Call recording on Xiaomi: how to turn on and configure on any smartphone

Recording phone conversations on Xiaomi smartphones is a useful feature that helps you capture important details of negotiations, save evidence for legal purposes or simply keep an archive of conversations. However, not all users know that recording capabilities depend on the version of MIUI firmware, regional restrictions and even the device model. In some countries (for example, in the EU), the recording function is disabled by default due to legal regulations, and on some devices it is not at all in the standard toolkit.

In this guide, we will look at all the ways you can enable call recording, from built-in MIUI tools to third-party applications, and how to bypass regional locks and set up automatic recording for all contacts. We will focus on the nuances of how the function works on popular models: Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Xiaomi 13T, POCO F5 and others. If you encounter an error “Not available” or do not see the options on the menu, here you will find a solution.

1. Built-in call recording in MIUI: where to look and how to turn on

The standard Xiaomi conversation recording feature is integrated into the Phone app** (Dialer), but its availability and location depend on the MIUI version:

• 📱 MIUI 12–14 (global version): Recordings are available but may be hidden in regions with strict privacy laws (EU, USA).
• 🌍 MIUI China/India: Recording is available by default, but requires Russification of the interface.
• ⚠️ MIUI Lite (on budget models like Redmi) A2): There is no recording function in principle.

To check for the presence of an embedded record:

1. Open the phone app** (pipe icon).
2. Press three points (⋮) top-right → Select Settings.
3. Scroll down to the Recording of Conversations section (or Call Recording in English firmware).

If you don't have a record, your firmware doesn't support it, so go to the alternative methods below, and if you have a gray option, it's blocked by the operator or your country's law.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI EU (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Lite with firmware) EEA) The built-in record can be disabled at the system level, and attempts to enable it through the engineering menu (#4636##) often cause crashes.

2. set up automatic recording for all contacts

If the built-in recording function is active, you can customize it to your needs, such as enabling automatic recording for all incoming/outgoing calls or only for certain contacts.

1. In the Phone app** go to Settings → Record conversations.

Internal memory.

SD-map

By default, records files are saved in a folder MIUI/sound_recorder/calls/.amr or.mp3. You can listen to them through any audio player or send them via messenger. Please note: if you choose to save on the Internet, you can play them on the Internet. SD-card, before extracting the media be sure to stop recording manually through the notification panel, otherwise the file may be damaged.

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To quickly find all the records, type:audio date:today in your file manager search, which will show all the audio files created today.

3. Regional restrictions: how to bypass the locking of the record

In the European Union, the United States and some Asian regions, recording conversations without notifying the interlocutor is prohibited by law, so on Xiaomi with EEA (European Economic Area) or Global firmware, the recording function is often missing or blocked.

• 🔄 Change the firmware region: Install MIUI China or India via Fastboot or Recovery. minus - possible problems with Google services.
• 📱 Patch usage: Modified versions of the Phone app** (e.g. from the developer yzs on the forum) XDA) re-record.

The safest method is to install a third-party recording app (which we'll discuss below), but if you decide to change the firmware, consider:

⚠️ Attention: Transition to MIUI China without rooting will lead to the loss of Google Play and system updates OTA. To restore functionality, you will need to install Google Apps manually.

For those who are ready for experiments, we will give a command to unlock the recording via ADB (developer rights and USB debugging are required):

adb shell settings put global call_recording_support 1


adb shell settings put global call_recording_notification_type 0

The first command activates recording support, the second - disables the notification of the interlocutor about recording (does not work on all devices).

4. Third-party applications for recording calls

If the built-in feature is not available or not satisfied with the quality, third-party utilities come to the rescue, we tested the top solutions for Xiaomi and selected the best ones:

• 🎤 Cube Call Recorder ACR: Records both ends of a conversation (your voice and the other person), integration with cloud services (Google Drive, Dropbox), minus: on some models, Xiaomi requires you to turn off the optimization of the battery for the application.
• 📱 Call Recorder – Automatic Call Recorder: Automatic tagged record saving (contact name, date.mp3.wav. Minus: Advertising in the free version.
• 🔒 Boldbeast Call Recorder: It works on Android 13 devices+ (Customizable recording quality (up to 192 kbps) minus: paid license for advanced features.

