How to activate call recording on Xiaomi Redmi 9: the complete guide

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face unexpected limitations after a system update when the usual automatic conversation recording feature stops working or disappears from the menu.The Redmi 9, a popular budget device, has also undergone these changes due to the introduction of stricter Google privacy policies.Now the standard Google Dialer interface requires additional actions to activate hidden features or install specialized software.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to solve the problem, from simple settings in the menu to using advanced methods through ADB. You will learn why the function could have disappeared on your device and how to regain control over your dialogues without losing the guarantee and stability of the system.

It’s worth noting that the approach to the solution depends on the version of the MIUI shell and the region for which your device is released. Global firmware versions often have stricter restrictions compared to Chinese or Indian builds. We’ll look at universal solutions that cover most use cases.

Why the Redmi 9 call record went missing

The main reason for the loss of the recording feature is the transition of Xiaomi to a standard set of applications from Google in global versions of firmware. Previously, it used its own MIUI Dialer, which allowed you to record conversations automatically and without warning the interlocutor. New security rules Android and Google prohibit hidden recording, requiring mandatory voice notification of the second party.

Users who upgraded Redmi 9 to the latest versions of MIUI 12 or MIUI 13 may have noticed that the recording button has either disappeared or become gray and inactive. This is not a device defect, but a software limitation implemented at the system application level.

⚠️ Note: Many countries require that the recording of the conversation be notified to the interlocutor, and that the use of the recordings for commercial purposes or their publication without the consent of the other party may entail legal liability.

Also, the lack of function may be due to regional settings. SIM-If your account is tied to a region with strict privacy laws (such as the European Union), the system can block access to the microphone for the phone app.

Check the built-in settings of Google Dialer

Before resorting to sophisticated methods, make sure the feature is not disabled in the standard interface.In newer versions of Google Phone, recording settings are often hidden in the depth of the menu or require activation via a cloud profile. Open the Phone app and tap three dots in the top right corner of the screen.

In the drop-down menu, select Settings. Find Call Record. If there is no partition, your region or app version will block the feature completely at the code level. If the partition is present but the switch is off, just activate it.

It is important to check the file recording and storage settings. By default, audio recordings can be stored in the internal storage in the Recordings/Call folder. Make sure there is enough free space on the Redmi 9 disk, as overflow memory can block the start of a new record.

• 📱 Open the Phone app and go to settings via the three-dot menu.
• 🔍 Find the Call Record section and make sure the slider is activated.
• 💾 Check the file saving path in the Write Folder menu to easily find archives.
• 🌐 Make sure that the phone region settings do not include a country with a record ban (e.g., some U.S. states).

Change of region and cleanup of application data

One effective way to get back to functionality is to change the region of the device. The MIUI shell is closely related to geolocation settings, and changing the country can unlock hidden features of system applications. Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Region and select a country where the laws are milder, such as India or Singapore.

When you change region, clear the cache and data of the Phone app, which will reset to factory settings for the new region. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find Phone (or Google Phone) and click Clear → All data.

Remember that changing your region can affect other services, such as Mi Browser or the news feed. Once you check the call record, you can try to revert the region back, but often the function has to be activated in the "permitted" region, and then it is saved.

If the region change didn’t work, try forcefully stopping the phone app and running it again. Sometimes Android system processes require a complete reboot of services to apply new configuration files received after the location change.

Use of third-party applications for recording

When standard methods don't work, Google Play apps come to the rescue, but because of the limitations of Android 9 and above, most only record your voice or require hands-free, and there are solutions that can bypass these restrictions through accessibility services.

One of the most reliable solutions is the Call Recorder app - Cube ACR. It uses complex mechanisms for putting the system into the audio stream. Once installed, the application will ask you to allow many accesses, including microphone recording, call management and a special ability to "Record audio" in the settings of special features.

When installing third-party software on Redmi 9, make sure to add the app to the battery exception list. Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Application Selection, find a recorder, and set No Limits mode. This will prevent the MIUI optimization process from stopping the recording.

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If a third-party app writes only your voice, try to turn on speakerphone and put the phone down on a soft surface during a conversation – this will improve the capture of the interlocutor’s sound through the microphone.

Activation through ADB and hidden settings

For advanced users who don’t want to put left-handed software, there is a method of activating hidden recording via USB debugging, which allows you to enable native Google Dialer recording function, even if it is hidden in the interface, you will need a computer and a minimum set of tools ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

First, turn on developer mode on Redmi 9. Click on the build number seven times in About Phone. Then, in the Developer menu, activate USB Debugging. Connect the phone to your PC and start the command prompt with administrator permissions.

adb shell pm grant com.google.android.dialer android.permission.CAPTURE_AUDIO_OUTPUT

The team above is trying to give the phone's system app the rights to capture the audio stream. However, in the latest versions of Android, Google has closed this hole, so the command may not work without root rights. ADB:

adb shell pm clear com.google.android.dialer


adb shell am start -n com.google.android.dialer/.settings.SettingsActivity

⚠️ Attention: Working with ADB Incorrect commands can lead to unstable operation of the Phone application or loss of contacts, so back up your data in advance.

There is also a method of implementing a configuration file. country_iso It often returns the native record without having to change the region on the menu. The configuration file can be found on specialized Xiaomi firmware forums.

Problems with sound quality and their solution

Even with successful recording activation, Redmi 9 users may have trouble hearing the voice of the interlocutor very quietly or completely absent, due to the noise reduction features of the budget MediaTek processors used in this model.

To improve quality, try changing the sound source in the recording app settings (if available). Switching from Microphone to Voice Call or VoIP can drastically change the result, and disabling Sound Improvement in the phone's standard settings is also worth it.

Sometimes it helps to use a headset. When you connect wired headphones, the audio stream goes through a separate channel that is easier to capture software. If you often record important conversations, using a headset with a microphone can be an easy solution to the problem of quiet sound.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

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The most stable way to return a record to Redmi 9 without root rights is to change the region to India, combined with clearing the phone app data and using trusted third-party recorders with the correct battery settings.