How to check memory on Xiaomi Redmi 8: internal, operational and removable

Xiaomi Redmi 8 is a budget smartphone of 2019, which is still popular due to its balanced characteristics. However, over time, users face a lack of memory: applications slow down, files are not saved, and the system emits errors such as “Not enough memory.” To understand how to vacate space or whether you need to buy a microSD card, you first need to diagnose the current state of memory.

In this article, we will look at all the ways to check memory on Redmi 8, from standard MIUI tools to third-party utilities, learn how to distinguish internal memory from RAM (RAM), why a smartphone can show less space than stated, and how to check the read/write speed, and compare the Redmi 8 with other Xiaomi models in terms of storage.

1. Standard Memory Checking Methods in MIUI

The manufacturer has built-in memory monitoring tools that don't require any additional applications to be installed, and even run on clean firmware. Let's look at two basic methods.

Method 1: Menu "Storage" in the settings

1. Open Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Go to the About Phone section. → Warehouse.
3. The system will display a diagram with the distribution of memory by categories: Applications, Images, Video, Audio and Other.

Method 2: Notification panel

A quick way is to swipe down from the top of the screen to open the notification bar, which shows you a brief summary of RAM and internal memory loads, and click on any of the metrics to go to the Warehouse section.

In both cases, the system will show total memory, occupied space and free space, but this data can be inaccurate: MIUI sometimes does not take into account office files and cache.

⚠️ Warning: If the Storage section displays significantly less memory than the specs (e.g., 55GB instead of 64GB), that's fine. Part of the space is occupied by firmware and preinstalled applications.

2.How to check RAM (RAM) on Redmi 8

RAM is responsible for multitasking and application speed. Redmi 8 has 2, 3 or 4 GB of RAM, depending on the modification, and you can check its loading in several ways:

• 📱 Settings: Settings → About Phone → Memory. This shows you a real-time usage schedule of RAM.
• 🔄 Through the notification panel: Swipe down and find the Memory indicator (near the battery charge).
• 🛠️ Through Developer: Activate Developer Mode (7 taps on MIUI version in About Phone), then go to Settings → Additional → Developer → Memory.

If RAM is constantly loaded at 80-90%, this may indicate:

• 🐢 Too many background processes (especially in users of the 2GB RAM modifications).
• 🦠 Viruses or malware that consumes resources.
• 🔄 Outdated version MIUI (update the firmware through Settings → System Update).

Close unused applications manually

Disable Auto-Run Unnecessary Programs

Update MIUI to the latest version

Remove the cache through Settings → Storage → Clean

Check the phone for viruses-->

3. Third-party applications for deep diagnostics

The built-in MIUI tools provide basic information, but for detailed analysis, it is better to use specialized utilities, which show not only the amount of memory, but also its type (eMMC/UFS), read/write speed, and help find junk files.

On Redmi 8 installed memory type eMMC 5.1, which affects the speed: the average read speed is ~250 MB / s, writing ~120 MB / s. This is lower than the flagships with UFS 2.1/3.0, but enough for a budget smartphone.

To test the speed with AndroBench:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Select the Storage Benchmark section.
3. Press Run Benchmark and wait for the test to be completed (5-10 minutes).
4. Compare the results with the reference values for eMMC 5.1.

⚠️ Warning: If the write speed is below 80MB/s, this may indicate memory wear or firmware issues. Try resetting to factory settings (Settings → Additional → Reset).

4. Checking of removable memory card (microSD)

Redmi 8 supports microSD cards up to 512 GB (officially up to 256 GB, but users are also using large amounts of it), but not all cards are stable.

• 📁 Settings: Go to Settings → Storage → Map SD. This shows volume, occupied space and formatting capability.
• 🔍 Through File Manager: Open Files (application from Xiaomi) → Categories → Map SD.
• 🛠️ Through SD Card Tester: The app checks the card for read/write errors and forgery (relevant to cheap drives).