Before installing, check if the app supports your Xiaomi model. For example, on the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ with MIUI 14, the Cube ACR works better, and on the POCO X5 Pro, Boldbeast.

1. Open the app and give access to the microphone and contacts.
2. In the settings, select the audio source: Loud Communication (for better quality) or Normal Mode.
3. Activate Auto Record and specify which calls to record (all, incoming only, etc.).

On devices with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip (such as the Xiaomi 13 Ultra), some applications may conflict with CPU system optimization. To avoid write-offs, add the app to the battery exception list: Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization → All applications → Find your recorder → Select “No Limits”.

5 Where records are stored and how to keep them

By default, the record files are stored in the device’s internal memory, but their location depends on the way they are written:

To transfer the recordings to a computer or other media:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC via USB-cable (select File Transfer Mode).
2. Open the folder with records (see table above) and copy the files.
3. For long-term storage, we recommend downloading records to the cloud (Google Drive, Yandex Drive) or to the cloud. SD-card (if supported).

If you don’t play files on a PC, try converting them to.mp3 through online services like Online-Convert or Zamzar. Also note that.amr records take up 5-10 times less space than.mp3, but are of poorer quality.

⚠️ Note: On file system encryption devices (e.g., after factory reset), records may become unavailable. To avoid data loss, export them regularly to the cloud or external storage.

6. Problem Solving: Recording is down or interrupted

If the call recording is not started or terminated, the reasons may be as follows:

• 🔋 Battery optimization: Android kills recorder background processes.Solution: add app to exceptions (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery).
• 📵 Microphone locking: Some firmware (e.g, MIUI 14 EEA) Restrict access to the microphone during calls Solution: Use Boldbeast with manual audio source tuning.
• 🔊 Bluetooth conflict: If you use a wireless headset, recording may be interrupted.Solution: turn off Bluetooth or record in hands-free mode.
• 📱 Outdated version of the app: Update the recorder via Google Play or install APK from the official website of the developer.

To diagnose the problem:

1. Check if the entry notice appears in the status panel.
2. Run a test call to another number and check if a record file is being created.
3. If the file is created but empty, the problem is with the audio sources (try to turn on speaker).

On Xiaomi with Android 13+ (such as Xiaomi 14), you may need to adjust the permissions further:

Settings → Applications → Permissions Management → Special Access → Audio Recording

Make sure your recording app has access to this section.

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If the recording is interrupted in exactly 1-2 minutes, the system optimization of MIUI is to blame. Solution: turn off the Adaptive Battery in the power settings.

7 Legal aspects: can conversations be recorded without consent

Before you turn on the call record, make sure it doesn't violate local law. Most countries have the following rules:

• 🇷🇺 Russia: It is allowed to record conversations without notice if you are a participant in the conversation (Article 23 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation), but using the recording in court requires proof of its reliability.
• 🇪🇺 EU (GDPR): Recording without the consent of the interlocutor is prohibited and punishable by fines of up to 20 million euros).
• 🇺🇸 U.S.: Laws vary by state, most require at least one-party consent to be notified").
• 🇨🇳 China: Recording allowed, but sharing without consent can be considered a privacy violation.

To avoid legal problems:

• 📢 Notify the person at the beginning of the conversation (for example: “The conversation is recorded to record the information»).
• 🔒 Keep records in a secure place and do not distribute them unnecessarily.
• ⚖️ In litigation, use only records that are legally obtained (with or within the scope of the law).

On Xiaomi with MIUI EEA firmware, the built-in recording automatically notifies the interlocutor with an audible signal. If you use third-party applications, set up a similar notification manually (Play beep sound or Record Notice).

Frequently asked questions