Xiaomi and Redmi have long been among the most popular devices on the market due to their excellent price-to-function ratio. One of the most popular features, especially for business people and those who often communicate with official services, is the feature of recording telephone conversations. However, after updating the MIUI interface or when first getting acquainted with the brand ecosystem, users often face difficulties: where exactly the file is stored and how to quickly find it among thousands of other documents.
In this article, we will look at all the possible ways to find recorded dialogs, from built-in system tools to the use of third-party file managers. It is important to understand that the location of files may depend on the version of the Android operating system and the MIUI shell installed on your device. We will consider both standard ways of saving and hidden nuances, which are not known to all smartphone owners.
And we'll also talk about automatic recording, which can be useful if you keep forgetting to turn on the recorder during an important call, and if you set it up correctly, it will save you a lot of time and nerves in the future, and let's figure out where your audio recordings are hiding and how to organize their storage as conveniently as possible.
Search for records through the standard phone application
The most obvious and quick way to find a recording of a conversation is to use the built-in Phone app, which is the default call in most regions. Unlike standard Android calls, MIUI has its own interface, where call history and records are integrated directly. To find the file you want, open the application and go to the Recent or Journal tab.
Find a contact or number you've been recording on the list, and usually a special icon that looks like a tape recorder or tape tape appears next to or below the number, and if you click on that icon, you immediately start playing the record. If the icon isn't on the main log screen, try tapping the phone number or contact name to reveal the detailed call menu.
- 📞 Open the Phone app and select the Recent tab.
- 🔍 Find the desired number in the list and click on the arrow to the right of it or on the number itself.
- ▶️ In the menu that opens, click on the playback icon or the entry.
- ⚙️ To access the list of all records, click on three dots in the corner and select Call Records.
In some versions of the firmware, access to the full list of all the records is via the settings menu inside the call. Click on the three dots in the top right corner of the screen and select Call Record. It stores a chronological list of all the dialogs that have been saved on the device. This is the most convenient way to listen, since the system sorts files by date and contacts.
⚠️ Note: If you delete your call history from your call log, the call record tied to that number in the call interface may also become unavailable for quick search, although the file itself will physically remain in the phone’s memory.
Search for files through Explorer and File System
If a standard application doesn't display a record, or you need to copy a file to a computer, you'll have to go to the file system.The path to the records folder can vary depending on the Android version. In modern versions of Android 11 and higher, access to system folders is limited by security policies, so the path may look more complicated than in older versions.
Open the standard Explorer (or File Manager) application and go to the Internal Drive section: MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec. It is in this directory that all audio recordings of calls in format are saved by default.m4a or.mp3. The files here are called the date and time of the call, which makes it easier to find the right dialogue.
In some cases, especially on global firmware versions with a European Google Dialer call, the path may be different. Then look for the Recordings folder inside the Call folder or the root of internal memory. The file structure can be changed by the manufacturer to meet Google's requirements, so if you haven't found the MIUI folder, check the disk root.
Hidden system folders
For ease of working with files, you can use third-party file managers such as Total Commander or FX File Explorer. They allow you to navigate faster through directories and have built-in search functions for file extension. Type in *.m4a to filter out all audio files on the device.
Set up automatic call recording
To avoid looking for a recording button during an important conversation, Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones have an automatic recording feature, especially for those who are negotiating with customers or recording customer service readings, which is set up directly in the Phone app.
Go to the call settings menu (three dots in the corner of the screen) and select Call Record. Here you will see the Auto Record switch. Once activated, you can choose to work: record all incoming and outgoing or only calls from certain numbers. The flexibility of the settings allows you to save space on the drive without saving unnecessary dialogue with friends.
☑️ Set-up of car photography
You can also set up a recording notification from this menu, and in many countries, you have to tell the person that the conversation is being recorded, and the MIUI system can automatically play back an audible warning or a voice message to the other party, and make sure that this setting is set up in accordance with the laws of your region to avoid legal problems.
| Setup parameter | Description of function | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic recording | Enables recording without user participation | VL (for important contacts) |
| Selection of numbers | Record all or only selected | Only certain numbers. |
| Notice of recording | Audible signal for the interlocutor | VL (observance of the law) |
| Recording format | Quality and type of audio compression | High quality |
Problems with sound and recording quality
Users often complain that the recording is made, but when listening, you hear only the interlocutor, and you don't hear your own voice, or the sound is very quiet. This is a common problem with noise reduction and the design of microphones in modern smartphones. The main microphone is often blocked by your hand or finger during a conversation.
Another reason could be the use of a headset or hands-free. In some Redmi models, when connecting Bluetooth headphones, recording can be done from only one channel or not at all due to the limitations of the audio protocol. Bluetooth technical limitations often do not allow you to capture both audio streams at the same time.
💡
To improve recording quality, try not to cover the bottom of the screen (where the main microphone is located) during a conversation, and also try to turn off the noise reduction function in the audio settings, if this option is available in your version of MIUI.
If you use third-party recording apps, they may require additional permissions. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find your voice recorder and check permissions. You must activate permissions to access the microphone and phone. Without these permissions, the application will not work properly.
⚠️ Note: On Android 10 and above, recording calls through third-party apps is often impossible without root rights due to Google's security policy. MIUI.
Synchronization and backup of records
Talk recordings take up space in internal memory, and losing them when your phone breaks or your settings are reset will be a nasty surprise. Xiaomi offers a cloud-based service called Mi Cloud that can synchronize voice recordings. However, be careful: often only voice recordings are synchronized, not calls.
For reliable storage, you'd better use manual copying. Periodically connect your phone to your computer and copy the folder. call_rec You can also set up automatic synchronization of this folder through third-party cloud services such as Google Drive or Yandex.Disk using the autoboot function for for folders.
💡
Regular backup of the call record folder is the only way to ensure that important information is kept safe in the event of a device being lost or stolen.
When transferring data to a new phone, use the built-in Mi Mover utility, which allows you to transfer call records along with the rest of the data. When you initially configure a new Redmi, select the data transfer from the old device, and the program will find and transfer the audio files to the desired directory.
Use of third-party applications for recording
Built-in functionality may not be enough if you need more advanced features: real-time cloud recording, transcription (voice-to-text translation) or instant messenger recording.
One popular solution is Call Recorder, ACR or TapeACall, which can intercept audio even when a standard call blocks recording, but installing these programs requires careful permission settings, and often requires access to Accessibility so that the application can automatically answer calls and turn on recording.
- 📲 Call Recorder - ACR: powerful application with flexible format settings and cloud synchronization.
- 🎙️ Blackbox Call Recorder: can record sound even through a speaker, which is useful for instant messengers.
- ☁️ TapeACall: A service that connects a third participant (robot) to record a line (paid).
Keep in mind that installing third-party recorders on new versions of Android can be challenging, as the system will constantly alert you to a potential security threat and try to limit the application in the background, and you will have to manually prevent the system from "killing" the recording process in the battery settings.