Free memory on Xiaomi Redmi 8: from cache to hidden files

Xiaomi Redmi 8 with its modest 32 or 64 GB of internal memory often faces a shortage of space — especially if you actively shoot videos, install games or do not follow the cache of applications. Even after removing unnecessary files, the system can show gigabytes of “invisible” data occupied. In this article, we will analyze all ways to free memory from basic to hidden, taking into account the features of the MIUI firmware for Redmi 8 (codename).

The main problem with the model is the small partition (about 6 GB), which is quickly clogged with updates and temporary files, and MIUI aggressively caches data, and some applications (for example, com.miui.gallery) create duplicate media files. We tested each method on Redmi 8 3/32 GB with MIUI 12.5 firmware, the results are summarized in a performance comparison table at the end of the article.

1. The analysis of occupied memory: what exactly eats the place?

Before you clean, you need to understand which files take up the most space. Redmi 8 has built-in tools and third-party utilities for this.

Open Settings → About Phone → Memory. Here you will see a diagram of the memory distribution by category:

• 📁 System files – firmware, updates, log files (usually 5–8 GB).
• 🎵 Multimedia – photos, videos, music (most often the culprit of space shortage).
• 📱 Applications themselves APK-files (/data/app).
• 🗑️ Cash - Temporary application files (/data/data/*/cache).
• 📄 Other files - downloads, documents, APK installation-pack.

MIUI

Android 9/10

For a detailed analysis, use Files by Google (free in the Play Market) to show:

• 🔍 Duplicate files (especially relevant for photos from the Xiaomi Gallery).
• 🗃️ Large files (>100 MB – Forgotten videos, backups.
• 📂 Unused applications (not opened) >3 months).

Attention! If the System Files section is >10 GB occupied and the phone is slowing down, this may be due to corrupted firmware files after an incorrect update, in which case only a factory reset (section 6) will help.

2. Cleaning the application cache and system

Cache is a temporary file that creates applications to speed up work. On Redmi 8, it can take up to 3-5 GB, especially if you are actively using social networks, instant messengers or games.

Method 1: Clearing the cache of all applications

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner → Sort by size.
3. Select an app (such as Facebook or TikTok) → Storage → Clear cache.

⚠️ Warning: Do not clear cache for com.android.systemui, com.miui.home and Google services – this may cause interface failures.

Method 2: Automatic cleaning through MIUI Optimizer MIUI has a built-in garbage cleaning tool:

• 🧹 Open the Security app (shield icon).
• 🔍 Select Cleanup. → Deep cleaning.
• ✅ Check the boxes for Cash applications, Files APK, Unnecessary files.
• 🗑️ Press Clean (can release up to 1-2 GB).

Method 3: Manually clean the system cache (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t help, try removing the cache via Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until the MI logo appears.
3. Select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache (control – volume buttons, confirmation – power button).
4. Reset the device.

3. Removal of unnecessary applications and their data

Redmi 8 has a lot of system and third-party apps, many of which are never used, such as Mi Pay, Mi Community, Games or Google duplicate services.

How to remove pre-installed applications:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 In search, type the name of an unnecessary application (such as Analytics or Browser).
• 🗑️ Click Remove (if the button is active) or Disable (for system applications).

⚠️ Note: Do not delete or disable: com.android.phone, com.miui.securitycenter, com.google.android.gsf – this will cause your phone to fail.

List of safe apps to remove on Redmi 8:

To remove system applications without root, use ADB (computer required):

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.bugreport

com.miui.bugreport

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Before mass removal of applications, back up through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. This will allow you to restore the system if something goes wrong.

4. Optimization of media files: photos, videos, music

Multimedia is the main memory eater on Redmi 8. Even if you delete photos, Xiaomi Gallery can save their thumbnails in the.thumbnails folder, and Google Photos can back up their photos.

How to make room:

• 📸 Remove duplicate photos via Files by Google or CCleaner.
• 🎥 Compress the video with Video Compress (compress with the video) 1080p before 720p — savings of up to 50%).
• 🎵 Transfer the music to a memory card (if installed:

1. Connect the phone to the PC.
2. Copy the Music folder from your internal memory SD-map.
3. In any music player, specify the path to a new folder.

