How to turn off the recording of calls on the Xiaomi phone: all the ways

Recording phone conversations on Xiaomi smartphones is a useful feature for business negotiations or storing important information, but not all users need it. Automatic saving of audio files takes place in the device’s memory, and in some countries can violate privacy laws. Fortunately, the manufacturer has provided several ways to completely deactivate this option – both through standard MIUI settings and using hidden settings.

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods to disable the recording of calls on Xiaomi, including the Redmi, POCO and Black Shark models (2020-2026 release), you will learn how to delete already saved files, why the function can spontaneously turn on after updates, and what to do if the standard methods do not work, and pay special attention to the nuances for the MIUI 12-14 firmware and global / Chinese versions of the software.

Why Xiaomi Records Calls and Where Files Are Stored

The default conversation recording feature is activated on most Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI firmware. This is due to several reasons:

• 📱 Legal requirements in some countries (e.g. India, call recording is mandatory for bank transactions).
• 🔍 Communication quality analytics – mobile network operators can request records to diagnose problems.
• 📁 Backup of important conversations (integrated into the Contacts app).
• 🤖 AI assistant in new models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T) Uses recordings to train voice commands.

All audio files are stored in a folder /Internal Storage/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec (for MIUI 12–14) or /Internal Storage/Recordings/CallRecord (The size of a file varies from 1–5 MB depending on the duration of the conversation. When using the function actively, the device memory can be clogged for several months.

It is important to note that on Chinese versions of the firmware (China ROM), call recording is often forced on and does not have a visible switch on the menu, in which case alternative methods will be required, which we will discuss below.

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

The simplest method is to deactivate the function directly in the Phone app, which works on most Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models with Global ROM.

1. Open the Phone app (the tube icon on the home screen).
2. Click on three dots in the upper right corner (⋮) and select Settings.
3. Go to Call Recording (or Call Recording for English localization).
4. Turn off Auto-record calls (or Auto-record calls).
5. In the Exclusions submenu, delete all numbers for which the forced entry was set up.

If you don't have Call Record on your menu, it's managed at the system level, so move on to the next way.

Make sure the slider is grey in color|Check the folder. call_rec — New files don't appear|Restart your phone to apply changes|Call the test number and check for no record notice-->

⚠️ Note: On some models (for example, Xiaomi Mi 11 with) MIUI 13) after disabling the recording in the application Phone function can be activated again after the system update. To avoid this, further block permissions for the application com.android.incallui (instruction in method 4).

Method 2: Disconnecting through hidden MIUI settings

If the standard method didn’t work, try deactivating the recording via hidden MIUI settings, which is suitable for Chinese firmware (China ROM) and modified software devices.

1. Open the Settings app and go to About Phone.
2. Click 7 times in a row on the MIUI version to activate the developer mode.
3. Go back to the main Settings menu and select a new section for developers.
4. Activate the debugging slider over USB (necessary to access hidden features).
5. Install the MIUI Hidden Settings app (available on Google Play).
6. In the app, go to Call Settings → Call Recording and turn off all options.

For users who do not want to install third-party utilities, there is an alternative through ADB:

adb shell settings put global call_recording_enabled 0


adb shell pm revoke com.android.incallui android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO




adb shell pm revoke com.android.incallui android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE

These commands completely block the Phone app from accessing the microphone and memory of the device, and once they are executed, recording calls will become impossible even after resetting the settings.

Method 3: Delete stored records and clean up memory

Even after the recording function is disabled, the old audio files continue to take up space on the device to delete them:

1. Open the Files app (or any file manager, such as Solid Explorer).
2. Go down the road: For MIUI 12–14: /Internal Storage/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec For MIUI 11 older: /Internal Storage/Recordings/CallRecord

Choose everything

Delete

If the folder is not displayed, enable the hidden file impressions in the file manager settings. For complete cleaning, it is also recommended:

• 🧹 Clear the cache of the phone application in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Phone. → Memory. → Clear the cache.
• 🗑️ Use the built-in cleaning utility (Security) → Cleaner) to delete temporary files.
• 🔄 Reboot the device after cleaning.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi) A3 from Android One) call records are stored in the Mi Cloud. To delete them, go to Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Backup copies → Call records and press Delete Everything.

Method 4: Block permissions for the Phone application

If the call record continues to work despite the shutdowns in the settings, the reason may be automatic permission recovery after the updates.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Phone app (or com.android.incallui for MIUI 14).
3. Select Permissions and Disable: 🎤 Microphone 📁 Warehouse (or Memory) 📞 Phone (if there is a separate item for recording)

Stop it.

For reliability, it is also recommended:

• 🔒 Disable auto-run of the application in Settings → Battery and productivity → Autostart control.
• 🛡️ Add the Phone app to the battery optimization blacklist (this will prevent background activity).

💡

If outgoing calls stop working after blocking permissions, return the phone permission, but leave the microphone and storage disconnected.

Method 5: Alternative methods for Chinese firmware

On China ROM devices (such as the Xiaomi 12S Ultra for the Chinese market), call recording is often hard-stitched into firmware and does not have a graphical interface to disable, in which case:

1. Install global firmware via Fastboot or Recovery. Official instructions are available on Xiaomi's website.
2. Use Magisk: Install Magisk Manager and get root access. Download Disable MIUI Call Recording. Install the module through Magisk and restart the device.

Manual deletion of system files

adb shell


su




mount -o rw,remount /system




rm /system/priv-app/CallRecorder/CallRecorder.apk




rm /system/app/CallRecorder/CallRecorder.odex




reboot

We warn you that improper actions with system files can lead to the failure of the phone. If you are not sure about your skills, you should contact the service center.

💡

On China ROM, call recording is often managed by a carrier (e.g. China Mobile), in which case even root access won’t help – it will require a change of firmware to a global one.

What to do if the call recording is turned on by itself

Xiaomi users often face a situation where the recording feature is suddenly activated after:

• 🔄 Updates MIUI (Especially when you switch to a new version, such as MIUI 13 on 14).
• 📱 Resetting settings to factory.
• 🔧 Installations of third-party launchers or such.
• 📡 Connections to a new mobile network (some operators force the recording to be activated).

To prevent spontaneous inclusion:

1. After each update, check the recording settings in Phone → Settings → Call recording.
2. Install the Call Recorder Stop app, which blocks the recording service from running.
3. Turn off automatic updates MIUI In Settings → The phone. → Updating the system → ⋮ → Settings → Auto-update.

If the problem recurs, back up your settings through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset, and then reset to factory settings. Once recovered from the backup, call recording will remain disabled.

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording calls to Xiaomi