Owners of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro often face the need to save important conversations for later analysis or as evidence. However, the standard shell MIUI, especially in global versions of firmware, has a number of limitations associated with Google’s privacy policies. This makes the process of setting up not always obvious to the average user who expects a simple “Write” button on the call screen. Understanding the technical details of the audio subsystem in Android 10 and above is key to solving this problem.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods for activating the recording function on your device. We will consider the regular features of the system that can be hidden depending on the region, and also discuss third-party solutions. It is important to understand that methods can vary depending on the version of the operating system installed and the type of Mi Account.
Before we get to specifics, it’s worth noting that the call functionality in Redmi Note 9 Pro is based on two main components: Google’s Phone system app or MIUI. This is what the set of options available depends on. In some cases, the user will need to change the region of the device or use special engineer codes to activate hidden capabilities. Below are proven ways to help you set up automatic or manual recording.
Check the built-in function in the Phone application
The first step should always be to check for native functionality in your particular firmware instance. Xiaomi supplies devices with different versions of the call app in different regions. In some cases, for example, when choosing India or Russia in older versions of MIUI, the recording function is built-in by default and does not require complex manipulation.
Open the Phone app and click on the gear icon or three dots in the corner of the screen to enter the Settings menu. Look for a item called Call Record or Auto Record. If you have one, you're lucky that the system allows you to record with the full-time software without losing sound quality, in which case you can set up an automatic record of all incoming and outgoing calls or only selected contacts.
⚠️ Note: If there is no record in the Phone app setting, it means that your firmware version or usage region is blocking this feature at the code level due to privacy laws.
When the standard path has failed, don't despair. There are several workarounds, including changing the region in your settings. Go to Settings on your smartphone, select Additional and then Region. Try changing your current location to India, Indonesia or Serbia. After changing the region, restart your device and check your call settings again. Often this action will unlock hidden features.
It’s also worth noting that in the new versions of MIUI 12.5 and MIUI 13, Google is actively implementing its own standards that can force a voice message to alert someone to start recording, which is a requirement of the Android operating system, not a whim of the manufacturer, and if you see such a warning, it’s almost impossible to disable it with regular means without deep modifications.
Change of region and hidden settings MIUI
The method of changing the region is one of the safest and most effective ways to activate a recording without installing third-party software. The logic is simple: different countries have different laws on recording conversations. In some jurisdictions, this is allowed with a notification, in others it is prohibited completely. Xiaomi adapts the software to local laws, hiding or opening the corresponding functions.
To implement this method, perform the following sequence of actions:
- 📍 Open the settings for your Redmi Note 9 Pro.
- 🌏 Go to the section Additional and select Region.
- 🇮🇳 In the list of countries, select India, Indonesia or Pakistan".
- 📞 Go to the Phone application, click on the settings and check the appearance of the item "Recording calls".
If you have a feature after changing the region, you can configure it flexibly. The recording menu usually has the option "Write Automatically" and "Write Selected Numbers" options. This saves space on the drive without saving conversations with advertising services. You can also choose the recording format from this menu: MP3 or AMR. MP3 format provides better sound quality, but takes up more space.
This can change the set of pre-installed apps, Mi news feed and available services in the GetApps store. So once you turn on the record, you can return the region back, but in some cases the recording function can disappear. Experimentally, it was found that on the Redmi Note 9 Pro, the function often remains active even after the region return, if it was activated through an engineering menu or specific settings.
Use of third-party applications for recording
When standard methods don’t work or require inconvenient manipulation of regions, applications from third-party developers come to the rescue. However, in modern versions of Android (10, 11, 12 and above), Google drastically limited the access of applications to the microphone at time, which means that many popular recorders can only record your voice, and the interlocutor will not be heard, or recording will be conducted through a speaker with low quality.
