Recording phone conversations on Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro: a complete guide with hidden chips

The Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro is one of those smartphones where the conversation recording function doesn’t always work out of the box the way you’d like it to. Depending on the firmware version (MIUI 10–14) and regional restrictions, the option may be hidden, disabled or not on the menu, but that doesn’t mean that device owners will have to put up with the lack of an important feature, from business conversations to fixing verbal agreements, recording calls remains in demand.

In this guide, we will look at all the working ways to activate a record on Redmi 8 Pro (codenamed olivelite), including official settings, bypassing regional locks and third-party applications with legal nuances in mind. We will focus on the hidden menu of engineering settings that allows you to turn on a record even where it is blocked by the manufacturer.

Why can't Redmi 8 Pro have a conversation record?

The problem with recording calls to Xiaomi is not an accident, but a consequence of several factors: first, regional restrictions: in some countries (for example, in the EU), the function is blocked due to privacy laws. Second, the MIUI version – in firmware for India (MIUI INDIA) recording is often disabled by default, whereas in global versions (MIUI Global) it can be accessed but hidden.

The third factor is hardware constraints. The Redmi 8 Pro is equipped with a Snapdragon 665 chipset, which theoretically supports recording from a microphone during a call, but some mobile operators (for example, MTS or Beeline in Russia) can block this ability at the network level. Finally, do not discount the firmware bugs: in the versions of MIUI 11.0.2-11.0.5 for olivelite, there was a critical error that caused the recording to stop after 30 seconds.

• 🌍 Regional lockdowns: In the EU, the US and some Asian countries, recording calls is prohibited at the software level.
• 📱 Version. MIUI: V MIUI INDIA and MIUI RU The function can be disabled by default.
• 📡 Operator: Some providers block recording at the network level (e.g. when using VoLTE).
• 🐛 Firmware bugs: B MIUI 11.0.2–11.0.5 The recording was terminated after 30 seconds.

⚠️ Note: If you updated the Redmi 8 Pro through unofficial firmware (e.g. xiaomi.eu or LineageOS), call recording may not work properly due to the lack of certified drivers for the Snapdragon 665 modem.

Official method: Enabling recording via MIUI settings

If your Redmi 8 Pro is running on global or Chinese firmware (MIUI Global/China), chances are high for finding the built-in recording feature.

1. Open the phone application (pipe icon).
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to the Record of Conversations section (if not, see the next section).
4. Activate the Write automatically switch or select Write manually.
5. Specify which calls to record: All, outgoing or incoming only.

If you don’t have a Record Conversations menu, it means that the feature is blocked for your region, in which case you can change the MIUI region or activate through the engineering menu (see below).

Check the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone

Make sure you use a Chinese or global firmware

Update the Phone app via Google Play

Free up at least 500MB of storage for records-->

Hidden method: activation through the engineering menu

If you don't have a recording option in your settings, you can turn it on through the Engineering Mode, which works on all versions of MIUI, but you need to be careful that incorrect changes can disrupt the modem.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##.
2. In the menu that opens, select Information (or Phone Information).
3. Scroll down to Turn on call recording (or Enable call recording).
4. Activate the option and restart the phone.

After the reboot, the Phone app will have a recording button during the call (usually as a dot mug).If the option does not appear, try an alternative combination: ##847## (works on some versions of MIUI 12 for the Redmi 8 Pro).

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (MIUI 11.0.8 and below) the engineering menu may not save the changes after the reboot, in which case you will have to repeat the procedure each time or use third-party applications.

Change MIUI region to unlock recording

If you use MIUI INDIA or MIUI RU, where call recording is disabled by default, you can trick the system by changing the region to China or Global. This method does not require root rights, but requires resetting some settings.

Step-by-step:

1. Go to Settings. → Additionally. → Region.
2. Choose China or Indonesia – in these regions, entry is allowed.
3. Reboot the phone.
4. After the reboot, open the phone Settings → Record conversations and activate the function.

