Owners of the popular Redmi Note 8 Pro often face an annoying problem: the deviceβs memory is crowded, although the gallery and app list seem to be clean. Android system, processing a lot of temporary files, cache and residual data from remote programs, marks them as βOtherβ This partition can take up to 10-15 gigabytes, which is critical for versions with 64 GB of internal memory.
Cleaning this partition requires careful attention, as blind deletion of files can cause malfunctions in the operating system. Unlike the standard application cache, data in the Other category is often hidden from the user's eyes and is not deleted by a simple reboot.
In this article, weβll take a closer look at the safe ways to free up space on your Redmi Note 8 Pro. We wonβt rely on questionable clinch apps, but instead use built-in Android tools and proven manual cleaning techniques that are guaranteed to return free space without risking data.
Storage analysis: search for hidden volumes
The first step is always to diagnose. Before you delete something, you need to understand what exactly occupies space. Xiaomi's standard settings menu gives only a general idea, so it's better to use file managers with visualization function for deep analysis.
It is recommended to install Files by Google or Total Commander, which allows you to see the real size of the folders that the system hides in the Other section, often containing forgotten files from messengers or cache cards.
- π Open the storage settings through Settings β The phone. β Initial evaluation vault.
- π Install a third-party file manager to view folder structure in detail.
- βοΈ Check the "Apps" tab in the settings by sorting the list by the size of the space occupied.
β οΈ Note: Do not delete files from system folders unless you are 100% sure of their purpose.Deleting Android or obb libraries can cause games and programs to fail.
Telegram and WhatsApp tend to accumulate gigabytes of media files that the system does not always correctly classify. The visual analyzer will show the heaviest objects that can be safely removed.
Cleaning the cache of messengers and social networks
The biggest source of garbage in the Other category is messengers. Telegram, for example, stores all the photos and videos you've viewed in a local cache, even if you've already seen them. Over time, this cache grows to giant sizes, taking up space in hidden sections.
To clean up Telegram, you don't have to delete the app, just go to the settings of the messenger itself, find the item "Data and memory" and select "Memory Use," where you can clear the cache without losing correspondence, which will release a significant amount of what the system considered "Other."
With Viber and WhatsApp, the situation is similar, but files are often scattered across different directories: Use built-in cleaning tools inside apps or manually delete the contents of Media and Cache folders in the directories of those programs.
What if the cache is cleared but the place is not returned?
It is important to understand the difference between cleaning the cache and cleaning the data. Cache cleaning is safe and only deletes temporary files. Data cleaning will reset the application to factory settings by removing logins and correspondence history, so use this feature with caution.
Delete residual files after deleting applications
When you delete a game or program on Redmi Note 8 Pro, there are often tails left behind β folders with settings, logs, and temporary files β that the system no longer needs, but continue to occupy space in the Other section.
To find them, go to the root directory of internal memory. Look for folders with names of remote applications or developers. For example, after removing a game from Gameloft or Asphalt, heavy files with textures may remain.
| Type of folder | Location. | Can I remove it? | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cache | /Android/data/.../cache | Yes. | Low (the app will download again) |
| Temp /Tmp | root or folders of applications | Yes. | Low (temporary files) |
| Log | Various directories | Yes. | Low (Error Reports) |
| Obb | /Android/obb/ | Only if the game is deleted | High (the game will stop working) |
The MIUI system folder can also contain backups and logs that take up space, often containing a gallery folder with deleted photos or a cloud with temporary sync data.
βοΈ Check before deleting folders
Working with MIUI folder and system garbage
The MIUI shell on the Redmi Note 8 Pro has its own file storage specifics. At the root of the internal memory, there's always a MIUI folder, which is the analog of the system directories, and it stores screenshots, voice recordings and cloud data.
You should pay special attention to the MIUI β gallery β cloud subfolder. If you use cloud sync, you can store thumbnails and original photos that are already in the cloud, but duplicate locally. Deleting them will make room, but make sure that the photos are saved to Google Photos or Mi Cloud.
Also check the folder. debug_log. If the phone has ever been on debugging mode USB, This folder could have accumulated gigabytes of system logs. You can delete them safely, and only developers need them to find bugs.
β οΈ Attention: In the folder MIUI If you've made backups, they're there. Deleting that folder will make it impossible for you to reset your phone without completely flashing it.
Another source of debris is the thumbnail folder, which stores sketches of images for the gallery, and with a lot of photos, it can weigh several gigabytes. Deletion is safe, but the next time you open the gallery, the phone will recreate these files, using a battery.
Use of Developer Mode and ADB
For advanced users who lack standard methods, there is a way to clean through a computer: Connecting the Redmi Note 8 Pro to a PC and using USB debugging allows you to see hidden system files that are not available through the file manager on the phone itself.
To do this, activate the developer mode. Go to Settings β About Phone and 7 times click on the MIUI version. Then in advanced settings, turn on βDebugging by USBβ.
adb shell pm trim-databases
adb shell am broadcast -a android.intent.action.CLEAN_UPThese commands, entered through the command line on the computer (with ADB installed), will force the SQLite databases to be cleaned and run the system's garbage cleanup process, a deeper cleaning than the standard one.
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Before using ADB, make sure to make a full backup of important data to your computer or the cloud, as accessing system files carries increased risks.
Also, ADB can remove system applications that cannot be removed in the standard way, which will not only free up space in the application section, but also reduce the volume of the Other, since system files are often classified there.
Radical measures: resetting and formatting
If neither method worked and the Other continues to occupy a critical volume, it is possible that the file system is corrupted or contains indexing errors, in which case the solution would be a complete factory reset.
Before resetting, be sure to save all the important data to an external medium. Once reset, the phone will be as new as possible, and the Other partition will take up the smallest possible amount.
- π Go to Settings. β Advanced settings β Recovery and discharge.
- ποΈ Select βResettingβ and confirm the deletion of all data.
- π² Wait for the reboot and initial setup of the Redmi Note 8 Pro.
An alternative to a full reset could be formatting internal memory as an external drive (if this option is available in your version of MIUI) and back formatting, but on modern versions of Android, this feature is often blocked by manufacturers.
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Full reset is the only way to guarantee that you will clear the Other section if the file system error is the reason for its proliferation.
Prevention of memory overflow
To prevent the problem from returning in a month, you need to introduce a habit of regular prevention.The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is a powerful smartphone, but it does not like when its memory is stuffed to the end.
Try not to store files on your device that you don't use. Videos and photos should be sent immediately to the cloud or to your computer. Check the Downloads folder regularly, as from there files often fall into the category of indefinite.
Use Xiaomi's built-in Security app. While it's not always perfect, regular deep-cleaning pen helps the system tag files to delete in time. Don't ignore space shortage notifications - respond to them immediately.