Xiaomi Redmi 7 is one of the brand’s most popular devices, but owners often face an unexpected feature: automatic saving of audio recordings of conversations, an option that can be useful for business negotiations or important calls, but most often users do not even know about its existence — until they find gigabytes of unnecessary files in the phone’s memory.
In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can disable Redmi 7 call recording, including hidden MIUI settings, deleting old files, and checking for third-party apps that may duplicate the feature. We’ll focus on the nuances of firmware and why standard methods sometimes don’t work. If you want to get rid of unwanted audio files forever, read on.
Why Redmi 7 is recording conversations without your knowledge
The MIUI call recording feature is activated by default on many Xiaomi models, including the Redmi 7.
- 📱 Regional firmware settings: In some countries (e.g. India, China), recording conversations is considered a standard option for user security.
- 🔄 Updates MIUI. After the system update, the function can turn on itself, even if you previously disabled it.
- 🤖 Third-party apps. Messengers like Truecaller or Google Phone have their own recording modules.
- 📡 Telecom operator: Some mobile operators are integrating recording services into SIM-card (for example, for business rates).
The most insidious feature – records are saved in a hidden folder /MIUI/sound_recorder/calls/, These files take up space on the internal drive and can cause personal data to be leaked when the phone is transferred to third parties.
⚠️ In Russia and EU countries, recording conversations without the consent of the interlocutor may be considered a violation of the law on personal data (FZ).-152 RF, GDPR Before using the function, please specify the legal regulations of your region.
Method 1: Disconnect via standard MIUI settings
The most obvious method is to deactivate the entry in the phone's menu, but on Redmi 7, the path to this option depends on the MIUI version and regional firmware.
- Open the phone application (pipe icon).
- Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → select Settings.
- Scroll down to the Recording of Conversations section (or Call Recording in English).
- Switch the slider to the Off position for all types of calls (incoming/outgoing).
- Save the changes and restart the phone.
If you don't have a Record Conversations item on the menu, your firmware is hiding it, so go to Method 2.
Application opens"|Found the section "Settings"|"Talk recording" item deactivated|Phone rebooted-->
⚠️ Attention: On firmware MIUI 10 And below, the recording option can be called Auto Record and can be in the Additional section. MIUI 12+, the way will change - see the table below. MIUI The path to recording settings Notes MIUI 9-10 Phone. → Settings → Additionally. → Auto Recording May Require Superuser Rights MIUI 11 Phone. → Settings → Recording conversations Option is visible only when active SIM-map MIUI 12-14 Phone. → ⚙️ → Recording calls → The management may not be on European firmware 2: If the standard path didn't work, you'd have to use an engineering menu, which is suitable for firmware where the write option is hidden by the operator or region. Incorrect actions in the engineering menu can disrupt the phone! Instructions: Open the Phone app and type in the combination: ##4636## Select Phone Information (or Phone Information) section. Scroll down to Turn off automatic call recording. Click on the option and confirm disconnect. If the combination ##4636## doesn’t work, try the alternative code for Xiaomi: ##36446337## It opens the menu CIT (Factory Test, where you can deactivate a recording in the Audio section. What if the engineering menu doesn't open? If none of the codes work, your firmware has blocked access. In this case, there are two options: 1. Install custom Recovery (TWRP) And manually edit system files (requires root rights). 2. Reset your phone to factory settings will delete all records, but all data will also. Method 3: Finding and Deleting Hidden Records in Phone Memory Even After Disabling the Feature, Old Records Remain in Redmi Memory 7. You have to find them and remove them manually. USB (Open internal memory and navigate the path: /MIUI/sound_recorder/calls/ Or alternative: /sdcard/Recordings/Call/ Delete all files with the.amr extension or.mp3. If you don't have any folders, check the other locations: 📁 /storage/emulated/0/CallRecords/ — Google Phone firmware. 📁 /Android/data/com.android.providers.media/ — system-recording. 📁 /DCIM/.thumbnails/ — Sometimes the recordings are disguised as miniatures. 💡To find all audio files quickly, use a searchable file manager (like Solid Explorer). Type in the search bar the.amr extension, which is the default call record format in the default file manager. MIUI. Method 4: Checking third-party applications that record calls Often the recording is not by the system, but by installed programs. Most common culprits: How to disable the recording Where Truecaller files are stored Settings → Recording calls → Off. /Truecaller/Recordings/ Google Phone Settings → Call history → Recording. → Never. /Android/data/com.google.android.dialer/ Cube Call Recorder Menu → Recording settings → Shut down. /CubeBackups/ MIUI Security Security → Privacy → Recording. → Otknock. /MIUI/backup/CallRecords/ To check all installed programs: Open Settings → Annexes → App management. Sort the list by Permissions. Find apps that have Microphone and Call Log access. Disable permissions or uninstall suspicious programs. Standard call. MIUI|Truecaller|Google Phone|Cube Call Recorder|Other/don't know/--> Method 5: Factory reset (extreme) If none of the methods worked, you'll have to reset your phone completely. This will delete all the data, including the records, but return the phone to its original state.|Photos/videos copied on PC|Account passwords recorded|Remote. SIM-map SD-map--> Resetting Instructions: Go to Settings → The phone. → Reset. Choose Delete all data. Enter the password from your Mi Account (if attached). Confirm the action and wait for the reboot. ⚠️ Warning: After reset, the phone will require re-authorization in Mi Account. If you forget your password, restore it in advance on account.xiaomi.com, otherwise you risk blocking the device! How to prevent the recording from being turned on again To prevent the function from being activated again, follow these tips: 🔒 Turn off automatic updates MIUI In Settings → The phone. → System update. Some updates return the record by default. 🛡️ Install an alternative call app (such as Simple Dialer) that doesn’t have a recording module. 📵 Check the permissions of new applications when you install them. Denie access to the microphone and call log unless it is critical to the program. 🔍 Regularly scan your memory for folders with records (once a month). 💡The most reliable protection is the combination of turning off the record in the settings + purification" + Even after that, check your phone after every major update. MIUI! FAQ: Frequent questions about recording conversations on Redmi 7 Can I recover accidentally deleted call records? Yes, but only if you didn't overwrite the memory after deleting. Use programs like DiskDigger or Recuva (on PC). MIUI It's also a good Mi utility. PC Suite in Restore Mode: Why the Recording Enables itself After Updating MIUI? This is a feature of regional firmware. Xiaomi resets some settings to default when you update. To avoid this, make a backup of settings through Settings before you update. → Additionally. → Backup and restore it after installing the new version. Is it legal to use recordings of conversations in court? In Russia, records can only be used as evidence if both parties were notified of the recording in advance (Article 9 of the Federal Law "On Personal Data"). The EU has even stricter rules (GDPR). For business conversations, it is better to use specialized services with the consent of the interlocutors. How to know if a call is being recorded? When you record in Redmi 7, a microphone icon usually appears in the status bar (at the top of the screen). You can also hear a slight background noise or echo, which is a sign of audio capture. In some firmware, the speaker flashes a flash during recording. Can you turn off the recording only for specific contacts? Yes, but only on alternative calls (such as Cube Call Recorder). In the standard annex MIUI There is no such option, just a global shutdown. To get around this, create a separate profile in Settings. → Sound and vibration → Modes and set exceptions manually.