Budget smartphone owners often face the need to keep important conversations, whether business negotiations or communication with service services. Xiaomi Redmi 9A, despite its affordable price, offers a wide range of functionality, but in the latest versions of MIUI firmware, the company has implemented strict restrictions dictated by Google's security policy, which led to the fact that the standard feature of the recorder is no longer obvious to many users, requiring additional manipulations for activation.
Complicating matters, the interface may vary depending on the regional version of the software, and in some cases the built-in mechanism is completely hidden, in others it works with hands-free or alert. There are several proven methods for this task for Redmi 9A, ranging from changing the region in settings to installing specialized applications from third-party sources.
In this detailed guide, we’ll take a look at all the current ways to activate call recording. You’ll learn how to bypass system locks without obtaining superuser rights (Root), which apps really work on Android 10 and 11, and how to set up automatic dialog saving. We’ll also look at the technical details of how audio streaming works in modern versions of MIUI.
MIUI Call Recording Features and Google Policy
Since Android 10, Google has implemented strict restrictions on app access to the microphone during a phone conversation, which was done to protect user privacy while also depriving smartphone owners of a convenient tool. For Xiaomi devices running on the MIUI shell (now HyperOS), this means that the standard phone app can no longer silently record the second side of a conversation without explicit system permission or workarounds.
On Redmi 9A, the situation depends on the firmware version. Global ROMs often lock the function at the code level; in Chinese or Indian builds, it may be present, but it works differently; the system recorder is either missing in new updates, or when activated, it plays a loud beep that is heard by both interlocutors, making hidden recording impossible.
⚠️ Warning: Attempting to record a conversation without warning the person may violate your country’s laws, and use this feature only for personal purposes or with the consent of the other party.
It is important to understand the difference between recording via a speaker and through an internal audio stream. The old methods that worked on Android 8 and 9, on Redmi 9A with updated software are no longer effective. Now you need either a software switching region that “cheats” the system, making you think that the smartphone is in a country with a soft legislation, or the use of third-party solutions that have special permissions through the ADB or Accessibility API.
📊 What's your version? MIUI on the Redmi 9A?
MIUI 12
MIUI 12.5
MIUI 13
I don't know.
The method of changing the region: activation of the hidden function
One of the easiest and safest ways to return native call recording to Xiaomi Redmi 9A is to change the region in the system settings. This method does not require installing additional software or obtaining root rights. The bottom line is that in some countries (for example, India, Indonesia, Singapore) legislation allows recording conversations, and Xiaomi activates this feature for devices selected in these regions.
To do this, go to the settings menu. Find Additional or Advanced Settings, then select Region. From the country list that opens, select Indonesia or India. After changing region, the phone can reboot some services, and a new button or menu will appear in the call interface.
If the region change helps, a record icon will appear in the dialing interface or during a conversation, but it should be noted that this method does not work on all versions of the firmware. In some cases, the system may require the reset of the phone application for the changes to take effect.
Once the function is activated through a region change, it is important to configure file storage options. MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec. Make sure you are on your Redmi. 9A enough free memory, as audio files can take up a significant amount of time during long conversations.
What if the change in the region did not help?
If the recording button doesn't appear after the region change, your MIUI firmware version may have deeper locks. In this case, try clearing the Phone app cache through the Apps menu -> Application Management -> Phone -> Memory -> Clear. Also sometimes it helps to reboot the device after changing settings. If this doesn't work, you'll have to use third-party applications to record When Xiaomi's regular methods don't work, third-party apps come to the rescue. However, due to the limitations of Android 10+, most of them only record your voice or require loud communication on Google Players, which are less capable of using these accessibility solutions. One of the most popular and effective solutions is the Call Recorder app - Cube. ACR. It can record conversations in VoIP (Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram) and ordinary GSM-To get the Redmi right. 9A The application needs to be given maximum permissions, including access to a microphone, a phone, and critically, a dedicated accessibility service, and other notable programs include TapeACall and Automatic Call Recorder. They create a conference call with a record server or exploit security holes in the system, and it's worth noting that free versions often have time or number limits on recordings. Application Type of Record Required Root Cube Features ACR System sound / VoIP No (App Connector needed) Best support MIUI, TapeACall conference call No Paid subscription, running in three-way call Auto Call Recorder Microphone / Speaker No Simple interface, often requires loud Blackbox System audio Yes (for perfect work) High quality, but complex setup ⚠️ Note: When installing third-party applications from unknown sources (APK-Always check for viruses, download the software only from official developer sites or trusted repositories like F-Droid. ACR on the Redmi 9A download APK-file from the official website of the developer, as in Google Play version can be stripped down. Once installed, launch the application and follow the instructions for setting up "App Connector". This is a special module that allows the program to intercept the audio stream. Set up automatic recording and save files Manually turn on recording during each conversation is inconvenient, so the best solution is to set up automatic mode. In Xiaomi's regular voice recorder (if activated by changing region), this is done through the call settings menu. Select Call Record and activate the Auto Shooting switch. In third-party apps like Cube ACR, You have to go to the settings and find the "Record" section, and you can select the "All Calls" option, or you can create a list of favorite contacts that you can automatically record, and this is especially useful for fixing your conversations with banks or support services.mp3 or.m4a, This ensures good compatibility with any media player. Default path to files on Redmi 9A It looks like this: Internal memory. → MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec. For third-party applications, the path may be different, for example, Android → data → com.cubeacr. 💡Automatic recording saves time and ensures that no important conversation moment is missed due to user forgetfulness.Remember to periodically check the record folder and transfer important files to the cloud storage or to your computer. Internal memory of budget smartphones like Redmi 9A, frequently limited (32 or 64 GB), and the accumulation of audio archives can quickly exhaust the free space. The most common problem when recording on modern Android smartphones is recording from only one channel (only you can hear it) or the sound quality is extremely low, with severe interference. This is because the system directs the audio stream of a conversation directly to the ear speaker, bypassing the standard recording channel available to applications. If you use a third-party app and only hear yourself, try turning on speakerphone before recording. This will force the phone to use the main microphone and speaker, which the app can capture sound from, and in the settings of the record app, try changing the sound source to Microphone or Voice Call. In some cases, turning off the Sound Improvement or Mi Sound Enhancer function in the smartphone sound settings can help, and these noise reduction algorithms can interfere with the voice recorder, counting the voice of the interlocutor as extraneous noise and cutting it off. ⚠️ If only your voice is heard during recording, it is not a breakdown of the phone, but a limitation of the Android operating system. Full two-way recording is possible only through system functions MIUI (change of region or special drivers (Root). 9A With a MediaTek processor, it can also help to update the firmware to the latest available version, since audio drivers sometimes change in security patches, which temporarily returns the ability to record third-party applications. FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions: Will the person hear a recording warning? When using the standard function after changing region to Xiaomi, the warning usually does not sound. However, some third-party applications can play an audible signal. Always test this experimentally before important conversations. 9A? Standard path: Device memory/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec. For apps from Google Play, the path could be: Android/data/[name-packet]/files/CallRecords. Can I record conversations on WhatsApp and Viber? Yes, but the regular phone means are not suitable for this. ACR The quality of VoIP recording depends on the speed of the Internet and the Android version. MIUI? After a major system update (e.g., with a MIUI 12 on 13) You'll need to reset the region and check the function. Does the call record take up a lot of space? One minute of good quality conversation takes up about a few minutes. 0.5–1 An hour's talk will eat you up. 50–60 For Redmi. 9A memoryily 32 GB is not critical if you regularly clean the archive.