How to remove part of the recording on the Xiaomi recorder: editing without loss of quality

Recordings of voice notes, lectures or interviews on Xiaomi’s recorder often contain unnecessary snippets: pauses, noise or reservations. Unlike full-fledged audio editors, the standard Mi Recorder app does not offer a partial deletion tool — only complete file erasure or start/end cropping. However, there are workarounds, including hidden MIUI features, third-party apps and even manual editing via PC.

In this article, we'll discuss 5 working methods to remove unnecessary pieces of recording while keeping the rest of the contents. From simple tricks with a built-in voice recorder to professional tools for precision cropping, choose a method for your tasks. Importantly, some methods require file backup, as the changes can be irreversible.

Why is there no partial removal feature in Xiaomi voice recorder?

The Mi Recorder app (or com.miui.voiceassistant in newer versions of MIUI) was originally designed to be fast-recording and listening, not editing. Xiaomi deliberately limited the functionality to:

• 🔹 Avoid sync problems in the Mi Cloud (edited files may conflict with originals).

However, MIUI 14 has a hidden time-stamp trimming option, but it doesn’t work smoothly on budget models (like the Redmi 10A or POCO M5). If your smartphone supports this feature, you’ll see a scissor icon when you play the record. If not, read on.

⚠️ Note: Before any recording manipulation, copy the original file to another location (e.g., on a PC or in the cloud.m4a, Mi Recorder is sensitive to editing damage.

Method 1: Trimming through the built-in MIUI editor (for supported models)

If your smartphone is running MIUI 14 or later (check Settings → About Phone), try the standard tool:

1. Open the application Dictaphone (Mi Recorder).
2. Select the desired recording and click on it to listen.
3. In the lower menu, tap the scissors icon (or "Edit").
4. Drag sliders on the timeline to highlight the desired fragment (what remains after pruning).
5. Click Save as a new file – the original will remain intact.

This is a method that's good for removing fragments at the beginning or end of a recording, and if there's an extra piece in the middle, you'll have to use other methods.

Scissor icon active (not grey)|

MIUI version no lower than 14|

Free space on the device (minimum 10% of the file size)|

The entry is not password protected (in MIUI 15 appeared the option to block audio)-->

Method 2: Convert to MP3 and edit on PC

To precisely remove fragments from the middle of the recording, you need a computer and an editor program. The most reliable option is Audacity (free, supports Russian).

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC via USB (select File Transfer Mode).
2. Find a folder with records: Internal memory → MIUI → sound_recorder or SD-map → Recorder
3. Copy the file (usually.m4a) to the desktop.
4. Open it at Audacity:

If the sound is quieter or clicks appear after pruning, use the Normalization effect (in the Effects menu) or the Click Removal plugin.

⚠️ Note: When converting from.m4a into.mp3 To avoid this, select the Audacity export settings with a bitrate of at least 192 kbps and format. M4A (AAC).

Xiaomi| Smartphone

Computer (Windows/macOS) |

Tablet |

I don't edit the tapes.-->

Method 3: Using third-party apps on Android

If editing on a PC is uncomfortable, install a dedicated app directly on your smartphone.The best options for Xiaomi are:

• 🎧 Lexi Audio Editor – Supports the format.m4a, There's a cut-out tool, minus: the free version has a limit on the length of the recording (up to 10 minutes).
• 🔊 WaveEditor is a simple interface, saves metadata (write date, tags) Suitable for Redmi Note 11 and later.
• ✂️ MP3 Cutter & Audio Editor – Optimized for weak devices (e.g., Cutter & Audio Editor, POCO C40). Can cut the middle of a file without converting.

Instructions for Lexis Audio Editor:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Open the entry through the Files menu (folder) sound_recorder).
3. Click on the scissors icon, highlight the unnecessary fragment and tap Remove.
4. Save the result to the same folder or cloud.

Tip: If the file is not played back to Mi Recorder after saving, rename the extension from.mp3 back to.m4a.

💡

Before installing a third-party editor, check its permissions in Google Play. The application should not request access to contacts, SMS or geolocation - this is a sign of potentially dangerous software.

Method 4: Trimming through online services (without installing programs)

If you don't want to install software, you can use online editors, which work right in the browser, but require you to upload the file to the server.

• 🌐 AudioJoiner - Supports.m4a, you can cut the middle of the record.
• 🎵 MP3Cut — Simple interface, there is a function fade-in/fade-out smooth-cut.
• ☁️ BearAudio – saves editing history but requires registration.

Step-by-step instructions for AudioJoiner:

1. Open the site in Chrome or Firefox (on a smartphone or PC).
2. Click Open Files and upload the recording from Xiaomi.
3. On the timeline, select the fragment that you need to leave (everything else will be deleted).
4. Click Save and select the M4A format.
5. Download the result back to the device.

⚠️ Attention: Online services can analyze downloaded files. Do not use them for records with sensitive information (passwords, personal data.

Method 5: Manual editing via ADB (for power users)

If the record is edit-proof (e.g., created in the Safe Record mode in MIUI 15), you can try extracting it through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that requires command line skills and is suitable for:

• 🔧 Deleted fragments in system records (e.g., calls).
• 🔒 Files blocked MIUI because of security policy.
• 📱 Root access devices (but this voids the warranty).

Instructions:

1. Install. ADB-PC drivers.
2. Connect Xiaomi to USB and enable Debugging over USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – tap 7 times, then go back to Additional Settings → For Developers).
3. In the command line, do: adb pull /sdcard/MIUI/sound_recorder/ your daddy-on-a-pc
4. Edit the file on the PC (see Method 2).
5. Return the file back: adb push "C:\path/file.m4a" /sdcard/MIUI/sound_recorder/

This method is risky, because if you make a mistake, you can lose all the records in the folder, and only use it if other methods have failed.

💡

ADB-Teams can circumvent limitations MIUI, But you need to be careful. Always back up the folder. sound_recorder before manipulation.

What to do if the recording is accidentally deleted?

If you deleted a fragment or the entire file by mistake, try to restore it:

• 🗑️ Basket MIUI: Open the Files app, go to the Recycle Bin (stores deleted files for up to 30 days).
• ☁️ Mi Cloud: If sync has been enabled, check Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Dictaphone.
• 🔍 Third-party utilities: Programs like DiskDigger or Recuva (PC-only) can find deleted audio files, but the odds depend on how much data is written over the top of the file.

Importantly, the faster you start recovery, the more likely you are to succeed, and once you delete, don't write new files to your device, which reduces your chances of recovery.

FAQ: Frequent questions about editing records on Xiaomi