Delete Voice Memo Recordings on iPhone and iPad - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Delete Voice Memo Recordings on iPhone and iPad

by

Deleting individual recordings in Apple's native Voice Memos app for iPhone and iPad is really easy. Launch the app, and in the list of recordings, just swipe leftwards across the one you want to delete, then tap the red trash icon.

voice memos
If you want to delete multiple recordings in one go, tap the Edit button in the top-right corner of the screen, then select the recordings that you want to remove. Once you're done selecting recordings, tap the trash button in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Change How Long Deleted Recordings Are Kept

Deleted recordings are moved to the Recently Deleted folder, where they’re kept for 30 days by default. To change how long deleted recordings are kept, follow these steps:

  1. Launch the Settings app.
  2. Scroll down and tap Apps, then tap Voice Memos.
  3. Under "Voice Memo Settings," tap Clear Deleted.
  4. Select one of the following options: Immediately, After 1 Day, After 7 Days, After 30 Days, or Never.
    settings

Note that in the "Voice Memo Settings" section, you can also adjust the audio quality of recordings. If you're eager to save on storage and don't mind sacrificing a bit of quality, make sure Compressed is selected, rather than Lossless.

Popular Stories

Apple Event Logo

Apple Working on All-New Operating System

Wednesday July 29, 2026 11:39 am PDT by
Apple is developing an all-new operating system that is essentially a mix of tvOS, watchOS, and iOS, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a report this week, he said the operating system will feature a grid of icons, widgets, and apps, along with customizable clock faces. The new software platform is intended for Apple's long-rumored smart home hub. With built-in facial recognition,...
imac video apple feature

Apple Made Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever This Year

Wednesday July 29, 2026 12:03 pm PDT by
Apple this year acquired Israeli startup Q.ai for close to $2 billion, according to the Financial Times. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone maker Beats in 2014. This is also the largest known Apple acquisition since the company purchased Intel's smartphone modem business and patents for $1 billion in 2019. Q.ai...
Dynamic Island iPhone 18 Pro Feature

iPhone 18 Pro: Twelve Changes Coming to Apple's Next Flagship

Thursday July 30, 2026 3:43 am PDT by
We're less than two months out from the launch of Apple's premium next-generation smartphone lineup, and while we're not expecting a dramatic change in terms of functionality, there are still several enhancements rumored to be coming to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth noting is that Apple is reportedly planning a major change to its iPhone release cycle this year,...

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors