Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 smartphones have been popular for many years due to their excellent price-performance ratio. However, the MIUI software shell is famous for its functionality, which can sometimes be redundant or cause questions for users accustomed to “pure” Android. One of these features is automatic phone recording, which is activated by default or activated by the user to control incoming information.
The need to disable this feature can occur for various reasons: lack of internal memory, desire to increase privacy or just annoyance from constant notifications about the start of recording. It is important to understand that the deactivation process can vary significantly depending on the version of the operating system installed and the type of phone application used.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible scenarios for setting up telephony on your device, you will learn how to manage the settings in the standard MIUI application, as well as what to do if your smartphone switched to a standard typer from Google.
Features of telephony in MIUI on Redmi Note 5
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 (also known as Redmi Note 5 Pro in the global version) came out at a time when the company was actively implementing its own development in standard Android applications. Earlier versions of the MIUI firmware used its own number dialer, which is deeply integrated into the system, and this is where most of the settings for audio recording calls are located.
Later, under pressure from Google and licensing agreements, many models, including the Redmi Note 5, began to receive updates to replace the standard app with Google Phone, which dramatically changes the way you manage call features. If you have a global firmware version with the latest security updates, chances are that the interface will be different from the Chinese version or older builds.
Before you make any changes, you need to determine which app is responsible for the calls, and then you have to decide which way to go, and visually, the apps differ in the icon and the settings menu, and in one case, you'll see the MIUI logo, in the other, the Google color logo.
⚠️ Note: Before making changes to system settings, it is recommended to back up important contacts, although disabling the record should not affect the phone book.
Understanding your firmware architecture is key to success. If you have refurbished the device yourself or bought it with your hands, the configuration may be customized. In some cases, users install third-party launchers or modified versions of MIUI, where menus can be hidden or moved.
Disabling recording in the standard MIUI application
If your Redmi Note 5 uses a standard call interface from Xiaomi, the setup process is simple and logical. All the necessary switches are publicly available, and they do not require superuser rights to change them.
To start, open the Phone app (green handset). In the upper right corner of the screen, you'll see a three-dot icon or a gear that represents a menu. When you click on it, select Settings, and that's where all the parameters of incoming and outgoing calls are concentrated.
In the list that opens, find a section called Call Recording, and inside you'll find some important options, the first of which is Auto Recording. If that switch is active, the smartphone will save every conversation without you knowing it, and turn it off so that it's only recorded on demand or not recorded at all.
Next, you should look at the rule, which is where you can configure exceptions, like leaving a record for certain contacts only, or disallowing it for selected numbers, which is a useful feature for those who want to selectively control communication.
- 📱 Automatic recording: The master switch that triggers the process of saving audio at each connection.
- 🎙️ Incoming recording: an option that allows you to record only incoming calls, ignoring outgoing calls.
- 🔇 Hide Notification: A feature that removes a recording reminder during a conversation (not available in all regions).
Also in this menu is often the option "Save records on the SD-If you disable the record to save space, make sure that the files do not take up precious internal memory space.
Settings in the Google Phone app
Global Redmi Note 5 users often experience Google Phone, which has stricter restrictions imposed by Google’s security policies, especially regarding recording conversations, and in some regions (e.g., the European Union or India), the recording feature can be completely cut out of the app’s code.
If the feature is available, the way to disable it is to run the Phone app (blue handset with or without the G logo), click three dots in the corner and select Settings. Find the Call Record section. Here the logic is similar to MIUI, but the interface can be more minimalistic.
The important difference is that Google Phone can force the recording for all calls if required by your country’s law, or, conversely, block this feature.If you don’t see the “Record Calls” option in the settings, then your version of the application or region does not support this feature software.
Why did the recording disappear after the update?
