Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro was released a few years ago, and for many users it remains a reliable working tool. However, over time, the accumulation of photos, videos, app cache and system logs leads to a critical filling of internal storage. When the empty space runs out, the device begins to work slower, and new images cease to be stored.
Freeing up space on Android requires a system approach, because simply removing apps often doesn’t work. There are hidden folders and duplicate files in the MIUI operating shell that take up gigabytes. In this article, we’ll look at proven ways to optimize disk space for your model.
Before we start taking drastic measures, it's worth analyzing what exactly occupies space, often the culprits are messengers or automatically saved videos from social networks, and setting the system right will help avoid re-overflow in the future.
Analysis of vault occupancy
The first step is always diagnostics. The built-in MIUI provides fairly accurate information about file allocations. Go to the settings menu and select About Phone → Storage, where the system visualizes the data by showing applications, images and system files.
Note the Other category, which is often where object files left over from deleted games or temporary update archives are hidden. If this partition is more than 10-15 GB, manual verification through the file manager is required. The standard File Explorer allows you to sort data by size, which makes it easier to find heavyweights.
If you have Google Photos or Mi Cloud sync enabled, the originals can be stored online, taking up space on the server, but local copies can still remain in memory. Checking your sync settings will help you see if local versions of files can be safely deleted.
Cleaning cache and temporary files
The fastest way to get a few gigabytes back is to clear the cache. Apps save temporary data to speed things up, but over time those files grow and become useless. Redmi Note 8 Pro has a built-in Cleanup utility available through the Security app.
Run the scan and wait for the analysis to be completed. The system will prompt you to remove the "garbage", which includes the remnants of deleted applications and temporary browser files. Be careful: sometimes small but useful files fall into this category, so it is recommended to review the list before confirming.
☑️ Daily Memory Hygiene
Social media cache deserves special attention. Apps like TikTok or Instagram can accumulate gigabytes of videos you have watched. To clear them, go to Settings → Apps → All apps, select the right one and click Clear Cache. It is important not to confuse this button with Clear All, otherwise you will be dropped from your account.
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Use the Deep Clean feature in the standard Security app once a week to automatically remove hidden debris.
Working with multimedia and duplicates
Media is the main consumer of space on modern smartphones. The Redmi Note 8 Pro captures high-resolution video, and one minute of 4K video can take hundreds of megabytes. Regularly migrating the archive to the computer or the cloud is the only solution for long-term storage.
There are often duplicates in the file system, which can be identical photos saved in different folders, or copies of documents from messengers, and the built-in cleaning tool sometimes tags them, but for careful verification, it is better to use specialized snails or manually view the DCIM and Pictures folders.
Pay special attention to messenger folders. WhatsApp and Telegram by default save all received media to the gallery. Turn off auto-save in the settings of these applications, so that future pictures do not clog the memory of the phone.
| Type of file | Location (path) | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| Photo camera | /DCIM/Camera | Move to the cloud/PC, remove the original |
| Screenshots | /Pictures/Screenshots | Remove old ones, leave them relevant |
| Downloads. | /Download | Check for APK installers |
| Status videos | /Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Media/.Statuses | Clean the entire folder (hidden folder) |
Deletion and freezing of applications
Many pre-installed applications (bloatware) cannot be removed in the standard way, but they take up space and resources. Removing them will require superuser rights or the use of ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a more advanced method that requires a connection to a computer.
If you are not ready to use console commands, use the “Disable” function in the application settings. This will hide the program from the menu and prevent it from running, although the disk space will not be completely free. MIUI.
List of safe for removing system applications
Also worth checking is the list of rarely used programs. The storage settings often have a "Rarely Used" filter. Deleting games you haven't played in six months can free up 2 to 10 GB of space instantly.
Use of memory card and OTG
Redmi Note 8 Pro is equipped with a hybrid slot, which allows you to use a microSD memory card instead of a second one. SIM-This is the perfect solution for storing photo archives and videos. Once you have installed the map, it is recommended to format it as Portable Storage».
In the camera settings, you can specify that you save photos and videos directly to the memory card, which will prevent the internal memory from filling in the future, but the applications will still be installed in internal storage, since the Android system restricts the operation of programs from external media.
⚠️ Warning: Do not transfer system folders and application files to the memory card manually. This can lead to malfunctioning of programs and data loss. Use the card only for multimedia and documents.
If you can't install a memory card (the second SIM slot is taken up), use a USB-OTG flash drive. By connecting an external drive through a Type-C adapter, you can quickly move large files there and clean the phone. This is a convenient way to temporarily free up space without using a computer.
Radical measures: Resetting to factory settings
If none of the methods worked and the memory is critically filled, the last option is a complete reset, which will return the phone to the “out of the box” state, removing absolutely all user data, accounts and settings.
Before starting the operation, make sure to back up. In MIUI, this can be done through Settings → About Phone → Backup and Restore. Save the backup to your computer or memory card, as when you reset the internal memory will be completely cleared.
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Full reset is the most effective way to remove system debris and file system errors, but requires a mandatory backup of data.
To perform the reset, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Reset and Reset → Reset. The process will take 10-15 minutes. Once turned on, the phone will run faster and the memory will be freed up completely, except for the space occupied by the system.