How to Clean Memory on Xiaomi Redmi 8T: A Complete Guide to Secret Chips

Your Xiaomi Redmi 8T is slowing down, apps are crashing with a “lack of memory” error, and the system is constantly reminding you of overcrowded storage? This problem is familiar to most owners of budget smartphones with limited internal memory. Even 64 GB on the Redmi 8T quickly clog with photos, app cache and system debris — especially if you actively use instant messengers, social networks or games.

Unlike flagships, where memory is rarely critical, on Xiaomi’s budget models, every megabyte counts. But don’t rush to buy a microSD or drop your phone to factory settings! In this article, we’ll look at 7 proven ways to clean memory from basic to advanced, including hidden MIUI features that aren’t written about in standard instructions. You’ll learn how to safely delete unnecessary files, optimize cache, and even transfer some of the data to a memory card without root rights.

1.Diagnostics: What exactly is taking up memory on the Redmi 8T?

Before you clean it, you need to figure out which files are eating up precious space. Redmi 8T has a built-in storage analyzer, but it's hidden in a non-obvious menu. Here's how to find it:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 5 times on the MIUI version (this will open the hidden developer menu, but we do not need it – just get to the desired section so quickly).
3. Go back to the main settings menu and select Memory (or Storage in newer versions of MIUI).
4. Wait for the analysis (it can take up to 30 seconds) – the system will show the distribution of memory by category.

A typical picture on the Redmi 8T after a year of use:

A critical feature of Redmi 8T is that up to 30% of memory can be used in a backup area for MIUI updates that the system does not show in standard analysis, and to see it, you need to use ADB or third-party applications like DiskUsage.

⚠️ Note: If the "Other" section is more than 8 GB, this is a sign of fragmentation of the file system, in which case only a complete reset or flashing through Fastboot will help.

2.Cache cleaning applications: safe and efficient

Cache is the main memory eater on Redmi 8T. Unlike these applications, it can be deleted without losing important information.

• 📱 Regular cache: temporary files that apps create to speed things up, and they can be cleaned every day.
• 🔄 Dalwick cache: system cache that is generated after updates. its cleaning requires rebooting.
• 🚫 Google Play Services cache: no removal recommended – it can break account sync.

How to clean the cache correctly:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Sort by size.
3. Open apps with a cache >500 MB (usually Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Telegram).
4. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

Remember the usernames/passwords for applications (the cache may contain authorization data)

Close all background applications

Connect charging (the process can take 5-10 minutes)

Do not interrupt the cleaning until it is completed.-->

For automatic cleaning, use the built-in MIUI tool:

1. Go to Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
2. Activate the Deep Clean option (it removes the cache of system applications).
3. Click Clean and wait until it is completed.

⚠️ Attention: After deep cleaning of Redmi 8T It can slow down the first 10-15 minutes, which is normal because the system recovers the necessary files.

Once a week.

Once a month

Only when memory ends

Never cleaned.-->

3. Removing duplicate photos and videos: a hidden problem

The Redmi 8T camera has a special feature: when shooting in HDR or with AI enabled, it saves two copies of each shot, the original and the processed version. The same happens when editing photos in the gallery, as a result, up to 3-5 GB of duplicates accumulate after a year!

How to find and remove them:

• 🔍 Use the built-in tool: Gallery → Albums. → Duplicates (available in MIUI 12+).
• 📁 For older versions. MIUI Install Files by Google – there is a separate section to search for duplicates.
• 🖼️ Check the folders: DCIM/.thumbnails — Miniatures (can be removed completely) Pictures/Screenshots — Screenshots (often duplicated) MIUI/Camera — camera-file

For advanced users, there is a way through ADB:

adb shell pm clear com.miui.gallery

This command will reset the gallery cache, but it won't delete the photos themselves. Once it's done, reset the phone.

💡

Before mass deleting a photo, back up to Google Photos or PC, and even “unnecessary” images can contain important metadata (geolocation, date).

4.Moving applications to memory card: bypassing MIUI restrictions

The Redmi 8T officially supports memory cards up to 512GB, but MIUI blocks most applications from migrating to SD.

Method 1: Through settings (works for part of applications)

1. Insert a memory card (formatted as internal storage).
2. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
3. Select the application and click Storage → Change → SD card.

Limitations:

- Not all applications support portability (especially system and games with mobile devices). OBB-file).

After the transfer, the application can work slower.

Method 2: ADB (for experienced users)

This method allows you to transfer any application, but requires PC and debugging over USB:

1. Activate Developer Mode (7 taps according to the MIUI version in 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 set-install-location 2 This will cause the system to install applications on the SD by default.
4. To transfer already installed applications, use: adb shell pm move-package com.example.app /sdcard (replace com.example.app with the application batch name).

⚠️ Note: Transfer system applications (e.g. Google Play Services) to SD Before experimenting, create a backup through Settings → System system → Backup.

5. Cleaning up system debris: hidden folders and files

Even after removing applications on Redmi 8T, there are “tails” — temporary files, logs and update cache — that are not visible in the standard file manager, but can take up to 2-3 GB.

Where to look:

You need root or ADB to access these folders. Without root rights, you can clean up some of the garbage through MIUI Security:

1. Open the Security app (shield icon).
2. Select Cleanup. → Deep cleaning.
3. Check the boxes opposite: Residual files APK Unused files

Clean up

To remove dalvik-cache without root rights:

adb shell su -c "rm -r /data/dalvik-cache/*"

After this command, be sure to restart the phone!

💡

Regular cleaning of /data/log and /cache can increase the speed of the Redmi 8T by 15-20%, especially if the phone has been used for more than a year.

6. Optimization of messengers: the main source of garbage

Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber) are the main memory eaters on Redmi 8T. They download media files in the background, cache stickers and create thumbnails. For example, Telegram by default caches all the videos and photos viewed!

How to reduce their appetite:

• 📥 Telegram: Open Settings → Data and memory → Storage. Set cache limit (200-500MB recommended). Turn off Autoupload Media for Mobile Data.
• 💬 WhatsApp: Go to Settings → Warehouse → Storage management. Sort files by size and delete the ones you don't need. Turn off automatic download to Settings. → Data and storage.
• 🎵 VK/OK: Clean up the music and video cache in Settings → Music and video → Clear the cache. Turn off Autoplay Video.

To remove media files from instant messengers, use Files by Google:

1. Open the app and go to the Cleanup section.
2. Select Large Files or Downloads.
3. Filter by folder: Telegram/Telegram Images WhatsApp/Media VK/Music

Delete the unnecessary files.

Important: After cleaning, restart the messengers so that they re-index the media library.

7.Extreme measures: reset to factory settings

If you've had less than 10 percent of your memory after all the manipulations, and your phone is slowing down, you can consider a full reset. On the Redmi 8T, you can do this in two ways:

Method 1: Through settings (soft reset)

1. Backup: Contacts — sync with Google. Photos — copy to PC or cloud. Apps — save the list through MIUI Backup.

Settings → About the phone → Resetting settings

Erase all data

Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

Method 2: Through Recovery (hard reset)

This method cleans all memory, including system updates, and use it if the phone doesn't load or slows down even after a soft reset:

1. Turn off Redmi 8T.
2. Press Volume Up + Power before the MI logo appears.
3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data (control – volume buttons and power).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.

⚠️ After a hard reset via Recovery Redmi 8T It's back to the factory firmware. MIUI I'll have to re-install!

After discharge:

• 🔧 Do not restore the backup right away – check the phone first.
• 📱 Install applications gradually (no more than 5-10 at a time).
• 🔄 Turn off automatic app updates on Google Play.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning Redmi memory 8T