Cleaning up deleted files on Xiaomi Redmi 8T: 5 ways to free up memory

You deleted photos, videos or documents from Xiaomi Redmi 8T, but the space on your phone hasn't increased? This is a common problem: the MIUI operating system doesn't always immediately free up memory after deleting. Files can stay in the cart, app cache or fragmented storage areas. Moreover, some data (such as thumbnails of photos) are duplicated by the system and take up space unnoticed.

In this article, we will discuss how to completely clean deleted files on Redmi 8T, including hidden system residues, cache and debris. You will learn which tools are built into MIUI, and when to use third-party utilities. Separately, we will consider how to recover accidentally erased data — if you act quickly, the chances of returning files remain high.

Before you start, check how much memory is actually occupied: go to Settings → About Phone → Storage. If the “Other” or “System Data” partition takes more than 5-10 GB, this is a signal to clean up.

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1. Cleaning the Recycle Bin in MIUI: Why Files Aren't Deleted Immediately

MIUI (Xiaomi firmware) has a built-in bin that gets deleted files from the gallery, file manager and some applications, and by default they are stored there for 30 days, taking up space on the internal drive, and many users forget to clean the basket, which leaves the phone's memory full.

To remove files from the cart finally:

1. Open the Files app (the folder icon on the desktop).
2. In the lower menu, tap on the basket section.
3. Press Control (or three dots in the upper right corner) → Clear the cart.
4. Confirm the action.

⚠️ Warning: If you use Google Photos, this app has a separate shopping cart! To clear it, open Google Photos → Library → Basket → Clear the bin. Files are stored there for 60 days.

On the Redmi 8T, the cart takes up to 2-3 GB of memory if it is not cleaned for months, especially when you use the camera actively, thumbnails and previews of photos are duplicated in the cart even after “deleting”.

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Removal of cache and debris through “Optimization”

App cache and system debris are another reason Redmi 8T memory is filled, and the cache is used to speed up programs, but over time it grows to gigabytes, for example, Facebook or TikTok can accumulate up to 1-2 GB of cache in a few months.

How to clean cache and garbage:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select an app (like Gallery or Chrome).
3. Slip the vault. → Clear the cache.
4. For complete cleaning, click Clear Data (⚠️ This will remove all application settings!).

For mass cleaning, use the built-in utility Optimization:

• 📱 Open the Security app (shield icon).
• 🧹 Choose Optimization. → Cleaning up garbage.
• 🔍 Wait for analysis and press Clean.

⚠️ Note: Do not clear the cache of system applications (such as Settings or Phone) – this can cause malfunctions MIUI.

Close all active applications

Connect your phone to charge (if the battery level is below 20%)

Make a backup copy of important data

Do not clear the cache of banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff, etc.)

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3. Deep cleaning: removal of system residues and duplicates

Even after cleaning the cart and cache, Redmi 8T may still have system residues – temporary files, logs, duplicate photos (such as edited versions from the gallery) – that require additional tools to remove.

Methods of deep cleaning:

Try Files by Google (available in the Play Market):

• 📁 Install and open the application.
• 🔍 Press Clear Clear. → Select categories (Dublicates, Large files).
• 🗑️ Confirm removal.

If you need to remove garbage through ADB (for power users):

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.example.app

Replace com.example.app with the application package you want to remove.

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4. Recovery of accidentally deleted files

If you delete important files (photos, documents, contacts) and want them back, you need to act quickly - before the data has been overwritten with new ones. Redmi 8T has several ways to restore:

Method 1: Restore from MIUI backup

• 🔄 Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge → Local backup.
• 📅 Select the backup date (if it was created automatically).
• ⚙️ Click Restore and select the data you need (contacts, messages, photos).

Method 2: Recovery programs

If there is no backup, use third-party utilities:

• 🖥️ DiskDigger (works without root, but with limitations).
• 📱 EaseUS MobiSaver (Scanning Internal Memory).
• 💻 Recuva (requires the phone to be connected to a PC).

⚠️ Note: Do not install recovery programs on the same Redmi 8T, So you can get the files that you've deleted, and you can reduce the chances of success.

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If you’re recovering photos, try to find them in the DCIM/.thumbnails folder first – sometimes thumbnails are saved even after the originals are deleted.

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5. memory card formatting (if files were stored on SD)

If the deleted files were on the memory card, a simple cleaning of the trash can does not help - the data remains in the file system until overwriting, to completely erase them and make room:

Steps for formatting SD-map:

1. Go to Settings → Storage → SD card.
2. Press Format (⚠️ All data will be deleted!).
3. Select the file system: FAT32 is compatible with other devices (max. file 4 GB). exFAT is file support >4 GB (recommended for Redmi 8T).

Confirm the action.

⚠️ Note: After formatting, data recovery with SD-If you have important files on the map, try to restore them first using PhotoRec or TestDisk).

On the Redmi. 8T When formatting a memory card via a phone, the file system is set as exFAT by default, but some applications (such as Google Camera) may not work properly with it. FAT32 computer.

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6.How to prevent the accumulation of garbage in the future

To avoid running into memory problems on Redmi 8T, follow the following simple rules:

MIUI settings for automatic cleaning:

• 📊 Enable Auto Cleanup in the Security app (Settings) → Auto-cleaning → Turn on).
• 🗑️ Install automatic deletion of files from the Recycle Bin after 7-15 days (Files) → Basket → Settings → Autocleaning).
• 🔄 Set up photo backup in Google Photos or Mi Cloud and delete originals from your phone after downloading.

Habits to save memory:

• 📸 Regularly transfer photos and videos to your computer or cloud.
• 🎮 Remove the game cache (for example, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact after updates.
• 📱 Use Lite versions of applications (Facebook Lite, Messenger Lite).

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Regularly cleaning the cart and cache saves up to 30% of memory on the Redmi 8T without data loss. Automatic MIUI (Autocleaning, Optimization) tools reduce the risk of overflowing storage.

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FAQ: Frequent questions about memory cleaning on Xiaomi Redmi 8T