Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face the need to save important conversations, but finding a saved file can be difficult due to the features of the MIUI and HyperOS shell. The system can hide audio files or save them in non-obvious directories, which causes confusion among users.
Finding the right record depends on the operating system version and the call app you choose. In older versions of Android, the path was standard, but modern updates from Google and Xiaomi have changed the rules for accessing the microphone and file system. Now files can be hidden or moved to system folders that are only accessible with the right approach.
In this article, we’ll look at all the possible paths your record may be in, and we’ll look at standard settings, hidden folders in Explorer, and the nuances of working with Google Dialer. Understanding the structure of the file system will help you quickly find the information you need without installing third-party software.
Standard path in system conductor
The easiest way to find an audiophile is to use the Explorer app, which in most cases automatically creates a folder to store call records in the internal memory root directory, which is usually standard for all Android devices.
To get to your destination, open the Explorer app and go to Internal Drive. Here you need to find a folder with the name MIUI, and inside — sound_recorder. This is where all audio generated by the voice recorder and the call recorder are stored by default, but depending on the firmware version, the structure may differ.
If you don't see the folder right away, check the hidden file display settings. Sometimes the system marks the directories with the records as system so that the user doesn't accidentally delete important data.
It is worth noting that files may not be named clearly. Often used the format of the date and time, for example, 2023-10-25-14-30.mp3. To avoid confusion, sort files by date of change, this will quickly find the record made at the right time.
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Use the.mp3 or.m4a extension search in the Explorer if you can’t find the folder manually – this will speed up the process at times.
Features of Google Dialer and new versions of Android
Things changed dramatically with the release of Android 9 and higher, when Google restricted app access to the microphone during a call. Many Xiaomi smartphones of global versions have moved to the standard Google Dialer. In this app, the recording of the conversation works differently, and the files are stored elsewhere.
Files created through Google Phone are often stored in the Recordings folder inside the app directory, and the path can look like Internal storage/Recordings/Call. However, there is an important caveat: in some regions, the Google Dialer recording feature is completely blocked or requires a loud voice signal to confirm the interlocutor.
If you are using the Chinese version of the firmware or installed MIUI Dialer to the global version, the path will remain classic: MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec. The difference is that Google is looking to unify data storage, while Xiaomi is keeping its tradition in Chinese builds.
⚠️ Attention: On Android 11 and newer access to the folder Android/data If your record is there, a standard conductor may not show its contents without special permission or the use of a PC.
Also, when you update the Phone app through the Play Market, the path to files can change. Android security is constantly evolving, closing loopholes that developers used to record calls.
Searching through call history
You don't have to go into the middle of a file system to listen to a conversation, and the quickest way is to look at the call history of the phone app itself, which works no matter where the file is physically located, because the application knows the path to it.
Open the Phone app and go to the History or Recent tab, find the contact or number you want, and if you've recorded successfully, a special icon will be displayed next to or below the number, often resembling a voice recorder or a wave, and you click on it, and you'll start playing.
In some versions of MIUI, you have to click the arrow next to the number or pin the contact to see the context menu, and it's going to be "View the record" or "Record the call," which is the most convenient way to quickly find the right thing without knowing the technical paths.
If the record icon is missing but you are sure you have enabled the feature, check the settings. It may have been recorded only on certain numbers or the function was disabled by a system update. The history may also display the duration of the record, which helps to identify the file.
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Call history is a file access interface, not the storage itself, so deleting the history doesn’t always remove the audio file itself from the drive.
Automatic recording settings and formats
So, to avoid manually searching for recordings every time, you better set up automatic recording, so you don't have to remember to turn on the feature during an important conversation, and you can set it up in the phone app's menu.
Go to the call settings (usually three dots or a gear in the corner of the screen) and find Call Record, where you can activate automatic recording for all numbers or only for selected contacts, a critical feature for those who are in business negotiations.
Also chosen is the save format. MP3 and AAC are commonly available. AAC format provides better quality at a smaller file size, but may not be compatible with some older players. MP3 is a universal standard.
| Parameter | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Sound source | Microphone or system sound | System sound (clear) |
| File format | MP3 or AAC | AAC to save space |
| Auto-recording | On/off | Included for important contacts |
| Storage | Phone memory or cloud | Localo + backup |
Note the item “Write to the cloud”: If it is active, files can be duplicated on Xiaomi or Google servers, which is convenient for storing data when you lose your phone, but requires stable Internet and space in the cloud.
The problem of hidden files and access through PC
Often users can't find the recordings because they're hidden. On Android, there's a.nomedia file that tells the system not to show the contents of the folder in a gallery or music player. Call records are often protected by a flag so that you don't horn your eyes in the music list.
To see these files on your computer, connect your smartphone to USB. Select file transfer mode (MTP). In Windows Explorer, turn on the hidden items display (View tab → Hidden Items tick). Only then will you see the files that start from a dot or lie in hidden folders.
Alternatively, file managers with root rights or special conductors like Total Commander or FX File Explorer can bypass standard Android restrictions and show the real structure of directories, including system ones.
Why are the files not visible in the gallery?
Third-party recording applications
If Xiaomi’s standard tools don’t meet your requirements (e.g., no recording of the interlocutor or a quiet sound), you can use third-party solutions.
Popular apps like Call Recorder or Blackbox can work around system constraints, often using accessibility services or hands-free modes to capture sound, but on newer versions of Android, their effectiveness is declining.
- 📱 Cube ACR — One of the most powerful solutions, supports VoIP calls (Viber, WhatsApp), but requires complex configuration.
- 🔊 Automatic Call Recorder is a simple interface, but often requires you to buy a premium version to upload to the cloud.
- ☁️ TapeACall – works via conference call (paid), which guarantees recording even if the system blocks access to the microphone.
Using third-party software carries security risks, requiring broad permissions, including access to contacts and a microphone, trust only trusted developers, and read the privacy policy carefully.
⚠️ Attention: Installation of modified versions of the application "Phone» (MIUI Dialer from China on global firmware can lead to unstable system operation and problems with the number determinant.