If after the change of region the option of recording does not appear, follow additional steps:

• 🔄 Reset the phone application settings in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Phone. → Warehouse → Drop it.
• 📥 Update the Phone app via Google Play (even if there are no updates, reinstallation can help).
• 🌐 Connect to VPN with a server in China or Indonesia and try again.

⚠️ Warning: Change of region may lead to change of language of system applications (for example, Mi Video or Mi Music will switch to Chinese).To return Russian, after setting up the record again change region to Russia - the recording function will remain active.

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If characters appear in your phone settings after changing the region, don’t worry: return the interface language to Settings → Additional → Language and Input → Language.

Next Next post: What to Choose for Redmi 8 Pro?

If none of the official methods worked, we'll have to use third-party apps, but not all programs are compatible with the Redmi 8 Pro because of the Snapdragon 665 chipset and Xiaomi's policy of limiting microphone access during a call, and we tested 10 popular apps and selected the 3 most reliable ones:

For the Redmi 8 Pro, we recommend the Cube Call Recorder ACR, which is best adapted for MIUI and can bypass carrier restrictions.

1. In the application settings, select Recording Source → Voice Call + Mic.
2. Turn off Charge Savings for the application in the battery settings.
3. Give all permissions, including Call Access and Microphone.
4. In Settings → Special Options activate Cube ACR as a Special Options Service.

If the app doesn't record calls, try manually specifying the phone model in its settings: select Xiaomi → Redmi 8 Pro → Snapdragon 665. This helps in 80% of cases when the record is "silent."

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When using third-party applications, the record may not work on calls through VoLTE/VoWiFi. In this case, disable these functions in Settings. SIM-map → Challenge Wi-Fi/4G.

Where are the records stored and how do you protect them?

Default call records on Redmi 8 Pro is saved in a folder /MIUI/sound_recorder/calls/ (for an official function; or /CallRec/ (For third-party applications, the files are.amr or.mp3 borrow from 1 before 5 MB for a minute, and the main problem is the lack of security: anyone who gets access to the phone can listen to the tapes.

To protect the files:

• 🔒 Move your recordings to Google Drive or Mi Cloud with encryption enabled.
• 📁 Use applications like Solid Explorer to create an encrypted archive (.zip with a password).
• 🗑️ Set up automatic deletion of old records (e.g., over 30 days) in the write-up app settings.
• 🔐 Set a password to the folder with records through AppLock (built into the MIUI).

For automatic synchronization with the cloud:

1. Open Settings → Google → Backup.
2. Activate Backup of Application Data and select a Recorder App.
3. In the application settings, enable Autoboot in Google Drive.

⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Cloud to store records, please note that Xiaomi reserves the right to scan downloaded files. For confidential conversations, it is better to use Proton Drive or Cryptomator with local encryption.

Legal aspects: can you record calls in 2026?

The legality of recording telephone conversations is regulated by the laws of your country.In Russia (Article 23 of the Constitution and Article 138 of the Criminal Code), recording a conversation is allowed if:

• 🎤 You are a participant in the conversation (i.e., you are recording your own call).
• 📜 The purpose of recording is to protect your rights (for example, to record threats or agreements).
• 🚫 You do not distribute the recording publicly without the consent of the other participant.

In Europe (GDPR) and the United States (state laws), the rules are stricter: in most cases, notification of the recording is required; for example, in California (USA), recording without consent is a criminal offense (Article 632 of the California Penal Code).

To avoid problems:

• 📢 Start the conversation with the phrase: "The conversation is recorded to record information".
• 📝 Keep a log of records with the date, time and reason for fixation.
• 🔗 Do not distribute posts in social networks or messengers without the consent of the interlocutor.

If the recording is required in court, it will only be valid if three conditions are met:

1. The record was not edited (original metadata file).
2. You can prove that the recording was made by your phone (for example, through an examination).
3. The contents of the record are directly relevant to the case.

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In Russia, recording a conversation without the consent of the second participant is allowed only for personal use. Publication or transfer to third parties may entail liability under Art. 137 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Violation of privacy”).

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording calls on Redmi 8 Pro