Recording phone conversations on Xiaomi smartphones is a useful feature that helps to save important information, contracts or just memorable conversations. However, over time, such records take up space in the device’s memory, and some of them may contain sensitive data that is better deleted. Unlike standard deletion of messages or photos, working with call records requires a special approach: they are stored not only in the Phone application, but also in the MIUI system folders, and can also be duplicated in the Mi Cloud.
Many users face the problem that after deleting a record through the application interface, files still remain in the device's memory, which is due to the peculiarities of MIUI, where temporary files and cache can be saved even after cleaning. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to delete from basic to advanced, including cleaning through ADB for advanced users, and learn how to avoid recovering deleted records and why some files can be "returned" after rebooting.
If you use Xiaomi at work or store sensitive information on it, we recommend paying special attention to the section on irrevocable deletion - there are methods that exclude data recovery even with the help of specialized programs.
Where are the phone records of Xiaomi stored?
Before you delete records, you need to know where they're stored. MIUI has some standard storage locations:
1.The Dictophone app (com.android.soundrecorder) is the main place where all conversation records are saved by default if you used the built-in recording feature during the call. Files here have the.amr or.mp3 extension and are sorted by date.
2. folder MIUI/sound_recorder — system directory in internal memory, where the original record files are stored. Even if you delete the record through the application interface, the files can remain here as temporary copies.
3.Mi Cloud – if sync is enabled, records are automatically uploaded to the cloud and remain there even after being deleted from the device.
4. the Phone app cache (com.android.dialer) – temporary records files may be saved here, especially if the call was interrupted or the recording was not saved correctly.
To check where your records are stored, open any file manager (such as Mi File Manager) and follow the path:
/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorderIf the folder is empty, then the files are stored in the cloud or in the application cache.
Method 1: Remove via the Dictator application
The easiest and most obvious method is to use the built-in Sound Recorder app, which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones with MIUI shells. Here is a step-by-step instruction:
1. Open the Dictator app (icon with microphone).
2. Find the record you want to delete. For convenience, you can sort files by date or name.
3. Press and hold the record to activate the selection mode, or tap on the three-point menu (⋮) near-file.
4. Select the option “Delete” (or “Basket” if the temporary storage function is enabled).
5. Confirm the action in the window that appears.
If you don't see an entry in the list, check the Recycle Bin section -- it's possible that the file has been deleted before and is there for 30 days (by default) to permanently erase the entry from the Recycle Bin:
Open Recycle Bin → Select File → Click Delete Forever⚠️ Note: Deleting via Dictator does not guarantee complete erasure of the file from the device. MIUI/sound_recorder For complete cleaning, use the methods in the following sections.
☑️ Post-deletion check
Method 2: Cleaning through a file manager
If the records are not displayed in the Dictator but take up space in memory, they can be manually deleted through the file manager, a method that is suitable for advanced users, since it requires working with system folders.
1. Open Mi File Manager (or any other file manager with access to root folders, such as Solid Explorer).
2.Cross the path:
/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorderIt stores all the records made through the standard application.
3. Select files with the.amr extension or.mp3 (They're called records. Their names usually contain a date and a time, for example: 20260515_143022.amr.
4. Click "Delete" and confirm the action.
If the folder sound_recorder Empty, check other possible locations:
- 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Recordings/ — Alternative folder for recordings on some models (for example, POCO F3).
- 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.android.soundrecorder/files/ — cache of the application».
- 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Download/ — if the records are kept manually.
⚠️ Note: Some files in the folder MIUI To see them, turn on the display of hidden files in the file manager settings (usually in the Settings menu» → «Show hidden files»).
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If you often record calls, we recommend creating a separate folder on the memory card (for example, SDCard/Call_Records) And then you can set up the storage of the records there, and it'll make it easier to manage them and it'll reduce the load on the internal memory.
Method 3: Delete records from the Mi Cloud
If your Xiaomi has Mi Cloud sync enabled, call records can automatically upload to the cloud and stay there even after being deleted from your phone.
