Where on Xiaomi recording conversations: search and setup

Xiaomi smartphone users often face a situation where after an important conversation there is a need to quickly find an audio recording, but standard methods of searching in the MIUI interface are not obvious. The shell file management system from the Chinese manufacturer has its own specific logic that differs from pure Android or iOS, which can confuse a beginner. In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible paths to your audio files.

The main difficulty is that the standard Phone app and the System Explorer can show files differently depending on the firmware version. Where in Xiaomi recording conversations is an issue that worries many, since folders can be hidden or renamed in recent updates. We will look at both software paths through settings and direct access to the file system through a computer or file manager.

It is important to understand that the location of files may vary slightly from region to region (Global, China, EEA), but the basic structure remains the same. Xiaomi is striving for unification, but the legal requirements of different countries make their own adjustments to the operation of the voice recorder and call module.

Search through the application Phone and voice recorder

The fastest and most logical way to find a conversation you're interested in is to use the built-in functionality of the Phone app. Unlike many other smartphones, MIUI integrates recording management directly into the call log, eliminating the need to wander through system folders. To do this, open the Phone app and go to the Contacts or Journal tab.

Find the number you recorded on the list, and if there's a record, there's a little cassette or microphone icon next to the number or date of the call, and if you click on the number, you'll be taken to a detailed call menu, where you'll have a play button right under the time information, which is the most convenient way to listen.

However, if you want to manage files en masse, you'd better go to the Dictaphone system application. In the latest versions of MIUI, it combines all audio recordings, including conversations and voice notes. Open the Mi Recorders app and you'll see tabs or lists divided by record type. Here, files are sorted by date of creation.

• 📱 Open the phone app and find the right contact in the journal.
• 🎙️ Use the system recorder to view all audio files at once.
• 🔍 Look for a cassette icon next to a phone number in a call log.
• ⚙️ Check the settings of the recorder for sorting by folders.

⚠️ Note: In some global firmware versions (especially for Europe), the automatic call recording feature and associated tabs in the Phone app may be removed entirely due to privacy laws. GDPR.

If you don't see the recordings in the Phone app, but you know that the recording was done, be sure to check the Dictator app. Sometimes the system classifies the call as a regular audio recording if the integration module is not working correctly. It's also worth noting that the automatic recording must be pre-activated in the settings, otherwise the files will not be created.

Location of files in the system storage

For those who prefer to work with files directly or want to copy them to a computer, you need to know the exact path in the file system. MIUI It's at the root of internal memory, and it makes it easy to find files when you connect your device to your PC. USB-cable.

The main directory where all audio materials are stored is called MIUI. There's a folder inside it. sound_recorder, And now — call_rec. The complete path is as follows: /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/. This is where the files are in the format.m4a or.mp3.

Sometimes users confuse this folder with a directory for regular dictaphone recordings: call_rec It is intended for calls only, while the adjacent folder is rec_sound (or just files at the root sound_recorder) It contains your voice notes and interviews, and the folder structure can be hidden if you use a third-party guide without permission.

When you connect your smartphone to your computer in file transfer mode (MTP), the structure is displayed similarly. You will see a disk with your device's name inside which you need to sequentially open folders. If you use third-party file managers such as Total Commander or FX File Explorer, make sure the application has permission to access all files, otherwise the MIUI folder may appear empty.

It's worth mentioning that on some older models or custom firmware, the path may be different. For example, in very old versions of Android, the path might have been different. /recordings/call_rec. However, for current models of the Redmi Note and Xiaomi Mi series with MIUI 12, 13 and 14 It is the way through the folder that is relevant. MIUI.

Set up automatic call recording

To avoid looking for a recording button during every important conversation, it is advisable to set up an automatic recording, a feature that starts recording audio immediately after connecting to a subscriber, and is set up directly in the Phone app, which is the system standard for most of the brand’s devices.

Open the Phone app and click on the three dots in the top right corner (settings menu). Select Settings or Recording Settings. Here you will find the Auto Record switch. Once activated, you can select the mode: record all incoming and outgoing or only certain numbers.

