Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi 8T often face a situation where the free space on the internal drive suddenly runs out and the system starts to work slower. This is due to the accumulation of temporary files, remnants of remote applications and a cache of messengers that eventually take up gigabytes of usable volume. Manual cleaning is the most efficient and safe way to return the device to its former agility, since it allows you to control every byte removed, unlike automatic “accelerators”, which often only create the appearance of work.
Unlike other manufacturers, the MIUI shell has its own specific storage features that need to be considered when maintaining. Deep cleaning of Redmi 8T requires not just removing shortcuts from the desktop, but working with system directories and hidden folders. The Android system partition on Redmi 8T does not allow you to delete critical files without root rights, which makes manual cleaning through the file manager absolutely safe for the integrity of the firmware.
Before you start taking drastic measures, it’s important to understand what exactly takes up space in your smartphone. Usually the lion’s share of memory is occupied by multimedia from instant messengers, browser cache and error logs. The right approach to Xiaomi maintenance will allow you to free up to 5-10 GB of space without losing personal photos or contacts. Let’s break down the step-by-step algorithm of actions for maximum efficiency.
Space analysis and preparation
The first step before any cleaning is to make a detailed diagnosis of the current state of memory. The built-in MIUI provides enough information, but for deep analysis, you'd better use a dedicated toolkit or an embedded analyzer. Go to Settings → Memory to see the overall picture of file distribution. The system will tell you which categories consume the most resources, whether it's applications, images or system files.
Special attention should be paid to the folders of social networks such as Telegram and WhatsApp. These applications by default save all viewed photos and videos in the memory of the device, creating duplicates in the gallery. Caching media files speeds up their reloading, but on smartphones with limited memory (for example, the 64 GB version), this becomes a critical factor.
To view hidden files in more detail, it is recommended to enable the display of system data. In the standard Explorer app, click on the menu (three dots or stripes) and select the appropriate item, which will allow you to see hidden directories starting from the point where update logs and temporary installation files are often hidden.
- 📊 Check the total amount of free memory in the system settings.
- 📂 Enable the display of hidden files in the Explorer menu.
- 🗑️ Identify the “heaviest” folders with multimedia.
- 📱 Make sure your battery is above 20% before starting work.
Cleaning system cache and temporary files
Android is using cache to speed up frequently run applications, but over time, these files can grow to inadequate sizes, especially if the application is not working properly. Clearing the cache does not delete your personal data, logins or passwords, it only resets temporary clipboards. For Redmi 8T, this is a standard maintenance procedure.
To clear the cache of a particular application, go to Settings → Apps → All apps. Select the desired program from the list (for example, YouTube or Chrome), click on Memory and select Clear Cache. Do not confuse this button with the Clean All button, as it will delete the authorization and settings of the application.
There is also a way to clean the cache through the Recovery Mode menu, but for Xiaomi with a locked bootloader, it can be risky without experience.It is safer to use the built-in Security app, which has a Cleanup feature. Although many experts advise not to rely on it completely, it is perfect for basic system debris removal (logs, residual APK files).
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If the application is slow when it starts, it's normal, and the system re-forms temporary files, which can temporarily increase the workload on the processor.
The frequency of this procedure depends on the intensity of smartphone use, active users are recommended to check the amount of cache once a week, especially for browsers that can accumulate gigabytes of data visited pages.
⚠️ Warning: Never use third-party cleaners with aggressive advertising that require enhanced access rights, often becoming a source of garbage and can disrupt system services. MIUI.
Working with folders of messengers and multimedia
The biggest memory consumer on Xiaomi Redmi 8T is traditionally messengers. Telegram, for example, stores the entire history of correspondence and media files in the Android/data/org.telegram.messenger/files folder. Unlike other systems, here files are not compressed automatically, taking up space in the original quality. Manual cleaning of this directory through the file manager gives a better result than the built-in tools of the messenger itself.
For WhatsApp, the situation is similar, but there is a nuance with backups. Local chat backups can take up a significant amount of space if not deleted. The path to them usually looks like Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Databases. By deleting old database files (with a date in the title), you make room, but remember that you can only restore correspondence until the date of the last saved backup.
The gallery often accumulates screenshots and saved statuses from messengers. The DCIM and Pictures folder requires regular revision. Many users forget that deleted photos end up in the gallery basket, where they are stored for 30 days, continuing to occupy space.
- 🎞️ Remove automatically saved videos from chat rooms.
- 📁 Find and delete.thumbnails folders (hidden thumbnail cache).
- 🔄 Turn off auto-save media in the settings of messengers.
- 🗑️ Clean the Recycle Bin in the Gallery after Deleting Large Files.
☑️ Cleaning messengers
Delete residual files after deleting applications
When you delete a Redmi 8T game or app in the standard way, the system often leaves behind tails — folders with settings, update cache, and temporary files — that are usually located at the root of internal memory or in the Android/data and Android/obb folder. They are not automatically deleted so that your data is saved when you re-install the program, but if you permanently delete the program, this garbage needs to be manually removed.
The largest tails are left by heavy games and graphics editors. Folders are often named after the application package (e.g. com.game.name). Before deleting such folders, make sure you don't really plan on using the software anymore. Use sized triage in the file manager to see the largest objects immediately.
It’s also worth checking the Download folder, and browsers and social media often store APK installation files there, which are useless once installed, and are 100% secure to delete.