How to completely disable the recording of calls on Xiaomi smartphones: all ways

Xiaomi’s smartphone phone recorder feature can be useful in business negotiations or for capturing important information, but it is often a source of inconvenience. Many users do not even suspect that their device automatically stores all incoming and outgoing calls — until they detect gigabytes of unnecessary audio files in the phone’s memory.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can disable call recording on Xiaomi devices, from standard MIUI settings to hidden developer settings. You’ll learn how to delete already saved records, why the feature can turn on itself, and what to do if standard methods don’t work. The instructions are relevant for all modern models, from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

Why does Xiaomi record all calls by default?

Automatic call recording is not a system error, but a conscious decision by the manufacturer. In China, the feature was originally marketed as “consumer protection”: in cases of disputes with carriers or support services, recording could serve as evidence, but in global MIUI firmware, this option often remains active without the explicit consent of the user.

The main reasons for automatic recording:

• 📱 Regional settings: on devices for the Chinese market (China) ROM) function is enabled by default and hidden from disabling.
• 🔄 Updates MIUI: After some updates, the parameters are reset, and the recording resumes.
• 📲 Third-party applications: Some programs (such as Mi Call Recorder or Google Phone) have their own recording mechanisms.
• ☁️ Cloud Services: If you’ve ever synced calls with Mi Cloud, the system could have activated the backup feature.

It's important to understand that records take up a significant amount of memory, such as an hour of.amr conversations weighing about 10-15 MB. When you use your phone actively, you can accumulate 1-2 GB of unnecessary data in a month.

Method 1: Disconnect via standard MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use the built-in system settings, which is suitable for most global firmware (Global ROM) and does not require superuser rights.

1. Open the phone application (pipe icon).
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to the "Recording of calls" section (on some models - "Recording conversations").
4. Turn off the Automatic Record slider.
5. For reliability, also deactivate the option "Record all calls" (if any).

On some devices (such as the POCO X5 or Redmi 12C), the path may be slightly different:

Settings → Applications → Phone → Permissions → Call Recording

Opened the Phone app | Found the Call Record section |Disabled the automatic record |Chronicled the absence of new files in the Recordings folder |Rebooted the phone-->

If the recording continues after these actions, then your device uses a modified firmware (for example, China ROM or custom build).

Method 2: Remove via the settings of the "Phone" application

Even after you turn off automatic recording, you can still have old files in the system, and to free up the memory, you have to delete them manually.

1. Run the Files app (or any other file manager).
2. Go to the Internal Storage folder → MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec.
3. Select all files (with a long press) and click "Delete".
4. For a complete cleanup, also check the Downloads folder - sometimes records are saved there.

Some devices may have different paths to recording, and here are the alternative locations:

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If the folder call_rec not displayed, enable the display of hidden files in the file manager settings (usually in the View or Settings menu").

After deleting, it is recommended to restart the phone so that the system updates the cache, and if the files appear again, then the recording is still active at the firmware level.

Method 3: Disconnect through the developer settings

On devices with China ROM or modified firmware, standard methods often don't work, and in this case, access to hidden developer settings will help.

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About the phone. Press 7 times on "Version." MIUI" (A notice will appear saying, “You have become a developer").

"Additionally" → "For developers"

"Debugging by USB"

"Call recording"

• "Automatic recording"
• "Save records in the cloud."
• "Notify the recording"

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI 14 for POCO F4), these parameters may be called differently:

• 🔧 force_call_recording — forced entry
• 📱 auto_call_rec — autoactivation
• ☁️ cloud_sync_call_rec — cloud-synchronization

Attention: changing the developer settings can cause the phone to work in an unstable way. If you have communication problems (call breaks, no sound) after the recording is turned off, return the settings to their original state.

Method 4: Using ADB to Forced Shutdown

If none of the previous methods worked, the most reliable (but also the most difficult) way is to disable it via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which works even on blocked firmware China ROM.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB phone-on.
• 🔌 Cable USB Type-C (preferably original).

Step-by-step:

1. Download ADB Tools and unpack the archive.
2. Connect your phone to your PC and type in the command line: adb devices (should display your device).
3. The command to disable the record is: adb shell settings put global force_call_recording 0 adb shell settings put global auto_call_rec 0
4. Reboot your phone: adb reboot

To check that the record is actually disabled, use the command:

adb shell settings get global force_call_recording

If the answer is 0, the function is deactivated.

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ADB-commands work even on devices without root rights, but require enabled debugging on USB. After flashing or resetting the settings, the procedure will have to be repeated.

If ADB does not recognize the device, try:

• 🔄 Reinstall Xiaomi drivers via Mi PC Suite.
• 🔌 Use the other USB-cable (cheap cables often do not support data transmission).
• 📱 Include in the developer settings the option "Debugging by USB (security)".

Method 5: Remove system applications (requires root)

On some firmware (especially China ROM), call recording is done via the com.miui.voiceassist system application or com.android.incallui. If you have root rights, it can be deleted or frozen.

Instructions for Magisk or TWRP:

1. Install Root Explorer or Titanium Backup.
2. Find the MiuiCallRecorder (or CallRecorder) app.
3. Select the action "Delete" or "Frozen".
4. Reset the device.

Alternative method via ADB (without root, but with unlocked bootloader):

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.miui.voiceassist

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Before you uninstall system applications, back up via TWRP or Mi Cloud. Some components may be critical to your phone's performance!

After deleting, check if other features (such as voice assistant or screen recording) have disappeared.If something stops working, restore the app from the backup.

What if the call recording is turned on itself?

Sometimes users find that the recording function is activated again after an update or reboot, due to the features of the MIUI firmware.

• 🔄 Turn off automatic updates MIUI: Go to Settings. → The phone. → Update the system and deactivate the Auto Update option.
• ☁️ Disable syncing with Mi Cloud: In Settings → Accounts. → Mi Cloud disable Call Synchronization and Backup".
• 📱 Reset the settings of the "Phone" application: In Settings → Annexes → Phone. → Storage click on "Clear Data" and "Reset Settings".
• 🛡️ Use third-party launchers: Some shells (like Nova Launcher) block background activity of system applications, including call recording.

If the problem persists, you may have a modified firmware with hard-stitched recording function installed on your device, in which case only flashing to the official global version of MIUI will help.

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On devices with China ROM, call recording can be part of government phone requirements, in which case it cannot be turned off without changing the firmware.

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording calls on Xiaomi