Modern Xiaomi smartphones, including the Redmi and POCO series, offer users many useful features, among which automatic or manual recording of telephone conversations occupies a special place. This feature is often indispensable for fixing agreements, but over time, the accumulated volume of audio files can significantly reduce the free space in the memory of the device.
The process of deleting records is not always obvious, especially given the constant changes in the MIUI shell and the transition to HyperOS. Call and voice recorder application interfaces can vary depending on the firmware region (Chinese, global, Indian) and the Android version. In this article, we will take a detailed look at all the available ways to clean up conversation history, from standard methods to working with a file manager to remove hidden data.
It is important to understand that deleting audio recordings is an irreversible operation if you do not have a backup in the cloud. Before starting a mass cleanup, make sure that there are not files among the files that you may need in the future to solve legal or personal issues.
Delete records through a standard call
The easiest and most logical way to get rid of unnecessary audio files is to use a built-in phone call app. In Xiaomi smartphones, call history and recording are often integrated, allowing you to manage them in one place. However, the interface can vary: in some versions of the shells, the record management button is removed separately, and in others it is hidden in the menu of a particular contact.
To start, open the Phone app (green handset) and go to the call history tab. Here you will see a list of all incoming and outgoing connections. If there is a voice recorder icon or a small dot next to the contact number or name, this means that the conversation has been recorded. Click on a specific number to open detailed information about the call.
In the menu that opens, which displays call duration and time, look for a button with a voice recorder or the words "Record." When you click on it, you will be placed in a list of all the stored audio files associated with this contact or with all the calls in general. To delete one file, you just click on it and select the basket icon.
⚠️ Note: When you delete a record through the call menu, the file is permanently erased. Unlike the shopping cart in the gallery, the standard phone app often does not have a "recover remote" function or only works for 30 days in the cloud.
If you need to delete multiple entries at once, use the highlight mode, which usually requires a long press on the first file, and then you will see the ticks to select the remaining items, which greatly speeds up the process of cleaning the history.
💡
Use the “By Size” sorting mode in the file manager if your goal is to make room, as long conversations take up the most megabytes.
Working with the application Dictaphone and Records
In the MIUI ecosystem, audio management is often managed by a separate system application, which can be called "Dictator", "Recorder" or "Recorder" -- not only are conversations stored here, but any other audio files created on the device, and removing conversation records through this interface gives a broader view and allows you to sort files by date or duration.
Run the Recorder app on your smartphone. At the bottom of the screen or in the side menu, look for the Conversations tab or the Records of Conversations tab. This is all the audio files created by the call recording function. The interface is usually a list with names corresponding to phone numbers or names from the contact book.
To mass delete, press and hold your finger on one of the recordings to activate editing mode, you will be able to select several files at once or click the "Select All" button at the top of the screen. After selecting, click on the basket icon and confirm the action.
- 🗑️ Single Deletion: Write left on the write string (in some OS versions) for quick removal.
- 📂 Folders: Please note that records can be broken down into folders if you have used different profiles or write modes.
- 🔍 Search: Use the search bar in the app to find contact name entries if there are too many.
It’s worth noting that the Records app in newer versions of HyperOS may have integrated AI that suggests removing duplicates or old files that take up a lot of space.
Delete via File Manager
Sometimes standard applications don't display all files or don't work properly, and in these cases, File Manager comes to the rescue, allowing you to see the real folder structure and delete even files that might have been lost in the system. The path to files may vary depending on the Android version.
Open Explorer or Files. You need to go to the device's internal memory. The path to recording conversations in modern versions of Android (11, 12, 13 and above) is usually as follows:
/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_recIn older versions of the shell or on devices with a classic folder structure, the path may be as follows:
/MIUI/sound_recorder/or
/Recordings/call_rec/When you find the folder you want, you'll see a list of files with the.m4a or.mp3 extension. You can sort them by the date of change to find the oldest or, conversely, the latest entries. File allocation is done in the same way: long press to activate the selection mode, then mark the desired items and click on the basket.
⚠️ Warning: Be extremely careful when deleting files through Explorer. Do not delete files with system names or those you are not sure about, so as not to disrupt the application.
The advantage of this method is that you can immediately check how much space has been freed up and, if necessary, move important files to your computer or cloud before deleting them.
☑️ Pre-deletion check
Automatic cleaning and cloud services
Manual deletion can be tedious, especially if you talk on the phone often. Fortunately, Xiaomi’s settings include features to automate this process or shift the load to cloud storage, which helps keep the memory in order without constant user intervention.
In the Phone app, go to settings (usually three dots or a gear in the corner). Find the Call Record section. Here you can find the option to Delete Old Records if available in your firmware version. Also, there is a frequent setting called Size Limit, which automatically deletes the oldest files when the record folder reaches a certain limit.
Alternatively, you can use Google Drive or Xiaomi Cloud, where you can set up a folder to save copies to the cloud in your call recording settings, and once you sync successfully, you can delete files from your phone knowing that they are available at any time from any device.
| Cleaning method | Difficulty | Security | Speed. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through the bell. | Low. | Tall. | Medium |
| Through the Dictaphone | Low. | Tall. | Tall. |
| Through the Conductor | Medium | Medium | Tall. |
| Auto-cleaning | Low. | Tall. | Instant. |
Using automatic scripts in the Security app can also help. Create a garbage cleanup task that will include temporary tape recorder files if the system classifies them as cache.
Deletion of records from SD-map
Many Xiaomi users prefer to save media files, including conversation records, to a MicroSD memory card. This saves the interior space of the smartphone, but requires a separate approach to deleting files.
To access files on the memory card, open Explorer and switch to displaying content SD-cards (usually at the top of the screen there are tabs "Memory of the device" and «SD-Look for the folder. MIUI, and inside sound_recorder. If you have previously changed your default save settings, the folder may simply be called Recordings or be rooted.
The deletion process is identical to internal memory: select files and press delete. However, it is important to consider the speed of the memory card. If the card is old or damaged, the process of deleting a large number of files can take time or cause an error.
What to do if the file is not deleted?
Once the memory card is cleaned, it is recommended to remove it and insert it again or restart the device so that the system correctly updates the free space information, which is especially true for older versions of Android.
Recovery of Accidentally Deleted Records
Situations where an important record was deleted by mistake happen often. Unlike photos, conversation audio files are less likely to have backups unless you set up sync beforehand. However, there are several ways to try to get data back.
The first place to look is in the Files or Gallery Recycle Bin (if the records are displayed there). In modern versions of MIUI, deleted files can be stored there for up to 30 days. Open the application, search for the Recycle Bin or Recently Deleted section, select the file you want and click Restore.
If the file has been deleted from the cart, the odds are reduced, but you can try specialized data recovery applications such as DiskDigger or Recuva (via PC).
- 💾 Google Drive: Check the cloud storage cart if sync was enabled.
- 📱 Mi Cloud: Go to the web version of the Xiaomi cloud from your computer, there is also a shopping cart.
- 💻 Computer: If you’ve ever connected your phone to a PC to transfer files, it’s possible that a copy has stayed on your hard drive.
⚠️ Warning: When trying to recover data, immediately stop using your phone actively.Write new files (photos, videos, apps) can overwrite the memory sectors where the deleted record was stored, making recovery impossible.
Remember that recording phone conversations without warning may be illegal in your country, so keep such files with extreme caution and delete them as soon as they become irrelevant to avoid leaking confidential information.
💡
Regularly checking your records folder once a month is the best way to avoid overflowing memory and losing important data in file chaos.