Cleaning Xiaomi Redmi 8 from garbage: 7 proven ways to return speed

The Xiaomi Redmi 8, released in 2019, is still a popular budget smartphone due to its robust hardware and support for updates. However, over time, even this device begins to slow down: applications open for a long time, memory is clogged with unknown things, and the battery goes down in half a day, the reason is often the digital garbage that accumulates in the system unnoticed by the user.

In this article, we will discuss 7 ways to clean Redmi 8 – from basic (under the power of a beginner) to advanced (for those who are ready to dig into the settings), you will learn how to remove the cache without harming the system, which files can be safely erased and which should not be touched, and how to prevent repeated clogging. We pay special attention to hidden folders. MIUI, which take up gigabytes of memory but do not appear in a standard file manager.

Important: All methods are tested on Redmi 8 with MIUI 12.5 and MIUI 14 firmware. If your phone runs on an older version (e.g. MIUI 11), some menu items may differ - but the logic of the action remains the same.

1. Basic cleaning: cache and temporary files

To start with, the simplest way is to delete the cache of apps and system temporary files, which is root-free and safe even for beginners. Cache is data that applications save to make things faster (like thumbnails of photos in a gallery or loaded pages in a browser) and grows to a few gigabytes over time, but it can be cleaned painlessly.

How to do this:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 🔍 In the upper right corner, click on three dots and select Sort by size – so you will see the most “gluttonous” programs.
• 🧹 For each application (start with the largest) click Clear Cache. Don't confuse it with Clear Data - it will delete all settings and accounts!
• 🔄 For mass cleaning, go to Settings → Memory. → Clean up and press Clean up the garbage.

How much space will be available? On average, 500MB to 2GB, depending on how long you've been cleaning your phone, for example, users who have never cleared Facebook or TikTok's cache can have up to 1GB to 1.5GB each.

⚠️ Note: Do not cache system applications like com.miui.home or android.process.media manually through Settings → All applications. This could cause shell malfunctions. MIUI. Use only the built-in Cleanup function in the memory menu.

2. manually delete unnecessary files

Xiaomi’s standard file manager doesn’t show everything stored in the phone’s memory, and many users are surprised when they connect Redmi 8 to their computer and see folders like.thumbnails,.MIUI, or Android/obb that take up gigabytes but don’t show up on the phone.

Where to look for garbage:

• 📁 DCIM/.thumbnails — Photo and video miniatures (you can delete them, they will be restored automatically).
• 🎮 Android/obb — Game data (delete game files you haven’t used in a long time).
• 📥 Download - folder for downloads (often outdated ones accumulate here) APK, documents, memes).
• 🔍.MIUI/backup — backups of the system (if you did not make a backup consciously, safely delete).

How to access hidden folders:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB (select File Transfer Mode).
2. Enable the display of hidden files in Windows Explorer (View → Hidden Items).
3. Remove unnecessary folders (see list above).

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Before deleting your Android/obb folders, check if you are playing games that use them (such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile), and deleting these files will cause you to re-upload data the next time you start the game.

3. Cleaning up system debris through Recovery

If the phone is slowing down a lot and standard methods aren't working, you can use Recovery Mode, a built-in recovery menu that allows you to clear the /cache and Dalvik-cache partition cache, which are system areas that ordinary users don't have access to.

Instructions:

1. Turn off Redmi 8.
2. Press the Power + Volume buttons up and hold for 10-15 seconds until the MI logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select Wipe & Reset → Wipe Cache (control – volume buttons, choice – power button).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 1-2 minutes).
5. Reboot the phone (Reboot) → Reboot to System).

This method doesn’t delete personal data (photos, contacts, messages), but it resets the system cache, which often solves problems with “suspending.” Once cleaned, the first start of the phone can take longer than usual – this is normal.

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse Wipe Cache with Wipe Data! The second option will remove ALL from your phone, including apps and settings. Use it only if you're going to sell the device or it doesn't turn on at all.

