How to set up a recording of phone conversations on Xiaomi Redmi 9

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face the need to save important information voiced during a call, whether it is confirmation of an order, an agreement with a customer or just valuable instructions, such moments should not be missed. Fortunately, the MIUI shell, which is installed on the Redmi 9, originally features automatic or manual recording of conversations, without requiring the installation of additional software.

However, due to regional restrictions and changes in Google’s privacy policy, this option may be hidden or not work properly out of the box.The user needs to know where to look for the right switches and how to properly configure the device region to activate all features. In this article, we will detail the standard methods, as well as alternative solutions for your gadget.

It is important to understand that the quality of the recording and the fact of its availability directly depends on the version of the Android operating system and regional firmware. On newer versions of MIUI, the system can warn the interlocutor about the beginning of recording by voice, and it is almost impossible to bypass this with standard means.

Staffing capabilities of the dictaphone in MIUI

MIUI is famous for its deep customization, and the Phone app is no exception. Unlike pure Android, where functionality is often cut, Xiaomi has a built-in mechanism for recording audio streams. To access it, you don't need to be a programmer or get root rights. Everything is done through a standard call settings menu, which is hidden from the eyes of the average user until the first call.

To activate the feature, you need to open the Phone app and click three dots in the top right corner of the screen. In the drop-down menu, select Settings. Then scroll down to the Call Record section. This is where all the key switches are located. If this is not the case, chances are your phone is tied to a global region (e.g. Europe) where strict privacy laws apply.

You'll see some important options in the record menu. One is Automatic Recording. If you activate this switch, the phone will record every call you make and every call you make without you being involved. It's easy to control, but it fills up memory quickly. The second option is Record unknown numbers, which allows you to filter out the extra numbers and save only calls from people who aren't in your phone book.

⚠️ Warning: When you turn on automatic recording, the system can play an audible signal or a voice warning for both people, a software restriction that you can't remove without flashing the phone to the Chinese version of the software.

Also worth paying attention to is the file-saving format. Depending on the version of MIUI, it can be MP3 or AAC. The AAC format provides better quality with a smaller file size, which is critical for the budget Redmi 9 with its limited internal storage. Don't ignore this setting if you plan to keep archives for a long time.

The files you're recording are managed through a standard file manager, and the way to do that is usually this: MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec. From here, you can copy files to your computer or send them via messenger, and remember that when you reset your settings to the factory, this directory will be cleared, so it's better to duplicate important conversations in the cloud.

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The built-in call recording in Xiaomi works more stable than third-party counterparts, since it has direct access to the system’s audio stream, bypassing Android security restrictions.

Changing the region to activate hidden functions

If you don't find "Recording Calls" in the call settings menu, your smartphone is set to a region with strict laws (e.g. Singapore, some EU countries), and if you want to unlock the functionality, you just need to temporarily change the geographic location in your system settings, which is a safe procedure that doesn't require flashing and takes a couple of minutes.

Go to the main Settings menu of your Redmi 9. Find the Additional (or Advanced Settings) section and select Region. From the country list that opens, you must select a country where recording conversations is legal. India, Nepal, Pakistan or Russia are the best options. After choosing, the country will change, and the interface can be slightly rebuilt.

When you change region, go back to the Phone app and check your settings again. Call record should show up. If it shows up but doesn't work, try rebooting your device. It's important to understand that changing region may affect some services, like Mi Video or Mi Music, but it won't affect the basic functions of the calls and the Internet.

• 🌏 India is the most popular choice, as firmware for this region is as complete as possible and free of many restrictions.
• 🇷🇺 Russia – also allows you to record, the interface is fully Russified, there are no unnecessary advertising integrations.
• 🇺🇦 Ukraine – in some versions of firmware also opens access to the functionality of the voice recorder in calls.
• 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan is another option if the previous ones for some reason did not work on your version. MIUI.

Some users are afraid to change the region due to the possible appearance of advertising. Indeed, in some regions (for example, India), advertising in system applications can be more intrusive. However, once the recording function is activated, you can try to return the region back, although in new versions of MIUI the function may disappear with the return of the region, in which case you have to leave the selected region or find a compromise.

Use of third-party applications for recording

When standard methods don’t work or the quality of the built-in voice recorder doesn’t suit you, Google Play apps come to the rescue. However, since Android 9 and especially Android 10/11 (which is based on Redmi 9), Google has closed third-party apps from the microphone during a call, which means that most programs will record either silence or only your voice, ignoring the interlocutor.

But there are applications that find workarounds, which can use hands-free mode automatically or use special accessibility services, and one of the leaders in this niche is the Call Recorder app, ACR from NLL. It can switch the phone to hands-free mode for a split second to capture sound, which allows you to record both sides of a conversation.

Another popular option is TapeACall or Blackbox Call Recorder, which often works by creating a conference call: an app calls the recording server and combines that call with your interlocutor, a disadvantage of which is the need for Internet access and, often, a paid subscription to access the recording servers.

