Smartphone Redmi 8 Pro, despite its popularity and balanced characteristics, over time inevitably faces a shortage of free space. Users often notice that the device starts to run slower, notifications about low space appear more often, and installing new applications becomes impossible. This is a natural process of accumulation of digital waste, which requires a systematic approach to solving.
Unlike newer models, where built-in memory volumes start from 128 GB, owners Redmi 8 Pro are often limited to 64 gigabytes, of which even less is available to the user. Storage & Performance on this device - not just deleting photos, but comprehensive work with system partitions, application cache and hidden folders. In this article, we will look at all the effective methods, from simple settings to advanced MIUI tools.
Before taking drastic measures such as a full reset, you need to understand the storage structure. Often the problem lies not in a large number of personal files, but in the incorrect operation of instant messengers or the accumulation of system service logs. A competent analysis will allow you to return gigabytes of free space without losing important data.
Using the built-in Security application
The first and most obvious step is to use the standard shell tools MIUI. The company Xiaomi has integrated a powerful optimizer directly into the system, which is available without installing third-party software. To launch, you need to find a shield icon with a checkmark on your desktop or in the “Tools” folder. This application scans the device for temporary files that can be safely deleted.
When you press the button Cleaning the system performs an analysis and offers to remove garbage. However, you should be careful: the algorithm sometimes marks as “garbage” files that you plan to use in the near future, for example, downloaded documents or contact avatars. Check the list carefully before confirming deletion, so as not to accidentally erase the necessary data.
Inside the same application there is a section Deep Cleanthat allows you to analyze specific categories of files: videos, music, documents and large files. This is especially useful for finding forgotten installation files .apk or heavy videos taken a long time ago. The WhatsApp Clean feature separates media files from the messenger, allowing you to delete only pictures or voice messages, leaving the correspondence untouched.
The Boost feature in the Security app also clears random access memory (RAM), which can temporarily improve the performance of the Redmi 8 Pro, but does not free up storage space. Do not confuse these concepts.
⚠️ Attention: When using the “Deep Cleaning” function, do not delete folders whose purpose you do not know, especially if they are located in the root of the internal memory. This may disrupt the operation of installed applications.
Storage analysis and removal of duplicates
If standard cleaning does not give the desired result, you must proceed to manual content analysis. In the settings Redmi 8 Pro path Settings → Storage a detailed filling diagram is displayed. By clicking on a category, for example, “Pictures” or “Videos,” you will be taken to a file manager sorted by size and date.
A common cause of low space is duplicate files. If you use messengers frequently, the same photos can be saved in different folders: in the gallery, in the messenger folder and in the downloads folder. Searching for them manually takes a long time, so it is recommended to use specialized utilities or the duplicate search function, if it is available in your firmware version.
Particular attention should be paid to the folder Download (Downloads). Browsers and social networks often save temporary files there that the user forgets to delete. Regularly checking this directory once a month can free up up to 500 MB of free space. Also check the folder DCIM → .thumbnailswhere the gallery thumbnails are stored; sometimes this cache grows to gigabytes.
- 📸 Check the “Recently Deleted” album in the Gallery - files are stored there for 30 days and take up space.
- 📂 Use sorting by size in the file manager to find the heaviest forgotten files.
- 🗑️ Empty the trash in the file manager if you used the remote recovery function.
Managing the cache of instant messengers and social networks
The most voracious applications on Android traditionally are messengers. Telegram, WhatsApp i Viber automatically download all media files to the device memory. Over time, the database of these applications can occupy 5-10 GB, which is critical for Redmi 8 Pro. The solution to the problem lies in the settings of the applications themselves, and not in the system.
In Telegram you need to go to Settings → Data and memory → Memory usage. Here you need to set the cache limit, for example, to 200 MB or 1 GB, and enable automatic cleaning. It is also useful to disable autosaving of media to the gallery so that pictures are not duplicated in the system images folder.
For WhatsApp the procedure is similar: Settings → Data and storage → Storage management. The application will show the chats that take up the most space and allow you to delete media files selectively. You can delete all videos from a specific chat, leaving text correspondence, which will significantly save space.
Path to manually clear the Android cache:
Settings → Applications → All applications → [Select application] → Storage → Clear cache
It is important to distinguish between the concepts “Clear cache” and “Clear all data”. The first operation is safe and only deletes temporary files. The second operation will reset the application to the state of the original installation, deleting all correspondence and settings inside it, if there is no backup copy.
