How to completely disable recording of conversations on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: 4 proven ways

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 smartphones running MIUI offer a built-in feature that can be useful for saving important conversations. However, not all users want their calls recorded automatically — especially when it comes to confidential conversations or complying with personal data protection laws. In some countries, recording calls without the consent of the interlocutor is even prohibited by law, which makes the issue of disabling this feature especially relevant.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to disable recording conversations on the Redmi Note 8 – from standard settings in the Phone app to hidden settings. MIUI You will also learn how to check if the recording is currently being done and what to do if the function continues to work after the shutdown. Particular attention will be paid to the nuances of different versions of the firmware, since the interface may differ depending on the regional build. MIUI.

Why does Redmi Note 8 record conversations automatically?

The default call recording feature is activated in MIUI for a reason, and Xiaomi has positioned it as a useful tool for:

• 📝 Keeping important business information (e.g. customer agreements).
• 🔍 Recording evidence in controversial situations (for example, when communicating with support services).
• 📱 Automatic backup of conversations to the cloud Mi Cloud.

However, automatic recordings create several problems:

1. It takes up space in the device’s memory (especially if the calls are long).
2. They may violate privacy laws in some countries (e.g. EU GDPR).
3. Increase the load on the processor during the conversation.

In addition, MIUI 11-14 can enable recordings to be turned on covertly without notifying the other person, which creates ethical risks, and even if you don't see the recording icon on the screen, the system can save audio in the background.

Method 1: Disable recording through the settings of the application "Phone"

The easiest and safest method is to deactivate the feature directly in the standard call app, which works on all versions of MIUI (10 to 14) and does not require superuser rights (root).

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app (the tube icon on the home screen).
2. Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to the Call Record section (in some firmware it may be called Call Recording or Auto Recording).
4. Turn off the Automatic Recording slider (or Record all calls).
5. For reliability, also deactivate the Notify of Record option, if any.

After this, no new record will be created, but the files already saved will remain in the device’s memory – they must be manually deleted (we will discuss this below).

Opened the application "Phone" | Go to "Settings → Recording conversations" |Slider "Automatic recording" | Checked the absence of a recording icon during the call-->

Method 2: Delete records through Files and clear cache

Even after the feature is disabled in the settings, old records continue to take up space in the memory of the smartphone, and they can be found and deleted through the standard Files app (or any file manager, such as Solid Explorer).

Where to look:

• 📁 folder MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec — record-keeping.
• 📁 folder Recordings/CallRecord — alternative path in some firmware.
• 🔍 Use search by keywords: call_rec,.amr.mp3.

How to delete:

1. Open Files** and go to internal memory.
2. Find the folder with the records (see the paths above).
3. Select all files (long pressing) → «Select All") and press Delete.
4. Clear the cache of the Phone app: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Phone → Storage → Clear the cache.

⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Cloud cloud storage, the records could be synced there automatically. To delete them from there, go to Settings. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Record conversations and clear the data.

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

If standard settings don’t work, you can try deactivating the recording via an engineering menu (MTK Engineer Mode or Qualcomm Service Mode), a method that works for the Redmi Note 8 on a Snapdragon 665 processor, but you need to be careful – wrong actions can disrupt the phone.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code ##4636## (if it doesn't work, try ##36446337###).

⚠️ Attention: The engineering menu has settings that affect the network and sound. Do not change other settings unless you are sure of their purpose! → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings).

Method 4: Complete removal of the recording module (root access)

If you are willing to take drastic measures and have root rights, you can completely remove the system module responsible for recording calls, this method is guaranteed to turn off the function forever, but requires experience with ADB or a file manager with root access (for example, Root Explorer).

What needs to be done:

1. Get root access (for example, through Magisk).
2. Install a file manager with root support (such as Mixplorer).
3. Click on /system/priv-app/CallRecorder/ or (depending on firmware): /system/app/CallRecorder/
4. Remove or rename the CallRecorder folder (for example, in the CallRecorder_bak).
5. Reboot the phone.

After that:

• ✅ The recording function will disappear from the phone menu».
• ✅ The system will stop creating folders with records.
• ❌ There may be errors in the standard application "Phone" (in rare cases).

⚠️ Note: Deleting system files may cause the phone to function unstable or errors when updating the firmware.Before making changes, back up through TWRP Also note that after resetting to factory settings, the recording module can recover.

adb shell pm list packages | grep -i record

If there are other packets in the output (other than com.android.callrecorder), deleting them may disrupt the operation of these applications.-->

How do I verify that the recording is actually disabled?

Even after the function is disabled in the settings, MIUI can continue writing in the background. To make sure everything is working correctly, follow the following steps:

Method 1: Test call

1. Call another phone (or use a second phone) SIM-map).
2. During the conversation, check the top notification bar – there should not be a microphone icon or the inscription “Recording is underway”.
3. After the call is complete, check the folders. /MIUI/sound_recorder/ and /Recordings/ — No new files should be allowed.

Method 2: Checking through Task Manager

• During the call, open Task Manager (swipe up with retention) → badge «📊»).
• Check if there is a com.android.callrecorder or CallRecorderService active process list.

Method 3: Monitoring battery consumption

• Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Use.
• Find the Phone app – if it’s recording, it will consume significantly more energy during calls (more than 10-15% per conversation).

1. The phone has a third-party recording app installed (check in Settings → Apps).

2. the firmware is modified (for example, custom assembly MIUI with forced recording).

3. Virus software simulates recording (scan your phone through Malwarebytes or Dr.Web).-->

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after you turn off the record, Redmi Note 8 users may face unexpected challenges, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

If none of these methods worked, there are two options:

1. Reflash your phone to a clean version of MIUI (e.g., via the Mi Flash Tool).
2. Use an alternative call app (such as Google Phone) that doesn’t have a built-in record.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions