Cleaning up RAM on Xiaomi Redmi 8T: the full guide

Xiaomi Redmi 8T with its 3 or 4 GB of RAM over time begins to “brake” even with standard tasks: opening messengers takes seconds, games are delayed, and switching between applications is accompanied by a long load. The reason lies not in the “weak” hardware, but in the features of managing RAM in the firmware MIUI. Unlike iOS or “naked” Android, Xiaomi aggressively caches background processes, saving battery power, but sacrificing performance.

In this article, 7 proven ways to clean up RAM on Redmi 8T, from basic (embedded MIUI tools) to advanced (developer customization and third-party utilities), we will examine why manually cleaning RAM through the “task manager” often harms performance, and also show how to disable unnecessary system processes without root rights. All methods are tested on Redmi 8T with MIUI 12-14 (including global and Chinese versions of firmware).

Why is Redmi 8T “clogging” RAM?

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 in Redmi 8T isn’t the weakest, but MIUI is optimized for multitasking with a tight resource constraints.

• 🔄 Aggressive cache MIUI: The system stores even long-closed applications in memory, “hoping” that you will return to them. For example, com.miui.home can take up to 500 MB of RAM even in the background.
• 📱 Xiaomi Background Processes: Services like Mi Push Service, Mi Cloud (Sync) or SecurityCenter (Security) are constantly hanging in memory.
• 🎮 turbo mode: If you have played PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact, the system reserves RAM for a "quick return" to the game, even after closing.
• 🔋 Energy saving: Battery mode in MIUI blocks the cleaning of the cache to reduce charge consumption.

It is important to understand: free RAM ≠ Android is dynamically allocating resources, and empty RAM is a sign that the system is not optimized. Our goal is not to zero out memory, but to remove the garbage that interferes with work.

Method 1: Integrated MIUI Task Manager

The easiest method is to use a standard cleaning tool, but it has limitations: it only removes user applications without touching system processes.

1. Open recent apps (swipe up from the bottom edge of the late screen).
2. Slip on the “Close Everything” icon (cross or basket depending on the MIUI version).
3. For selective cleaning, swipe left/right on the application card.

⚠️ Attention: Frequent cleaning through Task Manager can increase battery consumption. Apps will have to reboot from scratch, wasting processor resources.

💡

If the Task Manager does not have a “Close All” button, turn it on in the settings: Settings → Home Screen → Recent Apps → Show the Cleanup button.

Method 2: Optimization with Security App

The Security app (shield icon) in MIUI has a built-in RAM optimizer. Unlike the Task Manager, it analyzes background processes and suggests closing unnecessary ones.

• 🛡️ Open the Security app (if not, download from Google Play).
• 🔍 Go to the “Optimization” or “Acceleration” tab».
• 📊 Click on “Clear Memory” – the system will show you a list of processes that can be closed without risk.
• ⚙️ In Optimization Settings, turn off auto-cleaning for critical applications (e.g., instant messengers).

💡

Do not close processes called android. or com.qualcomm. – these are system services critical to the operation of the smartphone.

Method 3: Set up a developer to manage RAM

The hidden menu "For developers" allows you to manually limit background processes and disable animations, unloading RAM. It is activated simply:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the item "Version" MIUI» (A notification will appear saying, “You have become a developer»).
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.

Now set the following parameters:

• 🔧 Process Limitation: Set a maximum of 2 background processes (under the "Applications" section»).
• ⚡ Turn off animation: Put animation windows = 0.5x and Transition animation = 0.5x.
• 🚫 Do not save actions: Activate the option Do not save actions (deletes the cache of closed applications).

⚠️ Attention: Limiting background processes to 1 may result in loss of notifications (e.g. from WhatsApp or Telegram.

Method 4: Cleaning the application cache manually

The application cache takes up not only space in internal memory, but also reserves RAM for quick access. On Redmi 8T with 32/64 GB of memory, the cache can reach 5-10 GB, of which 1-2 GB are “hang” in the RAM.

To clear the cache without losing data:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (like Facebook or Instagram).
3. Click Clear Cache (not to be confused with Clear Data – it will delete accounts!).
4. For mass cleaning, use Settings → Storage → Clean the cache.

After cleaning the cache, some applications (such as Google Maps) will load longer on the first run, but will free up to 300-800 MB of RAM.

Clean up the social media cache (Facebook, VK, Instagram)|Delete the Google Play Services cache|Clear the launcher cache (com.miui.home)|Restart the phone after cleaning-->

Method 5: Disabling Autostart and Background Activity

Many apps (especially Chinese ones) run when the phone is turned on and hang in the background, consuming RAM. MIUI has a tool to block auto-start:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as Mi Video or Clean Master).
3. Slip "Stop" and turn off all switches.
4. Go back and click “Limit background activity”.

List of applications that can be safely restricted:

• 🎬 Mi Video, Mi Music (standard players Xiaomi).
• 🛒 Mi App Store, GetApps (app stores).
• 📊 Clean Master, DU Battery Saver (optimizers that slow down the system).

⚠️ Warning: Do not limit Google Play Services and Services Framework, this will lead to sync errors and inability to update applications.

Method 6: Use of third-party optimizers (with caution!)

Apps like Greenify or SD Maid promise to "magic" RAM cleanup, but MIUI doesn't work well. We tested 5 popular utilities -- only two showed real effects without side effects.

If you choose to use Greenify:

1. Install it from Google Play.
2. Give permission to “Overlay on top of other applications.”
3. Add unnecessary apps to the hibernation list (such as Mi Browser).
4. Activate Aggressive Hibernation in the settings.

adb -d shell pm grant me.piebridge.brevent android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS

This will allow you to block system processes without rooting.-->

Method 7: Reboot and reset the cache of the system

If nothing helps, and the smartphone slows down even after cleaning, reset the cache of the system. This will delete temporary MIUI files without affecting user data.

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
4. Confirm the action and restart.

⚠️ Note: Do not confuse Wipe Cache with Wipe Data! The second option will delete all data (photos, apps, accounts).

After the cache is dropped:

• 🔄 The first download will take 5-10 minutes (the system restores the cache).
• 📱 Applications will open more slowly on the first run.
• ⚡ But it will be freed up to 1-1.5 GB of RAM, which previously occupied garbage files.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning RAM on Redmi 8T