How to turn on a recording of a conversation on Xiaomi: Full Guide

Smartphone owners often face a situation where standard voice recorder functionality stops working after a system update, due to Google’s tightening privacy policy, which restricts apps from accessing the microphone during a call. However, recording conversations remains a critical feature for many users, whether it is fixing customer agreements or storing important personal information.

Fortunately, Xiaomi engineers and independent developers are finding workarounds. In this article, we will take a closer look at the built-in capabilities of the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS, as well as look at proven third-party solutions, learn how to activate hidden settings and what applications actually work on modern versions of Android without root rights.

Before we get to the point, it’s worth noting that methods can vary depending on the firmware region (Global, China, EEA) and the operating system version. Since Android 11, Google has implemented a mandatory voice notification to start recording that cannot be disabled by regular means, a security requirement that owners of any device have to put up with.

Built-in feature in MIUI and HyperOS

The most reliable and high-quality way is to use the regular functionality of the phone from Mi or Google Dialer with an adapted interface. In most modern models, especially in global versions, the system already contains the necessary code, but it can be hidden or disabled by default due to the legislative restrictions of a particular country.

To activate, you need to open the call app and go to the settings menu, usually three dots in the corner of the screen or a gear. If you see "Record Calls," you're lucky enough to drag the slider to the active position. In some cases, you need to select specific numbers to automatically record the dialogue.

If there is no standard switch, there is a possibility that it is hidden in regional restrictions. Users often change the region in the system settings (Settings → Additional → Region) to countries where recording is allowed (for example, India, Indonesia or Russia) to unlock this option.

It is important to understand that new HyperOS devices may have different algorithms, and the system has become more stringent on application access, so even with a button, you may not be able to record unless you have permission from the security menu.

⚠️ Note: When using the built-in function on the Google Dialer databases, the interlocutor will always hear a loud voice message “Call recording has begun” in the system language.

Find hidden settings through the engineering menu

When the standard interface doesn't offer the right options, the engineers' hidden codes come to the rescue, an engineering menu designed to test hardware, but with useful features for advanced users, accessed through a set of character combinations in the call app.

For Xiaomi and Redmi devices, code ##3646633## often works. After dialing it, the EngineerMode interface will open. You need to go to the Hardware Testing or Audio tab, where you can find a recording option in some firmware (mainly older versions of MIUI), but on Android 10 and above this method rarely works due to locks from the kernel.

More relevant method of changing the region through codes CSC Or using activator applications that change system flags, like an app. MIUI Settings allows you to open hidden settings pages that are not available in the regular menu. force_enable_call_recording.

Be careful when changing the settings in the engineering menu. Incorrectly setting the audio codecs can cause the sound to become quieter or disappear altogether. Always remember the original values so you can roll back the changes.

Third-party applications for recording calls

If the built-in tools don't work or require voice alerts that you don't need, you have to turn to third-party software. The market is full of offers, but after Android 11, most of them stopped working correctly. They either record silence or only your voice, ignoring the interlocutor.

One of the few solutions that still works is Call Recorder's Cube ACR application, which uses special methods of circumvention (App Connector) to capture the audio stream, and to work correctly, you need to give it the maximum set of permissions, including access to special features.

Another popular option is Tacx or Automatic Call Recorder, which often require a plug-in or hands-free mode to mix audio streams, and the recording quality can vary depending on the processor model and Android version.

• 📱 Cube ACR — market leader, supports VoIP calls (Viber, WhatsApp), but requires fine tuning of the sound source.
• 🎙️ Tacx is a minimalist interface, often running out of the box on older versions. MIUI.
• 🔊 Blackbox Call Recorder – uses a method of recording through a speaker, which reduces quality, but guarantees the result.
• 🛠️ SKVALEX — a powerful paid solution that requires installation of modules or ADB-activation.

Set up automatic recording for contacts

Manually turning on the recorder while you're talking is inconvenient, because you forget to press the button on time. Automatic recording allows you to save all incoming and outgoing calls without the user, which is especially useful for entrepreneurs and freelancers.

In the regular Phone app, you can set up the Call Record menu, and you can select All Numbers or Selected Numbers, and in the second case, you create a list of contacts that you can automatically record, and the rest of the calls will be normal.

Third-party apps also support this feature: Cube ACR or analog settings require you to find the Auto Record section and activate the profiles you want, and some apps allow you to customize rules, such as writing only unknown numbers or only outgoing calls.

It's worth considering that automatic recording takes up space in memory. If you communicate a lot, internal storage can quickly fill up, and it's recommended that you set up cleaning old files or moving the archive to the cloud.

Where do files are stored and how do you find them?

Once the conversation is over, the file is stored in the device's memory, and the path to it depends on the method used. MIUI files are usually in a folder MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec You can find them through a standard conductor.

Third-party apps create their own directories, like Cube. ACR By default, saves files to the CallRecord folder at the root of internal memory or on the SD-In the application settings, you can change the path to a more convenient one.

For quick access to the latest records, the Phone app often has a separate tab or listening button, and a voice recorder icon may appear in the call list next to the number, clicking on which will immediately turn on playback.

⚠️ Attention: On Android 11 and above file access Android/data For third-party file managers, limited. To copy Google Dialer records, you may need a special file manager with access to system folders.

Frequent problems and ways to solve them

Even when set up correctly, users may experience a lack of audio from the interlocutor, the most common problem with the system blocking the capture of the audio stream, in which case switching the recording source in the application settings to Microphone or Speak.

Another problem is that files are not saved or are of zero size, which often happens when there is a space shortage or a permission conflict, check if the application is allowed to write to storage in Settings → Applications → Permissions.

If the recording is interrupted by itself, perhaps the background is “Memory Cleanup” or energy saving, which kills the recorder process. Add the recording app to the battery exclusion list (“No Limits”). Battery optimization is the main enemy of the background processes on Xiaomi.

In some cases, the problem lies in a specific firmware update. If the record stopped working after the update, you should wait for the patch to come out or roll back to the previous version of the software, if possible.

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For better recording quality through third-party applications, try to briefly turn on speakerphone during a conversation - this often "wakes up" the microphone and allows you to capture the voice of the interlocutor.

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The most stable method on modern Xiaomi is to use the built-in function with changing region, and if it is not available – the Cube ACR application with the on-hand-phone mode.