Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T Memory Cleanup: A Complete Guide to Freeing Up Place

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T with its 32/64/128 GB of internal memory eventually begins to “brake” due to cache cache, unnecessary files and remnants of deleted applications. Even if you regularly delete photos and videos, the system continues to “eat” gigabytes unnoticed. In this article, we will discuss 7 proven ways to clean memory — from basic to radical — that will return your smartphone performance and free up to 30% of space.

The Redmi Note 8T (codename willow) features a hybrid firmware based on MIUI, where some of the cleaning functions are hidden in the engineering menu, and we show you how to find these tools without risking damage to the system, and you learn which files can be deleted without consequences, and which can not be touched, which will cause a camera or mobile network to crash.

1. Analysis of occupied space: what exactly is the memory?

Before you clean it, you need to understand what data is eating away at memory. Redmi Note 8T has a built-in analyzer for this:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Memory.
2. Click on Memory Analysis (may be called Storage).
3. Wait for the scan to be completed (it will take 10–30 seconds).

The system will show the distribution of memory by category:

• 📸 Media files (photos, videos, music) – usually occupy 40-60% of the space.
• 📦 Applications themselves APK-files and their data (cache, settings).
• 🗑️ System files – updates, logs, temporary data MIUI.
• 🔄 Another is that duplicates and debris are often hidden here after updates.

Note the System Files section, if it takes more than 10 GB, it is a signal to clear the update cache or reset Dalvik-cache (we will discuss this in Section 5).

2 Manual removal of unnecessary files: what can be safely erased?

Start with the obvious: the garbage that you can see with the naked eye.

• 📂 Downloads: files from messengers, PDF, APK, It's often a collection of gigabytes of data that's not needed. → Categories → Downloads.
• 🎵 Music and podcasts: Spotify cache, Yandex Music, offline tracks. Delete through the settings of the apps themselves.
• 📱 Duplicate photos: MIUI Creates copies when editing (folder) DCIM/.thumbnails). They can be removed through the gallery. → Albums. → Hidden folders.
• 🗃️ folder MIUI: It stores wallpaper, themes and temporary system files, and delete everything except theme and wallpaper folders (unless you want to reset your design settings).

What can not be manually removed:

• 🚫 Android, data, obb folders are app data. Deleting will crash.
• 🚫 Files with.odex or.vdex extensions – system libraries.
• 🚫 folder LOGS — If you don’t know what you’re doing, it’s best to use the settings. → The phone. → Debugging → Clear the logs.

3. Cleaning the application cache: safe and efficient

Cache is a temporary file that apps create to speed things up, and over time, it grows to a few gigabytes. Redmi Note 8T has two ways to clean up:

Method 1: Through the MIUI settings

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as YouTube or Facebook).
3. Click Clear Cache (not to be confused with Clear Data – this will delete accounts and settings!).

Method 2: Mass cleaning (hidden function)

MIUI allows you to clear the cache of all applications at once, but this option is hidden:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. 5 times, quickly click on the MIUI version (you become a developer notification will appear).
3. Go back to the basic settings, open “More → For developers.”
4. Find the item “Clear the cache of all applications”

After mass clearing of the cache, the smartphone can slow down for 5-10 minutes – this is normal, since applications will have to recreate temporary files.

Close all active applications

Connect charging (the process can take up to 5 minutes)

Take a screenshot of important data in apps (e.g. chat history)

Check the free space after cleaning in Settings → Memory

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4. Systemic debris disposal through “Safety”

MIUI has a built-in Security tool (formerly called Optimization) that can find and remove:

• 🗑️ Residual files after uninstallation of applications.
• 📁 Empty folders and duplicates.
• 🔄 System update cache files.
• 📥 Unnecessary APK-Files (remains after application installation).

How to use:

1. Open the Security app (shield icon).
2. Go to the "Cleanup" tab.
3. Click on Deep Clean (a confirmation via a pattern lock may be required).
4. Select file categories to delete and confirm.

Note: If the list includes items such as “Clean up RAM” or “Accelerate”, skip them – these are MIUI marketing chips that do not affect memory, but only close the background processes.

5. Dalvik-cache and ART reset: for advanced users

If the memory is still busy after all the manipulations, the problem may be in the Dalvik-cache, a system cache that MIUI creates to speed up application launches. Cleaning it requires superuser rights (root), but in the Redmi Note 8T there is a workaround through recovery.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press Power + Volume Up to Enter Recovery Mode.
3. Select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache (use volume buttons for navigation, power for confirmation).
4. After cleaning, restart (Reboot → System).

This procedure doesn't delete user data, but it resets application optimization, and the first run after cleaning will take longer.

⚠️ Warning: Do not confuse Wipe Cache with Wipe Data! The second option will erase all the contents of the phone, including photos and apps.

6. Transfer data to a memory card or cloud

If the internal memory is catastrophically lacking, consider options for expanding it:

• 📱 MicroSD card: Redmi Note 8T supports the cards up to 256 GB (format) FAT32 Or exFAT. Use the class. UHS-I (U1/U3) speed.
• ☁️ Cloud storage: Google Photos - automatic photo/video download (free up to 15 GB). Mi Cloud - 5 GB free, integrated with the Internet MIUI. Yandex Drive – 10 GB when registering through a mobile application.
• 💻 Streaming instead of storage: listen to music through Spotify/Pandora, movies - in online cinemas (Kinopoisk, IVI).

How to transfer applications to SD-map:

1. Insert the memory card (format it as internal memory in the settings).
2. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
3. Select an app (such as Telegram or Maps.me).
4. Press "Storage» → «Change» → choose SD-map.

⚠️ Note: Not all applications support portability SD. System utilities (such as Camera or Phone) will remain in the internal memory.

7.Extreme measure: reset to factory settings

If all the methods are exhausted and the memory is still clogged, then you have to reset completely.

• 📱 All installed applications and their data.
• 📸 Photos, videos, music (unless backup is made).
• 🔑 Google, Mi Accounts and Wi-Fi Passwords.
• ⚙️ All system settings (wallpaper, sounds, shortcuts).

How to reset the Redmi Note 8T:

1. Make a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select “Erase all data” and confirm with a pattern lock.
4. Wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

Once reset, the phone will be like new, and the first turn on will take longer than usual, and the system will restore factory settings and optimize memory.

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Resetting to factory settings is the only way to remove system debris after MIUI updates, which is not visible to the user, but takes up to 5-7 GB.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory cleanup