How to set up automatic recording of conversations on Xiaomi

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face the need to keep an important conversation, whether it’s a business conversation or a face-to-face conversation. However, with the upgrade of MIUI and the transition to new versions of Android, the standard automatic recording feature has become less noticeable or disappeared from the menu for users from certain regions, due to a change in Google’s privacy policy, which restricts app access to the microphone during system calls.

However, the ability to capture audio streams still exists, although it requires proper configuration or installation of specialized software, and in this guide, we will discuss all the current ways to activate this feature, from built-in system tools to third-party solutions that bypass software locks.

It should be understood that the method of action depends on the version of the operating system and the region selected when you first start the device. If you are looking for a way to record a conversation on Xiaomi without warning the interlocutor or in the background, you will need to carefully study the sections below devoted to circumventing restrictions.

Built-in recording function in the Phone application

The most reliable and high-quality way is to use the native functionality of the MIUI shell or HyperOS. The standard Xiaomi Phone application already has a recording mechanism that activates automatically when an incoming or outgoing call. To access these settings, you need to open the Phone application and click on three dots in the upper right corner of the screen.

In the menu that opens, select Settings, and then find Call Record. Here you have a flexible management toolkit, you can enable automatic recording for all numbers, or select specific contacts from the phone book, and you can set the rules to record all calls, only unknown numbers, or exclusively selected contacts.

But there's an important caveat: If the call record menu doesn't appear on the settings menu, then your smartphone is operating in a region where it's blocked by law or company policy, and then you can't have standard inclusion, and you'll need to change your region or use third-party methods, which we'll talk about later.

The sound quality of the built-in tool is usually high, as the recording is directly from the system audio stream, bypassing the microphone. This eliminates the extraneous noises and echoes that often occur when using a voice recorder.

⚠️ Note: When using embedded recording, the interlocutor may hear a characteristic audible alert or see a notification on the screen that the conversation is being recorded.

Users often wonder where files are saved. By default, they are in internal memory along the way. MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec. The folder can be accessed through the standard File Explorer.

Changing the region to activate hidden functions

If you don't have the option to set up a record, the most effective method is to change the region of the device temporarily. Phone application functionality depends on the geolocation settings of the system. In some countries, such as India, Russia or Ukraine, recording is allowed, while in the EU countries there are strict restrictions on GDPR.

To activate hidden features, go to Settings → Additional → Region. In the list, select a country where the feature is guaranteed to work, for example, India or Vietnam. After changing the region, the smartphone interface may change slightly, new widgets or services will appear specific to the selected country, but this is necessary to activate the module we need.

When you change region, recheck the phone settings. Call Record should appear. Turn on automatic recording and return the region to yours (e.g. Russia or Germany). In most cases, the setting is saved even after you return to the original region, but in some versions of MIUI, the function has to be activated again after each restart.

This method is secure, does not require superuser rights, and does not violate the device warranty, but is a standard way to adapt software to different markets.

Use of third-party recorder applications

When Google's system constraints become too stringent (especially on Android 11, 12, 13 and 14), specialized apps come to the rescue, trying to intercept the audio stream in a variety of ways. One of the most popular and effective solutions is Call Recorder's app - Cube ACR.

Once installed, you need to give it the maximum set of permissions, such as access to the microphone, phone, contacts and, critically, access to special capabilities (Accessibility), and it is through the special capabilities service that the application can "listen" to system sound, bypassing the locks of the OS.

In the settings of the recorder application, you often need to choose the source of sound. Different options are suitable for different Xiaomi models:

• 🎙️ Microphone – recording via microphone (echoes or quiet voices may be heard).
• 🔊 VoIP / Internal Audio – Attempting to capture the internal audio stream (provides the best quality).
• 📞 Call Audio Source – a specific driver for calls.

Some apps require an additional plugin (App Connector) to work correctly on new versions of Android. Follow the instructions inside the program to activate all components.

⚠️ Note: Third-party apps may not work with messengers (Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram) on some models without root rights. To record calls through Internet protocols, more complex settings or paid versions of software are often required.

Android 11-14 recording problems and solutions

Since Android 11, Google has implemented strict API restrictions that prevent apps from recording sound during a phone call, and Xiaomi owners have also been affected. If the built-in feature doesn’t work and third-party apps only write your voice or silence, that’s the problem.

There are several workarounds for modern versions of the OS:

1. Use of hands-free. Some recorders only work correctly when hands-free is on, because in this mode the audio stream is redirected and the application can capture it.
2. Customize the sound source: In advanced recorder settings (such as Cube ACR), try forcefully changing the source of the recording to Voice Communication or Voice Call.
3. Disable battery optimization. MIUI aggressively unloads background processes. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications, find your recorder, go to Activity Control and select No Limits.

It’s also worth checking if you have Do Not Disturb or Silence mode enabled, which can block access to the microphone for third-party programs.

Comparison of methods of recording conversations

For the convenience of choosing the best method, let’s compare the basic methods on key parameters. Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages depending on the model of your Redmi or Poco.

As you can see from the table, embedded tools are always preferred, providing stability and not consuming extra battery power, unlike the constantly running background applications.

Where to find and how to manage recorded files

Once the setup is complete, it's important to know where to look for results. Record files take up space in internal memory and can quickly run out of free space if you talk often.

The Standard File Path: Internal Memory → MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec. Files usually have a format.m4a or.mp3. They can be listened directly in the Dictaphone application or any music player.

The Phone app also has a log, and you can open a call history, click on the number you want, and if you've recorded it, you'll have a voice recorder icon next to the call date, and you can tap on it, listen to the conversation, rewind it, or send the file to the person via the messenger.

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Set up automatic deletion of old records. In the recording settings, select the option “Delete records older than 30 days” so that your phone’s memory does not automatically overflow.

It is recommended to periodically transfer important conversations to the cloud storage or to the computer, as when resetting your phone settings or flashing the MIUI folder will be cleared.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Changing the region to India or Vietnam is the easiest and safest way to return native call recording to Xiaomi without installing third-party software.