How to Clean Memory on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: A Complete Guide with Instructions and Tips

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is one of the most popular smartphones of the brand, but even its 64/128 GB of memory is eventually clogged with unnecessary files. High-resolution photos, app cache, duplicate documents and residual data after deleting programs eat up precious gigabytes, slowing down the device. In this article, we will analyze 7 proven ways to clean memory — from basic to radical — and also tell you how to avoid re-clogging.

It's important to understand that just deleting files is not enough. You need to take a systematic approach to memory management, regularly audit the storage and optimize settings. We won't advise "delete everything" - instead, we will show how to find and remove exactly what is taking place in vain without affecting important data.

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

Before you clean, you need to figure out which files are taking up the most space. The Redmi Note 8 Pro has built-in tools for this, but they don't always show the whole picture.

Open Settings → About Phone → Memory. Here you will see a diagram of the allocation of memory by category: System, Applications, Photos and Video, Audio and Other Files. Click on each category to see the details. For example, under "Applications" you can sort programs by size and see which ones are larger than 1 GB.

• 📊 System files: usually take 10-15 GB. They can not be deleted without root rights, but can be reduced by cleaning the cache.
• 📷 Photo and video: most often the "culprit" of memory deficits. DCIM (camera) and Pictures (screenshots, downloads from instant messengers).
• 🎵 Audio: Music and podcasts worth checking for duplicates and unnecessary tracks.
• 📁 Other files: here are hidden downloads, documents, APK-files and time-data.

For a deeper analysis, use third-party apps like Files by Google or SD Maid. They will show hidden folders, messenger cache (especially Telegram and WhatsApp), as well as files left after deleting programs. For example, many people do not know that TikTok can take up to 5 GB of cache and Instagram can take up to 2 GB.

⚠️ Note: If the System section is more than 20 GB occupied, this may indicate errors in the work MIUI In this case, resetting the cache through Recovery (section 5) will help).

2.Cleaning App Cache: A Quick Way to Free 1–3 GB

Cache is a temporary file that applications create to speed up work. Over time, they accumulate and can take several gigabytes. Clearing the cache does not delete important data (such as messages or photos), but can reset some settings in applications (such as authorization in games).

Method 1: Clearing the cache for individual applications.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as Facebook or YouTube).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

Method 2: Mass cleaning the cache of all applications.

1. Open Settings → Memory → Cleaning.
2. Click Clear Cache (blue button at the bottom).
3. Confirm the action.

After clearing the cache, some applications can load longer on the first run, which is normal. If there is no additional space after the procedure, check the "Other Files" section for residual data (Android/data and Android/obb folders).

Clear the cache of messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber)

Delete the cache of social networks (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook)

Clear the browser cache (Chrome, Mi Browser)

Check the game cache (PUBG, Genshin Impact, Call of Duty)

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3. Delete unnecessary files: photos, videos, documents

Media files are the main memory eater, and even if you regularly transfer photos to your computer, you still have:

• 📸 Duplicate photos (created when editing or backup).
• 🎥 High-resolution video (1 minute) 4K-video ~400MB).
• 📄 Screenshots (daddy) Pictures/Screenshots).
• 📎 Downloads from messengers (stickers, gifs, voice messages).

How to find and remove excess:

1. Open the Files app (the folder icon on the home screen).
2. Go to Categories → Images or Videos.
3. Sort files by size (click on three dots in the upper right corner → Sort by → Size).
4. Delete the largest files you don’t need.

To automatically search for duplicates, use apps like Duplicate Files Fixer or CCleaner, which scan memory and find identical photos, documents and audio files. Also check the Download folder, which often accumulates outdated ones. APK-file, PDF-documents and archives.

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Before mass deleting a photo, turn on the Recycle Bin function in the Gallery app (Settings → Recycle Bin → Enable) to restore accidentally deleted files within 30 days.

4. Application optimization: removal, transfer to SD-map, shutdown

Apps take up not only memory space, but also background processes that slow down the phone. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, you can:

• 🗑️ Remove unnecessary software (especially those you haven’t used in more than a month).
• 🔄 Transfer applications to SD-map (if installed).
• ⚙️ Disable pre-installed system applications (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music, if you do not use them).

How to transfer applications to SD-map:

1. Put it in. SD-card (class 10 is recommended or UHS-I speed).
2. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
3. Select an app (like Spotify or Netflix).
4. Press Warehouse. → Change. → SD-map.
5. Confirm the transfer (some data will remain in the internal memory).

Not all applications support the transfer to SD. Also note that once the card is removed, the programs may not work. SD-Card as internal memory (formatting into Settings) → Warehouse → SD-map → Set up as internal storage, but this will result in loss of data on the map.

⚠️ Note: Do not remove system applications without root rights – this may lead to the inability to update MIUI through OTA. Instead, turn them off in the settings.

5.Cache reset via Recovery: a radical method for power users

If after all the manipulations, the memory is still occupied by unknown things, cache reset via Recovery mode will help.This method deletes temporary system files that are not cleaned by standard methods. Redmi Note 8 Pro does not require root rights for this procedure, but it will reset some settings (for example, application background data).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up at the same time and hold for 10-15 seconds until the Mi logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select the language (English / Chinese), then Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
4. Confirm the action and wait until the completion (1-2 minutes).
5. Reboot the phone (Reboot) → Reboot to System).

This method is particularly useful if:

• The phone became very slow after the MIUI update.
• The System section is occupied by more than 15 GB for no apparent reason.
• Applications are spontaneously closed or give out errors.

6.Reset to factory settings: Last chance

If all previous methods fail, you will have to reset completely, which will remove all data from your phone, including photos, contacts and apps installed, and only use this method as a last resort by backing up beforehand.

How to make a backup on Redmi Note 8 Pro:

1. Connect your phone to Wi-Fi.
2. Go to Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
3. Select the data to save (contacts, messages, photos) and click Create backup.
4. Copy the backup file to your computer or cloud (such as Google Drive or Mi Cloud).

How to reset your phone:

1. Open Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Reset settings.
2. Choose to erase all data.
3. Enter the password (if set) and confirm the reset.
4. After the reboot, follow the initial setup instructions.

Once reset, the phone will be like new, with free memory and factory firmware. Remember, on the Redmi Note 8 Pro, the reset deletes data from internal memory, but does not affect the internal memory. SD-card (if not used as an internal storage device).

Once a week.

Once a month

Only when the place ends.

Never clean.

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7.How to prevent future memory clogging

To avoid going back to cleaning up your memory every month, follow these tips:

• 📤 Automatic upload to the cloud: Set up sync photos and videos with Google Photos or Mi Cloud. Google Photos can enable the option “Free space” – it will delete local copies of files already uploaded to the cloud.
• 🗑️ Regularly clean cache: Use a task scheduler (such as MacroDroid) to automatically clean the cache once a week.
• 🛑 Background activity restriction: In the application settings, turn off autoload for messengers and social networks (Settings) → Battery and productivity → Autostart control).
• 📥 Download control: Install Files by Google and enable notifications for large files (>100MB).

Also, pay attention to the camera settings: if you shoot in 4K or 60 FPS, each video will weigh hundreds of megabytes. Try lowering the resolution to Full HD (1080p) will save space without significant loss of quality.

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Regular memory audits (every 1-2 months) and automatic cloud synchronization will save you the need for radical cleaning.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory cleanup on Redmi Note 8 Pro