How to completely clean the memory on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T: from cache to system garbage

Why Redmi Note 8T is slowing down and how it relates to memory

Your Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T is getting slower, apps are suddenly shutting down, and “Not enough memory” is getting more and more frequent? 90% of the time, it’s because of clogged storage. Even if you have a 64GB or 128GB model, MIUI accumulates gigabytes of unnecessary files over time: app cache, update residues, duplicate photos and messaging apps.

The Redmi Note 8T (codename willow) features limited performance on the Snapdragon 665 processor and only 3-4 GB of RAM. When internal storage is 85% or more full, the system starts aggressively resetting background processes, causing applications to reboot when switching between them, and MIUI automatically reserves up to 5 GB for system needs, even if you have never installed updates through Recovery.

In this article, 7 ways to clean memory, from basic to advanced, taking into account the specifics of the Redmi Note 8T. No universal tips like “remove unnecessary files”: only specific instructions taking into account the architecture of the phone and the features of the firmware.

Method 1: Built-in MIUI Cleanup – What Really Works

To start with, the most obvious is the Cleanup tool in MIUI settings, which many users miss out on because it's useless, but in the Redmi Note 8T, it removes up to 1-3 GB of garbage in a single pass if done correctly.

How to start a deep cleaning:

1. Open the settings → About the phone → Memory.
2. Slip the "Clear" button at the bottom of the screen.
3. Select the Deep Clean tab (not to be confused with Quick Clean).
4. Check all items, including “Residual Files” and “App Cache.”
5. Click on “Clean” and wait until it is completed (may take up to 5 minutes).

What removes this tool:

• 🗑️ Application cache (including hidden cache of system services).
• 📁 Residual files from remote programs (remain in the folder) /data/app-lib).
• 🔄 Temporary update files (folder) /cache).
• 📸 Miniatures and previews from the gallery (folder.thumbnails).

⚠️ Warning: After deep cleaning, some apps (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) can take longer to load on the first run – this is normal as the cache is rebuilt.

Method 2: Manually remove cache for individual applications

General cache cleaning helps, but some apps (social networks, instant messengers, games) accumulate gigabytes of data in the background, for example, Facebook can take up to 500 MB of cache even when used regularly, and TikTok can take up to 1 GB.

How to clear the cache for a specific application:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select the app from the list (sort by size by clicking on the icon). ⚙️ top-up).
3. Slip "Storage" → "Clear the cache."
4. For a complete reset, click “Clear Data» (⚠️ This will remove all settings and accounts in the application!).

Top.-5 «The “Green” Apps on Redmi Note 8T:

⚠️ Warning: Do not clear the cache for Google Play Services and Services & Feedback – this can lead to Google account sync errors and push notification issues.

📱 Social networks (Facebook, Instagram, VK)

🎮 Games (PUBG, Genshin Impact, Call of Duty)

📹 Video applications (TikTok, YouTube, Likee)

💬 Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber)-->

Method 3: Removing duplicate photos and videos

One of the main memory eaters on the Redmi Note 8T is duplicate photos and videos.

• 📸 Automatic backup in Google Photos and Mi Cloud.
• 🔄 Synchronization with messengers (while saving media from chats).
• 📱 Use of third-party cameras (e.g., GCam saves pictures to a separate folder).
• 🖼️ Screenshots and screen recording (folder) Pictures/Screenshots).

How to find and remove duplicates:

1. Open the standard gallery and tap three points (⋮) → «Management».
2. Select “Dublicates” – the system will automatically find the duplicate files.
3. Check the results (sometimes similar but not identical photos are mistakenly identified) and click Delete.

For a deeper cleaning, use the Files by Google app:

1. Download it from Play Market.
2. Open the “Cleanup” tab → “Duplicates of files”.
3. Select unnecessary copies and delete them.

💡

Before mass removal of duplicates, back up important photos in Google Photos or on your computer. Sometimes algorithms mistakenly define duplicate photos with minor differences (such as different exposures).

