How to completely remove screen recording on Xiaomi: instructions for all models

Screen recording on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones is a convenient feature for creating gameplay, teaching videos or saving important moments. But after shooting, many people face the problem of where to find the saved file, how to delete it, and why sometimes standard methods do not work. Unlike screenshots that are stored in a separate folder, screen videos can be “hidden” in different parts of memory, and their removal requires a special approach.

In this article, we will look at all possible ways to delete screen recordings, from basic to advanced, including cleaning through file manager, gallery, cloud services and even resetting. We will focus on hidden MIUI folders, where tails may remain after deletion, and explain why some files are not deleted by standard methods. If you are using Xiaomi 12T, Redmi Note 11 or POCO F4, this will be suitable for all versions of MIUI 12-14.

Where screen recordings are stored on Xiaomi

By default, screen video recordings are saved in one of three folders, depending on the firmware version and device model:

• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Movies/ScreenRecordings/ — standard-position MIUI 12–14.
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Screenshots/ — Sometimes the recordings come with screenshots (especially on older versions).
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/ScreenRecord/ — Alternative path for some models POCO.

If you have used third-party recording applications (such as AZ Screen Recorder or DU Recorder), files may be stored in the folders of these programs: /Android/data/[name packet app]/files/. To find them, open Files → Categories → Video and sort by date of creation.

On some devices (such as Xiaomi 13 Pro), the recordings are automatically duplicated in Google Photos or Mi Cloud, which means that even after deleting from the phone, a copy can remain in the cloud.

Method 1: Removal through a standard gallery

The easiest method is to use the built-in Gallery app (Google Photos or Mi Gallery, depending on the model).

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Go to Videos or Albums → Screen recordings (the title may vary).
3. Find the right file and tap it to view it.
4. Click on the basket icon (🗑️) Or select Remove from the menu.
5. Confirm the action by pressing OK.

If the video is not displayed in the Gallery but you are sure that the recording was made, check the display settings:

1. In the Gallery, click three dots (⋮) → Settings.
2. Select Show Hidden Files or Show System Folders.
3. Update the file list (pull the screen down).

Synchronization with the cloud is disabled

File not hidden by system

Gallery Updated to the latest version

The folder with the records is not password protected-->

⚠️ Note: If you use Google Photos, deleting the application will result in synchronous erasure of the file from the cloud. To save a copy, first export the video to your computer or other storage.

Method 2: Delete via File Manager

If the Gallery does not show the entry, try to manually delete it through Files (standard MIUI manager):

1. Open the Files app (folder icon).
2. Go to Categories → Video or Device → Internal Memory.
3. Find the Movies/ScreenRecordings folder (or alternative paths from the first section).
4. Long press on the file → select Delete.
5. Confirm the action.

If the folder is not displayed, turn on the display of hidden files:

1. In Files, click three dots (⋮) → Settings.
2. Activate the option to show hidden files.
3. Go back to the root directory and check the Movies or DCIM folders.

⚠️ Note: If you attempt to delete an error "File is used by another application", close any programs that may block it (for example, a video player or editor). → Annexes → Initiated to forcibly stop the process.

💡

If the record is not deleted, try renaming the file (e.g. adding " old" at the end) and then trying again.

Method 3: Cleaning through cloud services

Many Xiaomi users automatically sync media files to Mi Cloud or Google Photos. If you deleted a post locally but it is still available in the cloud, follow these steps:

For Mi Cloud:

1. Open the Mi Cloud app (or go to i.mi.com).
2. Sign in with the same account as on your phone.
3. Go to the Gallery section → Video.
4. Find the screen recording, highlight it and press Delete.
5. Confirm the deletion and clear the Recycle Bin (files are stored there for 30 days).

For Google Photos:

1. Open Google Photos.
2. In the Library → Video section, find the file you want.
3. Tap it on three points (⋮) → Remove from the device (if you only need local removal) or Remove from anywhere (for complete erasure).
4. Clean the basket in the side menu.

If you’re not sure if your device is synced to the cloud, check your settings:

• 🔄 Settings → Accounts and synchronization → Mi Cloud → Synchronization of the gallery.
• 🔄 Settings → Google → Backup → Backup Google Photos.

Method 4: Forced removal via ADB (for power users)

If the record is not deleted by standard methods (e.g., due to a file system failure or MIUI limitations), you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting the phone to your computer and basic command line knowledge.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB Tools.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times tap to activate the developer mode, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the adb folder.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices should display the name of your device.
4. Find the path to the file (e.g. /sdcard/Movies/ScreenRecordings/video.mp4).
5. Delete the file by command: adb shell rm -f "/sdcard/Movies/ScreenRecordings/video.mp4"

If the path contains gaps, use quotes:

adb shell rm -f "/sdcard/My Folder/record.mp4"

⚠️ Attention: Command rm -f Deletes the file irrevocably, bypassing the shopping cart. Make sure you point the right path - an error can lead to the loss of other data.

💡

ADB is a powerful tool, but it requires caution. Never use rm -rf / or similar commands, it will lead to a complete system reset!

Method 5: Resetting settings (extreme case)

If the screen recording is not deleted by any method and takes up a critical place, you have to reset to factory settings, which erases all the data from the device, so use it only as a last resort.

How to reset:

1. Back up your important data (Settings → About Phone → Backup).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset.
3. Select Settings Reset.
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot.

After discharge:

• 🔄 The device will return to the state of “out of the box».
• 📥 All screen recordings, photos and apps will be deleted.
• 🔑 You will need to reset your Google and Mi accounts.

If the problem was a file system corruption, the reset should fix it, but it's a radical solution -- 99 percent of the time, the methods described above are enough.

Frequent problems and solutions

When you delete screen recordings, Xiaomi users face common errors, and consider the most common and ways to fix them:

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 🛠️ File System Integrity: Go to Settings → Warehouse → Check and fix (not available on all models).
• 🔍 Viruses or malware: scan your device through Google Play Protect or Malwarebytes.
• 📦 Mistakes. SD-maps (if the record was saved on it): remove the card and check on another device.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions