Cache Clearing on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: a complete guide with photos and videos

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 gets slowed down over time, even if you haven't installed new apps? Most of the time, it's cache-clogged, temporary files that the system and programs accumulate to make things faster. But when the cache grows to gigabytes, it backfires: the phone warms up, apps fly out, and only a few hundred megabytes of free memory.

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of cleaning cache on the Redmi Note 8 (including the Note 8 Pro and Note models). 8T), labor-powered MIUI 12, 13 and 14. you will learn how to delete unnecessary files through the standard settings, Recovery mode, ADB-And at the end, you get answers to frequent questions and warnings about possible errors.

Why Xiaomi Cache Should Be Cleaned Regularly

Cache is a buffer memory that stores temporary data: thumbnails of photos, a cache of maps in Google Maps, loaded elements of web pages in the browser, a cache of games and instant messengers. In theory, this should speed up the work, but in practice:

• 📱 The Dalvik-cache takes up to 1-2 GB and is rarely cleared automatically. MIUI It can "swell" up to 3 GB.
• 🎮 Cash games, for example, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact reaches 5-10 GB even after the game is deleted, the remaining files are often left behind.
• 🌐 Browser cache (Chrome, Mi Browser) stores copies of sites, cookies and history, which can lead to leaks of confidential data.
• 📸 Media cache (miniatures in the Gallery, Stories in Instagram) “eats” hundreds of megabytes unnoticed.

According to tests of the Xiaomi laboratory, after cleaning the cache on the Redmi Note 8 with 64 GB of memory:

• 🔋 Autonomous life increases by 10-15% (due to a decrease in background activity).
• ⚡ Apps grows by 20–30% (especially in games).
• 📉 Free disk space increases by 1-5 GB (depending on the degree of contamination).

When exactly is it time to clean the cache? Pay attention to these symptoms:

⚠️ Warning: If the app loads longer on the first run after cleaning the cache, it is normal.

Method 1: Clear cache via MIUI settings (without root)

The safest and easiest method is to use built-in MIUI tools, which are suitable for removing the cache of individual applications or system debris.

Step 1: Clearing the cache of a particular application

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app you want (like Facebook or YouTube).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

For mass cleaning:

1. Return to Application Management, click on three dots (⋮) top-right.
2. Select Sort → By size to see the most “gluttonous” programs.
3. Clear the cache from the top-5 applications (usually messengers, games and social networks).

Step 2: Clean up system debris

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Memory (or Settings → Memory in newer versions of MIUI).
2. Click Clean (the system scans for unnecessary files: residual APKs, temporary files, update cache).
3. Confirm the deletion by clicking Clear {X} MB.

Step 3: Deep Cleaning Through “Safety”

The Security (Shield Icon) application in MIUI has advanced tools:

1. Open Security. → Cleanup.
2. Select Deep Clean (cache scans, duplicate photos, large files).
3. Check the boxes of the Cash applications and Residual files.
4. Click Clean and confirm the action.

Method 2: Clearing the cache through Recovery Mode (for experienced)

If the phone is slowing down or not turning on, you can clear the cache through Recovery mode.This method resets Dalvik-cache and update cache, but does not affect user data.

Warning: Do not confuse Wipe Cache Partition with Wipe Data/Factory Reset!

Instructions:

1. Turn off the Redmi Note 8.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up at the same time and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. Release the buttons. You'll be taken to the Recovery menu.
4. Choose Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
5. Confirm the action by selecting Yes.
6. After cleaning, go back to the main menu and select Reboot → Reboot to System.

It takes 2-5 minutes. Once you restart, the system will collect the cache again, so the first application launch may be slower than usual.

⚠️ Warning: If after cleaning the cache in Recovery, the phone is stuck on startup the Mi logo for more than 10 minutes, do not panic. This is normal for the first 2-3 reboots. If the problem persists, repeat the procedure or use Method 4 (ADB).

Method 3: Automatically cleans the cache with applications

If you're too lazy to dig into the settings, you can use third-party utilities. We tested 5 popular apps on Redmi Note 8 and selected the most effective ones:

How to use (as an example of SD Maid):

1. Install SD Maid from Google Play.
2. Launch the application and give access to the storage.
3. Go to the CorpseFinder tab (search for residual files) and click Start.
4. After scanning, select Cache and Leftovers, then press Run now.
5. To clean the system cache, go to SystemCleaner (root required).

Important: Apps like Clean Master or DU Speed Booster often show false threats and aggressively advertise paid features.

💡

If an application (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) becomes unstable after cleaning the cache, try reinstalling it.

Method 4: Cleaning the cache through ADB (for advanced)

If standard methods don't work, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a PC debugging tool that removes the system-level cache, including hidden files.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📥 Installed drivers Xiaomi and ADB Tools.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times to activate Developer Mode).
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect Redmi Note 8 to your PC and select File Transfer mode.
4. Open the command line (Windows: Win + R → cmd) and type:

adb devices

If the device appears in the list, enter a command to clear the cache of all applications:

adb shell pm trim-caches 999999999G

To clean the cache of a particular app (e.g. Facebook):

adb shell pm clear com.facebook.katana

After completing the commands, restart the phone.

⚠️ Note: pm clear command deletes all application data (cache) + For selective cleaning, use: adb shell run-as com.facebook.katana rm -rf /cache/* (Replace com.facebook.katana with the desired application package).

Method 5: Manually clean the cache through the file manager

If you prefer to manually control the process, you can delete the cache through any file manager with access to system folders (for example, Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).

Where to find the cash:

• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/{package}/cache/ — cache of user applications.
• 📁 /data/data/{package}/cache/ — requires root rights.
• 📁 /cache/ — system cache (cleaned only through Recovery or ADB).

How to manually clean:

1. Open Mi File Manager and enable the display of hidden files (⋮ → Settings → Show hidden files).
2. Go to /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/.
3. Find a folder with the name of the problem app (e.g. com.whatsapp for WhatsApp).
4. Delete the contents of the cache folder (not the folder itself!).
5. To clear the Google Play Services cache (often taking 1-2GB) go to /data/data/com.google.android.gms/cache/ (root required).

Benefits of manual cleaning:

• ✅ You can choose which files to delete (for example, leave the game cache, but clear the browser).
• ✅ There is no risk of accidentally erasing important data.
• ✅ The real size of each application’s cache is visible.

💡

Manually cleaning the cache is the safest method, but it takes time. Use it if the standard methods didn't help or you want to control the process.

What to do if after cleaning the cache problems remain

Cache cleaning doesn't always solve all the problems.If the Redmi Note 8 is still braking, warming up or discharged quickly, check out the following points:

Additional steps:

1. Turn off autoload applications: Settings → Battery → Selection of apps for autorun.
2. Update MIUI: Settings → About the phone → System update.
3. Check for viruses: Use Malwarebytes or a built-in scanner in Security.
4. Reset settings: If nothing helps, make Settings → Additional → Restore and Reset → Reset settings (data will not be deleted).

Critical case: If the phone doesn't turn on after clearing the cache, try booting into Safe Mode (clip Volume Down when turned on) and roll back updates via Settings → Annexes → Application management → ⋮ → Show system-based → Update of the PO.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning the cache on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8