When installing third-party software, carefully monitor the permissions requested. The application will need access to Microphone, Phone, Contacts and, importantly, Overlay over other windows. Without the last permission, the program will not be able to control the call interface. MIUI can aggressively kill such applications to save battery, so they need to be added to autoboot and remove background restrictions.

⚠️ Attention: Third-party apps may conflict with Xiaomi noise cancellation. If someone hears an echo or your voice is interrupted, try turning off the Sound Improvement feature in the settings of the Dictator app itself.

The quality of recording through third-party software on Redmi 9 is often inferior to the built-in. The sound can be quiet or have a characteristic hiss. This is a fee for bypassing Android system constraints. If high quality is critical to you, it is better to rely on built-in tools after changing the region than on third-party crutches.

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For better performance of third-party recorders, turn off the “Absolute Volume Level” feature in the “Developers” menu if the recording sound seems too quiet.

Customization of quality and format of recording

The quality of the stored audio file directly affects its legibility and occupancy. In Redmi 9 with its Helio G80 processor, audio processing is fast enough, but the default settings may not be optimal. The call record menu (if available through a change of region) often has a choice between Standard and High quality.

The choice of file format also plays a role. As mentioned earlier, MP3 is more compatible with different players, but AAC or AMR may be preferable for voice recordings. The AMR format is specifically tailored to human speech and takes up minimal space, which is important if you record hours of conversations daily, but modern players may not open this format without converting.

Note the bitrate. If you have the option of selecting the sampling rate, 8 kHz or 16 kHz is enough for a phone conversation. The phone network still cuts the frequencies above 3.4 kHz, so setting 44.1 kHz (as for music) makes no sense - it will only waste space on flash memory.

Don't forget storage space. Audio files, even compressed ones, take up gigabytes over time.Redmi 9 frequently supplied 32 or 64 GB of memory, of which the system takes up a significant part. call_rec Or set up automatic cleaning of old records (e.g. older) 30 days), if such an option is present in the application used.

For users who need maximum detail (for example, for investigative journalism or threat detection), it is recommended to use an external voice recorder with the phone on speakerphone. No software method will give the same quality as a specialized device, but for household needs, smartphone settings are usually enough.

Where to find and how to manage records

Once the conversation is over, the file is stored in the device's memory, and you can find it in a number of ways, the easiest way is through the Dictaphone app (if it was recorded through it), or through the Phone app in the Recent tab, and if you click on a specific number, you'll see a list of calls, and the contact you want will have will be a voice recorder icon or a play button.

If you're looking for files to be sent or archived, use a file manager. The standard MIUI Explorer has a category called Audio or Records. The path to files can vary, but most often it's:

/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/

In some firmware versions, the folder may simply be called Record or Call at the root of internal memory, usually named by the date and time of the call, or by the contact name if it is entered in the phone book, which makes it easier to find the right dialogue in the shared dataset.

To manage records (delete, rename, send), the best way to use the built-in player in the Dictator app is to cut unnecessary pauses at the beginning and end of a conversation, which is often the case with the “Record of unknown numbers” function when the phone is picked up with a delay.

When connecting your smartphone to your computer via USB, remember to select file transfer mode (MTP) to see the internal folders. In Charge Only mode, the records files will not be available for copying.

Frequent problems and ways to solve them

Even with the right setup, Redmi 9 users can run into problems, the most common being recording silence instead of voice, because Android blocks access to the audio stream, and only switching region to India or using hands-free (automatic or manual) helps.

The second problem is recording notifications, and as we said, Google requires you to alert the person you're talking to, and you can't remove that voice without making a deep modification of the system (root, Magisk, editing framework.jar), which is not recommended for ordinary users and can lead to a brick in the device.

The third problem is that files are not saved or corrupted. This is often due to memory overflows or file system errors. Check if you have a write restriction for the Phone app in the Apps → Permissions → Recorder Recording. Also make sure that there is at least 100 MB of free storage space in the storage.

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI The recording function is gone, don't rush to reset settings. Try clearing the phone application data (Settings) → Annexes → Phone. → Clear the data. This won't delete your contacts, but it will return the call settings to the original ones, after which they will need to be reconfigured.

Sometimes recording is interrupted when a second call is incoming or the user switches to speakerphone manually, a technical limitation of a microphone headset that cannot simultaneously process the user's voice, noise cancellation and recording system sound in full on budget processors.

Legal aspects and ethics of recording

Using the function of recording conversations, it is important to remember the legislation of your country. In the Russian Federation, according to article 138.1 of the criminal code and article 23 of the Constitution, recording a conversation without warning the interlocutor can be regarded as a violation of the secrecy of communication if these records are made public or used against him in court.

Other countries may have stricter laws, such as two-party consent in some states, while others require one-party consent, and the EU has strict GDPR rules governing the storage of personal data, which includes voice.

Use technology responsibly. Don't record conversations with banks, government agencies or individuals for blackmail or public disclosure without their knowledge. Technological capability doesn't always mean legal impunity. Always assess risks before sharing a recorded file.

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Recording a conversation for a personal archive is usually legal, but publishing or using the recording in court without the consent of the interlocutor can entail legal consequences.