How to clean the memory of the Xiaomi 8 phone from garbage

Xiaomi Mi 8 came out a few years ago, and over time, the accumulation of temporary files, app cache and multimedia inevitably leads to an overflow of internal storage. When memory is clogged, the device starts to run slower, programs can freeze or spontaneously close, and the system issues constant notifications about the lack of space. It is especially important for owners of the 2018 flagship to monitor the state of the drive, since the amount of internal memory in the basic versions is limited.

There are many ways to free up gigabytes, from standard MIUI shell tools to manually removing system debris through your computer. In this article, we’ll explore safe and effective methods to help get your gadget back on track without losing important data. Regular cleaning is key to keeping Android operating system running smoothly.

Analysis of vault occupancy

Before you start deleting files, you need to understand what exactly takes up space. MIUI There's a built-in tool that visualizes the distribution of data. Go to the Settings menu. → Memory to see detailed breakdowns by category: applications, images, video and system files, which will reveal the heavyweights that consume resources.

Often users are unaware that messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp can take up tens of gigabytes. Chat media cache grows unnoticed, especially if groups actively share video and voice messages.

Note the “Other” section, which may contain remnants of deleted programs, error logs, and temporary update files, and if this partition takes up an abnormally large amount of space (more than 10-15 GB), a deeper cleaning or reset may be required.

Use of the built-in "Security" application

The easiest and safest way to start cleaning is to use the standard Security app, which is preinstalled on all Xiaomi smartphones.It automatically scans the device for temporary files, ad debris and remnants of remote applications. Run the scan by clicking on the corresponding button on the utility's home screen.

Once the analysis is complete, the system will suggest that you delete the files you find, but don't blindly trust the automation. Take a good look at what's tagged for deletion. Sometimes important thumbnails or a cache of cards will be added to the list, which you'll have to re-upload the next time you use navigation. Selective cleaning allows you to save the data you need.

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Run the built-in security scanner at least once a week to prevent critical memory overflow and slowing down the interface.

It also has a Memory Cleanup feature that closes the background processes, which temporarily frees up RAM, which can help if the phone starts to slow down when switching between tasks, but it's the file cleanup tab that frees up disk space (ROM).

Clearing the cache and data messengers

Messengers are the main “eaters” of space on modern smartphones. Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber and other analogues save all viewed photos and videos in the memory of the device. To clean them, go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find the desired messenger and select “Storage”.

Here you'll see two buttons: Clear cache and Clear everything. The first one deletes temporary files, which is safe. The second one deletes all data, including correspondence and authorization, so use it only when you reinstall it completely. Telegram also has a built-in cleanup feature in the settings of the app itself: Settings → Data and memory → Memory Use.

In the settings of messengers, it is recommended to enable the autodelete media file function. For example, in Telegram you can set a cache storage limit (for example, 1 GB or 3 days), after which the old files will be deleted automatically, this automates the process and eliminates the need for constant manual cleaning.

⚠️ Note: When clearing messenger data through the Android system menu, you may lose important correspondence if sync or backup was not enabled. Be careful with the button "Erase all data».

Removal of duplicates and large files

Over the years of using a smartphone, the gallery inevitably accumulates the same photos taken in a series shot, or screenshots that are no longer needed. The standard File Explorer or Gallery app allows you to sort media by size. Find the Video section or sort the photo by size to remove heavy videos shot by accident.

Also worth checking is the Download folder. APK-file, PDF-You downloaded documents and pictures from the Internet a month ago and you forgot them, and deleting those files is the fastest way to get a few gigabytes of free space.

You can use third-party snails to find duplicates, but often enough to look carefully at the albums "Recent" and "Screenshots." Removing the takes not only frees up space, but also speeds up the work of the gallery, which does not need to index unnecessary thumbnails.

Working with the “Other” folder and system garbage

The Other folder in memory analysis is often a mystery to users. It can store the cache of streaming services (YouTube, Spotify, Netflix), offline navigator maps and game data. To clear the YouTube cache without deleting your browsing history, go to Settings. → Annexes → YouTube → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

Offline maps in Google Maps or Yandex Maps can be very large, and if you don't use navigation without the Internet regularly, delete the uploaded maps of cities, and you can do this in the settings of the navigation app itself under "Offline Maps".

The.thumbnails folder inside the DCIM directory, which stores thumbnails of your photos for quick viewing in the gallery, can grow to several gigabytes over time, can be deleted, but the system will recreate it the next time the gallery opens, so this is a temporary measure.

Data Transfer and Cloud Technologies

If the internal memory of Xiaomi Mi 8 is physically limited (64 GB version), the most effective solution is to transfer media files to the cloud or to the computer. Google Photo service allows you to store pictures in the cloud, freeing up space on the device with a single “Free space” button.

You can also use Google Drive, Yandex.Disk or Dropbox cloud storage, set up automatic upload of photos and videos, then delete them from internal memory, which will ensure data safety even in the event of a smartphone breakage and give the system space to work.

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Using cloud services with the function of “smart upload” is the only way to comfortably use a smartphone with a small amount of internal memory in the long run.

Remember to check the cart in the cloud and in the phone itself. Deleted files often stay there for another 30 days, continuing to take up space. Cleaning the cart is the final step in the process of freeing up space.