How to watch memory on the phone Xiaomi Redmi 8: all the ways

Xiaomi Redmi 8 is still a popular choice due to the balance of price and performance, but over time, even 64 GB of internal memory can fill up to failure. And if the device begins to β€œbrake”, the first thought is not enough RAM. But how exactly to check how much memory is free and how much is occupied by garbage? In this article, we will examine all the available methods, from standard settings to hidden engineering menus.

It is important to understand the difference between types of memory: embedded (ROM) stores files, applications and the system, while operational (RAM) is responsible for multitasking. On Redmi 8 with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of ROM, users often face a shortage of both types. We will show how to monitor their status, and also give tips on how to free up space without losing important data.

If you've never looked at your smartphone's memory settings, you might be surprised how much space is occupied by cached data or duplicate photos. And some applications (like instant messengers) can eat gigabytes unnoticed, followed by step-by-step picture instructions, method tables, and answers to frequent questions.

1. Standard method through the "Settings" of the phone

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools, which do not require any additional software installation and is suitable even for beginners.

  1. Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
  2. Scroll down and select the About Phone section.
  3. Slip on the item Warehouse (or Memory in some versions of firmware).

Here you will see a diagram of how much memory is used by the system, applications, photos/video and other files, and below you will see total capacity (e.g. 64 GB) and free space. To see the details for each section, click on the corresponding category.

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If there are no detailed statistics in the Storage section, upgrade to the latest version of MIUI. The interface may differ in older versions.

To check RAM, go back to Settings β†’ About Phone and find RAM. This will show how much of the 4GB currently in use. Note: If less than 500MB is free, the phone may start to β€œhang.”

⚠️ Note: In some Redmi 8 firmware (especially custom ones), the Storage section may display incorrect data. If the amount of space occupied exceeds the total memory, reboot the device.

2.Use the Security menu for detailed analysis

The Security app in MIUI offers a deeper analysis of memory, including junk files and duplicates, which is useful if you want to not only see the amount of memory, but also clear it immediately.

  • πŸ“± Open the Security app (if it is not on the home screen, search through a search system).
  • 🧹 Go to the Cleanup or Acceleration tab (depending on version).
  • πŸ“Š Press Deep Cleanup. β†’ system will scan the device and show how much space it takes: Application cache Residual files (residues after deleting programs) Duplicates photos and videos Large files (more than 50 MB)

The advantage of this method is the ability to delete unnecessary data with one tap, for example, the cache of messengers (for example, Telegram or WhatsApp) can take several gigabytes. But be careful: do not delete the cache of system applications (for example, com.android.systemui) so as not to cause failures.

What are "residual files"?
These are bits of data that are left over after you delete applications, like if you delete a game, but save it or temporary files are left in memory, and they're not visible in the standard file manager, but they take up space.

3. Viewing memory through File Manager

Xiaomi’s built-in Files not only allows you to manage documents, but also see the distribution of memory by category, a method that’s handy if you need to find which files take up the most space.

  1. Open the Files app (the blue label folder icon).
  2. In the bottom menu, select the Analysis (or Storage) tab.
  3. Wait for the scan to be completed, the system will show: πŸ“Έ Photo and video (sorted by size) 🎡 Audio (music, recordings) πŸ“„ Documents (PDF, Word, Excel) πŸ“¦ APK-files (application installation packages) πŸ—‘οΈ Recycle Bin (deleted files that can still be recovered)

Pay special attention to the β€œBig Files” section, which often hides forgotten high-resolution videos or backups that can be painlessly deleted, for example, files with the.bak or.tmp extension are usually not needed.

πŸ“Š How often do you clean your memory on your smartphone?
Once a week.
Once a month
Only when the place ends.
Never clean.

4. Engineering menu: hidden memory data

For advanced users who want to get the most accurate data about the state of memory, including wear and tear of the flash drive, an engineering menu is suitable, this method requires caution, since improper actions can lead to failures.

To open the engineering menu on Redmi 8:

  1. Open the Phone app.
  2. Enter the combination: ##4636###.
  3. In the menu that appears, select Phone Information.
  4. Scroll down to the Usage section – here will be detailed statistics on ROM and RAM, including: Total memory Free / occupied Read / Write speed (useful for the diagnosis of wear and tear)

⚠️ Note: Do not change any settings in the engineering menu unless you are sure of their purpose. For example, resetting memory meters (Reset stats) can lead to data loss.

Also, the engineering menu can check the status of eMMC (embedded memory), if the write speed is significantly lower than factory values (for example, less than 20 MB / s), this may indicate the wear of the chip, in which case it is recommended to transfer important data to a memory card or cloud.

