Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphone owners often face the challenge of finding a specific conversation recorded before — whether it’s an important contract with a customer, an order confirmation, or just a personal conversation to save. Unlike standard Android launchers, the MIUI shell and its modern version of HyperOS have a specific file system structure that sometimes causes confusion among users.
It can take a few minutes to find the right audio file if you don't know the exact path to the recorder's system folder. Often users search for files in Downloads or the root of internal memory, which is an error. Autowrite saves data in hidden or deeply nested directories that can be accessed through a file manager or by connecting the device to a computer.
In this article, we will take a look at all the possible search methods, file paths for different versions of Android and shell, and how to recover deleted records. You will learn how to change the standard saving path and where to look for backups in cloud storage. Understanding the logic of how Xiaomi file system works will help you always keep important conversations at hand.
Standard path in file manager
The fastest way to find audio files is to use the embedded Explorer or File Manager app. Most of the time, the records are stored in the root directory of internal memory. Open the app and go to the Internal Drive section. Here you need to find a folder called MIUI, which stores the system data of most applications from the manufacturer.
Inside the folder. MIUI I'll look for the directory. sound_recorder. However, here lies an important nuance: in the old versions of firmware and on Android. 10 And down there, you could have all the records, including the calls, but starting with Android. 11, Google tightened security policy, and the ways have changed. sound_recorder folder pops up call_rec, where the conversations are.
If you can't see the folder call_rec, Check for subfolders with date or contact names. Files usually have an extension.m4a or.mp3 It's called "Phone date time" and it's called "Phone date time" for easy sorting. It's best to turn on the date of file change in the Explorer view settings.
- 📂 Open the Explorer and go to the Internal Drive.
- 📂 Find and open the folder. MIUI.
- 📂 Move to the sound_recorder and look for the file. call_rec.
- 📂 If there is no folder, check the root. sound_recorder Files with a Call Prefix.
⚠️ Attention: Some global firmware versions may have different paths. call_rec No, try to find the directory. rec_call directly to the root of internal memory or in the Record folder.
If you upgrade to HyperOS, check your privacy settings, as access to the file system may be limited, in which case direct access through Explorer may be difficult, and you will need to use special applications to manage files with extended rights.
Search through the application Dictophone and Phone
The most convenient way to listen and find the right conversation is to use the built-in applications of the system, which have their own file indexer. In Xiaomi smartphones, the Dictaphone app (Mi Recorder) is responsible for this. Even if you recorded a call through a standard call, often a copy or a link to the file is stored in the voice recorder interface.
Run the Dictaphone app. At the top of the screen, you'll see a Dictaphone, Interview, and Phone switch. You need a Phone tab. All the records are sorted by date and time of the call, and that eliminates the need to dig through files with obscure names.
The alternative is through call history. Open the Phone app, go to the Journal or History tab. Find the contact you were talking to. If you were recording automatically or manually during a conversation, there will be a special icon next to the number or name (usually a small cassette or microphone), and clicking on this icon will immediately open the player with the recording.
Why did the Phone tab disappear in the Recorder?
If you use a third-party call, like Google Phone, which is often pre-installed on global versions, the recording mechanism is different, and when you record it, the voice of the interlocutor can be recorded quieter or through the speaker, and the files can lie in the Phone or Recordings folder at the root of the memory.
- 📞 Launch the Dictaphone application and select the Phone tab.
- 📞 Open the Call Log and look for the entry icon next to the number.
- 📞 Use a contact search in the Contacts app if the conversation was with a saved number.
Using built-in interfaces is preferable to manual file search, since the system manages the metadata itself. You can quickly rename the record, add it to your favorites or send it via messenger directly from the player interface without going to the file system.
Changing the way records are saved
One of the useful features of the MIUI shell is the ability to transfer the storage location of records to the SD memory card. This is critical for users who record many hours of conversations, since audio files can take up gigabytes of space.The standard path in internal memory can quickly fill up, which will lead to the termination of recording new calls.
To change the path, you need to go to the settings of the record application itself. Open the recorder, click on the menu (three dots or gear), and select Settings. Find the Write Folder or Storage. If the phone has a memory card installed, the system will prompt you to choose between "Inner Memory" and "SD-map".
