How to see memory on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro: internal, external and occupied space

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro

2019

microSD

256GB

look up

Redmi Note 8 Pro

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can check your memory, from standard MIUI tools to third-party applications, how to distinguish internal memory from external cards, what other files are and how to clean them, and what hidden features I’ll help you optimize storage. If your smartphone is slower or gives a “Memory is full” notification, these instructions will help you understand the cause and eliminate it without resetting to factory settings.

Before you start, make sure your Redmi Note 8 Pro runs on the current version of MIUI. In older firmware (below MIUI 12), the menu may look different and some features may not. You can update the software in Settings → About Phone → System Update.

1. Memory check through phone settings

The easiest way is to use the built-in MIUI tools. They show not only the total memory capacity, but also the distribution by category (applications, photos, videos, etc.).

To open the storage section:

1. Go to Settings (the gear icon on the main screen).
2. Select the item About the phone.
3. Slip on the Warehouse (or Memory in some versions).

Here you'll see:

• 📊 Total memory (for example, 128 GB of 128 GB).
• 📁 Occupied space by file type (system data, multimedia, cache, etc.).
• 🔄 Clean button** – it removes unnecessary cache and temporary files.

Note the Other Files category, which often hides the remnants of deleted applications, system log files, or downloaded data from messengers, and can be safely deleted through the built-in Cleanup utility (discussed below).

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If the Storage section displays an incorrect amount of storage (e.g., 128GB instead of 64GB), this may indicate a fake drive. Check the phone through the AIDA64 app (available on the Play Market).

2. the difference between internal and external memory

The Redmi Note 8 Pro supports microSD cards up to 256GB, but not everyone knows how to distinguish internal from external memory, which is important because some apps (like WhatsApp or Telegram) default to store media files in internal memory, quickly churning it.

To see the separation:

1. Open the Settings → Storage.
2. At the top of the screen, select the Internal Memory tab or SD-map (if installed).
3. For detailed analysis, tap any category (like Images or Videos) and the system will show how much space the files occupy on each medium.

If you use microSD as internal memory (Adoptable Storage in Android), the system will combine both drives into one partition.

• ⚠️ The map cannot be retrieved without formatting (data will be lost).
• 🔄 Applications can be installed on it automatically.
• ⚡ The speed will be lower than that of the internal memory (especially on cheap Class 10 cards).

3.Using the MIUI file manager

MIUI has a built-in file manager with easy memory analysis, which allows you not only to view occupied space, but also to sort files by size, date or type.

How to open it:

1. On the main screen, find the Files app (folder icon).
2. In the bottom menu, select the Analysis (or Storage) tab.
3. Wait for the scan to be completed (it may take 10 to 30 seconds).

As a result, you will get:

• 📂 Tree folder structure with indication of their size.
• 🔍 The ability to sort files by size (to find the most "heavy" files»).
• 🗑️ Quickly clear cache and unnecessary files (Clean button in upper right corner).

Especially useful is the Deep Cleaning function – it finds duplicate photos, old ones. APK-However, be careful: some system files (for example, from the Android folder) are not recommended to be deleted.

4. Third-party applications for memory analysis

If built-in MIUI tools aren't enough, you can use third-party utilities that offer more detailed analysis, visualization of occupied space, and additional cleaning functions.

Top.-3 apps for Redmi Note 8 Pro:

For example, DiskUsage displays memory as an interactive map, where each block is a file or folder. The larger the block, the more it weighs, so you can quickly find and delete unnecessary data (for example, forgotten videos in DCIM or downloads from the browser).

⚠️ Note: Some applications (such as Clean Master) aggressively delete files, which can cause malfunctions. MIUI. Use only proven utilities from the official store.

5 How to Free Your Memory Without Losing Data

If your analysis shows that your memory is full, don't rush to delete your files at random. Here are some safe ways to make room:

1. Cleaning up the app cache

• 🧹 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management.
• 📱 Select an app (such as Facebook or Instagram).
• 🗑️ Tap Clear cache (not to be confused with Clear data – it will delete accounts!).

2. File transfer to microSD

• 📁 In the file manager, highlight photos / videos.
• 🔄 Click Move and select SD-map.
• ⚠️ Don’t carry the Android folder – it can break apps.

3. Remove unnecessary APKs and downloads

• 📦 Check the Download folder in the file manager.
• 🗑️ Remove the old ones. APK-files (application installers).
• 🔍 In Play Market, open the Installed → Unused and remove unnecessary programs.

Critical information: if the memory still shows an incorrect volume after cleaning (for example, 128 GB is displayed as 110 GB), this is normal - part of the space is occupied by Android and MIUI system files (about 10-15 GB).

6 Hidden MIUI features to optimize memory

MIUI has a few little-known features that help save space automatically, and you can turn them on in the settings:

1. Auto-cleaning of garbage

• ⚙️ Go to Settings. → Battery and productivity → Cleanup.
• 🔄 Enable Auto Clean (will remove cache when screen locks).

2. Photo compression

• 📷 In the gallery, open the settings → Compression of photos.
• 📉 Choose High or Medium (saves up to 50% of space).

3. Restriction of the application background

• 🛑 B Settings → Annexes → Application Management Select Program.
• 🚫 Turn off Auto Start and Background Activity for Unnecessary Utilities.

These settings will help prevent memory from filling up in the future, but will not replace regular cleaning, such as compressing photos reduces their quality, and auto-cleaning does not delete large files (video, documents).

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Regular memory checks (every 1-2 months) and cache cleaning will help avoid brakes and errors like “Not enough memory” when installing applications.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

When working with memory on the Redmi Note 8 Pro, users often make mistakes that lead to data loss or system failures.

1. Formatting microSD as internal memory

⚠️ Note: If you select Use as internal memory for microSD and then retrieve the card, the phone may stop loading.

Solution: Use microSD as portable storage (Use as external memory option).

2. Deletion of system files

⚠️ Attention: Android folders, MIUI or system contains critical data for work MIUI. Deleting them will cause crashes or a “brick” of the phone.

Solution: Do not delete files that contain the words system, priv-app, or framework.

3. Ignoring backup

Many users clear memory without saving important data, such as photos from WhatsApp or Viber stored in the Media folder and can be deleted along with the cache.

Solution: Before cleaning up, copy important files to your PC or to the cloud (Google Drive, Mi Cloud).

Frequently asked questions