If the card is identified but the files are not saved or disappear:

• 🔄 Try formatting it to FAT32 or exFAT (via PC).
• 🚫 Remove and paste the card again, the contacts may have oxidized.
• ⚠️ Check the card on another device. If the problem recurs, the drive malfunctions.

5. Comparison of Redmi 8 memory with other Xiaomi models

To understand how much the Redmi 8 is inferior or superior to other Xiaomi smartphones in memory, make a comparative table. Note that in addition to the volume, the type of memory (eMMC/UFS) and the RAM canality (single-channel / dual-channel) are important.

* Officially supported up to 256GB, but users report working with 512GB after the firmware update.

Conclusions:

• The 📉 Redmi 8 plays the Note 8 Pro and POCO X3 by memory type (eMMC vs UFS), which affects the speed of application loading.
• 📈 However, the Redmi 8 remains a profitable option in terms of price/volume ratio, especially in the 128GB version.
• 🔄 If you want high performance, consider models with UFS 2.1+ (e.g. Redmi Note 10).

💡

The 5.1 eMMC memory type in Redmi 8 is a major performance bottleneck. When you’re using it intensively (games, multitasking), it’s recommended to close the background applications manually.

6.Frequent memory problems on Redmi 8 and their solutions

Redmi 8 users often encounter typical memory-related errors, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

Problem 1: “Insufficient memory” when installing applications

Reason: The system reserves some memory for updates and cache. Even if 1-2 GB is free, Google Play can block installation.

Decision:

• 🧹 Clear the cache through Settings → Warehouse → Clean up.
• 📲 Move applications to a microSD card (if supported).
• 🔄 Delete unused programs or their data (Settings → Applications → [select] → Storage → Clear data).

Problem 2: Memory disappears after MIUI update

The reason: Newer firmware versions take up more space (up to 5-7 GB), and MIUI backs up copies that are not always automatically deleted.

Decision:

• 🗑️ Remove old backups to Settings → Additional → Backup → Delete data.
• 🔍 Check the Download folder, which may contain unnecessary update files (*.zip).

Problem 3: Memory card is defined as damaged

Reason: Incorrect extraction, file system failures, or a fake card.

Decision:

• 🔧 Format the card to FAT32 via PC (use official utilities, such as SD Formatter).
• 🛠️ Check the card for errors using H2testw (Windows) or F3 (Linux/macOS).

💡

If Redmi 8 doesn’t see the memory card after the upgrade, try resetting to factory settings (Settings → Settings → Reset).

7 How to Free Memory on Redmi 8 without Losing Data

If the diagnostics show that the memory is critically low, do not rush to delete the files.

• 🗑️ Cache cleanup: Go to Settings → Storage → Clear cache. This will free up to 1-3 GB.
• ☁️ Moving files to the cloud: Use Google Photos (up to 15GB free) or Mi Cloud (5GB).
• 📁 Archive: Compress rarely used files in.zip using RAR or 7-Zip.
• 🎮 Game optimization: In Settings → Apps → [game] → Storage clear the game's cache (may weigh a few GB).

To automate the process, install Files by Google – the application analyzes memory and suggests removing unnecessary files (duplicates, temporary data, large media files).

⚠️ Warning: Do not use cleaners like Clean Master or CCleaner, which often delete important system files and display false warnings about the device being clogged.

8.When to Consider Replacing Your Memory

If all optimization methods are exhausted and memory is still scarce, consider the following options:

• 📱 Replacement with a larger model: For example, Redmi 9 (up to 128 GB) or Redmi Note 10 (up to 256 GB + UFS 2.2).
• 💾 MicroSD Card Installation: The best option is SanDisk Ultra or Samsung EVO Plus (class A2 to speed up applications).
• 🔧 Internal memory replacement (for advanced users): Technically possible, but requires soldering equipment and experience. The risk of damage to the board is high!

Cost of repair/replacement of memory in service centers:

Bottom Line: Replacing memory with Redmi 8 is not economically feasible — it is cheaper to buy a new smartphone. The optimal solution is to buy a microSD card or optimize your current storage.

FAQ: Frequent questions about memory Redmi 8