How to turn off the call record button on Xiaomi: all working methods

The MIUI phone recording button is often inappropriate: it takes up space on the screen during a call, is accidentally pressed with an elbow or finger, and sometimes even interferes with the perception of the interface. Worse, on some Xiaomi models (Redmi Note 10 Pro, Poco X3 Pro, Mi 11 Lite), this feature is activated by default, and users only know about its existence after the system saves a recording of the conversation without their knowledge.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to remove the call recording button from the standard settings. MIUI to hidden developer parameters and even manual editing of system files (for advanced users (MIUI 12, 13, 14, HyperOS) and explain why some models may reappear after the update.

Importantly, if you're using a smartphone at work or in confidential conversations, even a deactivated recording button doesn't guarantee that the conversation isn't kept in the background -- MIUI has a hidden recording mode that's activated by voice commands or gestures, and we'll talk about that at the end of this article.

Why the Call Record button appears on Xiaomi

The MIUI recording feature was originally designed for Asian markets, where legislation allows for the retention of telephone conversations without notifying the interlocutor, and is often disabled at the regional setting level in European and Russian firmware, but:

• 🔄 Update firmware can bring the button back if Xiaomi servers “reset” regional settings.
• 📦 Installation of custom themes or launchers (for example, POCO Launcher) sometimes overwrites the system files of the call interface.
• 🤖 Reset to factory settings returns all functions MIUI in the default state, including call recording.
• 🔧 Activating Developer Mode or changing Adb settings may accidentally enable hidden options.

On Xiaomi models with a MediaTek chip (e.g. Redmi 9A, Poco M3), the recording button appears more often after updates than on smartphones with Snapdragon.This is because firmware for MediaTek is assembled with fewer regional restrictions.

Method 1: Disconnect via standard MIUI settings

The easiest method is to use built-in system options, which works on most devices with MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS, but may not be available on some regional firmware (for example, India or China).

Instructions:

1. Open the phone application (pipe icon).
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner → select Settings.
3. Go to the Call Recording section (or Call Recording in English firmware).
4. Turn off the Automatic Recording and Manual Record switch.
5. Return to the call screen, the button should disappear.

If the Call Record section is not on the menu, your firmware is not supporting this menu.

Make sure you have the latest version of the Phone app |

Check if the theme of the design from a third-party developer is installed |

Reboot your smartphone after the changes |

If the button is left, clear the cache of the Phone application (Settings → Applications → Phone → Memory → Clear the cache)

-->

Method 2: Reset the settings of the “Phone” application

Sometimes the recording button stays on the screen because the system application malfunctions, and then it helps to reset the system to the factory settings.

How to do this:

1. Open “Settings” → “Applications”.
2. Find the phone (or “Phone”) in the list and tap it.
3. Select “Storage” → “Clear Data” and “Clear Cache”.
4. Confirm the action. Attention: this will delete the call history!
5. Reset the device.

After the reboot, check if the button has disappeared. If not, move on to more radical methods.

💡

Before resetting, export your call history: open the Phone app → three points → Import/Export → Export to file.

Method 3: Using Developer Mode (for MIUI 13–14)

In newer versions of MIUI, some call recording options are hidden behind the developer flag, and to see them, you first need to activate the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row until the notification “You’ve become a developer!” appears.
3. Return to the main settings menu and open a new section for developers.

Now, do the following:

1. Scroll down and find the “Debugging by” option. USB» — Turn it on.
2. Connect your smartphone to your PC and run the command in ADB:

adb shell settings put global call_recording_enabled 0

If you don’t have access to a PC, you can try an alternative method through a hidden call menu:

1. Open the Phone app and dial the code: ##4636###.
2. Go to the tab "Phone Information".
3. Scroll down and find the "Turn off call recording" option (if any).

Method 4: Remove the button through editing system files (for advanced ones)

This method requires root rights and works only on an unlocked bootloader, and is suitable for users who are willing to risk the stability of the system to remove the button.

Instructions:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer).
2. Go to /system/priv-app/CallRecorder/.
3. Find the CallRecorder.apk and CallRecorder.odex files (can be called a little differently).
4. Rename them by adding.bak at the end (e.g. CallRecorder.apk.bak).
5. Reset the device.

If after the reboot the button disappeared, but there were errors in the phone (for example, the Contacts application does not open), return the files to the original names.

💡

Editing system files can lead to a cyclic bootloop. Create a backup using TWRP before you start!

Method 5: Install an alternative call app

If none of these things work, you can completely replace the standard phone app with a third-party one.

• 📞 Google Phone – Google’s official app, without a record button (but requires Google Mobile Services).
• 🔄 Truecaller – has a built-in spam blocker, but call recording is turned off in the settings.
• 🛡️ Simple Dialer – Minimalist Dialer without unnecessary functions.

How to determine:

1. Download. APK-file of the selected application (for example, with APKMirror).
2. Install it by allowing installation from unknown sources (Settings → Applications → Special Access → Install Unknown Applications).
3. Open Settings → Applications → By default → Phone App and select a new app.

Some MIUI features (e.g., Mi Account or Quick Ball integration) may not work properly.

Table: Compatibility of methods with MIUI versions

On HyperOS (new firmware for Xiaomi 14, Redmi K70), the call recording button behaves differently: it can only appear for certain contacts or when using a Bluetooth headset, in which case only a replacement of the dialer will help.

Hidden call recording: how to check if it is kept in the background

Even if you turn off the record button, MIUI can save conversations automatically.

1. Open the Records (or Recorder) app on the home screen.
2. Go to the “Challenges” tab – all saved conversations are stored here.
3. If the folder is empty but you suspect a hidden record, use the file manager and check the folder: /sdcard/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/

On some models (Redmi K50, Poco F4), recording is activated by the voice command "Record Conversation" during the call, and this function can only be disabled via ADB:

adb shell settings put global voice_control_call_recording 0

💡

To ban it completely. MIUI save the records, delete the folder /sdcard/MIUI/sound_recorder/ And create an empty file called.nomedia, which hides it from the system scanners.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the call recording button on Xiaomi

If none of the methods worked, your Xiaomi model may be using a unique firmware (for example, for carriers), in which case there are two options: contact Xiaomi support or install custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), where there is no default call recording function.

💡

On Black Shark models, the recording button is controlled via the Shark Space game menu – it cannot be turned off in standard ways, only through ADB or root.