4. Optimization of autoloading and background activity

Many apps run automatically when you turn on your phone and run in the background, consuming memory and battery power. MIUI has built-in tools to manage autoboot, but they are hidden deep in the settings.

How to disable unnecessary programs:

• 🚫 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Auto-start.
• 🔧 Turn off autoplay for all applications except system (e.g. Phone, Messages, Google Play Services).
• 🔄 In the same menu, select Permissions. → Additionally. → Run in the background and limit background activity for unnecessary programs.
• 📊 For advanced users: install the Greenify app (requires root or ADB-It freezes the background processes, saving up to 20% of battery life.

Examples of applications that can be safely limited:

• 📺 YouTube, TikTok – actively consume memory even in the background.
• 💰 Banking applications (e.g. SberBank Online) – frequently updated in the background without the need to.
• 🎮 Games – many run background processes for notifications (e.g. Clash of Clans).

Disable auto-start for social networks|Limit background activity of games|Check the Permits for Banking Applications|Install Greenify (optional)-->

5. Reset to factory settings (last chance)

If all previous methods failed and the phone is still slowing down, it's a radical way to bring the Redmi 8 back out of the box by removing all the data. Use it only if:

• 🐢 The phone has become unbearably slow (typing delays, long download applications).
• 📱 Memory is clogged with unknown (for example, Settings) → Memory shows 10GB of "System Data»).
• 🔄 You are going to sell or transfer your phone to another person.

How to reset:

1. Create a backup of important data (photos, contacts, messages).
2. Go to Settings → About Phone → Resetting → Erase all data.
3. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

After discharge:

• 📲 Do not restore data from backup MIUI — It may contain the same garbage. You'd better move the files manually.
• 🔒 Don't install all apps at once. Add only the ones you use regularly.

⚠️ Note: On Redmi 8 with the bootloader unlocked, the reset may result in the device being locked (This device is locked).If you unlocked the bootloader, link your Mi Account to Settings before reset. → Xiaomi account.

6 Advanced Methods: ADB and root access

For high-end users willing to take risks, there are cleaning methods that require ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or root rights.These methods allow you to remove system debris that is not available through standard settings.

What can be done:

• 🖥️ Remove bloatware (pre-installed Xiaomi applications that cannot be removed in the usual way). --user 0 com.miui.analytics This command removes the analytics module MIUI, collects data on the use of the phone.
• 🗑️ Cleaning Dalvik-cache (requires root): su rm -r /data/dalvik-cache/* Removes the cache of the Android virtual machine, which can speed up the system.
• 🔍 Search for large files through ADB: adb shell du -h /data | sort -rh | head -n 20 Showing top-20 the largest folders in the section /data.

Warnings:

• 🚨 Removing system applications may cause the phone to fail (e.g., deleting com.android.phone will disable the mobile network).
• 🔧 To work with ADB Google’s Platform Tools and enabled Debugging USB (Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to the Additional Settings → For developers).

7. How to prevent repeated clogging

Cleaning your phone is good, but it’s even better to keep it from clogging. Here are 5 rules to keep the Redmi 8 fast:

1. Remove unused apps. Even if you don't use them, they can update and take up space.
2. Clean the cache once a month. Just go to Settings → Memory → Clean.
3. Use cloud storage. Move photos and videos to Google Photos or Mi Cloud, and leave only the latest pictures on your phone.
4. Turn off autoboot. How to do that, we've explained in section 4.
5. Keep an eye out for updates. Xiaomi regularly releases patches to optimize MIUI. Install the latest updates in Settings → About Phone → System Update.

If you follow these rules, your Redmi 8 will last for a few more years without any noticeable brakes, and the key is to keep the garbage from accumulating, as in real life: it is easier to clean up a little bit than to generalize once a year.

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Regular cache cleaning and autoloading control applications are key to the long life of the Redmi 8. Even a budget smartphone can work quickly if you monitor its “hygiene”.

FAQ: Frequent questions about cleaning Xiaomi Redmi 8