Cleaning up the RAM Redmi Note 8 Pro: the full guide

Why Redmi Note 8 Pro is starting to “brake” and how it relates to RAM

Even the powerful Redmi Note 8 Pro with 6-8 GB of RAM eventually begins to hang, slowly open applications or spontaneously close them. The reason for this is the overload of RAM with background processes, cache and unoptimized MIUI settings. Unlike flagships, budget Xiaomi smartphones often suffer from “memory leakage” when the system does not free resources in a timely manner.

Compounding the problem, the Redmi Note 8 Pro runs on the MediaTek Helio G90T, a processor that is less efficient at multitasking than the Snapdragon, which results in users facing:

  • 🐢 Slowing down animations when switching between applications
  • 🔄 Re-starts games spontaneously (for example, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact)
  • 📱 Overheating of the body during long-term work
  • 🔋 Rapid battery discharge due to constant activity of background processes

In this article, we will look at 7 proven ways to clean RAM, from standard MIUI tools to hidden features for power users, and focus on the method of resetting cache through an engineering menu that is not officially documented by Xiaomi, but works on 100% of devices with firmware up to MIUI 14.

📊 How often do you clean up your Xiaomi RAM?
Once a day.
Only when it starts to brake.
Never clean.
Using automatic cleaning.

Method 1: Built-in memory cleanup in MIUI

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI tool to free up RAM, which requires no root rights and is suitable even for beginners.

  1. Open the settings → About the phone → Memory.
  2. Slip on the “Rapid Memory” (or “RAM”) section.
  3. Press the Clean button at the bottom of the screen.

The system will shut down all background processes except critical ones (like Google Play or Mi Account system services), and the effect is noticeable immediately: apps start opening faster and animations become smoother.

  • ⏳ Only 20-40% of RAM is released (the rest is occupied by system processes).
  • 🔄 After 10-15 minutes, the memory is filled with background tasks.
  • 📵 Does not clear the app cache, which also “eats” resources.

💡

If the Clear button is inactive, there are no background processes that can be safely closed at the moment. Try opening several apps first (like your browser and messenger), and then try again.

Method 2: Manually Closing Applications Through Multitasking Menu

Many users mistakenly believe that closing applications through the multitasking menu (swiping up late) frees up RAM. In fact, this only works for a fraction of the processes.

  1. Open the multitasking menu (swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen with pause).
  2. Find the application you want to close and swipe up.
  3. For a complete cleaning, tap the “Close Everything” icon (cross or trash can depending on the MIUI version).

An important nuance: some apps (like Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok) run background services that don't close through multitasking to stop them:

  1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
  2. Select the application you want and tap “Stop” (or “Forced Stop”).
Why not close all applications in a row?
Forced shutdown of system processes (e.g. MiuiDaemon or Google Play Services) can cause a malfunction of the smartphone.It is optimal to leave 1-2 commonly used applications in the background (e.g., messenger or music player).

Method 3: Cleaning the application cache (hidden RAM reserve)

Application cache is a temporary file that takes up not only internal memory, but also indirectly affects RAM. When the cache grows, the system spends additional resources processing it.

  1. Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
  2. Select the "Cash" tab and tap "Clear".
  3. For deep cleaning of individual applications: Go to Settings → Apps. Select an app (like Chrome or YouTube). Tap “Clear Cache” and “Clear Data” (Warning: This will reset the app settings!).

After cleaning the cache, you will notice:

  • ⚡ Reduced application opening time by 15–30%.
  • 📉 Reduce the load on the processor, which reduces heat.
  • 🔄 Less spontaneous reboots of applications.

Social media (Facebook, VK)|Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram)|Browser (Chrome, Mi Browser)|Games (PUBG, Free Fire)|Musical applications (Spotify, Yandex Music)-->

Method 4: Disabling Autostart and Background Activity

Many apps (especially Chinese ones) are given auto-start and background permission by default, which is one of the main reasons why the RAM on the Redmi Note 8 Pro is overloaded.

  1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
  2. Select an app (such as AliExpress or Likee).
  3. Tap "Permissions" and turn off: Autostart Background Activity Show over other windows

For mass shutdown of autostart:

  1. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Autostart Management.
  2. Sort the applications by the date of last use.
  3. Turn off auto-run for all apps you use less than 1 time per week.

