How to permanently disable the recording of calls on Xiaomi Redmi 7A: hidden settings and life hacks

Xiaomi Redmi 7A is one of the most popular budget smartphones with a proprietary shell MIUI, which is known for its “hidden” features. One of them is automatic recording of phone conversations, which can turn on itself after updating or resetting. If you find that all your calls are saved without knowledge, and in the memory of the phone accumulated gigabytes of unnecessary audio files, this article will help you figure out how to completely disable call recording and delete old files.

Compounding the problem, different versions of MIUI (9, 10, 11, 12) may have different paths to write settings, and some menu items are hidden from the user. We tested all the current ways on Redmi 7A with MIUI 10.2–MIUI 12.5 firmware and put together working solutions, from standard settings to editing system files (for advanced users), and we will also analyze why the record can be turned on again and how to avoid it.

Why does Redmi 7A record calls without permission?

In Xiaomi Redmi 7A, call recording is activated for several reasons:

• 🔄 Update MIUI: After installing the new firmware version, some settings are reset to the “default” values, including recording calls.
• 📱 Transfer data from another Xiaomi smartphone via Mi Mover – together with contacts can migrate and settings of the application “Phone».
• 🛠️ Factory reset: in some regional firmwares, the record is enabled by default.
• 📊 Battery optimization: the system can activate the recording for "communication quality analysis" (found in Chinese versions) MIUI).

It is important to understand that not only is the built-in Phone app recorded, but third-party messengers (such as Truecaller or Google Phone) are also recorded if installed, and the files are stored in different folders, making it difficult to find and delete them.

⚠️ Note: in some countries (e.g. the EU), recording conversations without the consent of the interlocutor violates privacy laws.

Method 1: Disabling recording in the standard "Phone" application

The easiest method is to deactivate the function in the settings of the call app, but depending on the version of MIUI, the path to the option may differ.

MIUI 10–11 (Android 9 Pie)

1. Open the Phone app (the tube icon on the home screen).
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → select Settings.
3. Go to the Record of Conversations section.
4. Turn off the Automatic Recording Switch.
5. Remove the boxes opposite Record all calls and record only outgoing ones.

For MIUI 12+ (Android 10/11)

In the new versions of the shell, the menu item is moved:

1. Launch the phone. → ⋮ → Settings → Additionally.
2. Select Call Record.
3. Deactivate the Auto Record option and delete all rules (if any).
4. Click Delete all records to clear the memory.

Application opens"|Settings → Call record found|Auto Record switch is off.|All old records deleted-->

If Call Record is not on the menu, then your Redmi 7A uses a modified firmware (e.g., Global ROM for another region).

Method 2: Delete records through Files and clear cache

Even after the function is disabled, the old audio files remain in the phone's memory and take up space. They must be manually deleted.

• 📁 /MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ — standard-position MIUI.
• 📁 /Recorders/CallRecordings/ — alternative path in some firmware.

Cleaning instructions:

1. Open the Files app (Folder icon).
2. Go to Internal Memory → find the MIUI and Recorders folders.
3. Delete all files with the.amr or.mp3 extension (this is the call record).
4. Return to Settings → Applications → Phone → Memory and click Clear Cache.

⚠️ Note: If you use Google Drive or other cloud services to back up, records could be synced there automatically.

Yes, I noticed right away | I found out by accident when I ran out of memory | No, this is news to me | I didn't check-->

Method 3: Disconnect via the Engineering Menu (for advanced)

If standard methods fail, you can block the system-level recording via the MTK Engineering Mode, a method that is suitable for the Redmi 7A on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 439 processor.

Instructions:

1. Open the phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##
2. Select Phone Information → scroll down to Settings.
3. Find Voice Record Config (or Call Record Config).
4. Disable all options related to Auto Record and Save Call.
5. Save the changes and restart the phone.

Some firmware has blocked the engineering menu, and if nothing happens after you enter the code, the manufacturer has disabled access to these settings.

Method 4: Reset the settings of the Phone application

If the recording is enabled at the application level and does not turn off through the menu, resetting the settings will help, which will return all settings to factory settings, but will not delete the call history.

How to reset:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the phone (or com.android.phone) and open it.
3. Click Warehouse → Clear the data and Clear the cache.
4. Confirm the action. The app will restart.

After reset, check if Call Record appears in your phone settings. If so, turn it off immediately (see Method 1).

💡

Before reset, export contacts to.vcf via Contacts → ⋮ → Import/Export. This will keep your phone book even if something goes wrong.

How to prevent the recording from being re-enabled?

Even after shutdown, the function can be activated again to avoid this:

• 🔒 Stop Auto-Update of the Phone App: Open Google Play → Find the phone. Press three dots. → uncheck the auto update box.

Turn off battery optimization for the Phone app

1. Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery.
2. Find the phone. → Choose Without Limitations.
3. 🚫 Remove third-party recording apps like Cube Call Recorder or ACR, if they are installed.

The files are either.amr or.mp3 with a date and time in the title.