How to Permanently Delete Voice Memos on iPhone and iPad

Voice Memos now has the same system for permanently deleting recordings that Photos app does. When you delete a recording for Voice Memos, it isn’t actually deleted. It shows up in the Recently Deleted folder. If you’re the kind who mistakenly deletes old memos, this feature will be really helpful for you.

But for the rest of us, this is just an additional step. Thankfully, there’s a way to automatically delete Voice Memos that you’ve marked to be deleted.

How to Permanently Delete Voice Memos on iPhone and iPad
Step 1: Swipe left on the Voice Memo and tap on the Delete button.
Step 2: Now the memo will end up in the Recently Deleted folder. So tap on it from the app’s home screen.

Step 3: Now swipe left on the note again and tap on the Erase button. You have no permanently deleted Voice Memos.
Step 4: In case you want to recover a recording, tap on the Edit button from Recently Deleted view and select the recording. Then tap on Recover.



That’s a bit tedious, right? So let’s automate this process.

How to Automatically Delete Voice Memos
This feature shows up as a setting item for Voice Memos. So we’ll have to go to the Settings app.
Read more: Here Are the 20 New iOS 12 Settings You Should Know About
Step 1: Open the Settings app and look for the Voice Memos option.



Step 2: Tap on Clear Deleted.
Step 3: Here, you’ll see options like 7 Days, 30 Days, Never and Immediately. If you want your notes to be deleted permanently, always, tap on the Immediately option.
Step 4: The best option for most of us will be the 7 Days option. This way, you can go back and retrieve an old recording that you deleted by mistake.

Voice Memos now has the same system for permanently deleting recordings that Photos app does. When you delete a recording for Voice Memos, it isn’t actually deleted. It shows up in the Recently Deleted folder. If you’re the kind who mistakenly deletes old memos, this feature will be really helpful for you.

But for the rest of us, this is just an additional step. Thankfully, there’s a way to automatically delete Voice Memos that you’ve marked to be deleted.

How to Permanently Delete Voice Memos on iPhone and iPad
Step 1: Swipe left on the Voice Memo and tap on the Delete button.
Step 2: Now the memo will end up in the Recently Deleted folder. So tap on it from the app’s home screen.



Step 3: Now swipe left on the note again and tap on the Erase button. You have no permanently deleted Voice Memos.
Step 4: In case you want to recover a recording, tap on the Edit button from Recently Deleted view and select the recording. Then tap on Recover.



That’s a bit tedious, right? So let’s automate this process.

How to Automatically Delete Voice Memos
This feature shows up as a setting item for Voice Memos. So we’ll have to go to the Settings app.
Read more: Here Are the 20 New iOS 12 Settings You Should Know About
Step 1: Open the Settings app and look for the Voice Memos option.



Step 2: Tap on Clear Deleted.
Step 3: Here, you’ll see options like 7 Days, 30 Days, Never and Immediately. If you want your notes to be deleted permanently, always, tap on the Immediately option.
Step 4: The best option for most of us will be the 7 Days option. This way, you can go back and retrieve an old recording that you deleted by mistake.