💡

Disabling autoruns for system applications (such as Mi Video or Mi Music) can cause MIUI errors.

Method 5: Use of an engineering menu (for power users)

The hidden MTK engineering menu (available on the Redmi Note 8 Pro thanks to the MediaTek processor) allows you to manually reset the kernel cache and free RAM at the system level.

Instructions:

  1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##36446337###
  2. In the menu, select Memory (or RAM).
  3. Slip "Clear RAM" or "Memory Cleanup."
  4. Confirm the action and restart the smartphone.

This method frees up to 60-70% of RAM, but has limitations:

AdvantagesDeficiencies
Instant effect (apps open as after rebooting)Some system settings are reset (for example, screen brightness)
Clears the cache of the core, inaccessible by standard meansNot all versions of MIUI (starting with MIUI 12.5 can be blocked)
Doesn't require root rightsWith frequent use, it can lead to unstable operation of the smartphone.

💡

If the engineering menu doesn't open, try the alternative code: ##4636##. In some firmware, the RAM cleaning function is hidden in the "Usage statistics" tab.

Method 6: Optimization through Performance Mode

MIUI has a hidden performance mode that prioritizes resources for an active application and limits background processes.

  1. Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Performance Mode.
  2. Turn on the “Improving Performance” switch.
  3. Choose the application you want to maximize resources for (like a game or video editor).

Note that the mode only works when connected to charging and can increase the heating of the smartphone. It is not recommended to use it for longer than 1-2 hours in a row.

How to check if the performance mode is working?
Open Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap 7 times on the line “Kernel Version”. In the menu that appears, select “Performance Mode” – there will be the status “Enabled”.

Method 7: Restart in Safe Mode (Radical Method)

If all previous methods did not help, and the smartphone continues to slow down, try Safe Mode. It only loads system applications, which allows you to identify the culprit of the overload of RAM.

How to start:

  1. Press the power button before the turn off menu appears.
  2. Press and hold the “Switch off” button (or “Reboot” depending on the firmware).
  3. Confirm the transition to safe mode.

In safe mode:

  • 🔍 Check if the lags have disappeared. If so, there's a problem in one of the installed applications.
  • 📊 Open the Settings. → Memory and see how much RAM is occupied by system processes (normally - no more than 1.5-2 GB).
  • 🔄 Remove suspicious apps (especially those that requested administrator rights).

To get out of Safe Mode, just restart your smartphone.

💡

If you have lags in safe mode, the problem is the firmware or hardware, and in this case, only resetting to factory settings or flashing will help.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning RAM on the Redmi Note 8 Pro

❓ Do I need to clean the RAM every day?
No, just do it 1-2 times a week or when the smartphone starts to slow down noticeably, and frequent cleaning can, on the contrary, reduce performance, as the system will have to constantly reload data into memory.
❓ Why is the memory refilled in 5 minutes after cleaning the RAM?
This is normal Android behavior: the system loads frequently used applications and services into RAM to speed up their performance%+ — It's okay. The problem only happens when the RAM is clogged 95 to 100 percent and the hanging starts.
❓ Can I clean the RAM without restarting?
Yes, all of the methods in this article (except Safe Mode) work without rebooting. The quickest way is to use the built-in cleanup in Settings → Memory.
❓ Does the “boosters of RAM” from Google Play help?
Most of these applications (like Clean Master or DU Speed Booster) not only fail, but also degrade performance. They take up RAM themselves and often contain ads. Better use the built-in MIUI tools.
❓ What to do if after cleaning the RAM, the games still fly out?
The problem could be: Lack of free space in internal memory (needs at least 2-3 GB); CPU overheating (check Settings → Battery); outdated version of the game or firmware; try: Clear the game's cache in Settings → Applications; disable background activity for other applications; Lower the graphics settings in the game.

⚠️ If after all the manipulations Redmi Note 8 Pro continues to brake, check the status of the battery in Settings → Battery → Battery condition: When worn more than 30%, smartphone performance drops by 20-40% due to limitations MIUI.