Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphone owners often face situations where internal storage is overflowing, with audio files saved automatically after each call being a major cause of space shortage, and recording conversations is useful, but without regular cleaning, it becomes a problem.
Delete accumulated files in a number of ways, from the standard menu of the phone to the use of a file manager. In this article, we will detail all available cleaning methods so that you can effectively manage your device memory.
MIUI and HyperOS have their own storage features, and understanding folder structure can help you find the right files in seconds, and we'll look at the nuances of working with a voice recorder and a standard caller.
Standard method of removal through the phone application
The most obvious and quickest method is to use the built-in call functionality. In Xiaomi smartphones, the call log is integrated with the player, allowing you to manage audio recordings without access to the menu. Open the Phone app and go to the call log tab.
Find the contact or number you want to erase. When you click on the call bar, you often open a part menu that displays the voice recorder icon or waveform graphic. If you play the record, look at the control menu.
For mass removal, you'd better use the select mode. Press and hold your finger on the right number in the log until the ticks appear. Select all the calls you need, then find the delete button (usually a basket). The system will request confirmation of the operation.
⚠️ Attention: Deleting the call log entry often removes the call history from the list. Be careful if you need to save the number, but only erase the audio file.
Some versions of the shell offer a separate "Records" tab inside the Phone app, where files are sorted by date and can be deleted in groups, a handy tool for quick cleaning.
Delete via Xiaomi File Manager
A more flexible method of controlling files offers built-in Explorer, which allows you to see the real size of the space occupied and delete files even if they do not appear in the call log. Open the File Manager application.
In the manager interface, select the category "Audio" or go to the section "Folders". You need to find the directory. MIUI/sound_recorder or MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec. This is where all the audio archives of the system are stored.
- 📁 Find the file. call_rec inside MIUI.
- 🗑️ Select unnecessary files with a long press.
- ✅ Click the “Delete” button in the lower menu.
The advantage of this method is that you can sort files by size, and often older records take up more space because of the format of the save, and you can only pick heavy files and free up gigabytes of space.
If a standard Explorer doesn't display hidden folders, check the display settings. Sometimes you need to turn on the system files display, which will allow you to find all hidden backups of conversations.
☑️ Pre-deletion check
Set up automatic cleaning of records
To avoid manual cleaning all the time, it makes sense to set up automatic deletion, and modern versions of HyperOS and MIUI have features that limit the storage of old files, saving users time.
Go to the settings of the Phone or Recorder app, find the section that records conversations, there can be "Stealing" or "Storing records" and select a period, for example, 30 days.
The system will automatically erase files that are over the age limit, ensuring that memory doesn't suddenly overflow, but important conversations are best kept separate.
| Parameter | Description | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| Storage period | File Lifetime Before Auto Deletion | 30 days |
| Recording quality | Affects file size | High (if there is room) |
| Format | Type of audio coding | MP3 or AAC |
| Sound source | Microphone or system sound | Microphone (for compatibility) |
Note that when the battery is low, the system can pause the background cleaning processes. Check the settings regularly to make sure the function is active.
Why can't the record be deleted?
Using Google Files for Deep Cleaning
If the built-in tools don’t seem effective enough, use Files by Google, a tool that is often pre-installed on Xiaomi’s global smartphones, and can find duplicates and large files.
Launch the app and go to the Overview tab. Select Audio category. The app will sort all the audio files on the device. You can filter them by "Talk Records."
Google Files' algorithm offers "safe deletion" to check if other applications are using files, which reduces the risk of accidental loss of system-critical data.
- 🔍 Open the Files app.
- 📂 Go to the section "Large files».
- 🗑️ Select audio files and delete them.
A unique feature is the ability to remotely delete via the web interface if sync is enabled, which allows you to clean the phone even if it is located elsewhere, although this works less often for local conversation records.
⚠️ Warning: Third-party cleaners may request redundant permissions.Use only verified apps from Google or Xiaomi.
Cleaning through a computer and USB-cable
When the phone is almost full and running slowly, the most reliable way is to connect to a PC, which allows you to quickly transfer important records to the hard drive and remove excess from the phone, connect your smartphone with a cable and select File Transfer mode.
On your computer, open the device in My Computer. Go to the Internal Drive path./MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec. Here you'll see a list of all the records. Select the ones you don't need and press Delete.
The path to the record folder:
/Internal Storage/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/And the way you do this is you can actually see the entire folder structure, and you can sort files by the date of the change, and you can delete anything that's older than a month, and that's the fastest way to do a mass sweep.
Once the operation is complete, be sure to remove the device safely.Abruptly disconnecting the cable can damage the file system, leading to errors when reading the remaining records.
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Keep important conversations right after you call Google Drive (Mi Cloud) so you don’t have to worry about losing data when cleaning your phone.
What to do if the records are not deleted
Sometimes users encounter an error called "failed to delete" or the file reappears after cleaning, which may be due to access rights or synchronization, check if the voice recorder syncs with Mi Cloud are enabled.
If the file is blocked by the process, try restarting the smartphone. Once turned on, go to the file manager immediately and delete the problem file. Often this removes the lock.
In rare cases, you need to clear the cache of the Phone or Dictator app. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the right one and select Clear Cache. Don't confuse it with Clear Data, otherwise reset the call settings.
- 🔄 Reset the device.
- 📁 Check the access rights to the folder.
- ☁️ Turn off cloud sync.
If the problem persists, the partition file system may be damaged, in which case a deeper diagnosis or reset of the phone to factory settings may be required.
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If the file is not deleted in any way, it is likely blocked by the system writing process, and rebooting the phone is the first and most effective solution.