Method 4: Clean Download folder and temporary files

The Download folder on Redmi Note 8T is a real trash can for files you downloaded once and forgot.

• 📄 PDF-documents (tickets, checks, instructions).
• 🎵 Audio files from messengers.
• 📦 Archives (ZIP, RAR) after installing applications.
• 🖼️ Images and memes from social networks.

How to clean Download:

1. Open the Files app (folder icon).
2. Go to the Inner Memory → Download.
3. Sort files by date (click on the ⋮ → «Sorting» → «By date»).
4. Delete anything older than 3-6 months (if you are not sure you need a file, move it to the cloud).

Also check the hidden folders with temporary files:

• /storage/emulated/0/Android/data – this is where application data is stored (e.g. downloaded maps in Google Maps or game cache).
• /storage/emulated/0/Android/obb – add-on files for games (can be deleted if the game is no longer in use).
• /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails – photo thumbnails (you can safely clean).

⚠️ Note: Do not manually delete files in folders /data or /system It can cause a system failure. Use only built-in tools to clean them. MIUI.

Method 5: Disabling Automatic Backup

MIUI by default includes backup data to Mi Cloud, which takes up additional space on the device, for example, backups WhatsApp or SMS can weigh hundreds of megabytes, and they will be stored in the cloud and on-premises.

How to disable unnecessary reservations:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Tap "Device Backup."
3. Turn off reservations for unnecessary applications (e.g. Calendar, Notes, Calls).
4. Remove old backups by clicking on three dots (⋮) → «Management of backup copies».

Also check the settings of Google Photos:

1. Open the Google Photos app.
2. Slip on the avatar → “Photo settings” → “Backup and synchronization”.
3. If the “Original Quality” is enabled, switch to “High Quality” (saves space) or turn off reservations altogether.

Method 6: Transfer applications to memory card (if supported)

The Redmi Note 8T supports microSD cards up to 256GB, but not all applications can be migrated to an external drive.

How to transfer applications to the map:

1. Insert microSD (format it as portable storage, not internal memory, or your speed will drop).
2. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
3. Select an app (like Spotify or Netflix).
4. Slip "Storage" → "Change" → select a memory card.

What applications can be ported:

• 🎵 Music players (Spotify, Yandex Music).
• 📚 Readers (Moon)+ Reader, FBReader).
• 🎮 Some games (but not all, PUBG cannot be moved).
• 📺 Video players (VLC, MX Player).

Limitations:

• ❌ System applications (Google Play Services, MIUI Launcher cannot be moved.
• ❌ Some games (such as Genshin Impact) block the transfer due to cheat protection.
• ❌ After the transfer, the widgets of the application may stop working.

💡

Moving apps to a memory card doesn’t always solve the memory problem, and many modern games and social networks (such as Facebook or Instagram) block this feature, in which case it’s better to clear their cache or delete unnecessary data manually.

Method 7: Reset to factory settings (last resort)

If all previous methods failed and the phone still brakes, it will be hard to reset, which will delete all data, including apps, photos and settings, but return the Redmi Note 8T to its original state.

How to do the reset correctly:

1. Back up your important data (photos, contacts, SMS) via Mi Cloud or Google Account.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select “Erase All Data” (not to be confused with “Settings Reset” which only resets network settings!).
4. Enter the password from your Xiaomi account (if tied) and confirm the reset.
5. After the reboot, the phone will be like new – it will only be necessary to restore data from the backup.

What to do after the discharge:

• 🔄 Restore only the necessary data (do not restore everything in a row, so as not to return the garbage).
• 🚫 Don’t install all apps at once – do it gradually while watching the free space.
• 🔧 Turn off automatic app updates in the Play Market (settings) → «Auto-update of applications» → «Never»).

⚠️ Note: If you forget the password from the Xiaomi account, reset to factory settings can block the phone (activation of Mi Account Lock.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory cleanup on Redmi Note 8T