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 βbrakeβ, 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.
- Open the Settings app (the gear icon on the home screen).
- Scroll down and select the About Phone section.
- 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 βhang.β
β οΈ 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.
- π± Open the Security app (if it is not on the home screen, search through a search system).
- π§Ή Go to the Cleanup or Acceleration tab (depending on version).
- π 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"?
3. Viewing memory through File Manager
Xiaomiβs built-in Files not only allows you to manage documents, but also see the distribution of memory by category, a method thatβs handy if you need to find which files take up the most space.
- Open the Files app (the blue label folder icon).
- In the bottom menu, select the Analysis (or Storage) tab.
- Wait for the scan to be completed, the system will show: πΈ Photo and video (sorted by size) π΅ Audio (music, recordings) π Documents (PDF, Word, Excel) π¦ APK-files (application installation packages) ποΈ Recycle Bin (deleted files that can still be recovered)
Pay special attention to the βBig Filesβ 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.
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:
- Open the Phone app.
- Enter the combination: ##4636###.
- In the menu that appears, select Phone Information.
- Scroll down to the Usage section β 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)
β οΈ 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:
| Annex | Functions | Pluses | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Files by Google | Memory analysis, garbage cleaning, search for large files | Free, simple interface. | Advertising, no detailed statistics on RAM |
| CCleaner | Cache cleanup, autoboot management, RAM monitoring | Deep scanning, system optimization | Paid functions can delete the necessary data |
| SD Maid | Duplicate search, residual files cleanup, database analysis | Maximum cleanup, root support | A 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:
- Install. ADB-PC drivers.
- 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).
- 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).
- 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 β User files and applications are stored here.
- /system β System files (must not be changed)
- /cache β update cache and temporary files.
If the /data partition is 90%+ full, it can cause lags.
β οΈ 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:
| Method | precision | Difficulty | Additional functions | When to use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phone settings | Medium | Just | Basic statistics | Quick check. |
| Security annex | Tall. | Just | Cleaning up garbage, looking for duplicates | Regular optimization |
| File Manager (File Manager) | Tall. | Just | Sorting by file type | Search for large files |
| Engineering menu | Maximum | Middle-Average | Diagnostics of memory speed | Suspicion of hardware problems |
| Third-party annexes | Tall. | Simple/Difficult. | Extended cleaning, root functions | Deep optimization |
| ADB | Maximum | Hardly. | Low-level diagnostics | For 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.