Modern smartphones in the Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco line have a huge amount of memory, where users often download hundreds of music tracks. Over time, the internal storage becomes overflowing, and the list of ringtones appears chaos of old, unnecessary files that are annoying. Cleaning the audio library is not only a way to free up space, but also the ability to structure the menu of call selection, making it convenient for everyday use.
The process of deleting audio recordings on devices with MIUI shells or the new HyperOS has its own nuances, different from standard Android. Some files are protected by system rights, others can be hidden in the back of folders, and others are blocked by active alarm settings or notifications. Understanding the structure of the file system and knowing the right paths to settings will help you quickly restore order without the risk of removing system-critical components.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods, from simple deletion through the file manager to working with system sounds that require advanced rights, you will learn to distinguish between user content and protected files, which will allow you to safely manage your device’s media library.
Analysis of the occupied space and search for audio files
Before proceeding with ruthless removal, you need to conduct a review of the content. Often users do not even know where exactly the files occupying precious megabytes are stored. In Xiaomi smartphones, music and ringtones can be located in several directories: a standard Music folder, in Download downloads or in hidden messenger caches.
Using a built-in cleaning tool or a third-party file manager allows visualization of the volume of audio occupied. This is a critical step, since deleting a random system file can lead to incorrect operation of the interface. Always check the path to the file before destroying it.
Pay attention to file formats. High-quality tracks in FLAC or WAV format take up 5-10 times more space than compressed MP3s. If your goal is to free up space, it is worth starting with heavy formats.
⚠️ Warning: Never delete files from system folders with Android prefix or system unless you are 100% sure of their purpose.
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Use file size sorting in the file manager to instantly find the heaviest audio files that are worth deleting first.
Remove user tunes through the file manager
The most common and safe way to clear memory is to use the standard Explorer or Files app, which is suitable for tracks you downloaded yourself or copied from your computer, and the algorithm is simple, but requires careful choice of directories.
Open Explorer on the home screen or in the Tools folder. Go to Music or manually open internal memory. Here you will see a list of all folders. Find the MIUI/sound directory for system sounds or Music for your personal collection.
Highlight unnecessary tracks with a long press. At the bottom of the screen, an action menu will appear. Select the basket icon. The system may request confirmation of operation, since deleting files is irreversible without a backup.
☑️ Pre-deletion check
And it's important to note that once you delete the files, they end up in the file manager bin, where they're stored for 30 days, and to make room instantly, you also have to clear the cart itself, which is especially true if you delete the entire albums.
Where is the basket stored in MIUI?
Working with MIUI system sounds and ringtones
This is complicated when it comes to pre-installed Xiaomi tunes, which cannot be removed by standard system tools because they are recording-proof, but if you want to get rid of annoying system sound, you can replace or hide it.
To replace the standard ringtone, go to Settings → Sound and Vibration. Select a sound type (like Call Melody) and set a silence or other track. This won't physically delete the file, but will take it out of active use.
If you want to physically delete a system file, you need to have a Root right. Without superuser rights, /system/media/audio is closed, and if you try to circumvent this restriction without the appropriate software, you will only get an access error.
| File type | Location. | Can I remove without Root? | Risk to the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal music | /storage/emulated/0/Music | Yes. | No. |
| System ringtone | /system/media/audio/ringtones | No. | High-pitched |
| The sound of notifications | /system/media/audio/notifications | No. | Medium. |
| Downloads from the browser | /storage/emulated/0/Download | Yes. | No. |
Users who decide to get super-user rights must understand responsibility, and using applications like Root Explorer or System App Remover allows you to edit the system partition, but one mistake can lead to a device bootloop.
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Deleting system files is only possible with Root rights, but it is safer to simply replace them with others through standard audio settings.
Cleaning the cache of messengers and social networks
A huge number of audio files are hidden in the folders of social networks. Telegram, WhatsApp and Viber automatically store the received voice messages and music in the memory of the phone, these files are often duplicated and take up gigabytes of space.
In the case of Telegram, the best way to do this is to use a built-in cache cleanup. Go to the app settings → Data and memory → Memory Use. You can clear the cache of music and voice messages without deleting the chats themselves.
For WhatsApp, the situation is different: files are stored in the Android/media/com.whatsapp folder (on newer versions of Android) or in the WhatsApp/Media root. By deleting files from here through Explorer, you free up space, but they can be downloaded again when you re-watch the chat, if you don't turn off auto-save.
It is recommended to regularly check the Audio folder inside the messenger directories, which often turns out to be forgotten forwarded tracks that you no longer need, but continue to lie dead weight.
Removing the alarm clock and timer melodies
A common problem is that you can't delete the track that's on the alarm clock, and the system blocks deletion of the file while it's active in the task scheduler, and it's a security mechanism that prevents the alarm clock from finding the file to play back.
To remove such a tune, first open the Watch app. Go to the settings of a specific alarm clock or timer. Change the sound to a standard one (for example, "Mi" or "Alarm 1"). Only after changing the settings, the file will be unlocked.
Then go back to the file manager and delete the track in the standard way. If you use third-party alarm apps (like Alarmy or Sleep Cycle), repeat the procedure inside each one.
⚠️ If you have removed the alarm melody without changing it first, the alarm clock may not work or emit a quiet system squeak that is easy to sleep over.
Using a computer to clean up mass
When you have to delete hundreds of tracks, it's not convenient to do it through a smartphone screen. USB-And the cable allows you to use the power of the desktop file manager, and it speeds up the process at times.
Connect your phone to your PC. In the charging notification, select File Transfer (MTP) mode. On your computer, open the device in My Computer. You can see the folder structure just like you would on a regular drive.
Select groups of files using a pinched Shift or Ctrl key. Deletion via the computer is instantaneous, bypassing the animations of the phone's interface. This is the ideal way to initially "clear" the memory after purchase or upgrade.
Remember to safely retrieve the device after working with your PC, although modern versions of Android and Windows do so automatically. Check the result on your phone by opening a gallery or music player.