The Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro, released in 2018, is still a popular device due to its transparent design and performance. However, like any Android device, it requires regular maintenance to work steadily. Over time, accumulated cache, remnants of remote applications and media files can significantly slow down the system.
Users often confuse the two main types of memory: RAM (RAM) internal (ROM). Mi 8 Pro owners need to be clear about the difference in order to effectively manage device resources. Lack of storage can lead to inability to install updates, and crowded RAM can lead to constant reboots of applications.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how to view the current state of memory on the Xiaomi 8 Pro, analyze what exactly takes up space, and how you can optimize the operation of a smartphone without losing important data. MIUI, and the hidden functions of the system.
Differences between RAM and ROM in Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro
The first step to managing resources wisely is understanding memory architecture. RAM is a temporary storage facility where the system holds running applications and processes. The Mi 8 Pro has 6 or 8GB of RAM available, which is a great indicator even by today's standards.
In contrast, internal memory (ROM) is used to permanently store files: photos, music, installed programs and system data. ROM in this model is 128 GB. It is important not to confuse the speed of the system, which depends on RAM, with the available space for files, depending on ROM.
When RAM is full, the system begins to force the background processes to close, which you see as "flights" of applications. If internal storage runs out, you simply cannot take a photo or download a file. So monitoring both parameters is critical.
⚠️ Warning: Do not try to fill the internal memory of the device "on the back." For the correct operation of the file system and encryption mechanisms, always leave free at least 10-15% total ROM.
MIUI automatically allocates resources, but the user can intervene, such as limiting background processes or clearing the cache of long-out of use programs, especially for heavy applications like social media.
Checking RAM through standard settings
The easiest way to find out how much RAM is free is to use the built-in shell interface. Go to Settings → About the phone. At the top of the screen, you will see general information about the processor and the amount of RAM.
However, more detailed statistics are available in the developer section or through the menu of running applications. Click the Menu button (square at the bottom of the screen) and look at the free memory indicator. If the numbers are too small, the system will suggest clearing the background processes.
For in-depth analysis, use Developer Mode. Activate it by tapping 7 times on the MIUI version in the About Phone menu. Then go to Advanced Settings → Developer → Memory Statistics. This shows a detailed diagram of RAM usage over the past 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours.
- 📊 Available: Shows the amount of free memory right now.
- 📉 Used: Total volume occupied by the system and applications.
- 🏆 Average: Average level of use for the selected period.
- 🚀 Max: peak value of the load on RAM.
By analyzing this data, you can identify voracious applications, and if you see a particular program hanging in memory and consuming resources, it's worth checking its settings or considering an alternative. Often, messengers and social networks take up an unnecessarily large amount of space.
Analysis of internal memory and file storage
To see what internal memory is doing on the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro, follow the Settings → Memory path. Here is a graphic diagram showing the distribution of space between applications, images, video, audio and system files.
Click on the Apps section to see a list of programs sorted by size, and it often turns out that instant messengers like Telegram or WhatsApp take up tens of gigabytes because of the accumulated media files, and you can immediately go to clear the cache of a particular application.
The system analyzer will also show the "Other" section, which is a file that the system cannot uniquely classify, often it will be the remnants of deleted games, cache cards or temporary files of the bootloader, periodic checking of this partition helps to maintain order.
⚠️ Be extremely careful when cleaning the Others section through third-party root file managers. Deleting system logs or update files may cause the Mi 8 Pro to run unstable.
For a deeper analysis, you can use the built-in Security app. Run the scan and select Clean. MIUI algorithms will find duplicate photos, large files and rarely used applications, prompting them to be deleted.
☑️ Checking the vault
Using the Engineering Menu for Diagnostics
For advanced users of the Xiaomi 8 Pro, you can access the engineering menu, where you can see detailed technical information about memory. To get there, open the Phone app and type ##6484##.
In the CIT (Customer Integration Test) menu that opens, select the memory-related item (usually called "Memory" or "Storage"), which provides read and write tests, and displays the actual state of the memory chips without distortion from the interface.
This method is useful if you suspect a hardware malfunction of the drive, for example, if the phone suddenly becomes very slow to copy files or often freezes while saving data, tests in the engineering menu will help confirm or rule out the problem with the hardware.
- 🔍 Version: Version of the test module.
- 💾 Total Size: The full physical size of the memory chip.
- ✅ Status: Current status of passing tests (Pass/Fail).
- ⚙️ Config: Memory controller configuration.
Using hidden menus does not require special rights, but requires careful attention. Do not change the settings in other sections of the CIT if you are not sure about their purpose, as this may affect the operation of communication modules or the camera.
Cache cleaning and system optimization
After you've looked at the memory on the Xiaomi 8 Pro, you need to optimize. Standard cleaning through the Security app deletes temporary files, but it doesn't always cope with deep cache.
Reboot your phone to Recovery mode (shutting Volume+ and Power). Select a language and press Wipe Cache. Importantly, this operation will not delete your personal photos or contacts, it will only clear the system temporary files.
You should also manually check the MIUI folder in the file manager, which often saves error logs, crash dumps and backups for updates that are no longer needed, and deleting files with the.log or.bak extension is safe.
| Type of cleaning | Security | Efficiency | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (Security) | Tall. | Low. | Weekly |
| Cleaning up the app cache | Tall. | Medium | As necessary |
| Wipe Cache (Recovery) | Tall. | Tall. | Once a month |
| Reset to factory | Low (data risk) | Maximum | Critical errors |
Regular maintenance allows you to extend the life of the Mi 8 Pro and keep the performance at a high level.Do not ignore the notification of the system about the shortage of space, as this is the first symptom of future performance problems.