Redmi smartphone owners often experience a sudden loss of familiar features after another system update. In particular, on the Redmi 9T model running Android 10 and 11, the automatic call recording feature can disappear from the standard call interface. This is due to Google's security policies that prohibit recording conversations without special permission of the system. However, for users who need to maintain important conversations on work or personal matters, this becomes a serious problem.
Fortunately, Xiaomi engineers have left behind the hidden ways to activate this option, and have retained the ability to use third-party solutions. Recording a conversation on your device is real if you know exactly where to look in the settings. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available methods, from standard inclusion in the menu to the use of regional codes and third-party software, you can choose the most convenient way for your version of MIUI.
Before you start setting up, you should understand that not having a Record button in the interface is not a phone breakage, but a software limitation, and it depends on where your device is registered in the software. If you buy a global version, the feature may be hidden by default. At the same time, versions for China, India or Taiwan often lack such restrictions. We'll look at how to get around these prohibitions safely.
Built-in recording function in the Phone application
The first place to look for the option is the standard call app. Most of the time, MIUI has a built-in recorder that's integrated directly into the dialing interface. To start checking, open the Phone app (green handset) and look at the three dots or gear icons in the upper right corner of the screen, and click on them and you'll be taken to the settings menu.
In the list that opens, look for the "Call Record" item, and if it's present, you're lucky, because it means your region allows you to use the native feature, and inside this menu, you can set up an automatic record of all incoming or outgoing calls, as well as a sample record for favorites contacts, and the files will be stored in the phone's memory, and you can listen to them directly from the call history.
⚠️ Note: If Call Record is not in the app settings menu, it means that the feature is blocked for your current software region.Do not try to delete system files of calls without a backup - this may lead to the loss of the ability to make calls.
It is important to note that the quality of recording through the built-in module is usually higher than that of third-party counterparts, since it comes directly from the internal channel, not through the microphone. However, if the settings menu is empty or the item itself is missing, you will have to resort to more complex activation methods, which we will describe below.
Activation through region change in settings
The easiest and safest way to get a missing feature back is to change the device’s software region. Xiaomi’s system blocks call recording in countries with strict privacy laws (e.g., EU countries), switching to a region where there are no such restrictions (India, Singapore, Pakistan), you force the desired module to be activated in the call.
To do this, go to the basic Settings of your smartphone. Scroll down to "More" or immediately look for "Region." In the country list that opens, select, for example, "India" or "Singapore." The phone interface can instantly reset, the names of the months will change to English, but that's fine.
- 📱 Open the smartphone settings.
- 🌍 Go to the section Additional -> Region.
- 🇮🇳 Choose the country "India", "Pakistan" or "Singapore".
- 🔄 Restart the phone app or the smartphone itself.
- 🎙️ Check the "Record Calls" item in the call menu.
After this, the call settings menu should have "Record calls" on it. Now you can set up automatic recording. It's important to understand that changing the region also affects some system applications, such as Browser or Mi Video, where the content feed can change, but for the recording function, this is the most effective method that does not require root rights.
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Once a record is activated through a region change, you can return the region back to Russia or Ukraine. The recording feature often remains active, but in rare cases may disappear after updating the Google app or system.
Use of engineering menu codes and third-party utilities
If changing the region didn't help or you don't want to change the system settings, you can use special codes or third-party activator applications. MIUI You can call hidden settings by dialing a specific number in the dialer code. However, there is no universal code for all versions, and often you need to install a special code. APK-file.
One popular solution is to use activator applications like MIUI EU Recorder or custom scripts, which don't record the sound themselves, but change the flags in the system to make a hidden button visible, and there are modified versions of the Phone app from Google or Xiaomi that are free of regional restrictions, and installing such applications requires permission to install from unknown sources.
To install a third-party call or activator, you will need:
- Download APK-log-file.
- Allow the installation of applications from the browser or file manager.
- Install the application and provide it with all the permissions requested.
- Start the activator and press the "Enable" button.
⚠️ Note: When installing modified applications (Google's "Platch Phone" or custom calls), there is always a risk of data leakage. Use only verified sources such as a forum 4PDA or MIUI EU, to avoid the introduction of malicious code.
It is worth noting that on Android 11 and above, Google has significantly tightened its security policy by introducing a mandatory audio recording warning for all applications, which means that even when using third-party programs, the interlocutor can hear a characteristic sound or voice message “Call is being recorded”, which is almost impossible to get around without a deep modification of the system.
Why is Google blocking the recording?
Third-party applications for recording conversations
When embedded methods fail or require complex setup, specialized applications from the Play Market come to the rescue, with TapeACall, Call Recorder ACR and Blackbox leading the way, and they can bypass system constraints using various technical tricks, such as conferencing with a recording server or using special access modes.
Call Recorder - ACR (NLL) is considered one of the most reliable solutions for old and new versions of Android. It can automatically detect the beginning of a conversation and start recording. However, on Android 10+, it can require complex configuration of the sound source. Often the user has to manually select the source of "Voice Call" or "Microphone" to be heard clearly.
Comparison of popular solutions for recording:
| Annex | Type of record | Paid version | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI Native | Systemic | Free of charge. | Perfect quality, no advertising |
| Call Recorder - ACR | Aside | Got (Pro) | Flexible settings, cloud storage |
| TapeACall | Through the conference | Subscription | It works without root, but it pays. |
| Blackbox | Systems/Root | Free of charge. | Requires ADB or Root for full functionality |
They can also conflict with Redmi 9T's energy-saving modes. To keep the app from getting killed by the system, you need to go to the battery settings, find the recorder installed, and set the "No Limits" mode, which ensures that the recording doesn't break down in the middle of an important conversation.
☑️ Setting up a third-party recorder
Customization of sound sources and recording quality
The quality of the recording depends on the source of the sound chosen. Most recorders (both built-in and third-party) can use the "Sound Source" or "Audio Source" setting. For the Redmi 9T, the best choice is Voice Call or Voice Downlink/Uplink modes, which allow you to capture the digital stream of sound directly from the communication channel, providing crystal clear sound on both sides.
If you select a Microphone source, the phone will write sound through an external speaker, which will cause the recording to hear street noises, your breath and echoes. The voice of the interlocutor in this mode is often quiet and distorted. The microphone mode should only be used if the system constraints do not allow you to choose digital audio capture.
Also worth paying attention to is the file save format. The standard and most compatible format is MP3 or WAV. The AMR format takes up less space but is of lower quality and may not play on some computers without installing additional codecs. For important conversations, it is better to choose high bitrate quality, even if it takes up a little more space in memory.
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For best quality, always choose the source of the Voice Call or Voice Communication sound. Using a microphone is a last resort when other options are not available.
Where are the records stored and how to find them
Once you've recorded it, you ask, where is it? If you use the built-in Xiaomi feature, the files are stored in a hidden system folder, but they're accessed through the Dictophone or Sound Recording app. Open the Dictophone app, and at the top of the screen you'll see tabs: Records, Everything, and Phone. It's in the Phone section that you're talking about.
If you use a file manager, the path to built-in call records usually looks like this:
/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/Here, files are sorted by date and time. You can copy them to another folder, send them over Bluetooth, or save them to the cloud. For third-party applications, the path may be different. For example, ACR often saves files to /ACR/ at the root of internal memory or to /Android/data/com.nll.acr/.
You can use a desktop widget to quickly access the latest records. Many recorders allow you to put the Last Record widget on the home screen. This is convenient if you need to urgently dictate information from a conversation or send a file to an interlocutor. Remember to periodically clean the record folder, since long conversations in high quality can take up a significant amount of memory.