Many gamers World of Tanks Blitz are faced with a situation where the internal memory of the smartphone is rapidly running out, and it is not possible to free up space using standard methods. Often the culprit is battle recording files, which are saved after each session by default. This data can take up gigabytes of space, especially if you've been playing for a long time and haven't done any cleaning. Understanding where in which folder are WoT Blitz Android replays located is the key to managing your device's storage.
The file system of mobile operating systems has its own strict hierarchy, and game data is no exception. Wargaming developers place service files in specific directories, access to which on modern versions of Android may be restricted by security policies. However, by knowing the exact path and using the right file manager, you can easily locate, view, or delete unnecessary battle recordings. In this article, we will take a detailed look at the directory structure and how to work with them.
It is important to note that the location of the files may have changed with the release of new versions of the operating system, especially after the introduction of Scoped Storage in Android 11 and higher. Therefore, we will consider both classic paths and access features on the latest firmware. You will learn not only where to look for files, but also how to set up automatic deletion of old entries directly in the game interface, so as not to have to do manual cleaning in the future.
Standard path to battle recording files
By default, all client game data, including cache, logs and replays, are saved in the device’s internal storage. The main directory for third-party applications is the Androidfolder, located in the root of the internal memory. Inside it there is a subdirectory datawhere a unique folder with the package name is created for each installed app. For WoT Blitz this identifier looks like net.wargaming.wot.blitz.
The files with the extension .wotreplay are located deep in the application directory structure. The full path to them is as follows: /Android/data/net.wargaming.wot.blitz/files/replays/. This is where all your saved battles accumulate. If you are using a file manager with access rights to system folders, going to this address will allow you to see a list of all entries sorted by creation date.
It is worth considering that on some devices manufacturers may change the structure of the file system or hide the folder Android from standard explorers. In this case, it is recommended to use specialized utilities, such as Total Commander or FX File Explorerthat have extended rights to read system partitions. This is especially true for smartphone brands Xiaomi, Huawei and Samsung, where the MIUI, EMUI and OneUI shells can limit the visibility of service data.
If you do not see the Android folder in the root memory, try connecting the phone to the PC in file transfer mode (MTP) - access to these directories is often available through the computer without additional permissions.
Access features on Android 11, 12 and later
Starting with the eleventh version of the mobile operating system from Google, the security policy regarding access to files has been significantly tightened. The introduction of the mechanism Scoped Storage limited the ability of applications and file managers to freely scan a directory /Android/data/. Now, when you try to open this folder through a standard explorer, you may see a message that access is denied or the folder is empty, even if the files are physically present there.
To gain access to replays on modern smartphones, you will need to give a special file manager permission to manage all files. Typically, the system requests this right the first time you launch Advanced Explorer. You need to go to your phone settings, find the “Special” section. capabilities" or "File access", and activate the switch next to the selected application. Without this procedure, viewing the contents of the folder net.wargaming.wot.blitz will not be possible.
⚠️ Attention: Granting the “Access to all files” right gives the application full control over your storage. Use only trusted file managers with high ratings in the official application store to avoid leakage of personal data.
An alternative way to access is to use the “Storage” function in the settings of the game application itself. Although the direct path to the files does not open from there, you can estimate the space occupied and clear the cache, which indirectly affects service data, but does not always delete the replays themselves. Therefore, for targeted deletion of specific fight recordings, using a third-party explorer with elevated privileges remains the most effective method on current versions of the OS.
Manual cleaning and file size management
Replay files tend to accumulate, and each recorded battle can weigh from several hundred kilobytes to tens of megabytes, depending on the duration of the battle and the amount of equipment in the team. Regular manual folder cleaning replays allows you to free up a significant amount of memory. To do this, just go to the directory, sort the files by date or size and delete those entries that are not valuable to you.
Before deleting, it is recommended to check whether the recording contains a unique moment that you would like to save for analysis or video editing. Replays in the .wotreplay format are not video files in the usual sense; this is a sequence of commands and events that are played by the game client. Therefore, you will not be able to open them with a standard video player - you need to have it running to view World of Tanks Blitz.
If you plan to leave a few of the best fights and delete the rest, create a separate folder in a convenient place, for example, in the root of the internal storage or on a memory card, and move valuable files there. This will protect them from accidental deletion during the next automatic or manual cleaning of the game directory. The folder structure when moving is not important, the main thing is to preserve the file extension.
