How to completely clean the memory on Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro: from cache to factory settings

Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro sooner or later face a memory problem: the phone starts to slow down, applications fly out, and the system gives notifications about crowded storage, the reasons for this are several: from the accumulation of garbage in the cache to unoptimized background MIUI processes.

In this article, we will look at 7 proven ways to clean up memory, from basic (delete unnecessary files) to radical (reset to factory settings), how to make space without losing important data, which applications eat up the most memory, and why standard cleaning methods in MIUI often work ineffectively, and at the end, answers to frequent questions and life hacks to prevent filling up storage.

Spoiler: If your Redmi 8 Pro has 64GB or 128GB of storage, but less than 10% of the storage is available, it's time to take action. Start with simple steps and move on to the complex only when necessary.

1. Analysis of occupied space: what exactly is the memory?

Before you clear the memory at random, figure out which files and applications take up the most space. MIUI has a built-in tool for this — Settings → Memory. Here you will see a diagram of the allocation of memory by category: System, Applications, Media Files, Cash and Other.

Pay attention to:

• 📱 Apps: Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), social networks (TikTok, Instagram) and games are often to blame.
• 📸 Media: High-resolution photos and videos (especially if you’re shooting in the video) 4K full HD), and screenshots.
• 🗑️ Cache and garbage: temporary files, remnants of remote applications, log files of the system.
• 📁 Other: downloads, documents, archives and files from cloud storage (Google Drive, Mi Cloud) fall here).

If you don’t have detailed information in the Memory section, use third-party analyzers like Files by Google or SD Maid to show hidden files and suggest optimization.

2. Cleaning the application cache and system

Cache is a temporary file that creates applications to speed up work, and over time, it accumulates and takes up gigabytes of memory. In MIUI, the cache can be cleared in two ways:

1. Through App Settings: Go to Settings → Apps → App Management, select the app you want (like YouTube or Facebook) and click Clear Cache. For mass cleaning, use the Clean Everything option in the top menu.
2. Through the Memory section: In Settings → Memory → Cleanup, the system will prompt you to delete unnecessary files, including cache, temporary data, and remnants of deleted applications, and you can turn on auto-cleaning (we recommend activating).

⚠️ Note: Do not clean the cache of system applications (e.g. com.android.systemui) manually through ADB Root – This can cause interface failures.

Close all active applications

Connect your phone to charge (if the memory is almost full)

Make a backup copy of important data

Check that after cleaning the applications are working correctly-->

If standard cleaning doesn't work, use SD Maid (requires Root rights) or CCleaner for deep cleaning.

• 🧹 Remnants of Remote Applications (.apk,.odex files).
• 📂 Empty folders and broken labels.
• 🗃️ Duplicate files (especially relevant for photos).

3. Removal of unnecessary applications and their data

The Redmi 8 Pro often comes with pre-installed apps (blots) that cannot be removed by standard methods. However, they can be disabled or removed with ADB.

Methods of disposal:

• 📲 Standard Removal: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Choose unnecessary → Delete.
• 🔧 Disable system applications (without Root): in the same menu, click Disable.This hides the application and stops its background operation.
• 💻 Removal through ADB (For experienced users: adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.xiaomi.mipicks Replace com.xiaomi.mipicks with the batch name of an unnecessary application (you can find it through the App Inspector).

⚠️ Note: Removing system applications (e.g. com.android.quicksearchbox) may disrupt the work MIUI. Before experimenting, back up through Settings → Additionally. → Backup and reset.

Top.-5 Applications that should be removed or disabled:

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Before you delete the application, check if it is related to system functions. For example, com.xiaomi.finddevice is responsible for finding the device, and deleting it will disable this option.

4. Optimization of media files: photos, videos and downloads

High-resolution photos and videos are the main memory eaters. On the Redmi 8 Pro, the camera defaults to 48 MP and the video to 4K, which quickly fills up storage. Here's how to reduce their weight:

• 📷 Reduce camera resolution: Go to the camera → Settings → Photo resolution and select 12 MP instead of 48 MP. For video, set Full HD (1080p) instead 4K.
• 🗑️ Remove duplicates and failed shots: Use Google Photos (enable Free Space after backup) or Gallery Doctor to search for similar photos.
• ☁️ Move media to the cloud: Activate autoload in Google Photos or Mi Cloud, then delete local copies. In Google Photos, this is done through Settings → Make room.
• 🎞️ Convert video to lighter formats: Apps like Video Compress or HandBrake will reduce video size without critical quality loss.

⚠️ Note: If you are filming in RAW (dng format, one shot can weigh 20-50 MB. Turn off this mode in the camera settings if you are not engaged in professional photography.

5. Transfer data to a memory card or external storage

The Redmi 8 Pro supports microSD cards up to 512GB, but not all data can be transferred to them.

• 📁 Application portability (partially): In Settings → Annexes → Application management → Select an application → Warehouse → You can change some of the data to SD-But system applications and most games don't support this.
• 🎵 Media Transfer: Use a file manager (such as Mi File Manager) to move photos, music, and videos to the map: /storage/emulated/0/ → highlight files → Cut out → cross over SD-map → Insert.
• 💾 Use of the OTG-Driver: Connect the flash drive through OTG-adapter and transfer heavy files (movies, backups) to it). MIUI supportive FAT32 exFAT.

Important: Not all apps will work from a memory card, for example, WhatsApp does not allow chats to be transferred to SD, and games can slow down when launched from an external drive.

6. Reset to factory settings: when and how to do?

If all previous methods fail, hard reset will remove all data from the phone, including apps, settings and files, returning it to the “out of the box” state.

When do you need a reset?

• 🐢 The phone is severely braked, and cleaning the cache does not help.
• 📱 Memory is filled with unknown files (viruses, system failures).
• 🔄 You are planning to sell or give your phone away.

How to reset:

1. Create a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.
2. Go to Settings → About Phone → Resetting → Erase all data.
3. Enter the password (if set) and confirm the reset.
4. Once you reboot, the phone will look like new.

⚠️ Note: If you forget the password from Mi Account, the reset may block the phone (activation of Mi Cloud Lock!

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Resetting to factory settings is the last chance to bring your phone back to life.Be sure to save your contacts, photos and passwords from your accounts before the procedure.

7.Prevention: How to avoid memory filling in the future?

To avoid clearing your memory every month, follow these rules:

• 📵 Limit the background activity of applications: C Settings → Battery and productivity → Power management applications disable auto-start for unnecessary programs.
• 🔄 Set up automatic cleaning: Enable the option in Settings → Memory. → Auto-cleaning. The system will remove garbage once a week.
• ☁️ Use Cloud Storage: Activate autoload photos in Google Photos or Mi Cloud and delete local copies after syncing.
• 📥 Control Downloads: Clean Download folder regularly and delete unnecessary files from instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp).
• 🛡️ Install antivirus: Some viruses create hidden files by clogging memory. Malwarebytes or built-in Mi Security will help you find them.

It’s also useful to track voracious apps, such as TikTok can download gigabytes of video to cache, and Instagram can store all stories and media. Check them regularly in Settings → Apps → Storage.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory cleanup on Redmi 8 Pro