An important nuance: Global ROMs may not have this setting, so it suggests using the Google Phone app, which has its limitations and often warns the user of voice recording. A full feature without warning often requires China, India or Russia (depending on the MIUI version), or installing third-party modules.

• 📞 Go to the settings of the application “Phone” through the menu.
• 🔁 Select "Call Record" or "Record Settings».
• ✅ Activate the switchboard "Automatic recording».
• 📝 Add specific numbers to the list of favorites to record.

You can also select a sound source from the recording settings menu, and you should use a microphone to record both your voice and the speaker's voice, and if you choose Voice from the speaker, the quality of the speaker's recording may be low if you talk while you're talking.

Using a third-party conductor to search

Xiaomi's standard file manager ("Conductor") has a nice interface, but sometimes it hides system folders or doesn't show hidden files by default. For deep search of conversation records, it's better to use advanced tools or configure the standard one correctly. In the standard Explorer, click on the menu (three bars) and make sure that the "Show Hidden Files" option is enabled.

Alternative file managers like Files by Google, Solid Explorer, or X-plore provide more flexible access to the file system. They let you sort files by date of change, which is extremely handy if you don't remember the exact date of the call, but you know it was recently. Just sort the contents of the folder. call_rec descending.

Another useful life hack is to use extension search. In any file manager, type.m4a or.mp3 into the search bar. The system will index all the audio files on the device. To narrow the circle, you can add a part of the file name if you know what the system calls them (usually a phone number or date).

⚠️ Note: Be careful when deleting files through third-party Root Explorers. Accidental deletion of system files in the folder MIUI It can lead to incorrect operation of the phone application or the disappearance of the call history.

If you are using Mi Cloud or Google Drive cloud storage, check your sync settings. Often users search for a file in your phone’s memory while it has already been automatically uploaded to the cloud and removed from your device to save space. In your Xiaomi account settings, check the Gallery or Dictophone section.

Access and rights issues in Android 11-14

With the release of new versions of Android (11, 12, 13, 14), Google has significantly tightened its security policies regarding application access to the file system, a phenomenon known as Scoped Storage, which has caused many file managers to stop seeing the Android folder or system folders like MIUI without special permissions.

If you try to open a record folder and see a No Access message or an empty folder, you need to give the file manager special permission. Usually, when you first start, the application will request you to go to the settings. If not, go to Settings -> Applications -> All Applications -> Select your Explorer -> Permissions.

In some cases, All Files Access permission is required; without this flag, the app will not be able to read the contents of the root directory where the recordings are stored. On modern Xiaomi smartphones, this permission is issued through a pop-up window when you try to access the system folders.

💡

If a standard conductor can't see files, try connecting the phone to a computer. USB-cable MTP Scoped Storage restrictions often don’t apply, and you can copy files directly.

There may also be problems with Second Space or Guest Mode, recordings of conversations made in the main profile will not be visible in the second space, and vice versa. Make sure you are in the user profile where the call was made.

Transfer and backup of records

Talk recordings often contain important information, so losing them can become critical when you change your phone or reset your settings. The most reliable way to save them is by regularly backing them up. You can set up automatic folder sync. call_rec cloud services such as Google Drive, Dropbox or Yandex.Disk.

For manual archiving, simply copy the contents of the folder. /MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ It is recommended to do this once a month or after a special event. Files take up a little space (a few megabytes per minute of conversation), so there are usually no problems with storage capacity.

When migrating to a new Xiaomi phone, use the built-in “Mi Mover” feature, which allows you to transfer all data, including system settings and media files. However, recordings of conversations may not be automatically transferred due to Android security limitations, in which case manual transfer over the PC remains the only guaranteed way.

• ☁️ Set up autoload photos and audio to the cloud for security.
• 💾 Copy the folder regularly call_rec computer.
• 🔄 Use Mi Mover to Quickly Move to the New Xiaomi.
• 📂 Archive old records in ZIP-space-saving archive.

Remember that when you reset your phone to the factory settings (Wipe Data), all internal memory is cleared. If you do not back up the recordings of conversations in advance, it will be impossible to restore them even with professional software, since the memory sectors are overwritten with new data.

💡

Regular backup of the folder call_rec — The only way to guarantee important conversations when your phone breaks or when you update your firmware.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)