Xiaomi Redmi Note 8, released in 2019, is still a popular device thanks to balanced specs and a quality camera.However, owners often face a shortage of storage space, especially when built-in 64 or 128 gigabytes are filled with high-resolution photos and videos. Mi Cloud system offers a convenient backup solution, but over time the limit of free space is exhausted, requiring immediate cleaning or expansion.
Cleaning up cloud storage isn’t just about deleting files, it’s about a complex data management process that directly affects how your device syncs. Deleting data from the cloud completely will cause it to disappear from all connected devices unless you have a local copy in advance. In this article, we’ll take a look at how to securely manage files in Mi Cloud, free up space, and optimize your Mi Account.
Redmi Note 8 owners need to understand the difference between local storage and remote server. Many users mistakenly believe that deleting a photo from a phone gallery automatically frees up space in the cloud, or vice versa, that files in the cloud take up space on disk. Synchronization works differently: it creates a mirror copy, and managing it requires careful approach to the settings of each particular application.
Access to cloud management through smartphone settings
The easiest and fastest way to start cleaning is to use the built-in Android settings menu with the MIUI shell. You need to go to Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud. This shows the general statistics of disk space usage, divided into categories: Gallery, Contacts, Recorder and others. By clicking on the Occupancy Scale, you will be taken to the detailed control menu.
The storage management interface on the Redmi Note 8 allows you to quickly assess which type of content takes up the most space. This is usually the Gallery section where all the pictures and screenshots are taken. The system automatically sorts files, but for deep cleaning you will need to go to the web version or use specialized functions inside applications.
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Before mass deleting files, be sure to check the “Recently Deleted” folder on the phone itself, as freeing up space in the cloud is not always instantly displayed in local storage without restarting sync.
Importantly, when synchronized, deleting a file in the settings menu can trigger a chain reaction. If you want to save photos on your phone but remove them from the cloud, you first need to turn off sync for a specific folder. To do this, select the desired item from the Mi Cloud menu, such as “Gallery”, and turn the switch to an inactive state by selecting the “Delete from the cloud” option.
Delete photos and videos via the web interface
The most effective method of mass cleaning is to use the browser on your computer or in desktop mode on the smartphone itself. i.mi.com provides more flexible tools for working with files than the mobile application. You need to log in using your Mi Account and go to the Gallery section.
Multiple file allocation is available here, which is critical for quick cleaning. You can choose photos by date, albums in their entirety, or use keyboard combinations to highlight ranges. The Redmi Note 8 with its screen is less convenient than on a PC, so it is recommended to use a large display to visually control the content being removed.
- 📸 Go to the Gallery section and select Camera to delete the main shots.
- 🗑️ Use the “Select All” button at the top of the list if you plan to clean up your archives completely.
- ⏳ After deleting, the files are moved to a recycle bin where they are stored for 30 days before final erasure.
- 🔄 Changes are synced on the phone only after connecting to a Wi-Fi network.
You should pay special attention to video files, because they take up the largest amount of memory, and in the web interface, you can sort files by size to quickly find and remove heavy videos that you no longer need, and this is the fastest way to free up a few gigabytes of space in a couple of minutes.
Cleaning Application Backups and System Data
In addition to media content, a significant portion of the space in the Mi Cloud can be taken up by backups of system settings and application data. On the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8, this data is accumulated after each automatic synchronization. To check its volume, you need to select “Backup” or “Storage Management” from the cloud menu.
The backup list shows all the devices tied to your account. If you previously had other Xiaomi phones, their old backups can take up space even if you have already sold or lost those devices. Deleting old backups is a safe way to free up space without affecting current data.
| Type of data | Average size | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Photos and videos | Up to 4.5GB | Transfer to PC or external disk |
| Backup of the system | 100-500 MB | Leave only the latest version. |
| Dictaphone | 10–50 MB | Delete unnecessary records |
| SMS messages | 5–20 MB | Clearing old correspondence |
When you delete an app backup, remember that you lose the ability to quickly restore your Wi-Fi icons and passwords when you reset your settings. However, if the location is critical, this data can be restored from a local copy on the phone itself, which is created separately.
What happens to the application data after cleaning?
Managing the recorder and notes
Many users forget that the built-in Dictophone and Notes apps also sync with the cloud by default. On the Redmi Note 8, the record quality of the recorder is quite high, and long lectures or interviews can take hundreds of megabytes.
To clean up, go to the cloud settings and look for the Dictator section, where you can listen to the recordings directly in the control interface and delete the ones that have become obsolete. Similar to the notebook situation: if you store large lists or images there, they are also counted in the general limit of 5 GB.
⚠️ Warning: Deleting the recorder from the cloud when sync is enabled will delete the file from the phone's internal memory. First, copy important audio files to the Downloads folder or to your computer.
If you're actively using a recorder to work, it makes sense to change the recording quality settings to lower or disable sync for this application, leaving storage only local, which will prevent cloud space from filling up quickly in the future.
Removing the basket and final removal
The Mi Cloud system has a security mechanism, a recycle bin where deleted files are stored for 30 days, which allows you to recover data in case of an error, but also means that the space is not released instantly. To actually clean up the cloud on Xiaomi, you need to perform a final deletion procedure.
In the web interface or in the Gallery application (the Album tab» → «Recently deleted) you can find all deleted files. Select the option “Clean the Recycle Bin” or “Delete Forever” and you will be free of space. On the Redmi Note 8, this operation is fast thanks to the optimization of the Snapdragon processor.
- 🗑️ Go to the “Recently Deleted” section of the gallery.
- ✅ Click the “Clear” button or select specific files.
- 🔒 Confirm the action by entering the password from the Mi Account if necessary.
- 📉 Check the occupancy indicator in the settings - it should be updated.
☑️ Cleaning check
After cleaning the basket, it is recommended to restart the smartphone, this action will force the update status of synchronization and remove possible “phantom” (busy) in the display of storage statistics.
Optimizing and preventing overcrowding in the future
To avoid the problem of space shortage in Mi Cloud, you need to adjust the sync settings. On the Redmi Note 8, you can flexibly manage what is sent to the cloud, for example, you can leave sync only for contacts and notes, and heavy videos can be saved exclusively to a microSD card or computer.
Use the Free Space feature if available in your version of MIUI. It automatically removes photos and videos from your phone that have already been successfully uploaded to the cloud, leaving thumbnails, but be careful: if you then clear the cloud, the thumbnails will remain and the originals will be lost.
⚠️ Note: If you turn off gallery sync, new images will no longer be saved to the cloud. Make sure you have an alternative way to back up, such as Google Photos or regular copying to your PC.
Also consider buying extra space if free 5GB isn't enough for you.For the Xiaomi ecosystem, it's a low-cost solution that automatically extends the limit to 50GB or 200GB, eliminating the need for constant manual cleaning.
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Regularly checking the Gallery and Backup sections once a month will help avoid a sudden sync stoppage due to overcrowding.