How to Free Memory in the Other section on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: The Complete Guide

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro is one of the most popular mid-range smartphones, but even its 64/128 GB of memory is eventually clogged with the mysterious “Other” section. Users often face a situation when the free space is melting before their eyes, and storage analysis shows that this section is to blame. Unlike photos, videos or applications, the content of “Other” is not always obvious: there may be cache of system processes, remnants of deleted files, error logs and even duplicate data from MIUI. In this article, we will analyze what exactly occupies the “Other” section on the Redmi Note 8 Pro, how to clean it safely and prevent refilling.

It's important to understand that the other is not garbage in the usual sense, but a collection of utility files that MIUI and Android 9/10 create for stable operation. Uncontrolled cleaning can lead to malfunctions in the camera, messengers or even the system. So we'll focus on secure methods that do not require root rights or complex manipulation. First, we will understand what files fall into this category and why they accumulate.

What’s Hiding in the “Other” Section on the Redmi Note 8 Pro

On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, the “Other” section of storage analysis (Settings → Memory) can take up from 2 to 15 GB depending on the time of use and the applications installed. Unlike the Redmi Note 9/10, where MIUI 12+ optimizes cache better, on the Note 8 Pro (with MIUI 11/12 based on Android 9/10), this problem is more acute.

• 📁 System application cache: files from com.android.systemui, com.miui.home and other services that are not cleaned by standard means.
• 🗑️ Remains of deleted files: fragments of photos, videos or documents that remain in memory after deletion (especially if you used third-party file managers).
• 📊 Error Logs and Dumps: files with the.log,.dumpstate or.tombstone extension that are created when applications crash.
• 🔄 Duplicate data: MIUI sometimes backs up settings or media files in hidden folders (e.g, /MIUI/Backup or /Android/data/com.xiaomi.midrop).
• 🎮 Cash games: even after uninstallation of heavy games (for example, the game is not used, PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty – their temporary files can remain in memory.

The Redmi Note 8 Pro features an F2FS file system (instead of ext4 on newer models) that is less effective at fragmenting data, which causes the garbage to accumulate faster, and the standard cleaning through Settings → Memory → Clean only removes the tip of the iceberg.

Method 1: Cleaning through built-in MIUI tools

To begin with, the safest methods that don’t require installing third-party apps are the MIUI on the Redmi Note 8 Pro, which has a few hidden memory features that many users miss.

The first step is to use extended cleaning:

1. Go to Settings. → Memory.
2. Slip on the memory usage chart, then select “Other”.
3. Click on “Clear” (if the button is active) or “Memory Management”.
4. In the section "Deep cleaning" tick all points and confirm the action.

This method removes the cache of system applications and temporary files, but often leaves logs and duplicates intact.

• 🔍 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 📌 Sort the list by size and check apps with more than 500MB of cache (e.g. YouTube, Facebook, Mi Video).
• 🧹 For each such application, click “Clear Cache” and “Clear Data” (unless you’re afraid of resetting your settings).

And look at the app com.android.providers.downloads.ui, which is responsible for downloads and often accumulates garbage, and its cache can be cleaned without consequences.

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If the "Clean" button in the "Other" section is inactive, try restarting your smartphone. Sometimes MIUI blocks cleaning due to background processes.

Method 2: Manually delete hidden files through file manager

For power users, there is a more radical method, manually cleaning through a file manager with access to system folders. We recommend using Mi File Manager (embedded) or Solid Explorer (from Google Play).

Here are the folders that can be cleaned without risk to the system:

To access these folders:

1. Open Mi File Manager.
2. Enable the display of hidden files (three dots in the upper right corner → “Settings” → “Show hidden files”).
3. Follow these steps and delete unnecessary files.

Do not touch files in /data (except /data/media/0), /system or /persist. Deleting them can make your smartphone inoperable.

Method 3: Using ADB for deep cleaning

If previous methods have failed and the Other section still takes gigabytes, you can use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting your smartphone to your computer, but allows you to delete files that are not available through standard means.

Instructions:

1. Download and install Google’s Platform Tools.
2. On your smartphone, enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (Tap 7 times) → Settings → Additional → For Developers → USB Debugging).
3. Connect the Redmi Note 8 Pro to your PC and type in the command line:

adb devices

If the device is displayed, execute a command to clear the cache of all user applications:

adb shell pm trim-caches -d 1073741824

This command compulsorily clears the cache larger than 1 GB. Use:

adb shell rm -rf /data/local/tmp/*


adb shell rm -rf /data/log/*

Once you have completed the commands, restart your smartphone, a method that helps free up to 3 to 5 GB, but requires caution: the wrong command can delete important data.

Download Platform Tools|Enable debugging on USB|Connect the phone to the PC|Check the visibility of the device (adb devices)|Make a backup copy of important data-->

Method 4: Resetting cache in Recovery Mode

If the Other takes more than 10GB and isn’t cleared in standard ways, it will help to reset the cache through recovery mode, which does not affect user data, but resets all temporary system files.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the Redmi Note 8 Pro.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select the language (volume buttons for navigation, power for confirmation).
4. Go to “Wipe & Reset” → “Wipe Cache” → confirm the action.
5. Once completed, select “Reboot” → “Reboot to System”.

This method is especially effective if the smartphone began to slow down or overheat. cache systems (/cache) and Dalvik cache (/data/dalvik-cache) will be completely cleared, and the partition “Other” will be reduced by 2-7 GB.

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Recovery Mode cache reset is the only official way to clean the system partition without losing data.It is safer than manually deleting files through ADB.

Method 5: Preventing the “Other” from being refilled

Cleaning up memory is only half the solution, so that the Other section doesn't get clogged again, follow these guidelines:

• 📵 Limit the cache for applications: in Settings → Annexes → App management for each app can be set to a cache limit (e.g. 100MB for Instagram).
• 🔄 Turn off automatic backup: Settings → Accounts. → Mi Cloud → Backup → Turn off unnecessary options.
• 📥 Use Easy Mode for Games: in Game Turbo (Settings) → Special facilities → Game Turbo: Enable the option “Memory Optimization».
• 🗃️ Transfer files to SD-card: even if you have a model with 128 GB of memory, store media files on a memory card (but do not transfer applications there – this will slow down the work).
• 🔍 Check your memory regularly: Start Settings once a month → Memory. → Clean and delete unnecessary files.

Also, you should disable automatic download of media in instant messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram): these files are often duplicated in hidden folders and fall into the “Other” section. On Telegram, for example, go to Settings → Data and Memory → Media Autoboot and select “Never”.

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If you install and delete games frequently, use the SD Maid app (from Google Play) to automatically clean up residues, which can find and delete files that standard MIUI tools skip.

What do you do if nothing helps?

If after all the manipulations, the “Other” section still takes up an unreasonable amount of space (more than 10 GB), the following reasons are possible:

1. File system damage: due to incorrect extraction SD-card or file recording failures Solution - backup and complete reset (Settings) → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge → Resetting settings).
2. Viral software: Some viruses masquerade as system files and take up space in "The Other." Check your smartphone through Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light.
3. Memory Display Error: Sometimes MIUI miscalculates the occupied space.Reboot your phone and check the memory through another application (e.g. DiskUsage).

If the problem persists, it may be a hardware failure (memory wear) that can only help with a replacement drive at the service center. The Redmi Note 8 Pro uses UFS 2.1, and its degradation is unlikely in the first 3-4 years of use, but is not excluded during heavy use.

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If the “Other” section fills up quickly after resetting, this is a sign of a software failure. Try reflashing your smartphone through the Mi Flash Tool (instructions on the official website).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the "Other" section on the Redmi Note 8 Pro