Often after updating MIUI or the Google Phone app itself, functions may be blocked at the server level, due to a change in Google's privacy policy, in which cases it is impossible to return the function without installing modified versions of the applications (which is not secure.> For those who use Google Assistant in conjunction with telephony, it is worth checking its settings. Sometimes automation through the Assistant can intercept control of the voice recorder. 🌍 Regional restrictions: the feature may not be available depending on the country of the SIM card. 🔄 Previous articleApp Version: Older versions of Google Phone may have a different menu interface. 🔒 Security Policy: Google is Actively Fighting Hidden Recording by Implementing Voice Notifications. It is worth noting that Google Phone often has a warning sound that both people hear when recording, and it is almost impossible to remove it without modifying the system, as this is a requirement of many countries. Storage and recording file management Even if you turned off automatic recording, the device could still have previously created files that take up space and can be private. MI File Manager or any other file manager. Usually records are stored along the way: Internal memory → MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec. In some versions of the firmware, the path may be different: Internal memory → Recordings → Call_rec. Knowing the exact location, you can quickly clear the space. File Type Extension Where to find Can I delete the audio recording of the call.mp3 /.m4a MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec Yes, secure System Log.log MIUI/debug_log Yes, unless you're debugging a voice message.amr MIUI/sound_recorder/voice_recorder Yes, unless you need a temporary buffer.tmp. System/temp Yes, once you reboot, you can use the built-in Cleanup tool in the Security app to help you clean up quickly. Select the Audio or Big Files category and the system will prompt you to delete old conversation records. This will help free up a few gigabytes if the recording has been active for a long time. ⚠️ Warning: When cleaning through system tools, carefully check the contents so you don’t accidentally delete important voice notes or music that may lie in adjacent folders. If you plan to transfer the archive to your computer, it is most convenient to do it through the computer. USB-cable (MTP). Just copy the folder. call_rec PC hard drive for long-term storage. Third-party recording applications and their impact Often users install applications from Google Play Market or third-party sources to extend the recording functionality - ACR, Automatic Call Recorder or TapeACall, can work regardless of Xiaomi's system settings. If you've disabled system recording but files keep popping up, check the list of installed applications. Go to Settings. → Annexes → All applications and find suspicious programs. With Android 10 and higher (which is available on the Redmi Note 5), Google has significantly limited the ability of third-party audio recording apps, many of which now require complex access manipulations (accessibility) or work only in hands-free mode. 🛑 Application conflict: having two voice recorders can cause crashes and call freeze. 🔐 Permissions: Check who is given access to the microphone in the privacy section. 📉 Battery impact: background recording significantly speeds up battery life. To completely remove the recording functions, you need not only to disable the settings, but also completely remove the third-party application. Simply close it is not enough, since it can start automatically when the system starts. 💡Before you delete the Dictator app, open its settings and find the “Delete all records” or “Clear data” option to avoid losing important files if they were there. Problems with notifications and soundtracking One of the common problems is the audio notification of the beginning of the recording, which is heard by the interlocutors. MIUI And Google Phone, you can't remove that sound by standard methods, which is a requirement of privacy law (CN ROM) If you are annoyed by a visual notification on the screen during a conversation (“Record on”), you can try to hide it. In the settings of the Phone application, find “Incoming Calls” or “Call Screen” There may be an option “Show floating recording window». In some cases, disabling notifications for the Dictator or Call Record application itself helps. Go to Settings → Notifications and status bar → Manage notifications, find the recording app and turn off the display on the lock screen and in the curtain. 💡Complete concealment of the fact of recording is possible only at the firmware level (Chinese versions). MIUI), In global versions, the sound warning is a mandatory element of the system, and it's worth mentioning the vibration, and some users confuse the vibration when recording with the vibration when calling. Make sure that the sound profiles do not include excessive tactile recoil that may accompany the start of the file recording. FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions: Can I recover a deleted recording of a conversation on Redmi Note 5? Restoration is possible only if the file has not been overwritten with new data. You can try using software to recover data from a PC (for example, DiskDigger or Dr.Fone), connecting the phone in debugging mode. USB. However, there is no guarantee of success, especially if it has been a long time since the deletion. MIUI Xiaomi, following Google's policy, can block the record feature in global updates, and if the menu item itself is missing, it is cut out of the application code for your region. The solution could be to set India or Singapore in your phone's settings, or use third-party root apps, where records are stored if inserted. SD-By default, records are often stored in internal memory. SD-card, you need to specify the way of saving in the settings of the application "Phone" or "Dictophon" explicitly. If the path hasn’t changed, look for files in the internal memory in the folder. MIUI/sound_recorder. Does recording conversations affect smartphone speed? On current processors, including Snapdragon 636 Redmi Note 5, However, if the memory is almost full, the process of encrypting and writing an audio file can cause micro-latency in the interface or slow down during a call. How to record a conversation if the function is disabled by the system? If a software record is not available, the only legal way is to turn on the speakerphone and record to another device (dictophone, other phone). ADB root-right.