Path to settings:
Recorder → Settings (cogwheel) → Write folder → SD- MapAfter changing the path, all new records will be saved to an external medium in a folder. MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec, but on the side SD-The old files will stay in the same place and will not be moved automatically. You will have to copy them manually if you want to collect all the archives in one place.
| Parameter | Internal memory. | SD-map |
|---|---|---|
| Speed of access | Tall. | Depends on the class of the card. |
| Risk of loss | Low (when the phone breaks) | High (physical extraction) |
| Volume | Limited to phone memory | It can be expanded to 1 TB+ |
| Hiding from others | It's harder to hide. | Easy to extract and hide |
⚠️ Note: Do not remove the memory card while the recording of the conversation is going on or immediately after it is completed.This can damage the file and inability to play it.
Using a memory card also simplifies the process of backing up to a computer, so just take the card out and plug it in through the card reader without plugging in the smartphone itself, and saves time and battery life.
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Use U3 or V30 memory cards to record calls. Cheap cards may not be able to record the data stream in real time, leading to audio stuttering.
Sync with Mi Cloud and Google Drive
For those who are afraid of losing important conversations when a smartphone breaks, cloud storage is a hot topic.Mi Cloud allows you to synchronize recordings of a voice recorder, including phone conversations, this provides access to files from any device that has access to your Mi Account.
To activate sync, go to Phone Settings → Mi Account → Cloud. Search for a Recorder and switch on the service list. Make sure you select Original quality if you want to keep the audio quality as high as possible, even though it costs more space in the cloud.
Alternatively, use Google Drive. The Dictaphone app settings may have the option of automatically downloading to the Google cloud. However, most often you need to manually configure through the Backup menu inside the Dictaphone app itself. Select Backup Settings and enter your Google account.
- ☁️ Go to Settings. → Mi Account → Cloud.
- ☁️ Activate synchronization for the point Dictaphone.
- ☁️ Check for free space in cloud storage (free 5GB).
- ☁️ To access from PC, use i.mi.com.
It's important to understand that synchronization only happens when you connect to Wi-Fi, unless the settings say otherwise, and this is done to save mobile traffic, so if you recorded an important roaming conversation, it will only be uploaded to the cloud after you connected to the wireless network.
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Cloud sync is the only way to recover records if the phone has been lost or completely broken without the ability to retrieve memory.
Access problems and hidden files
Starting with Android 11 and especially Android 12/13/14, access to system folders for third-party apps and even for the user is limited. You may not see the Android/data folder or specific directories with records in standard Explorer. This is the Scoped Storage protection introduced by Google.
If you can’t see files, try using Xiaomi’s built-in file manager rather than a third-party (like Total Commander), as the system explorer has special permissions. Also check if files are hidden. In the Explorer settings, the option to Show hidden files should be enabled.
Another common problem is that files are there, but they are not played or are 0 KB in size. This may indicate a malfunction of the microphone during a conversation or that the recording was conducted through the speaker, and the microphone was occupied by another application (for example, a navigator or voice recorder in the background).
⚠️ Note: If you use third-party applications to record calls (not built-in), they can save files to their own folders, such as CallRecorder or Skvalex at the root of the memory.
In some cases, antivirus or MIUI security system may block access to audio files, considering them suspicious if they have been modified. check the phone's security log if files suddenly stop opening.
Recovery of deleted records
It's not uncommon to have an important record accidentally deleted, and fortunately, there's a Recycle Bin in the MIUI shell that stores deleted files for a certain amount of time. Open the Recorder app, go to the settings or menu, and find the Recycle Bin, which is usually 30 days.
If there are no files in the Dictaphone Recycle Bin, check the Explorer Recycle Bin itself. When you delete a file through the file manager, it often ends up in the file manager system basket, rather than the source application basket. → Basket.
For more complex cases where files are deleted past the recycle bin, specialized data recovery utilities such as DiskDigger or Recuva (via PC) will be required. However, the effectiveness of these programs depends on whether the memory was overwritten with new data. The less you used the phone after deleting, the higher the odds.
☑️ Actions in deleting a record
Regularly backing up your computer is the best protection against data loss. USB, Select the file transfer mode (MTP) and copy the folder. MIUI/sound_recorder It'll take a few minutes, but it'll save important data.