Smartphone Xiaomi Mi 8, released in 2018, is still a popular device due to the high-quality AMOLED-However, modern applications are becoming more demanding on resources, and built-in storage capacity of 64 or 128 gigabytes can quickly fill up. When the free space runs out, the system starts to run slower and installing new programs becomes impossible.
Users often face a space shortage notification, even after removing the extra photos. The problem is the accumulated system debris that is not completely removed by standard methods. In this article, we will discuss effective ways to free up space, ranging from basic cleaning to advanced file system methods.
Don’t ignore storage overflows, as this affects not only the speed, but also the stability of MIUI. Proper file organization and regular prevention will allow you to extend the life of your device without having to buy a new gadget right now.
Analysis of vault occupancy
Before you start taking any drastic measures, you need to understand what exactly takes up precious gigabytes. There's a great data visualization tool built into the MIUI shell. Go to the Settings menu and select Memory. The system will analyze and show the distribution of space between applications, images, videos and system files.
Telegram and WhatsApp have a habit of storing all the media files you see in your phone’s memory. If you’re in dozens of channels and chat rooms, the cache of those apps can grow to 10-20 gigabytes, which is a critical volume for the Mi 8 model.
⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from folders with Android or System names manually through the file manager unless you are sure of their purpose.
For more detailed study, you can use third-party tools like DiskUsage, which display files as a graphics card, where the square size corresponds to the file size, and this allows you to instantly find the heavyweights that are lost in the back of the directories.
Standard cleaning through the Security app
The easiest and safest way to start cleaning is to use the built-in Security app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones and optimized specifically for working with the MIUI file system. Launch the application and click on the Cleanup button.
The system will suggest removing temporary files, remnants of deleted applications and advertising debris, a process that takes a few seconds and is safe for personal data, but be careful: sometimes the algorithm suggests removing files that you may still need, such as screenshots or downloaded documents.
☑️ Checking before cleaning
After scanning, press the Clean button. If the amount of free space seems insufficient, scroll down and select Deep Clean, where you can customize the types of files you delete in more detail, for example, by eliminating contacts or important notes from the removal process.
Working with the cache of applications and messengers
The most effective way to free up space is to clean the cache of specific applications. Unlike a complete cleanup, this method does not delete your correspondence or logins, but erases the temporary data that takes up space. Go to Settings → Apps → All applications.
Find heavy programs like YouTube, Instagram or Chrome. Click on the app, select Memory and then Clear the cache. It's important not to confuse this button with the Clean Everything button, which will reset the app to factory settings and require re-authorization.
What is the difference between cache and data?
The messengers need special attention. Inside Telegram, you can set up automatic cache deletion. Open messenger settings, go to Data and memory → Memory Use. Set a timer for auto-cleaning, for example, for 3 days or 1 week.
This is a unique feature of Telegram, which allows you to store your entire correspondence history in the cloud without taking up space on your phone until you open a specific chat. For WhatsApp, this feature is less flexible, so you will have to manually delete large video files from chat rooms periodically.
Removal of duplicates and large files
During active use of the smartphone, duplicates inevitably accumulate in memory, which can be the same photos taken in a series, or files downloaded several times from different sources, and it is convenient to use the built-in MIUI file manager to find such files.
Open Explorer and select Big Files, the system sorts objects by size, often you can find forgotten movies or archives that are no longer needed, and the duplicate search feature, which is available in the Tools inside the Explorer section, is also useful.
| File type | Where to find | Can be removed |
|---|---|---|
| Files.tmp | Memory root, application folders | Yes, it's safe. |
| Folder.thumbnails | DCIM | Yeah, it's a miniature photo. |
| Files.apk | Download folder | Yes, if the app is installed |
| Logs (.log) | Different system folders | Carefully. |
Pay special attention to the Download folder. Browsers often save everything you've ever downloaded there. Check its contents and delete the installation files. APK, old presentations or PDF-Documents that are no longer relevant.
Use of cloud services and SD-map
Xiaomi Mi 8 does not support memory cards, making the storage even more acute.The only physical way to expand storage is to use the memory card. OTG-And if you plug it in through a Type-C adapter, you can move the archive of photos and videos, freeing up the internal memory.
A more modern approach is to use cloud storage. Google Photos allows you to upload media files to the cloud and automatically delete them from the device, freeing up space. A feature called "Free up space." Similar to the work of Yandex.Disk and Google Drive.
⚠️ Warning: Before deleting files from your phone, make sure they are fully uploaded to the cloud and accessible from another device.check the cloud service cart as files can be deleted from there after 30 days.
Configure automatic sync only over Wi-Fi so that you don’t waste mobile traffic, which will allow you to always have access to a full archive without worrying about the shortage of gigabytes on the smartphone itself.
Resetting to factory settings as an extreme measure
If none of the methods worked and the phone continues to signal overflow, the radical but effective method is a complete reset, which will put the Xiaomi Mi 8 back out of the box, removing all the data and applications.
Before starting the procedure, make sure to back up. Use the built-in Mi Cloud tool or back up your computer via the Mi PC Suite. Without a backup, you'll lose contacts, messages and settings forever.
Settings → About the phone → Reset settings → Erase all dataAfter a reset, take your time to install all the applications at once, install only the essentials and watch the memory fill up, often helping to identify the specific application-virus or malfunctioning software that generated the junk files.
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A complete reset is not a cure-all, but a way to start with a clean slate, and if the problem comes back in a week, it's a user's habit or a particular application.