Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to maintain an important dialogue to analyze or prove their case. The built-in features of the MIUI operating system and the new HyperOS allow you to do this automatically or manually without installing third-party software.
Call recording functionality is one of the key features of the shell provided by the manufacturer, integrated directly into the system application "Phone", which ensures stable operation and high audio quality. Understanding the principles of this tool will allow you to effectively manage the archive of incoming and outgoing communications.
In this article, we will discuss all aspects of using this feature in detail, how to activate automatic recording, where to look for stored files and what restrictions exist in different regions, and will also discuss the nuances of working with contacts and how to optimize data storage.
Activation of the recording function in the Phone application
To get started, you need to configure the system application that makes the calls correctly. The standard algorithm requires you to go to the settings menu hidden inside the dialing interface. Click on the gear icon or the three dots in the upper right corner of the dialing screen to open the settings menu.
In the list that opens, look for Call Recording, and that's where all the controls are concentrated. First, activate the Auto Record Calls switch, and this will trigger the mechanism to save each incoming and outgoing connection without you having to do it.
⚠️ Warning: Once the automatic recording is activated, a voice notification may appear to the interlocutor during the conversation that the conversation is being recorded, depending on the regional settings and firmware version.
If you only need to save dialogs with certain people, use the "Write down selected numbers" mode, in which case the system will ignore the remaining calls, saving space in the device's memory. To add a contact, click on the appropriate item and select the person from the address book.
Set up automatic recording for contacts
Xiaomi’s flexibility allows you to create exceptions and rules for different groups of subscribers, which is especially useful if you want to keep an archive of only business correspondence or conversations with specific services.
Adding a contact to an exception list or a priority list takes a few seconds, so you can pick a person from a recent call list or find them in a contact list, and the system will suggest applying the rule to all numbers associated with that name, or just to a specific one.
- 📞 All calls: All connections are saved, regardless of the source.
- 👤 Selected numbers: entry is only for those on a special list.
- 🚫 Do not write: the function is completely disabled or ignores specified numbers.
Therefore, it is recommended to regularly check the relevance of the lists after major system updates.
☑️ Checking the recording settings
Where to find and how to listen to saved files
Once a conversation is over, the file is stored in the device's memory, and can be found in two main ways: through the Dictator app or through the file manager. The Dictator app usually has a separate Call tab, where all files are sorted by date and time.
If you prefer to work with the file system directly, the path to data is as follows: → MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec. Here are stored files in format.mp3 or.aac, which is played by any media player.
| Parameter | Description | Default value |
|---|---|---|
| File format | Type of audio coding | MP3 / AAC |
| Quality. | Bitrate recording | High. |
| Storage path | Directory in memory | MIUI/sound_recorder |
| File name | Title format | Date Time Number |
For quick access to the last conversation, you can use a widget on the desktop or an application shortcut. (long press) on the voice recorder icon often opens the context menu with the latest entries, which speeds up the search for the desired fragment.
Hidden folders in the file manager
Storage management and audio formatting
The quality of the recording directly affects the size of the space you take in. You can choose the preferred encoding format in the settings. MP3 format provides good compatibility with all devices, but takes up more space. AAC format is more efficient in terms of compression.
Regularly cleaning the archive helps to avoid overflowing memory, the system does not delete old records automatically, so the user needs to independently control the amount of space occupied, it is recommended to transfer important files once a month to a cloud disk or computer.
- 🗑️ Delete: Select unnecessary files and click the basket.
- 📤 Export: Send the file via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct or messenger.
- ☁️ Sync: Set up autoboot to Mi Cloud or Google Drive.
⚠️ Note: When you reset your phone to Factory Reset, all local records will be permanently deleted.
Problems with recording on global firmware
Global ROM users may face a lack of recording or voice alerts, which are due to national laws requiring both parties to be notified of a conversation.
In some regions, such as India or the European Union, the feature can be completely blocked at the system level, and it is impossible to circumvent this restriction by standard means, since this is a software restriction implemented by the developers of Google and Xiaomi.
There is an opinion that the change of region in settings (Settings) → Additional settings → The region may be able to unlock the functionality in countries like Singapore or Russia, but in the latest versions of Android and other devices. MIUI This method often stops working, so the test is tied to the SIM-card.
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Try changing the region to Singapore or Indonesia in your phone settings.This often returns the ability to record without voice notification, although it is not guaranteed on newer versions of Android.
Use of third-party applications and alternatives
If the built-in tools don’t work or meet your requirements, you can turn to third-party solutions. apps from the Google Play store, such as TapeACall or Call Recorder, offer advanced functionality, including cloud synchronization and transcription.
However, it is worth considering that modern versions of Android (10 and above) strictly restrict third-party applications from accessing the microphone during a call, which leads to the fact that many programs record only silence or require complex manipulations with the turn on of hands-free communication.
The most reliable way for global firmware is to use the built-in functionality, if available, or switch to the Chinese version of firmware (China ROM), where there are no restrictions, but installing Chinese firmware requires unlocking the bootloader, which may not be safe for the average user.
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On global firmware, call recording may be restricted by law, with better solutions being to use built-in notification features or switch to regional versions of the software.