Guides / Automatic Call Recording
How do I auto delete old call recordings on my Mac?
macOS has no setting that expires call recordings, so you need a rule that removes files past a certain age. You can build one with a Finder Smart Folder for manual sweeps or a scheduled script (a launchd job) for hands-off cleanup. Or use a recorder with a built-in retention schedule. Pick an age that fits your needs and test the rule before letting it delete anything.
Why call audio is worth expiring
Call recordings are some of the most sensitive files on a laptop. They hold names, numbers, offers and things people said off the cuff. They are also large, so a few busy weeks can fill a surprising amount of disk.
An expiry rule fixes both problems. Audio you no longer need stops taking space, and there is less to lose or hand over if a laptop goes missing or someone asks what you keep. The catch is that macOS has no setting for it, so the rule has to come from somewhere else.
The do-it-yourself ways to delete old recordings on a Mac
Which route you take depends on how much you want to automate.
- Sweep by hand. Open the folder where your recordings are saved, sort by Date Created, select everything older than your cutoff and move it to the Trash. A Finder Smart Folder with a "Date Created is before" rule makes the oldest files easy to spot.
- Let the Trash empty itself. Finder has a setting that removes items from the Trash automatically after a while. It only helps once files are already in the Trash, so it pairs with a manual sweep rather than replacing it.
- Run a scheduled script. A small shell command finds files older than a set number of days in one folder, and a launchd job runs it on a timer. After setup, it deletes on its own.
If you go the script route, run it first so it only lists what it would delete, and read the list. A delete command pointed at the wrong folder does not ask questions, and files removed from the shell skip the Trash.
All three routes also need you to know where each call app saves its files, and they treat every file the same. They cannot tell a throwaway chat from a customer call.
Set an expiry schedule in Donna
Donna records your calls locally on your Mac, and old audio can be auto-deleted on a schedule you pick. There is no script to maintain and no launchd job to babysit.
- Get set up. Install Donna from the download page and subscribe to Pro, because automatic recording is a Pro feature. She runs on macOS 13 or later.
- Record as usual. She starts the moment your mic goes live in Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Slack huddles, FaceTime, Discord and Webex, including calls that were never on your calendar.
- Pick the schedule. Choose how long old audio should stick around.
- Leave it alone. Older audio is removed from your Mac on the schedule you chose.
No bot joins your calls and nothing is uploaded, so your Mac holds the only copy of the audio. There is no vendor server to ask for a deletion, and no participant ever saw a recorder in the call.
Picking a schedule that fits how you work
There is no single right answer, only a tradeoff between privacy and usefulness.
- Shorter windows suit sensitive calls such as hiring, legal or money conversations, where you would rather not keep audio at all.
- Longer windows suit calls you revisit. In Donna you can click any transcript line to hear that moment, and that needs the audio, so once it expires there is nothing to replay.
- Match your follow-up habits. If you usually finish follow-ups quickly, you rarely need the audio long after the call.
Expiry does not replace consent. Donna reminds you to get consent where it is required, and the guide on consent to record a Zoom call walks through the thinking. A short retention window is a good habit, but it does not make an unconsented recording acceptable.
What to check after you set it up
- Backups. Time Machine or any backup tool you run yourself can hold older copies of files after they leave your Mac's disk. Check what yours covers.
- Screen recordings. The schedule is for old audio. If you turn on optional screen recording, those video files are stored on your Mac too, so keep an eye on them yourself.
- Other apps' own files. If a call app saves its own recordings somewhere else, those files are outside Donna's schedule and need one of the DIY routes above.
Try Donna. Records, transcribes and summarizes your meetings on your Mac, with nothing sent to a server.
Frequently asked questions
Does macOS delete old recordings on its own?
No. The only automatic cleanup built into Finder is emptying the Trash after a while, and a file has to be in the Trash first. Anything else needs a script or an app with its own retention setting.
Does a script's delete go to the Trash?
Usually not. A shell command that deletes files removes them straight away, so run it in list-only mode first and check the folder it points at.
Is the auto-delete schedule part of the free plan?
No. It belongs to automatic recording, which is part of Pro at $8 a month or $80 a year. The free plan covers calendar features and the on-device chat. See pricing for details.
Do I need to delete recordings from anywhere besides my Mac?
Not with Donna. No bot joins and nothing is uploaded, so the audio lives on your Mac. Only copies you made yourself, such as backups, need a separate look.