Xiaomi Redmi 9 is a popular feature, but phone recording isn’t always available out of the box. Many users are faced with the need to capture important conversations, whether it’s business negotiations, interviews or just important coordination. In this article, we’ll look at all the ways to activate recordings, from built-in tools to third-party applications, and look at legal nuances and technical limitations.
It's important to understand that the recording capabilities are dependent on the MIUI version and regional firmware settings. In some countries, the feature is blocked at the legislative level, and in others it requires manual configuration. We tested all methods on Redmi 9 with the current 2026 updates and are ready to share working solutions.
Built-in recording capabilities in MIUI
Xiaomi has integrated recording conversations into the standard Phone app, but the availability of the feature varies. On Redmi 9 with global firmware, it can be hidden or disabled by default to check for it:
- Open the Phone app.
- Go to the magazine tab (watch icon in the lower menu).
- Press on. ⋮ → Settings → Recording of conversations.
If you don't have a Call Record, it means you've disabled the function at the firmware level, and you can use regional shifts (we'll talk about them below) or third-party apps, and note that even if you have an option, the record may not work on the device. SIM-Some operators due to network restrictions.
How to Enable Hidden Recording through the Engineering Menu
Some versions of MIUI have a conversation record hidden in the engineering menu, which requires caution, because the wrong actions can disrupt the phone.
- Open the phone app and enter the combination: ##4636##
- In the menu that opens, select Phone Information.
- Scroll down to the Record Settings block (if there isn't one, the method isn't suitable for your firmware).
- Activate the Enable Voice Recording Switch.
⚠️ Warning: The engineering menu contains settings that are critical to the operation of the device. Do not change other settings unless you are sure of their purpose.
If the item is missing, try the alternative code:
##847##Changing the firmware region to unlock the record
The call recording feature is often blocked in firmware for Europe and Russia due to legislative restrictions, the solution being to change the region to India or China, where recording is allowed.
Backup data through Settings → Additional → Backup and reset
Connect your phone to Wi-Fi – Downloading firmware can take up to 1 GB
Charge the battery by at least 50%
Turn off the screen lock (PIN/pattern lock) during the procedure-->
- Go to Settings. → The phone.
- Tap 7 times on the line version of MIUI to activate the developer mode.
- Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable OEM Unlock.
- Install the MIUI Region Changer application (root or unlocked bootloader rights required).
- In the app, select India region and confirm the reboot.
When you change region, the Phone app will have a Records tab, and it's important that this method can cause you to reset some settings and lose warranty if you buy the phone from an official store.
What if the record does not appear after the change of region?
Best Third-Party Applications to Record
If the built-in methods don't work, third-party utilities will come to the rescue. 10 Apps and selected top-3 reliability and functionality:
| Annex | Features | Cons | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cube ACR | Recording from both sides, cloud storage, speech recognition | Paid version for VoIP recording (WhatsApp, Viber) | Google Play |
| Call Recorder by Lovekesh | Automatic recording, contact sorting, export to MP3 | Advertising in the free version | Google Play |
| Truecaller | Record + Spam Blocking, Integration with Contacts | Requires registration by phone number | Google Play |
Before installing, check the permissions of the applications: they must request access to the Microphone, Contacts and Warehouse. To work properly, disable battery optimization for the selected application in Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization.
💡
If the app doesn’t record conversations, try turning on speaker mode for 1-2 seconds during the call – this will often “wake up” the microphone to record.
Legal aspects of recording conversations
In most countries, recording telephone conversations is regulated by law; in Russia (Article 23 of the Constitution) and Europe (GDPR), recording is allowed only with notification of the interlocutor, and violation can be fined up to 200,000 rubles (for individuals) or criminally liable if the recording is used for blackmail.
Exceptions:
- 📞 Talk to call centers (usually they notify the record themselves).
- 💼 Service negotiations, if it is prescribed in the employment contract.
- 🚨 Situations related to your security (threats, extortion).
To avoid problems:
- 🎤 Always warn the person at the beginning of the conversation: I record our dialogue to fix the agreements».
- 📄 Keep the records no longer than necessary.
- 🔒 Do not distribute records without the consent of participants.
⚠️ Note: In some countries (e.g. Germany, France), even storing a record without the consent of the interlocutor is considered illegal.
Solving recording problems
If the recording is not working, check the following points:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The record is cut off. | Battery optimization kills the process | Add the app to the exceptions in Settings → Battery |
| The voice of the interlocutor is not recorded. | Limitations of operator or firmware | Use Loud Communication or Third Party Apps |
| Files are not saved. | Not enough space on the device | Clear the cache or change the save path in the app settings |
| Noises on the record | Bad microphone or interference | Write in a quiet place or use a headset |
To diagnose, turn on the error log in the record application (if you have one), and check the logs. If the problem persists, try resetting the network settings to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings.
💡
On the Redmi 9 with the MediaTek Helio G80 processor, recording through third-party applications can work more stable than the built-in feature, due to the features of the chipset's audio processing.
Alternative methods of recording
If software methods don’t work, consider hardware solutions:
- 🎧 Headset with recording: Some Bluetooth headsets (e.g. Sony) WH-1000XM4) have a built-in function of recording conversations through an accompanying application.
- 📱 Second phone: Put the second smartphone next to you and record the conversation through a voice recorder (minus low quality and extraneous noises).
- 💻 PC-Recorder: Connect your phone to your computer through USB-Debugging and using software like Audio Hijack (requires technical skills).
For professional use (for example, an interview) an external recorder connected to a smartphone via USB-C is suitable. The main thing is to make sure that the device supports OTG mode (on Redmi 9 it is turned on by default).