How to completely disable the recording of conversations on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9: hidden settings and nuances of MIUI

Owners of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 often face an unexpected feature — automatic saving of audio recordings of phone conversations. This option, built into the MIUI firmware, can work in the background without explicitly notifying the user, the problem is exacerbated by the fact that the recordings occupy the device’s memory, and their accidental distribution creates privacy risks.

In this article, we will look at all the possible ways to disable the recording of calls on the Redmi Note 9, from the obvious settings in the phone menu to the hidden settings available through the engineering menu. We will pay special attention to the nuances of different versions of MIUI (12, 13, 14), as the location of options may vary, and you will learn how to completely delete all previously saved records and prevent them from recovering after resetting.

If you notice that conversations persist without your knowledge, don't panic. 90 percent of the time, the problem is solved in 2-3 minutes through standard settings, but there are more complex scenarios, like when the recording is activated at the firmware level or by third-party applications, and we covered them all.

Why does Redmi Note 9 record conversations without permission?

Xiaomi’s call recording feature was originally intended as a useful tool for business users or those who want to keep important conversations alive, but in some regions (especially China and India), it is activated by default due to local storage requirements.

• 📱 Version. MIUI: In the firmware MIUI 12-14 for Redmi Note 9, recording can be enabled in the background through the Phone Services system app.
• 🌍 Regional settings: On devices purchased in Asia, the feature is often activated by default to comply with local laws.
• 🔄 Updates: After Updating to a New Version MIUI settings can be reset and the recording is enabled automatically.
• 🛠️ Third-party applications: Some programs (such as Truecaller or Call Recorder) have their own recording modules.

Interesting fact: Xiaomi added a GDPR-compliant call recording notice to MIUI 14, but on the Redmi Note 9 (released in 2020), this doesn’t always work.

Method 1: Disconnect via standard phone settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in MIUI options. It works on most Redmi Note 9 devices with MIUI 12-14 firmware.

1. Open the Phone app (the tube icon on the home screen).
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to the Call Record section (in some versions, Call Record).
4. Turn off the Automatic Recording Switch.
5. Make sure that there are no active rules in the list below (e.g., Write down all incoming or blacklist contacts).

If the Call Record section is missing, then the function is disabled at the firmware level or hidden. In this case, move to Method 2.

Application opens"|Found a section "Recording of conversations"|Automatic recording switch disabled|Rules for individual contacts are checked|Reboot the phone to apply changes-->

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI 13 for Redmi Note 9 Pro (model) M2003J6A1G) The recording partition may be called Call Recorder and be in Additional settings → System applications. If you can't find them, search by settings (the magnifier icon at the top).

Method 2: Removal of permission for the Phone application

If the standard shutdown didn't work, the problem could be the microphone permission. The Phone system app (or com.android.dialer) sometimes ignores the settings and keeps writing to fix it.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Phone (or Phone Services) app and open its settings.
3. Select Permissions → Microphone.
4. Set the value to Disable or only during the use of the application.

Then restart the device. Please note that stopping the microphone can turn off not only recording, but also some voice dialing features. If you need voice activation, select Only while in use.

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If the voice commands in Google Assistant stop working after the microphone is banned, return the permission and use Method 3 (disable via ADB).

Method 3: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)

If previous methods failed, the recording can be activated at the system services level, in which case disabling via Android Debug Bridge (ADB) will help. This method requires a connection to a computer, but it is guaranteed to work on all versions of MIUI for the Redmi Note 9.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB Tools.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then return to the Additional Settings → For developers).

Instructions:

1. Connect the Redmi Note 9 to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
4. Execute the command to disable the record: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.incallui/.IncallActivity If it doesn’t work, try adb shell settings put global. call_recording_enabled 0
5. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB This can cause the phone to malfunction if entered incorrectly. --user 0 for system applications not specified in this instruction, this may cause a failure MIUI.

Method 4: Delete recorded conversations and clean up memory

Even after the recording function is disabled, old files can remain in the device's memory, and they need to be manually deleted, as they take up space and can be restored through special programs.

• 📁 folder MIUI: Go to the Files. → Internal storage → MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec. Delete all files with the.amr extension or.mp3.
• 🔍 Search by system: In the application Files enter in the search query call_rec Record or Record – This will help you find hidden records.
• 🗑️ Recycle Bin: After deleting, check the Recycle Bin folder in the Files app and clean it up.

You can use the SD Maid app (available on Google Play) to clean it completely:

1. Install and open the SD Maid.
2. Select CorpseFinder (CorpseFinder).
3. Click Scan and wait until it is completed.
4. In the results, find files with names call_* or rec_* and remove them.

adb shell pm clear com.android.dialer

This will reset the phone app settings, but will not delete important data (e.g., call log).-->

Method 5: Verification of Third-Party Applications

If the recording of conversations continues despite the shutdown of all system settings, the culprit may be a third-party application.

• 📞 Truecaller – has a built-in recording module.
• 🎤 Call Recorder (from Boldbeast or other developers).
• 🔒 Monitoring apps (such as Kids Place or Family Link).
• 📊 CRM-systems (if the telephone is used for work).

How to find and disable:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Sort the list by Permissions and find apps with access to the Microphone and Call Log.
3. Open the suspicious app and check the Conversation Record section in its settings.
4. Turn off the record or remove the app completely.

Example: In Truecaller, the record is turned off as follows: Open Truecaller → Settings (⚙️) → Recording calls → Turn off the switch.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. Boldbeast Call Recorder) may mask their activity as system processes. → Annexes → Launched and suspend suspicious.

What do you do if nothing helps?

If you’ve tried all the ways, but the Redmi Note 9 still records conversations, the reasons may be as follows:

If you suspect a virus, follow the following steps:

1. Install Malwarebytes from Google Play.
2. Run a full scan.
3. Delete any threats you find.
4. Go to Settings → Memory → Clean up and perform a deep cleanup.
5. If the problem remains, reset to factory settings (Settings → About phone → Reset settings).

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Before resetting, save important data (contacts, photos, SMS) using Mi Cloud or Google Account. After reset, do not restore backups of applications - this can return the virus.

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording conversations on Redmi Note 9