Xiaomi Redmi 8 is one of the brand’s most popular budget smartphones, but its main problem is known to every owner: internal memory is clogged at an alarming rate.Even with 64GB, users are faced with a notification of “Not enough memory” after a few months of use. What's the reason? It's about aggressive caching policies. MIUI, Automatic saving of media files from messengers and “junk” data from applications.
In this article, we will discuss 7 proven ways to clean up memory, from basic (cache removal and unnecessary files) to radical (factory reset), focus on hidden MIUI folders that eat up to 3-5 GB of memory without the user’s knowledge, and explain how to prevent re-clogging. All methods are tested on Redmi 8 with MIUI 12-14 firmware (Android 9-10) and do not require root rights.
Why does Redmi 8’s memory run out so fast?
The manufacturer claims that Redmi 8 has an eMMC 5.1 chip, which is not the fastest, but it's reliable, but the problem is not hardware, but software optimization.
- 📁 Cash. MIUI and Google Services: System processes create temporary files that are not always deleted automatically. for example, com.miui.gallery can take up to 1 GB of cache.
- 📸 Auto-Save Media: WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber by default download all photos and videos to the folder DCIM/.thumbnails.
- 🗑️ Residual files: After deleting applications, data folders remain in memory (for example, /Android/data/com.tencent.ig from PUBG Mobile).
- 🔄 Updates MIUI: firmware 1.5-2 GB, and after installation, old files are not always cleaned.
Another feature of Redmi 8 is that the /data partition is not optimized for modern applications, for example, Facebook or TikTok can inflate up to 500 MB of cache per week when used actively, and if you consider that the system reserves up to 3 GB for your needs, then of the declared 64 GB, ~55 GB is actually available.
⚠️ Note: Do not confuse internal memory (where applications and data are stored) with RAM (RAM). Cleanup RAM through the "boosters" does not free up space on the drive!
Method 1: Cleaning the cache of applications and systems
The safest and fastest method is to delete temporary files. On Redmi 8, you can do this in two ways: through settings or through the built-in Cleanup tool.
Step 1. Clear the cache of individual applications:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Select an app (like YouTube or Chrome).
- Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.
Step 2: Mass cleaning through “Safety”:
- Launch the Security app (the shield icon).
- Go to the Cleanup tab.
- Press Deep Clean and confirm removal.
This method frees up from 500MB to 2GB (depending on the degree of clogged), but it does not delete application data (such as saved games or settings), so it is safe.
Residual files after uninstallation | Messenger cache (except media) |Temporary download files | System logs (files with.log extension)
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Method 2: Manually Delete Unnecessary Files
MIUI creates many hidden folders that are not visible in a standard file manager, and you will need a conductor with access to root folders (for example, Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer) to clean them.
Key folders for cleaning:
| folder | What it keeps. | Is it safe to remove |
|---|---|---|
| /DCIM/.thumbnails | Photo and video miniatures | Yes (restore automatically) |
| /Android/data | Data from remote applications | Yes (if the app is uninstalled) |
| /MIUI/backup | Backups of the system | Yes (unless you plan to recover) |
| /Download | Downloads from browsers | Yes (check before deleting) |
To access hidden folders:
- Open Mi File Manager.
- Slip on three dots in the upper right corner → Settings → Show hidden files.
- Go to the internal memory and delete the unnecessary folders.
⚠️ Attention: Do not delete folders /MIUI, /system or /vendor — Also avoid files with the.odex or.apk extension in the root directory.
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Before mass deletion of files, back up your important data to Mi Cloud or PC. Use Settings → About Phone → Backup.
Method 3: Transfer data to a memory card
Redmi 8 supports microSD up to 512GB, but not all applications can be migrated to it.
- 📷 Photo and video: move the folder DCIM to the map through the Gallery (select files) → More. → Move it).
- 🎵 Music and Documents: Use Mi File Manager to move manually.
- 🎮 Games: Some titles (e.g. Genshin Impact) allow you to select the location of the installation. SD.
How to make a memory card the main storage:
- Insert microSD into the slot (FAT32 or exFAT supported).
- Go to Settings → Storage → Memory Map.
- Click Format as internal memory (Warning: Data will be erased!).
- After formatting, select Transfer Data.
The downside of this method is that the card becomes "tied" to the phone and will not be read on other devices without formatting, and the eMMC speed is faster than most microSDs, so applications can slow down.
Yes, as a primary storage |Yes, but only for media files |No, enough internal memory |Tryed, but there were lags-->
Method 4: Remove system updates and duplicates of MIUI
After each MIUI update on Redmi 8, old firmware files that take up to 1.5 GB are left.
- Open Mi File Manager.
- Go to the internal memory →.MIUI → update.
- Delete all files with the.zip extension (e.g, miui_HM8Global_V12.0.1.0.QCNMIXM_...).
MIUI also creates duplicate photos in folders:
- /DCIM/Camera - Original
- /Pictures/Screenshots – Screenshots
- /MIUI/Gallery/cloud synced with Mi Cloud.
To find duplicates, use the Files by Google app (Cleanup → Duplicate Files tab) that finds identical photos even with different names.
What happens if you delete the.MIUI folder?
Method 5: Disabling Auto-Save Media in Messengers
By default, WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber store all received photos and videos in DCIM. On Redmi 8, this can “eat” up to 3-4 GB per month.
How to turn off auto-saving:
- 📱 WhatsApp: Open the chat → Select Media, Links and Documents. Turn off Incoming Media.
- 💬 Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Autoboot media → Never.
- 📞 Viber: Settings → Media and files → Save media in the gallery (disable)