Cleaning Xiaomi Redmi 8 from unnecessary files: 7 proven ways

Your Xiaomi Redmi 8 is slowing down and your memory is running out after a couple of photos?The problem isn't with the age of your smartphone, but with the accumulated digital trash.Even 64GB of internal memory can turn into "100MB free" in a few months of active use.This article outlines specific cleaning techniques that work on Redmi 8 with any version of MIUI (including MIUI 12/13/14), without the risk of losing important data.

We're going to look at not only the standard features of the system, but also the hidden tools that the official documentation keeps silent about, like why cleaning the cache through the settings only removes 30% of the garbage, or how to find gigabytes of lost files from remote applications, all of which are tested on real devices, without theoretical advice like "buy a new phone."

Why is Redmi 8 getting trashed so quickly?

Xiaomi’s storage architecture has three key features that speed up the accumulation of unnecessary files:

1. Dual cache: MIUI creates cache for both the system (/cache) and each application separately (/data/data/...), and the second often remains after uninstallation of programs.
2. Logs and dumps: Files with the.log and.dmp extension are generated when crashes (such as when applications crash) and can take up to 1.5 GB per month.
3. Media Duplicates: The Xiaomi Gallery automatically creates thumbnails (.thumbdata) and copies for the cloud, even if the sync is disabled.

In addition, the Redmi 8 based on the Snapdragon 439 has a limit on the number of write operations in memory (especially on budget models with eMMC 5.1). The more garbage, the faster the performance degrades. This is not a myth: after cleaning 3-4 GB of unnecessary files, the read / write speed can increase by 15-20%.

Method 1: Built-in MIUI cleaning (what it actually removes)

The most obvious method is to use the Cleanup tool in your settings, but few know that it works selectively:

• ✅ Deletes: App cache, temporary download files, thumbnails, empty folders.
• ❌ Not Touching: Remains of uninstalled programs, system logs, duplicate photos, update files.

How to start:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Memory.
2. Click Clean (or Clean in older versions of MIUI).
3. Select file categories (we recommend that you note everything except Download).
4. Confirm the action.

⚠️ Note: If the free space has not increased after cleaning, check the folder /MIUI/Backup/AllBackup — There may be backups weighing up to 2-3 GB from old firmware.

Method 2: Manually cleansing the application cache (hidden folders)

Standard cleaning through settings only removes the surface cache, so to get to the deep layers, you need to manually view the folders:

1. Install a file manager with access to root folders (such as FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /data/data/ (root rights or developer mode activation required).
3. Find folders of apps you deleted but their data remained (e.g. com.tencent.mm for WeChat).
4. Remove the folders completely or only the contents of /cache inside them.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete the folders of current applications, this will lead to crashes, and avoid files with.odex and.apk extensions in the system directories.

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If the file manager does not show /data/, enable the display of hidden files in its settings and grant access rights through Settings → Applications → Special Access → Manage all files.

Method 3: Remove duplicate photos and videos

Redmi 8 has an unpleasant feature: when editing a photo through a standard gallery, the originals are not deleted, but are stored in a folder. /MIUI/Gallery/cloud/. In addition, instant messengers (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) create their own copies of media files.

How to find and remove duplicates:

• 📁 Use the Files by Google app (Cleanup tab) → Duplicate).
• 🔍 Manually check the folders: /DCIM/.thumbnails — Miniatures (can be removed) /Pictures/Screenshots — snippet /Download — downloaded images from the Internet
• 🗑️ For mass removal, use the command in ADB: adb shell rm -rf /sdcard/DCIM/.thumbnails/* (You need to connect to the PC and switched on USB-debugging).

⚠️ Note: Before mass deletion, back up important photos. Some apps (like Google Photos) can store a single copy of the edited photo in the cloud, and the original can store it locally.

Method 4: Clean Update and Firmware Files

Each MIUI update leaves behind tails, folders with firmware (update.zip) and install logs, and can take up to 800MB-1.2GB on Redmi 8, even if the upgrade is successful.

Where to look:

• 📦 /cache/recovery/ — temporary recovery files.
• 📦 /data/ota_package/ — downloaded update packages.
• 📦 /MIUI/Download/ — hand-held firmware (if installed through Updater).

How to delete:

1. Use Root Explorer or connect via ADB.
2. Delete all files with extensions.zip,.log,.tmp in the specified folders.
3. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Note: Do not delete files from /system/ — If you're not sure, use the command to clean it safely:

adb shell pm clear com.android.updater

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Update files can only be deleted after the firmware has been successfully installed. If the update is interrupted, do not touch /cache/recovery/, this may prevent the next update.

Method 5: Cleaning the system’s logs and dumps

Files with.log,.dmp,.trace extensions are created when applications crash, overheat or module errors (such as GPS or camera). On Redmi 8, they often accumulate into:

• 📜 /data/anr/ — Traces of the tracing of the freezes (.trace).
• 📜 /data/tombstones/ — drop dumps (.tombstone).
• 📜 /data/log/ — logistic.

How to clean:

1. Use ADB with root rights: adb shell su rm -rf /data/anr/* rm -rf /data/tombstones/* rm -rf /data/log/*
2. Or install SD Maid (root required) and run the scan in the CorpseFinder section.

⚠️ Note: Deleting logs can make it difficult to diagnose problems if you contact a service center, last_kmsg), If the phone is rebooted or warmed frequently.

Method 6: Optimize storage through ADB (for advanced storage)

If standard methods did not help, and free space is critically small, you can manually compress databases and clear the dalvik cache through ADB:

1. Connect Redmi 8 to your PC and turn it on USB-debugging (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times press to unlock the developer mode).
2. Execute the commands: adb shell su sync echo 3 > /proc/sys/vm/drop_caches pm trim-caches 1000000000 (The last command clears the cache of all applications where 1000000000 — byte size).
3. For database compression: sqlite3 /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db "VACUUM;" (repeat for other databases in /data/data/...).

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB If you're not sure about the commands, use graphics tools like Debloater.

Method 7: Alternative methods (without root)

If you don’t have root rights or experience with ADB, use these methods:

• 🧹 CCleaner: Remove the cache and residues of applications (Clean up section).
• 📱 Files by Google: Find large files and unnecessary files APK in the Cleanup section.
• ☁️ Google Photos: Enable Free Space (deletes local copies of photos saved in the cloud).
• 🔄 Reinstallation MIUI: Extreme method - reset via Settings → Additionally. → Recovery and reset (save data!).

⚠️ Note: Applications like Clean Master or 360 Security often show false “problems” and can delete files.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning up Redmi 8