Recording phone conversations on Xiaomi is a useful feature that helps you capture important details of conversations, save evidence, or simply keep an archive of calls. However, in recent versions of MIUI (especially since MIUI 12), the manufacturer has limited the ability to automatically record because of the tightening of privacy policies. In this article, we will discuss how to circumvent these restrictions, which models support the function, and what to do if the record suddenly stopped working.
It's important to understand that the recording capabilities depend on the firmware version, regional settings, and even the carrier. For example, on devices for the European market (EEA), the function can be blocked at the system level. We'll look at all the current ways, from standard settings to workarounds for advanced users.
Does your Xiaomi smartphone support recording conversations?
Not all Xiaomi models allow you to record conversations out of the box. The feature is available on most devices with MIUI 11 and below, but in MIUI 12-15 it is either hidden or removed.
- ✅ Supported (with limitations): Redmi Note 10/11/12, Poco X3/X4, Mi 10/11 (global).
- ⚠️ Partial support: Xiaomi 12/13 — Manual activation is required through the engineering menu.
- ❌ Not supported: Devices for the market EEA (Europe and some models for China (due to local laws).
To check for the feature, open the Phone app, click on the three dots in the top right corner, and look for Record Conversations. If it's not available, read on to enable hidden settings.
Standard way: Enable via phone settings
If your smartphone is a supported model, try activating the recording via the standard menu. MIUI 12–14:
- Open the phone application (pipe icon).
- Click on the three vertical dots in the upper right corner → select Settings.
- Go to the section Record conversations (on some models – Additional → Record calls).
- Activate the Automatic Recording Switch.
- Choose which calls to record: 📞 All calls (incoming and outgoing). 📥 Only incoming. 📤 Only outgoing. 🔍 Selectively (by contact).
After activation, all records will be saved in the folder. MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec (Please note that in some regions, the system may request confirmation of a record from the interlocutor, as is a requirement of local law.
Check the version of MIUI in Settings → About the phone
Make sure your phone has enough memory (records take ~1–2 MB/minute)
Turn off power saving modes (they can block background recording)
Update the Phone app via Play Market (if you use global firmware)
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If you are not in the menu: hidden settings MIUI
On devices with MIUI 12+, the record point is often hidden, but it can be returned via an engineering menu or USSD code.
- Open the Phone app and type the combination: ##6484## (on some models - ##64663##).
- The MTK Engineer Mode (for MediaTek processors) or Qualcomm Service Mode (for Snapdragon) will appear.
- Go to Audio → Normal Mode → Type.
- Find the Voice Call Record setting and set the Enabled value.
- Save the settings and restart the phone.
- Use of a headset with a record: Some Bluetooth headsets (such as the Sony WH-1000XM5) have a built-in conversation recording feature.
These methods are versatile and work on any Xiaomi model, but require additional hardware, and sound quality will be worse than software recording, but you get around all the limitations of MIUI.
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Hardware recording methods (via a second phone or PC) are the only reliable way for devices with MIUI 15 and later, where the program record is locked at the kernel level.