Hidden folders of garbage:

• 🗃️ DCIM/.thumbnails — Photo miniatures (can be removed).
• 📁 Pictures/Screenshots — snippet.
• 🎬 Movies – video from messengers (often duplicated).
• 📥 Download – Downloaded files (APK, PDF, ZIP).

⚠️ Note: Do not delete the Android folder at the root of the memory - it contains application data. MIUI Xiaomi is a system file.

Automatic cleaning via Google Photos:

If you use Google Photos, turn on:

1. Open Google Photos → Settings → Free up the space.
2. The app will prompt you to delete photos that have already been uploaded to the cloud.
3. Confirm the deletion – it will free up to several gigabytes.

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Photos in their original quality take ~3-5 MB each. When compressed to "High Quality" in Google Photos, their size decreases 3-4 times without noticeable loss of quality.

5. Transfer applications to a memory card (if any)

Redmi 8 supports microSD cards up to 512GB, but not all apps can be ported. System and some games (such as PUBG or Call of Duty) will remain in internal memory.

How to transfer applications to SD-map:

1. Insert a memory card (format as internal memory for maximum compatibility).
2. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
3. Select an app (such as WhatsApp) → Storage → Change → Memory Map.
4. Confirm the transfer (may take a few minutes).

Limitations and nuances:

• ❌ Can't move it: MIUI Launcher, Settings, Google Play Services.
• ⚠️ After the transfer, some applications may run slower (depending on class). SD-map).
• 🔄 If you pull out the map, the transferred applications will stop working.

How to format SD-map as an internal memory:

1. Put the card in the phone.
2. When you receive a notification, click Set Up → Internal Memory.
3. Confirm the formatting (all data will be erased!).
4. After formatting, restart the phone.

⚠️ Warning: After that, the card will not be read on other devices without formatting. Also, do not remove it without first "disabling" in the settings (Storage) → Shut down. SD-map).

6. Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If all previous methods failed, and the phone shows 20+ GB of "system files" occupied, the file system may have been damaged or residual files accumulated after the updates, in which case a full reset will help.

How to reset Redmi 8 without losing data (partial reset):

• 📱 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Resetting settings.
• 🔄 Select Reset all settings (this won’t delete photos and apps, but resets network settings, sound, etc.).

Full reset (Hard Reset):

1. Make a backup copy of important data (photos, contacts, messages).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Reset settings.
3. Choose Delete all data and confirm.
4. The phone will restart and start the process (it will take 5-10 minutes).

⚠️ Note: After reset, Redmi 8 can "hang" on the logo MI 15 minutes is normal. Don't turn off your phone or remove the battery!

Reset via Recovery (if the phone is not turned on):

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up until Recovery appears.
3. Choose Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.

💡

Factory reset deletes all user data, but does not affect the firmware. If the problem was in corrupted system files, after reset, they are restored from the backup in the /system partition.

7. Additional methods: for advanced users

If you’re willing to dive deeper, these methods will help free up a few more gigabytes.

1.Remove old MIUI MIUI updates saves firmware files in the /cache folder that can be deleted:

1. Install Root Explorer or FX File Explorer.
2. Go to /cache and delete files with the.zip extension (e.g. update.zip).
3. Also check the folder. /data/ota_package.

2. disable automatic media download in WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber messengers by default upload all photos and videos to the phone memory.

• 📲 On WhatsApp: Settings → Warehouse → Autoboot media → Turn off download for mobile data.
• 📎 In Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Autoboot media → Choose Never.

3. Use of Lite versions of applications

Replace the "heavy" applications with lighter versions:

4. Clearing Dalvik cache (Recovery required)

Dalvik cache is optimized files to speed up applications, and cleaning it won’t hurt, but it can speed up the system:

1. Go to Recovery (Nutrition + Volume Up).
2. Choose Advanced → Wipe Dalvik Cache.
3. Reboot the phone.

8. Comparison of methods: what gives the most space?

We tested all methods on Redmi 8 3/32 GB with MIUI 12.5.

Conclusion: The greatest effect is the combination of cleaning media + removing unnecessary applications + transferring to SD. Reset to factory settings should only be used as a last resort.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory release on Redmi 8