How to Free Memory for Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T Without Losing Data

With its 32/64/128GB of internal memory, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T is quickly clogged with photos, apps and system debris. Even if you don’t install games, the MIUI operating system and background processes are gradually taking up free space. In this article, we will discuss 7 working ways to clean memory from basic to advanced, including hidden settings and automation.

The Redmi Note 8T (codename willow) features a hybrid memory card slot: either a second SIM or a microSD of up to 256 GB. This restriction forces users to carefully manage storage. We tested all methods on MIUI 12-14 firmware (Android 9-11) and found out which give the maximum effect without risk to the system.

1. Analysis of occupied space: what exactly eats memory?

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

Open Settings → About Phone → Memory. Here is a diagram of the categorization:

• 📱 System – firmware, updates, pre-installed applications (usually 10-15 GB).
• 📷 Multimedia – photo, video, music (most often the culprit of memory deficiency).
• 📦 Applications – installed programs and their data (cache, databases).
• 🗑️ Other – temporary files, logs, remnants of remote applications.

For a detailed analysis, use Files by Google (free on the Play Market) which shows:

• 🔍 Duplicate photos and documents.
• 🗃️ Large files (>100 MB) that has not been opened for a long time.
• 📂 Folders with garbage (for example, Download or DCIM/.thumbnails).

⚠️ If the Other section is occupied more than 5 GB - this is a sign of system debris or malfunction MIUI. In this case, only resetting to factory settings will help (see Section 6).

2. Cleaning up app cache and system debris

Cache speeds up programs, but it grows to giant sizes over time, and on the Redmi Note 8T, it can be cleaned in two ways:

Method 1: Manual cleaning for individual applications:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as YouTube or Facebook).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

Example

Google Chrome

Telegram

Method 2: Mass cleaning through Safety:

1. Open the Security app (shield icon).
2. Select Cleanup. → Deep cleaning.
3. Check boxes for unnecessary files (temporary, APK residues, thumbnails).
4. Press Clear.

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After cleaning the cache, restart the phone – this will speed up the re-creation of the necessary temporary files.

3. Removal of unnecessary applications and their data

The Redmi Note 8T comes with Xiaomi apps (e.g. Mi Video, Mi Music, GetApps) that cannot be removed by standard means, but can be disabled or removed with ADB.

How to disable system applications:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an unneeded app (such as Mi Pay).
3. Click Disable (if the button is active).

Note

List of safe to remove system applications (ADB required):

• 🎵 com.miui.player — Mi Music
• 🎬 com.miui.videoplayer — Mi Video
• 🛒 com.xiaomi.midrop - Mi Drop (if not used)
• 📦 com.miui.cleanmaster – Cleaning (duplicates function to Security)

For removal via ADB:

1. Activate Developer Mode (7 times click on the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone).
2. Enable USB debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.player

⚠️ Note: Do not delete applications called com.android., com.qualcomm. or com.miui.home, which will cause the system to fail!

4. Transfer data to a microSD memory card

The Redmi Note 8T supports microSD cards up to 256GB (FAT32 or exFAT format).However, not all files can be moved - there are limitations of Android and MIUI.

What can be transferred to SD-map:

• 📷 Photo and video (via Gallery) → Select → Move it).
• 🎵 Music and podcasts (moving the Music folder manually).
• 📄 Documents (PDF, Word, Excel).
• 🎮 Some games (through Settings) → Annexes → Move it to SD).

What I CAN'T move:

• 📱 Applications (except for some games with Adoptable Storage support).
• 🔧 Application data (for example, saving games or setting messengers).
• 📥 Uploaded files from Telegram or WhatsApp (copy only).

How do you do it? SD-Adoptable Storage: This method formats the card and makes it tethered to the phone!

1. Put it in. SD-map.
2. Go to Settings → Memory → SD card.
3. Select Set Up → Internal memory.
4. Follow the instructions (the phone will prompt you to transfer the data).

Make a backup copy of data from the card|Check the speed class (recommended) UHS-I)|Format in exFAT (if you have to do so) >64GB)|Restart the phone after installation-->

5. Optimization of photo and video storage

Photos in 48 MP resolution (on the Redmi Note 8T) take 10-15 MB each, and video in Full HD - up to 100 MB / min.

Method 1. Compression via Google Photos:

• 📱 Install Google Photos and enable Save Space in Settings.
• 🔄 Upload the photo to the cloud and delete the originals from your phone (free space option).
• 📊 High quality (non-original) reduces file size by 2-3 times without any visible loss of quality.

Method 2: Change the resolution of the camera:

1. Open the camera. → Settings (⚙️) → Photo permission.
2. Select 12 MP instead of 48 MP (file size will decrease 3-4 times).
3. For video, set 720p instead of 1080p (unless you need high detail).

Method 3: Convert HEIF/HEIC to JPG: Redmi Note 8T by default saves a photo in HEIF (.heic extension) format, which takes up less space, but not all devices support it.

1. Install HEIF Image Converter from Play Market.
2. Select a folder with a photo and convert to JPG.
3. Delete the original.heic.

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HEIF photos take up 30 to 50 percent less space than JPG, with the same quality, and if you're not transferring them to other devices, leave them in the original format.

6. Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If less than 10% of memory is free after all the manipulations, and the phone is slowing down, Hard Reset will help. This method deletes all data, including accounts, photos and apps, so be sure to back up!

How to reset the Redmi Note 8T:

What to do after the discharge:

• 🔧 Turn off the automatic download of media files in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram).

⚠️ Note: After the Redmi Note reset 8T You may need to re-assign your Mi Account (if Device Protection is enabled!

7. Cleaning automation: MIUI settings and third-party utilities

To avoid manually clearing your memory, set up automatic processes:

Built-in MIUI tools:

• 🧹 Settings → Battery and productivity → Cleanup → Turn on Auto Cleanup.
• 🗑️ Settings → Memory. → Automatic cleaning → Set a schedule (for example, once a week).
• 📥 Limit the background activity of applications in Settings → Annexes → Permits → Auto-start.

The side of the utility for automatic cleaning:

Setting restrictions for messengers:

• 📥 On WhatsApp: Settings → Warehouse → Autoboot media → disconnect for mobile data.
• 🤖 In Telegram: Settings → Data and memory → Downloading → Choose Never.

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To ensure that messengers do not clog up memory, regularly clean the cache manually: in Telegram this is done through Settings → Data and memory → Clear the cache of Telegram.

FAQ: Frequent Memory Cleanup Questions on Redmi Note 8T