How to Clean Xiaomi Redmi 8 Smartphone: From Cache to Deep Optimization

Xiaomi Redmi 8 is a popular budget smartphone with a balance of performance and price, but even it eventually begins to “brake” due to accumulated digital garbage. If your device has become slower to download applications, discharge faster or issue errors when installing updates, it’s time for a general cleaning. In this article, we will analyze all the ways of cleaning, from manually cleaning the cache to hidden MIUI functions that few people use.

It's important to understand that cleaning your phone is a complex concept, not just deleting unnecessary files, but also optimizing the background, fixing bugs in the application database, and sometimes fighting viruses that masquerade as system processes. We're not going to offer a radical factory reset (this is an extreme measure), but we're going to focus on methods that save your data. Are you ready to get your Redmi 8 back to its previous speed?

1.Diagnosis: What exactly is stopping your Redmi 8?

Before you start cleaning, identify bottlenecks. MIUI has built-in tools for analyzing the system:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System status.
2. Scroll to the Memory block – this shows the occupied/free space.
3. Click Warehouse, then Other Apps for detailed analysis.

Pay attention to:

• 📁 App cache – if it takes more than 1-2 GB, it’s time to clean it.
• 🗑️ Garbage files (remains of deleted programs, temporary data).
• 🔄 Background processes - in Settings → Annexes → You can see which programs consume resources without your knowledge.

If you see System Data over 5 to 7 GB in the Warehouse section, it's a wake-up call, and most of the time, it's because:

• 📱 Accumulated updates MIUI, which were not removed after installation.
• 🔄 Errors in the application database (for example, after an interrupted update).
• 🛡️ Viruses or advertising software masquerading as system files.

⚠️ Note: If you see unfamiliar Cyrillic names in the list of running processes (for example, com.android.service) - it is 100% a virus).

2.Cache cleanup: Quick and safe

Cache is a temporary file that creates applications to speed up their work, and over time, it accumulates and takes up gigabytes of memory. Redmi 8 has two ways to clean the cache:

Method 1: Clearing the cache for individual applications

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as Facebook or YouTube).
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

Method 2: Mass cleaning of the cache

1. Open the Settings → Storage.
2. Click Clear in the Cash app block.
3. Confirm the action.

After clearing the cache, some apps (like Instagram or Tinkoff Bank) can load longer on the first run - that's OK. The cache will be recreated.

Clear the cache in Settings → Warehouse|Remove downloads from the Download folder|Clear the history in the browser|Remove duplicate photos in the Gallery → Albums. → Duplicate-->

Hidden Life Hack: MIUI has a Deep Cleanup feature that removes not only the cache, but also the residual files of deleted applications, to activate it:

1. Press the Home button (or swipe up and hold it on the screen without buttons).
2. In the upper right corner, press on ⋮ → Deep cleaning.
3. Select unnecessary files and confirm deletion.

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the cache for system applications like com.android.systemui or com.miui.home. MIUI.

3. Removal of junk files and memory optimization

In addition to the cache, the phone accumulates:

• 📂 Remnants of Remote Applications (Folders in the /Android/data/).
• 📄 Temporary files from messengers (for example, stickers in Telegram or media from WhatsApp).
• 🎵 Unused. APK-files (remain after installing programs from third-party sources).

For their removal:

Method 1: Integrated MIUI cleaner

1. Open the Security app (shield icon).
2. Go to the Cleanup. → Deep cleaning.
3. Check all the points and click Clear.

Method 2: Manual cleaning through file manager

Use the Explorer (or Total Commander):

• 📁 Delete the contents of the folders: /storage/emulated/0/Download (If there are no important files). /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/.thumbnails (photo-picture). /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/ — This is where you store game and application data. Only delete folders of programs that have already been deleted.

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Before mass deletion of files, back up your important data. Use Settings → System and Device → Backup and Reset → Local Backup.

4. Optimization of applications

Even after cleaning the cache and debris, the phone can slow down due to improper background processes. MIUI has hidden settings to optimize:

Disabling Auto-Run Unnecessary Applications

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (such as AliExpress or Wildberries).
3. Press Autostart and turn off the slider.

Limitation of background activity

To save resources:

1. In the same application management menu, select Battery → Background Limitation.
2. Set a limit for applications that shouldn’t work in the background (like games or rarely used utilities).

Hidden MIUI: Light mode turns off animations and simplifies the interface, speeding up work on weak devices.

1. Settings → Special features → Easy environment.
2. Turn on the slider and restart the phone.

5. Fighting viruses and advertising software

The Redmi 8, like any Android smartphone, is vulnerable to viruses, especially if you have installed apps from third-party sources (not Google Play).

• 📢 Advertising in the status bar or on the screen lock.
• 🔋 Quick battery discharge even in standby mode.
• 📱 Installation of unknown applications spontaneously.

For cleaning:

Step 1: Checking with built-in antivirus

1. Open the Security app.
2. Go to Antivirus. → Verification.
3. Wait for the scan to be completed and remove the threats found.

Step 2: Removing suspicious applications

If the antivirus didn’t find anything, the symptoms remained:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Sort the list by installation date (⋮ → Sort by: Installation date).
3. Remove unknown programs (especially with Cyrillic names or random letters).

Step 3: Reset your ad settings (if banners appear)

1. Open Settings → Google → Advertising.
2. Click Reset Advertising ID.

⚠️ Warning: If the virus has blocked access to settings or antivirus, restart your phone in Safe Mode (press the power button). → Hold it down. → Restart in Safe Mode. In this mode, the viruses are not active and you can remove them.

6.Deep Optimization: Reset partition cache and Dalvik

If standard methods didn’t work, it’s time for advanced methods: They require super-user rights (root), but they give the maximum effect. On the Xiaomi Redmi 8, resetting the Dalvik and Cache partition cache via Recovery can speed up work by 30-40% without data loss.

Instructions:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power button + Volume up to enter Recovery Mode.
3. Use volume buttons to navigate, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache.
4. Confirm the action and restart the phone (Reboot).

What does it mean?

• 🧹 Remove system debris that is not visible through standard settings.
• 🔄 Fixes errors in the app cache causing brakes.
• 🛠️ Restores performance MIUI after incorrect updates.

⚠️ Note: Do not confuse Wipe Cache with Wipe Data! The second option will erase all your data (photos, contacts, apps).

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Recovery cache resetting is the most effective way to clean the system without losing data. Use it 1 time every 3-6 months for prevention.

7.Prevention: How to keep Redmi 8 clean

To avoid bringing your phone to a state where deep cleaning is required, follow the simple rules:

• 📵 Remove unused apps once a month. Even inactive programs are updated and take up space.
• 🔄 Clear the cache through Settings → Storage every 2-3 weeks.
• 🚫 Don't install it. APK Unknown sources are the main source of viruses.
• 🔋 Follow the background processes in Settings → Battery → Battery utilization.
• 📲 Update. MIUI — In new versions, errors that cause brakes are corrected.

Hidden function MIUI for automatic cleaning: Enable Auto Cleaning in the Security app (Cleaning up) → ⚙️ → The phone will remove the garbage once a week.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up Redmi 8