Mac storage basics · Creative and media apps
How do I stop deleted Voice Memos from taking up space?
Short answer: Open Recently Deleted in Voice Memos and erase the recordings, then set Voice Memos → Settings → Clear Deleted to a shorter period.
Deleted recordings in Voice Memos go to Recently Deleted first, where they still use space. Open Recently Deleted in the sidebar and choose Erase All (or erase individual items) to remove them now.
To control it for the future, open Voice Memos → Settings and set Clear Deleted to a shorter period, such as immediately or after a day. If your memos sync through iCloud, deletions apply on your other devices too.