How to completely disable call recording on Xiaomi Redmi Note 7: all ways

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 with MIUI firmware can automatically record all incoming and outgoing calls by default — a useful feature, but not always convenient. Records take up space in memory, create privacy problems and sometimes work at the most inopportune moment. If you find audio files in the gallery with conversations or notice a recording notification, this article will help you completely turn off the feature without losing other features of the phone.

Depending on MIUI version (10, 11, 12 or 12.5) and regional firmware (global, Chinese, European), the ways to turn off may vary. We will look at all the current methods, including hidden settings that are not obvious at first glance, and we will also discuss how to delete already saved records and why the function can spontaneously turn on after updates.

Why does Redmi Note 7 record calls automatically?

The MIUI conversation recording function is activated for three main reasons:

• 🔹 Regional requirements: In some countries (e.g. India, Indonesia) call recording is enabled by default due to local laws on call fixation.
• 🔹 Update of the firmware: after upgrade to MIUI 12+ The function can be activated automatically, even if it was previously disabled.
• 🔹 Phone app crashes: bugs in a standard call sometimes reset the recording settings to default values.

It is important to understand that the recording is not secretive – during a conversation, a notification appears on the screen, and the interlocutor hears an audible signal (if not disabled in the settings), however, many users only learn about the function when they find files in the folder. MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec.

Method 1: Disconnect via the settings of the “Phone” application

The most obvious and quick method is to use the menu of the standard call app, which is relevant for MIUI 10-12.5:

1. Open the phone application (pipe icon).
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner → select Settings.
3. Go to the "Talk Recording" section (or Call Recording in English).
4. Turn off the Auto-record calls (or Auto-record calls) slider.
5. For reliability, also deactivate the Notify of Record option to avoid accidental activation.

If you don't have a "Talk Record" option on your menu, you're disabled at the firmware level (often found in European versions of MIUI), in which case you'll move to Method 2.

The phone app is open.

Found a section "Recording conversations"

The "Automatic Recording" slider is off

Record notifications disabled-->

⚠️ Note: On some firmware, after disabling the recording in the application settings, the function may be activated again after the reboot. MIUI, which is corrected only by resetting the settings of the Phone application (see Method 3).

Method 2: Removing write rights for system applications

If recording continues even after the settings are turned off, the problem may be the permissions. com.android.incallui (responsible for the call interface) sometimes ignores user settings. To block the recording at the Android level:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner → select “Show Systems”.
3. Find the Phone app (com.android.dialer) or Call Interface (com.android.incallui).
4. Open “Permissions” → find the “Microphone” item and turn it off.
5. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

After that, call recording will become impossible, but call functionality will remain. Less method - some functions (for example, voice dialing) may not work correctly. If it is critical, return the permission and use Method 3.

Method 3: Resetting the settings of the Phone application

If the call recording is turned on by itself after updates or reboots, resetting the standard call app will help, which will delete all user settings (history, favorite contacts, tone settings), but completely deactivates the record:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the phone app and open its page.
3. Click on “Storage” → “Clear Data”.
4. Confirm the action. The app will go back to factory settings.
5. After the reboot, check if the “Recording conversations” item has disappeared from the settings menu.

This method works even on Chinese firmware, where call recording is hard-wired into the system, and the main drawback is that you have to reconfigure your favorite contacts and call parameters.

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Before reset, export your call history through the Contacts app (Settings) → Imports/exports → Exports to SD-map).

Method 4: Disconnect via ADB (for power users)

If none of the previous methods worked, the radical way is to disable the recording via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting the phone to the computer, but is guaranteed to remove the feature at the system level.

Instructions:

1. Turn on USB debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times until you’re a developer) Then go back to Settings → Additional → Developer and activate debugging.
2. Connect the Redmi Note 7 to the PC via USB-Cable (use the original cable for stability).
3. Download ADB Tools and unpack the archive.
4. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB and type:

adb devices

(The name of your device should appear).

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.incallui/.IncCallUI

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.dialer/.DialtactsActivity

These commands disable the system components responsible for recording. To get it back, use:

adb shell pm enable com.android.incallui

adb shell pm enable com.android.dialer

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB If all calls are missing after the commands, reset to factory settings via Settings. → Additionally. → Recovery and discharge.

How to delete the already saved call records?

Even after the recording function is disabled, old audio files can remain in the phone's memory, and they can be found and deleted manually:

1. Open the Files app (or any file manager).
2. Go to the Internal Storage folder → MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec.
3. Select all files (usually.amr or.mp3) and delete them.
4. For a complete cleanup, also check the DCIM →.thumbnails folder – there can be stored thumbnails of records.

If the folder call_rec If it does not appear, turn on the hidden files in the file manager settings. Alternatively, use the *.amr extension search.

Why can the call recording be turned on again?

Redmi Note 7 users often experience call recordings spontaneously activated.

• 🔄 Update MIUI: After installing the new version of the firmware, the settings are reset.
• 📱 Resetting the Phone app: If you cleared the cache or app data, the record may turn on.
• 🛠️ Restore from backup: When you restore through Mi Cloud or local backup, old settings are returned.
• 📡 Shift. SIM-maps: on some firmware, the record is activated when a new one is inserted for the first time SIM.

To prevent re-enactment:

1. After each MIUI update, check your recording settings.
2. Turn off automatic updates of system applications in Settings → Applications → Application Update.
3. Use third-party calling apps (like Google Phone) where there is no built-in record.

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If the record is turned on after each update, install the command blocker through ADB (adb shell cmd appops set com.android.dialer RECORD_AUDIO deny).

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording calls on Redmi Note 7