☑️ Correct cleaning of replays
Setting up automatic deletion in the game
To save yourself from the need to regularly climb through system folders, the developers have provided a built-in mechanism for limiting the number of saved records. In the game settings, you can set a limit on the storage of replays, which will automatically delete the oldest files when a certain number is reached. This is the most convenient way to maintain order in the device's memory without the risk of deleting something important manually.
To activate this function, launch the game and go to the main menu. Click on the gear icon to open the section Settings. Next, select the “General” or “Sound and Interface” tab (depending on the client version). Find the item responsible for recording battles and set the desired number of saved recent battles. By default, this value can be quite high, so reducing it to the last 10-20 battles will significantly save space.
Also in this menu you can completely disable the replay recording function. If you never review your battles or analyze errors, disabling this option will prevent new files from being created at all. This is a radical but effective solution for devices with a critically small amount of free memory. Changes take effect immediately after confirming the settings.
The optimal setting for the replay limit is 10-15 last battles: this is enough to analyze errors, but the files do not take up gigabytes of memory.
Table: File structure and their purpose
Various types of data are stored in the game folder, and it is important not to confuse them replays with other service files, the removal of which may lead to incorrect operation of the client. Below is a table describing the main types of files found in the directory WoT Blitzand their impact on the system.
| File extension | Data type | Can be deleted? | Consequences of deletion |
|---|---|---|---|
.wotreplay |
Recording a battle (replay) | Yes | Loss of the opportunity to review a specific battle |
.log |
Technical journal | Yes (with caution) | Loss of error history, useful for technical support |
.cache |
Cached textures | No | The game will take a long time to load, downloading data again |
.pref |
Settings files | No | Resetting all game settings to factory |
As can be seen from the table, it is safest to delete files with the extension .wotreplay. The remaining files are responsible for stability, storing control and graphics settings, as well as caching resources for fast loading screens. Deleting them will not free up much space in the long run, since the game will automatically restore them the next time you start, but it will cause temporary lags and configuration resets.
Recovering deleted entries and transferring to PC
If you accidentally deleted an important replay, there is practically no hope of restoring it through the file manager's recycle bin, since Android system folders usually do not have recycle bin functionality. However, if you have automatic cloud synchronization set up or have recently backed up your device, the file may be saved there. In other cases, the data is considered irretrievably lost.
To save especially valuable records, it is recommended to periodically transfer them to a personal computer. By connecting your smartphone via USB, copy the files .wotreplay from the game folder to any directory on your hard drive. On a PC, you can play them through the desktop version World of Tanks Blitz, which also supports this format. This is a great way to create an archive of your best achievements without loading your phone's memory.
⚠️ Attention: Replay files are tied to the version of the game client. If there is a major update to the engine or combat mechanics, old replays may no longer play on both phones and PCs. Save only the most recent entries.
In addition, transferring files to a PC allows you to use advanced tools for analyzing statistics that may not be available in the mobile application. Some enthusiasts use special apps to convert replays into video format to create content on YouTube, and having the original files on your computer greatly simplifies this process.
Why does the replay not play after the update?
After global updates to the game, the structure of the battle data may change. The client simply will not be able to correctly interpret commands from the old file, so playback will be interrupted or launched with errors.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to move the folder with replays to an SD memory card?
Unfortunately, modern versions of Android and the game itself WoT Blitz do not support directly changing the path for saving replays to an external memory card through the settings. Folder /Android/data/ is strictly tied to internal storage. However, you can manually move already recorded files to the SD card for storage, but the game will not see them there when you try to play from the Replays menu.
Why is the replays folder empty even though I played today?
This can happen for two reasons. Firstly, in the game settings, recording of battles may be disabled or a limit of 0 saves may be set. Secondly, if you played modes that do not technically support recording replays (for example, some limited-time events or tutorial missions), the files simply will not be created. Check the recording settings in the “General” menu.
How much space does one standard replay take up?
The weight of the file depends on the duration of the battle and the number of events. On average, one full-fledged battle for 7 minutes takes from 500 KB to 2 MB. However, with a large amount of equipment and active actions, the size can reach 5-10 MB. The accumulation of hundreds of such files can easily take up several gigabytes of space over several months of play.
Will deleting replays affect my progress in the game?
No, replay files are stored locally and do not affect server progress, statistics, awards received, or vehicle unlocks. Deleting them is safe for your account. Progress is synchronized with Wargaming servers regardless of the presence of battle recordings on your device.