How to Delete Xiaomi Call Records: From Standard Methods to Hidden Files

Why Call Records Take Place and How to Safely Clean Them

Phone records on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones can take up gigabytes of memory even if you haven’t listened to them in a long time. MIUI automatically saves audio files to secure folders, and cloud services sync them without your knowledge, while standard deletion via the Phone app often works incorrectly: files remain in cache or duplicated in the cloud.

In this article, we'll look at 5 ways to delete completely, from basic to advanced, including cleaning hidden directories and disabling autosave. We'll focus on models with MIUI 14, where the logic of storing records has changed, and if you encounter a file secure error or you don't see the entries in the gallery, here's a solution.

⚠️ Important: Before mass deletion, check if you are using the records as evidence (for example, for litigation), restore deleted files after cleaning through the court. MI File Manager with the option "Non-return Deletion" is impossible.

Method 1: Remove via the standard "Phone" application

The most obvious method is to use the built-in Phone app (pipe icon) which is suitable for MIUI 12-14 and works on all models, including the Xiaomi 13 Pro and Redmi Note 12. However, this method has a limitation: it only deletes the call metadata, and the audio files themselves can remain in memory.

Instructions:

  • 📱 Open the phone application → tab Journal.
  • 🔍 Find the recording with the microphone icon (means the presence of an audio file).
  • 🗑️ Click on the record. → Delete → confirm.
  • 🔄 For mass removal: press ⋮ → Delete the records → pick out → OK.

🔍 Problem: if after deletion in the "Storage" section (Settings) → The phone. → Storage) the amount of memory occupied has not decreased, the files remain in the system.

💡

To quickly find all the file manager call records, search for.amr or.mp3, which are standard formats for MIUI audio recordings.

Method 2: Manual cleaning with MI File Manager

Record files are stored in hidden folders that are not displayed by default. To delete them, you will need MI File Manager with the hidden file mode enabled, a method that is relevant for MIUI 13/14, where the path to records has changed.

Step-by-step:

  1. Open the MI File Manager (Folder Icon)
  2. Tap on. ⋮ → Settings → Show hidden files.
  3. Cross the path: /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ or (for new versions) MIUI): /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.android.providers.media/files/
  4. Select files with the.amr or.mp3 extension → Delete.
  5. Clean the basket: ⋮ → Basket → Clean up.

⚠️ Attention: if the folder call_rec no records can be stored in the Mi Cloud. check the Cloud section in the Xiaomi account settings.

Enable the display of hidden files

Check the free space on the device (minimum 500 MB)

Create a backup of important records

Disable sync with Mi Cloud (if not in use)

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Method 3: Removal through the Mi Cloud

If you use a Xiaomi account and you've enabled recording sync, files are duplicated in Mi Cloud. Deleting them through your phone doesn't clean up cloud storage -- you'll have to do it manually. This is critical for users who have changed smartphones: records can take up space in the cloud for years.

How to clean:

  • 🌐 Go to i.mi.com or open the Mi Cloud app on your phone.
  • 🔐 Sign in with your Xiaomi account.
  • 📁 Select the Call Records section (or Other files) → Audio).
  • 🗑️ Mark unnecessary files → Delete → confirm.
  • 🔄 Clean the cloud cart (files are stored there for 30 days).

Mi Cloud only provides 5GB of storage for free, and call records can take up to 70 percent of that volume, blocking synchronization of photos and contacts.

Only on the phone.

In Mi Cloud

On the memory card.

Google Drive.

I don't record calls.-->

Method 4: Turning off automatic call recording

By default, MIUI can automatically record all incoming/outgoing calls, activated in the settings of the Phone application or through operator services (for example, MTS or Beeline), disabling the record will prevent the accumulation of new files.

How to deactivate:

  1. Open the phone. → ⋮ → Settings → Recording calls.
  2. Turn off the options: 🎤 Automatic recording 📞 Record all incoming 📱 Record all outgoings

MIUI 14

Additionally. → Operator services

⚠️ Note: on some firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu) the path to recording settings may be different. If there is no "Recording calls" option, use the search by settings (⚙️ → Search → "record").

What to do if the call recording is turned on by itself
On some models (e.g. Redmi) 10C) Mobile operators are forced to activate the recording through SIM-To turn off: 1. Open the Phone app. 2. Dial ##4636## → Select Phone Information. 3. Scroll down and deactivate Voice Recording (if available). If not, contact the operator to disable the service.

Method 5: Complete cleaning through ADB (for advanced)

If standard methods do not work and records take up a critically large amount of space, you can use the ADB-commands to force the deletion of system files. MIUI 13/14 and requires a phone connection to the PC.

Instructions:

  1. Install ADB Tools on your computer.
  2. Turn on the phone Debugging over USB (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap on version → return to Additional → For developers).
  3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the commands: adb shell su rm -rf /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/* rm -rf /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.android.providers.media/files/*

Use programs like DiskDigger or Recuva to recover, but the chances are minimal – MIUI encrypts audio files.

Why are the phone records not displayed in the gallery but take up space?
This is a feature of MIUI: the default record files are hidden and not indexed by the media scanner. To see them, use MI File Manager with the hidden files included. Move the files to the Music or Downloads folder, they will appear in the gallery. Install a third-party explorer (like Solid Explorer) that shows all the files.
How to prevent specific contacts from recording conversations?
V MIUI 14 has a selective recording feature: Open contact in the Phone app. ⋮ → Call recording. Choose Never Record. For older versions MIUI This functionality is missing – you will have to turn off the recording completely.
How much space does one call record take?
File size depends on the quality of the record: Low quality (AMR, 8 kbit/s): ~1 MB in 1 minute. Average (AMR, 16 kbit/s): ~2 MB/min High (MP3, 128 kbit/s): ~10 MB/min. For example, an hour of high quality conversations will take ~600 MB. Check the recording settings in Phone → Settings → Record quality.
Can I transfer the call records to the memory card?
Yes, but with limitations: Through MI File Manager Move Files from the File /MIUI/sound_recorder/ on SD-Use the "Export" option in the Phone app (not available on all models). ⚠️ Warning: new records will still be stored in internal memory. Root rights are required to change the default saving path.