The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro remains one of the most popular smartphones in the budget segment even a few years after its release, including a built-in feature that can be used to record phone conversations, save important conversations, evidence or just personal notes, but not everyone knows how to activate this option correctly, especially given the changes in MIUI firmware and legal restrictions in different countries.
In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can enable Redmi Note 9 Pro call recording, from standard settings to workarounds for regions where the feature is blocked, and how to save records, where they are stored, and what apps will help you expand your experience. Importantly, the procedure may vary depending on the version of MIUI (Global, Chinese, European) and regional restrictions.
Official method: recording through the standard application "Phone"
The easiest method is to use the built-in feature in the Phone app, which is available on most versions of MIUI 12-14, but can be hidden or disabled in some regions (e.g., in the EU due to privacy laws).
- 📱 Open the Phone app (the tube icon on the home screen).
- ⚙️ Click on three dots in the upper right corner → Select Settings.
- 🎤 Scroll down to Call Record (if no item – see next section).
- 🔄 Turn on the switch Automatic Record or select Record all calls.
If Call Record is not available, it means that the function is locked at the firmware level, which can help change the region (more on this below) or install an alternative application, and check if the item is hidden under a different name, for example, in some versions of MIUI it is called Call Recorder or Call Recorder.
How to unlock call recording if the option is hidden
In global and European versions of MIUI, call recording is often disabled due to legal restrictions, and to activate it, you can temporarily change the region of the system to India (where the function is working by default), this method does not require root rights and reversible:
- 🌍 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI.
- 🔄 Click on the line Version MIUI 7-10 times until you get a message, you become a developer!.
- 🔧 Back to Settings → Additionally. → Developer mode.
- 📍 Find the Select Region and Set Up India.
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone.
After the reboot, check if the recording option is available in the Phone app. If it appears, you can return the previous region - the function will remain active. Importantly, this method does not work on all versions of MIUI 13+ due to the tightening of Xiaomi policy.
Make a backup copy of the data
Remember the current region
Connect to Wi-Fi (in case of updates)
Charge your phone to 50% or higher-->
Alternative applications for recording calls
If the standard feature is not available or does not suit the quality, you can use third-party programs.
| Annex | Features | Cons | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cube Call Recorder | High quality recording, cloud storage, automatic saving | Paid features may not work on MIUI 14 | Google Play |
| Call Recorder – ACR | VoIP support, spam filtering, recording encryption | Difficult settings for beginners | Google Play |
| Truecaller | Built-in record + number determinant | Limited recording time in the free version | Google Play |
Before installing, check the permissions of the applications: they must request access to the Microphone, Warehouse and Phone. Some programs (for example, ACR) require additional configuration in the Special Options for proper operation on MIUI.
⚠️ Attention: In Android 10+ Applications cannot record calls through standard API. Some programs use a “virtual audio driver” to circumvent restrictions, which can lead to increased battery consumption or conflicts with other services.
Where records are stored and how to keep them
By default, records files are stored in the smartphone’s internal memory along the way:
/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/Or (in new versions of MIUI):
/storage/emulated/0/Recordings/Call/To transfer the recordings to your computer or to the cloud:
- 📁 Connect your phone to your PC through USB (Select the File Transfer Mode).
- 🔍 Find the folder with the records (see the paths above) and copy the files (format.m4a or).
- ☁️ For automatic sync, use Google Drive or Mi Cloud (set up autoload for the Recordings folder).
Files take up little space (≈1–2 MB per minute of writing), but they can accumulate when used actively, and we recommend periodically cleaning the folder or setting up automatic deletion of old entries in the settings of the Phone application.
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To quickly find records, type:audio date:lastweek in your file manager search, which will show all audio files from the last 7 days.
Limitations and legal nuances
Telephone records are regulated by your country's laws, and most regions have the following rules:
- 📜 Unilateral recording (without notifying the interlocutor) is allowed only for personal use (for example, fixing agreements).
- ⚖️ Publication or distribution of records without the consent of the interlocutor may be a violation of the law (up to criminal liability).
- 🚨 In the EU, USA and Canada, a legal entry requires a notification of the second participant (automatic or verbal).
On Redmi Note 9 Pro, when you turn on a record, some firmware automatically reproduces a message like, "This conversation is being recorded." If this option is not available, notify the person you are talking to, otherwise the recordings will not have legal force.
⚠️ In Russia from 2026, there are amendments to the law “On Communications” (FZ) №126), according to which recording of conversations without the consent of the interlocutor is allowed only for personal non-commercial purposes, the use of such recordings in court or for blackmail is punishable by a fine of up to 50 000. ₽.
Problem Solving: Recording is not working or interrupted
If call recording does not start or stops, check the following points:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The recording doesn't start. | There is no microphone permit. | Check the settings → Applications → Phone → Permissions |
| File is empty or corrupted | Conflict with other audio applications | Close all programs that use the microphone (such as voice assistants) |
| Recording ends in 1-2 minutes | Restricting firmware or saving battery | Disable Adaptive Battery for Phone Application |
| No sound on the record. | The wrong source of audio | In the recording settings, select Microphone + System Sound |
If the problem persists, try:
- Clear the cache of the Phone application (Settings → Apps → Phone → Storage → Clear the cache).
- Update MIUI to the latest version (sometimes bugs are fixed in new builds).
- Reset the settings of the phone application to the factory.
What if the recording is interrupted due to battery savings?
Tips for improving recording quality
To make the records clear and legible:
- 🎧 Use a wired headset with a microphone – this will reduce noise levels.
- 📶 Avoid areas with poor signal (metro, basements) as interference can distort the sound.
- 🔊 In the recording settings, select the format WAV or M4A (Better quality, but larger file size).
- 🔇 Turn off noise reduction in the microphone settings if the voice of the interlocutor sounds unnatural.
For professional use (such as interviews), consider external recorders connected via USB-C. They give a cleaner sound but require additional settings.
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For maximum recording quality, turn off Adaptive sound quality in the settings and set the bitrate to not lower than 128 kbit / s.