily downloaded media files are deleted, which can be re-uploaded if necessary, and this is a safe way to free up space without losing your communication history.
Using a computer for deep cleaning
Connecting a smartphone to a computer through USB-This cable gives you access to the file system at a deeper level, and it allows you to manually delete folders with logs, remnants of deleted games, and temporary files that are not visible through the phone interface (MTP) plug-in.
First of all, look at folders with names of previously deleted applications, and often developers leave their directories even after uninstallation of the program. MIUI/debug_log, if it exists, because it can store error reports of the system, which take hundreds of megabytes.
| Folder/Directory | Description of the contents | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Android/data | Cash and application data | Clean only the contents of remote applications |
| MIUI/debug_log | System logs for debugging | You can remove the entire content. |
| Tencent/MicroMsg | WeChat Data (if used) | Clean through the application settings |
| Download | Downloads from the browser | Check and remove unnecessary |
When working with files through a computer, be extremely careful. Deleting system files can lead to a device "brickling" or cyclical reboot. If you are not sure about the purpose of the file or folder, you better skip them. Use this method only to clean clearly user debris and program residues.
Resetting settings as a radical method
If none of the above methods helped reduce the volume of the Other partition and it continues to grow or occupy an unrealistically large space, logical errors may have occurred in the file system. In this case, the most effective solution is a complete factory reset, which will return Redmi 8 to the out-of-the-box state.
Before performing this procedure, be sure to back up all important data: contacts, photos, documents and notes. Reset will destroy all information on the device without recovery. Go to Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset → Erase all data.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure the battery level is at least 50% before starting the reset. interruption of the process due to discharge can damage the system partition and the inability to turn on the phone.
After a reset, the Other section usually takes up the minimum amount needed to run the system, a radical solution that often eliminates other software glitches and speeds up the smartphone as a whole.
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A complete reset is the only way to ensure that the Other system partition is cleared of deep-seated file system errors, but it requires a prior data backup.
Prevention of memory overflow
To prevent the problem of overflowing the "Other" section from occurring in the future, it is recommended to adhere to simple rules of operation of the smartphone. Regular cleaning of the cache and monitoring of installed applications will help keep the system clean. Do not allow filling the memory "to be filled up", always leave at least 15-20% free space for correct Android operation.
Use cloud storage for photos and videos. Set up automatic sync with Google Photos or Mi Cloud, allowing you to delete media files from your device as soon as they are stored in the cloud, freeing up gigabytes of space and speeding up the gallery.
It is also worth checking the list of installed applications periodically and removing those that you do not use. Many programs continue to work in the background and generate logs even without active use.
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Make a rule: once a month, review the Downloads folder and delete old APK installation files and documents that are no longer needed.