However, there are applications that have learned to circumvent these restrictions using Accessibility Services. One of the most reliable solutions is Cube ACR. This application requires careful setting of access rights. Once installed, it will ask for permission to access the microphone, phone and, most importantly, to run the service "Cube ACR App Connector" in the special settings.
| Annex | Type of record | Paid version | Compatible with Android 11+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cube ACR | Through VoIP and the network | Got it (Premium) | High (with adjustment) |
| Call Recorder - SKVALEX | System (Root) | Paid | Demands a Root. |
| TapeACall | Conference liaison | Subscription | Works everywhere. |
| Blackbox Call Recorder | Systems/API | There is. | Medium |
Another method used by some applications is to create a conferencing, where the app automatically adds a third party to the conversation (a dedicated server) that records, and the downside is that it can be paid and requires a stable Internet connection, and the other person can hear the characteristic horn of the third subscriber's connection.
For users of Redmi Note 9 Pro also a pressing issue of recording quality. Third-party applications often record sound through the microphone, so it is recommended during a conversation not to close the palm of the lower part of the smartphone, where the main microphone is located. In the settings of the recorder application, select the sound source "Microphone" or "Voice Call", if available, to maximize the intelligibility of speech.
Engineering menu and sound coding
For advanced users, you can access the Xiaomi Engineering Menu to check the status of the audio subsystem, but you should be warned that changing the settings in the engineering menu without clear understanding can lead to incorrect operation of the communication module.
Testing can check the microphone and speaker, and if you're not recording, it could be a hardware conflict or driver failure, Phone information can see the current state of the network, and while you can't directly turn on the engineering menu in global firmware, it's a useful diagnostic tool.
There is also a method of activating the recording through ADB (Android Debug Bridge, but it requires a computer connection. ADB You can try to change the global settings of the system by forcely turning on record flags. The command can look like this (relevance depends on the version). MIUI):
adb shell settings put global call_recording_enabled 1⚠️ Attention: Use ADB-The commands require the activated debugging mode on USB. Inexperienced users are better off refraining from this method, as a syntax error can cause a device to reboot cyclically.
If you decide to use the ADB method, make sure that the computer has Xiaomi drivers and Android SDK Platform Tools installed. Once you enter the command, you need to restart the smartphone. In some cases, this action will "unlock" the hidden switch in the system, which will then become available in the normal menu of the call settings.
File management and record storage
Once you have set up a record, it is important to know where files are saved and how to manage them. On the default Redmi Note 9 Pro, the records are usually stored in internal memory. The path to files may vary depending on the writing method used (state or third-party).
For a MIUI staff record, the path most often looks like this:
- 📂 Internal storage → MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec
- 📂 Or the internal drive. → Sounds → call_rec
If you use a third-party app like Cube ACR, the files will be in the app name folder, usually in the root of internal memory or in the Android/data folder. Access to the Android/data folder in new versions of Android is limited, so you may need an extended file manager like Total Commander or FX File Explorer to view files.
It is recommended to periodically check the folder with records, as they can take up a significant amount of memory. Automatic recording of all conversations quickly fills the storage. In the settings of the recorder or recorder application, you can set a limit: store records for the last 30 days or delete the oldest files if space is not enough.
Frequent problems and their solution
Despite the right setup, users may face problems, the most common being the lack of audio in the recording, which often happens when using third-party Android 11+ apps. The solution may be to turn on the speakerphone during the conversation, allowing the microphone to capture the voice of the interlocutor through the speaker, although the quality will be lower.
Another problem is automatic recording termination. MIUI aggressively optimizes background processes. To prevent this, you need to go to the battery settings, find the recorder application and select the "No Limits" mode. It is also worth fixing the application in the list of running processes (swipe down the multitasking menu and press the locks).
Also worth mentioning legal aspects: in some countries, recording a conversation without warning the interlocutor may be illegal; use the recording function responsibly and only for personal or official purposes, where this does not contradict the laws of your country. In Russia, recording a conversation by a participant for personal purposes is usually allowed, but publishing or transferring to third parties without consent may violate the law on personal data.