Why does the messenger cache grow so quickly?
Messengers store copies of all received media files locally for quick access without re-downloading from the Internet. If you are a member of dozens of active video-sharing chats, the cache can grow by hundreds of megabytes per day.
Transferring data to a microSD memory card
One of the advantages Redmi 8 Pro is the presence of a separate slot for a memory card, which allows you to expand the storage up to 256 GB. This is an ideal option for storing photos, music and videos that do not require the high reading speed typical of internal memory.
To transfer files, use a file manager. Select the desired folders (for example, DCIM, Music, Download) and select the “Move” or “Copy” operation, specifying the card SDas the destination. After successful transfer, delete the originals from the internal memory.
Some applications allow you to change the location where the data is saved in their settings. For example, in the camera settings you can choose to save photos and videos directly to a memory card. However, it is recommended to leave system applications and heavy games in the internal memory to ensure stable operation and fast loading.
| Data type | Recommended storage location | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| System applications | Internal memory | Require high access speed |
| Photo and Video archive | Memory card (SD) | Occupy a large amount of space, speed is not critical |
| Games with heavy graphics | Internal memory | To prevent lags and long loading times |
| Music and podcasts | Memory card (SD) | Streaming does not require fast memory |
Using a UHS-I or higher class memory card ensures that saving photos to the camera will not be accompanied by delays.
Deleting unused applications and games
Often, users install applications “just in case” or forget to delete games that they stopped playing. Each such application not only takes up space for the installation file, but also creates additional folders with data, cache and updates.
Go through the list of all installed apps in the settings. Sorting by size or date of last use will help identify candidates for deletion. If you haven't opened the app in over 3 months, you probably don't need it. Removing one large game can free up 2 to 5 GB of space instantly.
For system applications that cannot be removed in the standard way (so-called bloatware), you can use disabling. In the menu Settings → Applications select an unnecessary system application and press Disable. This will hide it from the menu and stop background processes, although it will continue to take up disk space.
- 🚫 Remove pre-installed games and services that you do not use (for example, unnecessary browsers or stores).
- 🔄 Check the "Recent" section in Google Play to remember what you installed last.
- ⚙️ Disable system applications via ADB if you are an advanced user (requires connection to a PC).
⚠️ Attention: Interface MIUI is updated periodically. The location of menu items may vary slightly depending on the version of Android and the specific firmware build. If you do not find the item in the specified location, use the search in settings.
Resetting settings as a last resort
If none of the above methods helped free up enough space, and the system continues to report a critical lack of memory, the file system may be damaged or many system errors have accumulated. In this case, an effective solution would be a full reset to factory settings.
This procedure will completely clear the internal memory Redmi 8 Pro, returning the phone to the “as from the store” state. All personal data will be deleted, therefore, before starting the procedure, it is critical to create a backup copy of contacts, photos and documents in cloud storage or on a computer.
To reset, go to Settings → About phone → Reset settings → Erase all data. The process may take from 10 to 30 minutes. After rebooting, the phone will work as quickly as possible, and the amount of available memory will return to factory settings.
☑️ Preparing for a full reset
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why is space not freed up after deleting files?
The files may have been moved to the gallery or file manager trash. Check your Trash folder and empty it. Also try rebooting the device so that the system recalculates the available memory.
Is it possible to transfer applications to a memory card on Redmi 8 Pro?
In modern versions of Android and MIUI, the ability to transfer user applications to an SD card is often blocked by developers to ensure stability. This function depends on the specific application and firmware version.
What is the Android/obb folder and can it be deleted?
This folder stores cache files of heavy games and applications. You cannot remove it entirely - the games will stop running. You can delete the contents of the folders of those games that you have already deleted from the system.
How to clear the cache of the "Media Server" system process?
Go to Settings → Applications → Show all applications. Click on the three dots in the corner and select "Show system processes." Find "Media Server", go to the storage and clear the cache. This will help if the process is loading the processor.
Does filling the memory affect the speed of the phone?
Yes, critically. When free space is less than 10% of the total volume, the speed of writing and reading data drops, the system begins to slow down, and applications may crash. It is recommended to always keep at least 3-5 GB free.