How to completely disable recording of conversations on Xiaomi Redmi 8: 5 proven ways

Xiaomi Redmi 8 is one of the most popular budget smartphones with a branded MIUI shell, which offers a lot of useful features, including automatic recording of telephone conversations. For some users, this is convenient, but many face problems: accidental saving of personal conversations, memory overflows or even legal risks (in some countries, recording without the consent of the interlocutor is prohibited by law).

In this article, we will look at all the possible ways to disable the recording of calls on Redmi 8, from standard settings to hidden settings and radical methods. We will focus on the nuances of different versions of MIUI (10 to 14), because the interface and location of options may differ. If you want to not just hide the recordings, but completely stop creating them, read on.

Why Xiaomi Redmi 8 is automatically recording conversations?

The MIUI call recording function is activated by default in some regions (e.g. India or China) or when using certain firmware.

• 📱 Version. MIUI: In firmware for the Asian market (MIUI Global or MIUI China) entry is often included "out of the box".
• 🔄 System Updates: After Update to Update MIUI 12+ The function can be activated automatically.
• 📲 Third-party apps: Some dialers (like Google Phone or Truecaller) have their own recording settings.
• ☁️ Cloud Services: If you sync your data with Mi Cloud, records can be stored in the cloud.

It's important to understand that not only are incoming calls recorded, but they're also recorded for outgoing calls, and files are stored in.amr or.mp3 formats, and they take 1 to 5 MB per minute of conversation, and when you're using your phone, this can lead to a quick filling of internal memory.

Method 1: Disconnect via standard MIUI settings

The easiest way is to use the built-in options, but depending on the version of MIUI, the path to settings may differ.

For MIUI 10–11 (Android 9–10)

1. Open the Phone (Dialer) application.

2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings.

3. Go to the Recording of conversations section.

4. Turn off the slider Automatic Recording.

5. Delete existing records through Records Management → Delete everything.

For MIUI 12–14 (Android 11–13)

In the new versions, the path has changed:

1. Launch the phone. → ⋮ → Settings.
2. Select Additional → Recording calls.
3. Turn off the option to record automatically.
4. In the Warehouse section, click Clean to delete old files.

If you don't have a Call Record on the menu, your firmware doesn't support this feature at the MIUI level (it's possible that it's recorded through third-party software).

Make sure you have the original MIUI firmware.

Check the Android version in Settings → About the phone

Close all background apps (especially Truecaller)

Backup important records (if needed)-->

Method 2: Removing permissions for the Phone application

If the standard shutdown didn't work, the problem could be the permissions, the system keeps writing even if the option is turned off in the settings, to fix it:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.

2.Look for the Phone app (or Dialer) and select it.

3. Press Permissions → Microphone.

4. Choose to Prohibit or Ask each time.

This method blocks access to the microphone during calls, but can cause voice commands to crash (e.g., for Google Assistant).

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (MIUI China) when the microphone is banned, the voice dialing stops working, in which case return the permission and use Method 3.

Method 3: Disconnect via the engineering menu (for power users)

If the call is recorded at the system level (e.g., due to modified firmware), it can be disabled via the engineering menu.

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination:

##4636##

2. In the menu that opens, select Phone Information.

3. Scroll down to the Call Recording (or Call Recording) section.

4. disable all sliders associated with recording (Auto Record, Save to SD, etc.).

Warning: Unknown settings in the engineering menu can disrupt your phone. Do not change other settings unless you are sure of their purpose.

Method 4: Delete system records (root access)

If you're ready for radical measures and you have root rights, you can delete the system files responsible for recording, which is suitable for users with custom firmware or those who are not afraid to lose their warranty.

1. Install a file manager with root support (e.g., Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).

2.Cross the path:

/system/priv-app/CallRecorder/

3. Delete the CallRecorder.apk and CallRecorder.odex files (if any).

4. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Attention: Deleting system files without backup can lead to bootloop (cyclical reboot). TWRP Or Mi Flash Tool.

Method 5: Using third-party applications to block

If the system methods didn't work, you can use third-party utilities, which don't delete the recording function, but block it from working:

• 🛡️ App Ops – allows you to disable individual permissions for the Phone application (including recording).
• 🔧 Shizuku + ADB — Advanced tool for managing permissions without root.
• 📵 Greenify – Freezes background dialer activity, preventing recording.

Example of settings via App Ops:

1. Download App Ops from Google Play.
2. Find the phone app in the list.
3. Turn off the permission. RECORD_AUDIO.
4. Reset the device.

Once disabled via App Ops, recording calls will stop, but there may be problems with voice control (for example, in Google Maps or Assistant).

💡

If the audio is lost in the dialer after the recording is turned off, check the Sound and Vibration settings → Call Mode. Audio routing parameters may have been lost.

What to do if the records are still stored?

If none of these methods worked, the problem may be:

• 🔄 Firmware from a third-party developer (e.g. xiaomi.eu or PixelExperience) in which case the record can be sewn into the core of the system.
• ☁️ Cloud Sync – Check the Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud and disable call backup.
• 📲 Viruses or spyware. Scan your phone through Malwarebytes or Dr.Web.

The last measure is reset to factory settings:

1. Create a backup copy of the data.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase all data.
4. After the reboot, set the phone up as new (do not recover data from the backup as the problem may come back).

💡

If the call is recorded even after the reset, it means that the feature is sewn into the firmware, the solution is to reflash the phone to another version of MIUI (for example, global instead of Chinese).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi 8 call recording