Recording conversations on Xiaomi Redmi 9: all ways and life hacks

Xiaomi Redmi 9 is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but the call recording feature is not always available out of the box. Depending on the firmware version (MIUI 11, MIUI 12 or later) and regional settings, this tool can be hidden or blocked. In this article, we will discuss all working ways to enable conversation recording, including hidden settings, third-party applications and bypassing operator restrictions.

It is important to understand that recording telephone conversations is regulated by the laws of many countries. In Russia, for example, according to article 23 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, recording a conversation without the consent of the interlocutor can be considered a violation of privacy. However, for personal use (for example, recording important conversations), this is permissible.

If you own Redmi 9 (M2003J15SC, M2004J19G or M2004J19PI), 90% of the time, call recording can be activated without root permissions. Below are step-by-step instructions for different scenarios, including firmware solutions with remote recording.

1. Standard method: recording through the built-in application "Phone"

In most versions of MIUI for Redmi 9, the call recording feature is built into the standard Phone app, but it can be hidden to activate it:

1. Open the Phone app (the tube icon on the home screen).
2. Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to the Record of Conversations section (if not, see the next section).
4. Activate the Write automatically switch or select Write manually.

If the Call Record section is missing, it means that the function is disabled at the firmware level, in which case one of the alternative methods described below will help.

2. Hidden setting: activation via engineering menu

Some Redmi 9 firmwares have their call recording hidden in the engineering menu, which works on MIUI 12.0.8 and earlier.

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##4636###
2. In the menu that opens, select Phone Information (or Phone Information).
3. Scroll down to the Turn on VoLTE provisioned flag section and click on it.
4. Go back to your phone settings and check for Record conversations.

Important: Once activated via the engineering menu, the record will only work for VoLTE calls (4G-For regular calls (2G/3G) Additional settings or third-party software will be required.

3. Alternative applications for recording calls

If the built-in methods didn't work, third-party apps will come to the rescue, and we tested 5 popular solutions and selected the best ones for Redmi 9:

For installation:

1. Download the selected application from Google Play.
2. When you first start, grant permissions for audio recording, Contacts and Storage.
3. In the application settings, select the recording format (MP3 is recommended to save space).
4. Activate Auto Record option or set up manual mode.

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 12.5+ Some recording applications may conflict with system optimization. If recording does not begin, add the application to Battery Optimization Exceptions (settings) → battery → optimization).

Install the application from an official source

Provide all requested permits

Disable battery optimization for the application

Check for free space (minimum 500 MB)

Make a test call to check the quality of the recording-->

4. Solution for firmware without a recording function

If your Redmi 9 is running MIUI for the European or Global market (EEA/Global), the call recording may be deleted due to legal restrictions.

• 🔄 Change the firmware region to India or Russia (requires unlocking the bootloader).
• 📱 Install custom firmware (e.g. Xiaomi.eu or Pixel Experience) where the recording function is unlocked.
• 🔧 Manual editing of system files (for power users only, requires root).

To change the firmware region without losing data:

1. Download the full firmware package for your model (e.g. fastboot-ROM for Redmi 9 India) from the official Xiaomi website.
2. Use the Mi Flash Tool to help save user data.
3. After the reboot, check for the recording feature in the phone settings.

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect firmware can cause a device to blink (completely inoperable). If you are not sure about your actions, contact the service center. Also note that changing the region may affect the operation of Google Pay and other services tied to the region.

5 Where records are stored and how to keep them

By default, the call records on Redmi 9 are saved in the folder:

/sdcard/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/

or (for third-party applications):

/sdcard/CallRecordings/

The files are.amr or.mp3 and named by template: Recording_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS_Number.format. to avoid loss of records:

• 📁 Backup: Move files to your PC or cloud regularly (Google Drive, Mi Cloud).
• 🔄 Autoclean: Set a storage limit in the recording settings (for example, 30 days).
• 🔒 Encryption: Use password-enabled archivers for sensitive records (7-Zip, RAR).

If the records are Suddenly disappeared, check:

1. Is Auto Delete Old Files activated in the recording settings?
2. Was the file cleaned? MIUI/sound_recorder Cleaning software (e.g. Clean Master).
3. Have you reset your phone to the factory?

💡

To quickly find records, use the built-in Explorer MIUI: Open it, enter it in search. call_rec And sort the files by date.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after successful recording activation, Redmi 9 users are faced with typical errors.

If the problem is not solved, try:

1. Update the Phone app via Google Play (if it is updated separately from the firmware).
2. Reset network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.
3. Install the Magisk patch (requires root) to unlock the record at the kernel level.

💡

On Redmi 9 with MIUI 13+ firmware, the built-in recording may not work due to Google’s policy, in which case third-party apps are the only reliable solution.

7 Legal aspects of recording conversations

Before using the call record, read your country’s regulations:

• 🇷🇺 Russia: It is allowed to record conversations for personal use, but it is forbidden to distribute them without the consent of the interlocutor (Article 137 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
• 🇺🇦 Ukraine: Notification of the interviewee about the recording is required (Article 307 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
• 🇪🇺 EU: Agreed GDPR, Recording without consent is only permissible in “legitimate interests” (e.g. for evidence in court).
• 🇺🇸 Most states require one-party consent (unilateral consent), but 12 states (e.g. California) require all parties to agree.

To minimize the risks:

• 📢 Notify the person at the beginning of the conversation (for example, "I'm recording this conversation to record information. You don't mind?»).
• 🔒 Keep records safe and do not pass them on to third parties.
• ⚖️ Use the records only for legitimate purposes (for example, as evidence in disputes with banks or support services).

Important: telephone records are not a full-fledged evidence in court unless notarized or obtained legally (for example, through a telecom operator).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions