How to Free Memory on Xiaomi Mi 8: From Cache to Hidden Files

Xiaomi Mi 8

Mi 8

In this article, you will find 9 working ways to clean up memory, including little-known features. MIUI, We'll figure out how to delete hidden files, move applications to the root. SD-map (yes, it’s possible even without official support!), and what to do if the system shows the occupied place, which is physically absent.

Important: All methods are tested on Mi 8 with MIUI 10–14 firmware (including global and Chinese versions).If you have custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), some items may differ.

1. Analysis of occupied space: what exactly eats memory?

Before you clean it, you have to figure out what's taking up space. MIUI has a built-in storage analyzer, but it often hides some of the data.

Open Settings → About Phone → Storage. Here you will see a diagram of the memory distribution by category: apps, images, video, audio, etc. Click on each category to see a detailed report.

Note the System Data section, which often hides up to 5 to 10 GB of unnecessary files like logs, memory dumps and temporary update files, and check for Other, which is usually an application cache that doesn’t clear automatically.

• 📊 Apps: Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), social networks (TikTok, Instagram) and games are most often to blame, PUBG Mobile can weigh up to 2GB along with cache.
• 📷 Media files: photo in DCIM And videos in Movies are the lion's share, especially if you're shooting in the video. 4K or use regimes HDR/Night Mode.
• 🗑️ Garbage: temporary files (.tmp,.log), downloads (Download), duplicates and remnants of remote applications.

⚠️ Note: If the System Data section is more than 15 GB occupied, this is a sign of a malfunction MIUI. Try resetting your settings through Settings → Additionally. → Resetting settings (without deleting data).

2.Cleaning the app cache: Quick and secure

Cache speeds up programs, but it grows to giant sizes over time, such as Facebook can accumulate up to 1-2 GB of cache, and Google Play Services can accumulate up to 500 MB.

Manual cleaning:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as Chrome or YouTube).
3. Press "Storage» → «Clear the cache».

Automatic cleaning:

1. Open Security → Cleaning (Brush icon).
2. Click on “Deep Clean” and then select “Cash”.
3. Confirm removal – this will free up 1 to 5 GB (depending on the number of apps installed).

Don’t be afraid to clear the cache, it will recover the next time you run the apps, but don’t delete the app data (“Clear Data”), which will result in logging out and resetting your settings.

3. Delete unnecessary files and duplicates

The MIUI file manager can find duplicates, large files, and rarely used documents.

Search for large files:

1. Open the Files app (Folder icon).
2. Go to the tab "Category» → «Large files».
3. Sort by size and remove unnecessary ones (such as old videos or archives).

Search for duplicates:

1. In the same Files app, select “Analysis”.
2. Click on “Dublicates” – the system will show repeated photos, music and documents.
3. Select unnecessary copies and delete them (caution: sometimes duplicates are of a different quality!).

Cleaning the Download folder:

Download folder is a real dump: here accumulate APK-file, PDF-Documents and pictures from messengers. Open it through Files» → «Downloads and remove anything older than 3 months.

Outdated. APK-files (in the Download folder)

Cash cards (Offline-maps from Google Maps or Yandex.Maps)

Logs and dumps (folders log, crash, dumpstate)

Old Screenshots (Screenshots folder)

Unused wallpaper and themes (folder) MIUI/Theme)-->

4. Transfer applications and files to SD-map

Xiaomi Mi 8 does not support the official transfer of applications SD-It works only for files (photos, videos, music) and parts of applications (such as maps or media).

Transfer of media files:

1. Put it in. SD-map (format) FAT32 exFAT).
2. Open Files → select DCIM, Music, Movies folders.
3. Click "Move" and select SD-map.

Application portability (requires ADB):

To transfer the applications themselves, you will need a computer and an ADB command. This method is only suitable for advanced users!

adb shell pm set-install-location 2

After this command, new applications will be installed on SD-Important: the card must be fast (class) UHS-I or higher, otherwise the applications will slow down.

⚠️ Note: Not all applications support the work with SD-For example, WhatsApp and banking applications will not be able to run, and once the card is removed, these programs will stop working.

Cleaning up system debris and logs

MIUI creates a lot of temporary files that are not automatically deleted, and can be found manually or through third-party utilities.

Manual cleaning:

• 📁 folder /data/log — This is where the logs are stored. Delete anything older than a week.
• 🗑️ folder /cache — Update cache and temporary files. Root rights required to clean up.
• 🔄 folder /MIUI/backup — Backups of settings. If you didn't manually backup, you can clean it up.

Using SD Maid (requires root):

The SD Maid app (available on Google Play) can find and delete:

Remnants of remote applications (orphaned files).

- Empty folders.

- Duplicates in system directories.

After scanning, press Run, and the utility will show how much space you can free up. On a memory-clogged Mi 8, it's usually 2-7 GB.

6.Storage optimization with MIUI Labs

MIUI has hidden memory functions that are not enabled by default, and activate them:

Enabling "Smart Cleaning":

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Click 5 times on the MIUI version to activate the developer mode.
3. Return to Settings → “More” → “Developers’ Features”.
4. Find MIUI Optimization and turn it on.
5. Now, the “Smart Cleanup” option will appear in “Security” → “Cleanup” option, which automatically deletes unnecessary files once a week.

Memory compression:

The “Lite Mode” function reduces the size of cache and temporary files:

1. Open the Settings. → Special facilities.
2. Select "Lite Mode."
3. Turn on the option "Squeeze storage," which will reduce cache volume by 20 to 30 percent.

7.Reset to factory settings: a last resort

If none of these methods worked, and the memory is still full of invisible files, then a hard reset remains, which will delete all the data, including apps, photos and settings, but return the smartphone to its “clean” state.

How to reset:

1. Back up important data (photos, contacts, SMS) through Settings → Additional → Backup.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select “Delete all data”.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

Once reset, the Mi 8 will be like a new one, with 100% free memory, but you'll have to reset your accounts and install your apps.

⚠️ Note: If the memory is refilled quickly after the reset, the problem is hardware failure (wear and tear of flash memory), in which case only replacing the memory chip in the service center will help.

💡

Resetting to factory settings is the only way to remove system debris that is not visible to the user (for example, corrupted update files or firmware residues).

8.Prevention: How to avoid memory filling in the future

To avoid having to clean up every week, follow these rules:

• 📲 Turn off auto-update apps on Google Play (or limit updates to Wi-Fi only).
• 📸 Set up an automatic upload to the cloud (Google Photos or Mi Cloud) and delete the originals after syncing.
• 🎮 Limit the cache of games: in the settings PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty reduce the quality of graphics and turn off resource loading in the background.
• 🗃️ Use cloud services to store documents (Yandex.Disk, Dropbox).

It's also useful to check Download and DCIM folders once a month for unnecessary files, and Files by Google is a good tool for automation, which can remind you to clean up and find garbage.

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If you shoot video frequently, turn on the camera option “Video Compression” (Camera Settings → Resolution → Video Compression) to reduce file size by 30-40% without noticeable loss of quality.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up memory on the Mi 8