1. Open "Settings» → «Mi Account (or Xiaomi Account»).
2. Go to the "Mi Cloud" section.
3.Look for "Dictator" or "Records" (the name may vary depending on the version of MIUI).
4. Open the list of entries, select the unnecessary ones and click "Delete".
5. Confirm Action: Files will be deleted from the cloud but will remain on the device (unless previously deleted).
If you want to completely disable recording synchronization, do the following:
Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization → Disable the Dictator⚠️ Note: Once sync is disabled, new records will no longer be uploaded to the cloud, but existing files will remain there. To delete them, you will have to manually clean the cloud through the web version of Mi Cloud (i.mi.com).
| Action. | The result | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Removal via Dictophone | File disappears from the application list | You can have copies in the folder. MIUI/sound_recorder |
| Delete via File Manager | File erased from the device | Does not affect cloud copies |
| Removal from Mi Cloud | File disappears from the cloud | Local copies remain on the phone |
| Shutting down synchronization | New records are not uploaded to the cloud | Old files remain in the cloud |
Method 4: Complete removal via ADB (for power users)
If standard methods don’t work and records still take up space or are recovered after a reboot, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is suitable for advanced users, since it requires connecting the phone to the computer and working with the command line.
1. Enable debugging over USB on your phone:
Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (shap 7 times to activate developer mode)
Settings → Additional → For developers → Debugging by USB (enable)2 Connect the phone to your computer via USB and confirm the debugging permission.
3. Open the command prompt (or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and type:
adb shell
pm clear com.android.soundrecorderThis command will clear the cache and data of the Dictophone application, including all local records.
4. To delete files from the system folder, do:
adb shell
rm -rf /sdcard/MIUI/sound_recorder/*⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB This can cause data loss if entered incorrectly. -rf If you're not sure what to do, you can delete all the files on your device. If you're not sure what to do, you better use other methods.
What if the ADB can’t see the device?
Method 5: Irreversible Deletion (for confidential data)
If the records contain sensitive information (e.g. bank details, personal conversations), normal deletion is not enough – files can be restored using special programs, in which case you need to overwrite the data to prevent their recovery.
1. Use applications for safe erasure, such as:
Secure Delete (available on Google Play)
Shreddit (for overwriting files).
These programs replace deleted data with random bytes, making recovery impossible.
2. Manually re-write the files:
- Create a new file with the same name and extension (e.g., file extension, 20260515_143022.amr).
Fill it with random data (you can use junk file generators).
- Delete the file in the standard way.
3. format the memory card (if the records are stored on SD):
Settings → Storage → Memory Map → Format⚠️ Attention: Formatting will delete all data from the card! Pre-copy important files to the computer.
For maximum safety, it is recommended to combine methods:
- 🔹 Delete records through “Dictophone” and file manager.
- 🔹 Clear the application cache (Settings) → Annexes → Dictaphone → Warehouse → Clear the cache).
- 🔹 Rewrite the free space on the device using Secure Delete.
- 🔹 Disable sync with Mi Cloud (if you are not using the cloud).
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Even after the “irrevocable” deletion, traces of data can remain in MIUI backups. If you sell or transfer a phone, perform a full factory reset (Settings → About Phone → Settings Reset).
Why do records come back after deletion?
Many users complain that after deleting the call record, they reappear on the list, for several reasons:
1. Mi Cloud Sync: If automatic backup is enabled, deleted files can be restored the next time you connect to the Internet. Solution: disable sync for Dictophone or delete files from the cloud (see Method 3).
2. App cache: Temporary files can be saved in the cache com.android.soundrecorder.
Settings → Applications → Dictator → Storage → Clean the cacheFile system errors: If the phone was disconnected from the PC incorrectly or if it crashed during recording, the files can be duplicated, in which case checking the file system through the Mi PC Suite or restarting the device will help.
4. Third-party recording applications: If you are using third-party programs (such as Cube Call Recorder or ACR) rather than a standard recorder, they may have their own storage folders.
If the problem recurs, try resetting the Dictophone app settings (without deleting data):
Settings → Applications → Dictator → Additional → Reset settings