How to set up a record of phone calls on Xiaomi: all ways and life hacks

Recording phone calls on Xiaomi smartphones is a feature that appears in MIUI firmware but disappears as privacy laws tighten. In 2026, the ability to save audio calls is still available, but it doesn't work on all models and requires proper setup, and if you want to record important business conversations, interviews, or just save evidence of conversations, this guide will help you understand the nuances.

Depending on the version of MIUI (12, 13 or 14) and the region of the firmware, the process of turning on the record may differ: somewhere the option is hidden in the back of the menu, somewhere it needs to be activated through the developer’s settings, and on some devices (for example, for the European market), the feature is completely disabled at the software level. We tested all the current methods on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Xiaomi 13T and POCO X5 Pro models – and we are ready to share working solutions.

It is important to check local legislation before setting up. In some countries (for example, in the EU), recording conversations without the consent of the interlocutor is prohibited and may entail legal liability. In Russia, it is enough to notify the subscriber about the recording (this can be done automatically - we will discuss this below).

1. Checking support for call recording function

Not all Xiaomi smartphones can record calls out of the box. Here's how to find out if the option is available on your device:

• 📱 Models with official support: Xiaomi 13/13 Pro/13 Ultra, Redmi Note 12 Pro+/Pro, POCO F5/F5 Pro, Xiaomi 12T/12T Pro. on these devices, the function is stable on MIUI 14 (global/Russian firmware).
• ⚠️ Models with limitations: Redmi 10C/10A, POCO M5/M5s — The entry may not be in the menu, but it can be enabled through the developer settings (instruction below).
• 🚫 Models without support: devices for the European market (firmware) MIUI EU) and some budget models (Redmi) A2, POCO C50). Only third-party software will help here.

To determine exactly if your phone has an embedded record, do:

1. Open the phone application (pipe icon).
2. Dial the number and start the call (or accept the incoming one).
3. When talking, look at the screen: if there is a Record button (microphone or circle with a dot) – the function is active.

If you don't have a write button, don't rush to install third-party programs. First, try enabling the hidden option through the developer settings, which works on 60% of devices without root rights.

2. Enabling the record through the developer settings

This method is suitable for devices where the recording function is locked by default, but technically supported by hardware. For example, on the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ (MIUI firmware 13.0.6), the option appears after activating the hidden menu.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row. You will be notified of becoming a developer!
3. Return to the main settings menu and select Additional → For developers.
4. Scroll down and find the call record option (or Auto call recording in English firmware).
5. Activate the switch and select the mode: 🔄 Recording all calls is automatic (risky from the point of view of the law). 📞 Record only outgoing/incoming - selective recording. 🎤 Manual mode – the recording button appears during the call.

Activate Developer Mode (7 taps according to MIUI)

Check for the "Call Record" item in the Developer Menu

Select the recording mode (auto/manual)

Reboot your phone to apply changes-->

On MIUI 14 firmware for the global market, the option may be called "Call recording" and may be located in the "Special features" section of the developer menu.

⚠️ Note: On some devices, after activating the recording through the developer settings, the microphone button does not appear during the call. In this case, try resetting the phone application settings (Settings) → Annexes → Phone. → Warehouse → Drop it).

3. Set up an automatic recording notification

In Russia and most CIS countries, you need to notify the interlocutor before recording a conversation, and MIUI has an automatic notification feature built in, which you need to turn on manually.

How to set up:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Phone → Recording calls.
2. Activate the option to Notify about the record (or Announce call recording).
3. Select the notification language (Russian, English, Chinese available).
4. Set up the alert frequency: 🔊 Every time, before every recording. 🔄 Only at the first call – the notification is only for new contacts.

The default notification text is, "This conversation is being recorded. Continue?" and can be changed by obtaining root rights and editing the system file /system/media/audio/ui/CallRecordingStart.ogg (not recommended without experience!).

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If the notification doesn't sound, check the system's volume in the settings (Settings → Sound → Loudness → System Sounds). Sometimes the option is turned off after the MIUI update.