5. Third-party applications for memory monitoring

If the standard instruments MIUI Not enough, you can use third-party utilities, and they offer advanced features like real-time monitoring, RAM optimization, and duplicate search.-3 tested applications:

AnnexFunctionsPlusesCons
Files by GoogleMemory analysis, garbage cleaning, search for large filesFree, simple interface.Advertising, no detailed statistics on RAM
CCleanerCache cleanup, autoboot management, RAM monitoringDeep scanning, system optimizationPaid functions can delete the necessary data
SD MaidDuplicate search, residual files cleanup, database analysisMaximum cleanup, root supportA complex interface that requires superuser rights for some features

To install any of these apps, go to Google Play and type in the name in search. Once installed, provide the necessary permissions (storage access) and perform a scan. For example, in SD Maid, the CorpseFinder section is especially useful, which finds dead files from remote applications.

Make a backup copy of important data|Check the space on the memory card (if available)|Close all working applications|Disable autosynchronization (for example, Google Photos)|Check the exception list in the cleaning settings-->

6. Memory check via ADB (for advanced users)

If you want to get the most accurate data, or you suspect that the phone is showing the wrong amount of memory, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting the phone to a computer.

Instructions:

  1. Install. ADB-PC drivers.
  2. Turn on Redmi 8 to USB Debug (Settings β†’ About Phone β†’ MIUI Version β†’ Press 7 times, then go back to Additional β†’ For Developers).
  3. Connect the phone to your computer and type in the command line: adb shell df -h This command will show the partitioning of memory (e.g. /data, /system).
  4. To see the use of RAM, type: adb shell dumpsys meminfo

In the output of the command df -h, pay attention to the lines:

  • /data – User files and applications are stored here.
  • /system – System files (must not be changed)
  • /cache – update cache and temporary files.

If the /data partition is 90%+ full, it can cause lags.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB Do not follow the commands adb shell rm or adb shell wipe unless you understand their consequences - this can lead to data loss or "bricking" of the phone.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

Each of these methods has its pros and cons, and to make it easier for you to navigate, we have compiled a comparative table:

MethodprecisionDifficultyAdditional functionsWhen to use
Phone settingsMediumJustBasic statisticsQuick check.
Security annexTall.JustCleaning up garbage, looking for duplicatesRegular optimization
File Manager (File Manager)Tall.JustSorting by file typeSearch for large files
Engineering menuMaximumMiddle-AverageDiagnostics of memory speedSuspicion of hardware problems
Third-party annexesTall.Simple/Difficult.Extended cleaning, root functionsDeep optimization
ADBMaximumHardly.Low-level diagnosticsFor experienced users

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For most users, a combination of Settings + Security App is enough. The engineering menu and ADB are only needed if hardware malfunctions are suspected or if the phone shows incorrect data.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory at Redmi 8

Why does the phone show less memory than the specs?
This is normal: part of the memory is occupied by the system (MIUI and preinstalled applications). For example, on Redmi 8 with 64 GB, about 52-55 GB is actually available. Also, formatting can create a difference (1 GB in binary = 1024 MB, and manufacturers consider 1 GB = 1000 MB).
How do you free your memory when everything is busy and there is nothing to delete?
Here are a few ways: πŸ“ Transfer your photos and videos to a memory card or cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud). 🧹 Clear the app cache in Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ Select the application β†’ Warehouse β†’ Clear the cache. πŸ—‘οΈ Remove the old ones. APK-Files (remains from application installation) via Files by Google. πŸ”„ Turn off auto-update apps in Google Play. If nothing helps, reset to factory settings (don't forget to make a backup!).
Can I increase memory on Redmi 8?
Physically, no, because the memory is soldered into the motherboard: πŸ“± Use a microSD card (up to 512 GB) to store files. ☁️ Connect to cloud storage (Google Drive, Yandex Drive). πŸ”Œ Use it. OTG-Note that applications to the memory card are only partially portable (not all games support this feature).
Why is RAM always busy at 80-90%?
Android controls memory differently than Windows: it tries to load as much RAM as possible so that frequently used applications open faster. Free memory is not always a good thing: πŸ›‘ Close unused applications manually (swipe in the multitasking menu). πŸ”„ Disable the autoload of unnecessary programs in Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ Autoboot. πŸ“΅ Reboot your phone every 2-3 days. If the problem persists, check your phone for viruses or reset your settings.
How to check if your memory is worn out?
Signs of wear of flash memory (eMMC): 🐒 Slow recording/reading of files (for example, photos are stored with a delay). πŸ”„ Frequent errors when installing applications. πŸ“‰ Dramatic reduction of free space for no apparent reason. Diagnostic: Use the engineering menu (Usage section). Check the write speed through AndroBench (Google Play app). If the write speed is below 10 MB / s - memory is worn out, it is recommended to replace the device.