Where are the recordings of conversations on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro: the full guide

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to save important conversations, whether it’s a business agreement or an order confirmation. However, once you turn on the auto record feature, many users get lost not finding the right files in the standard gallery or download folder. In fact, the MIUI system installed on the Redmi Note 9 Pro has a specific audio storage structure that is different from the usual Android paths.

Complicating matters, Google and Xiaomi have changed security policies in recent firmware versions to limit apps’ access to the microphone during a call, which has led to the standard recording mechanism being incorrect or files being hidden from third-party file managers. Understanding where exactly an audio file is physically located is critical to transferring it to a computer or backing it up.

In this article, we will discuss in detail the paths to system folders, how to display hidden files and how to solve problems when a record seems to be going, but the file does not appear anywhere, you will learn how to set up automatic saving of conversations with certain numbers and why a standard voice recorder does not see the files created during a call.

Standard path to files through file manager

The easiest way to find a saved conversation is to use the built-in Explorer or File Manager app, which is preinstalled on the Redmi Note 9 Pro. By default, the system creates a separate directory for all audio, video and images received or created on the device. To get there, open the application and select the Audio tab or go to the Records category.

But if you want to see the path, you need to switch to file viewing mode, and then the directory structure will look different. MIUI, It's created right after you activate your smartphone, and it has a folder inside it. sound_recorder, And now — call_rec.

The full path to the desired file on the internal drive is as follows:

/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec

This is where all the records made by a standard call are stored. Files usually have a.m4a or.mp3 extension, which provides good sound quality at a minimum size. If you don't see the MIUI folder in the list, you may have a filter on that hides the system folders, or you're using a third-party file manager with limited access rights.

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For quick access to the entries folder, add a Favorites shortcut in the file manager so you don’t look for the full path every time.

Set up automatic recording in MIUI

Before you search for files, make sure that the recording function is activated and configured correctly. On the Redmi Note 9 Pro, the control of this option is directly in the Phone app. Open the call, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings. In the menu that opens, find Call Record.

Flexible settings are available to save device memory, you can turn on the record only for selected numbers, or you can record all incoming and outgoing, except contacts from the exclusion list, which is especially useful if you are only interested in talking with certain counterparties or support services.

• 📞 All calls: Automatically record every incoming and outgoing connection indiscriminately.
• 📋 Selected numbers: entry is only for contacts added to a special list.
• 🚫 Exceptions: The system ignores blacklist numbers even if all calls are recorded.

⚠️ Note: When you turn on the recording of all calls, the device memory can fill up very quickly. call_rec delete unnecessary files or set up sync with the cloud.

You can also activate a recording notification from this menu, and if this option is enabled, your interlocutor will hear an audible beep or a voice alert that a conversation is being recorded, which is a legal requirement in some regions, but for personal archives, this feature is often disabled.

The problem of hidden folders and access to system files

Often, users can't find records because the MIUI folder is hidden by default from view in a standard Explorer, and this is done to protect system files from accidental deletion. To see it, you need to enable the display of hidden files in the settings of the Explorer itself, usually through the Settings menu inside the file manager application.

If the built-in Explorer doesn’t show the right path, you can use more advanced tools like Total Commander or FX File Explorer, which require special permissions when you first run on Android 11 and higher, which is necessary to access the Android/data folder and other system partitions. Without these rights, you will see an empty directory or access error.

In some cases, especially after a firmware update, the path may change or files may be moved to a secure area. 9 Pro is characterized by the use of the path through MIUI/sound_recorder.

Comparison of storage formats and sound quality

The quality of the conversation recording depends on the format and codec you choose. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro uses the M4A (AAC) format by default, which provides a balance between file size and speech legibility. However, some scenarios may use MP3 or even AMR if space saving mode is enabled.

Below is a table comparing the main characteristics of the formats used in the system:

If you plan to use the recordings as evidence or for transcription, the M4A format would be the best choice: It better retains human speech frequencies and is less susceptible to compression artifacts compared to MP3s with similar bitrate. Conversion to other formats may only be required for compatibility with older players.

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The M4A format is the standard for MIUI and provides the best quality/space ratio for voice recordings.

Synchronization with the cloud Xiaomi and Google

In order not to lose important conversations when a smartphone breaks down or resets, it is recommended to set up automatic synchronization. Xiaomi Cloud service allows you to reserve recordings of voice recorders and calls, but the amount of free storage is limited to 5 GB. For active users this may not be enough.

The alternative is to use Google Drive. In the Dictator app settings (which is often used as a parent for recording calls in newer versions of MIUI), you can choose Google Drive as the save location, in which case the files will lie along the path: Google Drive → Dictaphone.

To set up synchronization, perform the following steps:

• ☁️ Open the Dictophone app and click on three dots in the corner.
• 🔗 Select Settings and find the option “Sync with the Cloud».
• ✅ Log in to your Mi or Google account and enable autoboot.

If the recording is large, it can “hang” in a queue before the wireless network appears.

⚠️ Warning: If you reset your settings to factory without first synchronizing, all local records will be permanently deleted.

Solution: Why no records are saved

Despite having all the settings, Redmi Note 9 Pro users may experience a situation where no record is created.One common reason is conflict with the Google Phone app. Global versions of Xiaomi firmware often use Google's standard call, which blocks call recording by default due to Android security policy restrictions.

In this case, the call interface may not have a record button, or it may be written with a warning to the interlocutor, or the files may not be saved, and the solution may be to install a third-party module or use an alternative call, although this requires some technical knowledge and may disrupt other functions.

The problem may also be a lack of free memory: if the internal drive is less than 100 MB, the system can block the creation of new files, cleaning the cache or deleting old videos and photos often solves the problem instantly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)