4 Where records are stored and how to export them

By default, all call records are stored in the phone’s internal memory along the way:

/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/

The files are.amr or.mp3 (newer MIUI) and named by pattern: Recording_20260515_143022_+79123456789.amr, where:

• 20260515 – date (year/month/day)
• 143022 – Time (hours/minutes/seconds)
• +79123456789 - the number of the interlocutor.

To listen to or export the recordings:

1. Open the Phone application → the Records tab (or History → microphone icon).
2. Select the desired file and click Share (arrow icon).
3. Send the record via Telegram, WhatsApp or save it to Google Drive.

⚠️ Warning: Record files are not backed up in Mi Cloud automatically. To avoid losing important conversations, regularly copy them to your PC or cloud manually. call_rec Cleansed when resetting the phone to factory settings!

If there are no records in the specified folder, check:

• 🔍 Files through Explorer (enable the display of hidden folders).
• 📁 Permissions for the Phone application (Settings) → Annexes → Phone. → Permits → Warehouse).
• 🗑️ Are records automatically deleted (record settings can set a storage limit).

5. Third-party applications for recording calls

If the built-in function doesn't work or you don't like the quality of the feature, you can use third-party programs. We tested 5 popular applications, and the best results were:

How to set up Cube ACR (recommended for Xiaomi):

1. Install the application and provide all the permissions requested (microphone, phone, storage).
2. Select in the settings: 📱 Source → Loud communication (for better quality). 🔄 Recording mode → All calls or selected contacts. 📁 Format → MP3 (compatiblely).

Notify the record

Settings → Legal settings

For Android 13/14 models (such as Xiaomi 14 or Redmi Note 13 Pro+), the only reliable way to record without root is to use the built-in MIUI function or buy a phone with global firmware (not MIUI EU).

6. Solving Call Recording Problems

If the recording doesn’t work or only your voice is recorded, try these methods:

• 🔊 Problem: Only your voice is recorded. Solution: Turn on speakerphone while you're talking (the microphone will capture sound from the speaker). Or install Cube ACR with settings Audio source → High-profile communication.
• 📵 Problem: Record button doesn't appear.Solution: Update MIUI until the latest version or reset the settings of the phone application.
• 🚫 Problem: Recording is interrupted through 1-2 Solution: Disable battery optimization for the Phone app (Settings) → Battery → Optimization → All applications → Phone. → No restrictions).
• 📱 Problem: On European ROM Solution: Refuse the phone to the global or Russian version MIUI (instructions on xiaomi.eu).

If nothing helps, check if the function is locked at the operator level, Tele2 or Yota) limit the ability to record calls via VoLTE. Try disabling VoLTE in the settings SIM-map.

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Xiaomi with a Snapdragon processor (e.g., POCO F5) has a more stable call record than MediaTek (Redmi 12C) devices, which is due to the chipset’s driver-level limitations.

7. Legal aspects of call recording

In Russia, recording telephone conversations is regulated by Article 138 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (Violation of the secrecy of correspondence) and FZ-152 "On personal data".

• ✅ Allowed: Record a conversation if you are a participant and notified the interlocutor (orally or through automatic notification).
• ❌ Prohibited: Distribute the recording without the consent of the second participant (for example, post in social networks).
• ⚖️ Exceptions: The record can be used in court as evidence if it concerns your rights (e.g., threats or fraud).

In Europe (GDPR) and the United States, the rules are stricter:

• 🇪🇺 The EU requires the explicit consent of both participants in the conversation (oral notification is not enough).
• 🇺🇸 In the United States, laws vary by state: in some (for example, California) the consent of all participants is required, in others (Texas) the consent of one party is sufficient.

⚠️ Note: If you do business and record customer calls, be sure to include this in the privacy policy of your website / application. Otherwise, you can get a fine from Roskomnadzor (up to 300 thousand rubles for legal entities).

For the legal use of records in the work:

1. Add to the answering machine greeting the phrase: "Conversation can be recorded to improve the quality of service."
2. Keep records for no longer than 6 months (unless there are other reasons for storage).
3. Delete the records at the first request of the client (right to be forgotten under the GDPR).

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording calls to Xiaomi