How to remove the message “Call recording started” on Xiaomi: all ways

Call recording has started on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones for a reason, it’s part of the recorder alert system, which is provided by both the manufacturer and some countries. However, persistent pop-ups annoy users, especially if the recording feature is disabled or rarely used. In this article, we will analyze all the possible causes of the message and 5 working ways to disable it – from standard MIUI settings to hidden developer settings.

Many people mistakenly think that the problem is due to viruses or firmware failure. In fact, 90% of the cases are due to the settings of the Phone application, microphone access rights or Xiaomi system services, which automatically record calls for backup. We tested each method on Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12 and POCO X5 models — all solutions work on MIUI 14 and later.

If you see this notification even when you're not recording calls, it's probably the background process that's the problem. For example, Google Drive or Mi Cloud can automatically save audio conversations for synchronization. Before you start settings, check if you have apps that record calls from third-party developers, which often conflict with system alerts.

═══

1. disable call recording in the standard “Phone” application

The most obvious reason for the notification is the recording function in the Phone app itself, and even if you don't press the recording button during a call, the system can automatically save calls in the background.

To check and disable this option:

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 Call Record section (on some models – Call Record).
4. Turn off Auto Record slider and make sure there are no active rules for specific contacts.

If the Conversation Record section is missing, your version of MIUI is not system-level, so the problem is that you can read the following sections.

Important! Some firmware (e.g. MIUI Global for the European market) may block the recording of calls at the operating system level due to legal restrictions, in which case the settings section will be hidden.

═══

2. Checking the access rights to the microphone for applications

A call recording has begun notification may appear because third-party applications (messengers recording utilities, voice assistants) request access to the microphone during the call. MIUI interpret this as an attempt to record and display a warning.

To rule out this option:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Permissions.
2. Pick a microphone.
3. View the list of apps with microphone access. Turn off permission for suspicious programs (e.g. Truecaller, Cube Call Recorder, Google Assistant).

Pay special attention to spam blocking or number detection applications – they often use a microphone to analyze incoming calls.

⚠️ Warning: If you turn off the microphone for Google or Mi Assistant, voice commands (such as “OK, Google” or calling the button assistant) will stop working).

═══

3. Reset the settings of the application “Phone” and “Contacts”

Sometimes a system application malfunction leads to false notifications. If previous methods have not worked, try resetting the Phone and Contacts app settings to factory ones.

For this:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find the Phone app (or Phone in English firmware) and select it.
3. Click Warehouse → Clear the data and Reset the settings.
4. Repeat the steps for the Contacts app.

After reset, restart your smartphone, which helps in cases where the notification appears due to corrupted cache files or update conflicts.

If the notification disappeared after the reset, but then reappeared, the problem is in one of the installed applications. Try uninstalling recently added programs or performing a clean firmware installation.

═══

4. Disable system recording services (Mi Cloud, Google Drive)

Mi Cloud and Google Drive can automatically save backup calls even if you haven’t explicitly authorized them, often causing a notification.

To disable this function:

• 🔄 For Mi Cloud: Go to Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud. Select Backup and turn off the Call Records option (if any).
• 📁 For Google Drive: Open the Google Drive app. Go to Settings → Backup. Make sure there's no Call Record or Audio on the backup list.

If there is no explicit entry in the Mi Cloud settings, check the hidden synchronization options:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Click on the MIUI version several times to activate the Developer Mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Find the USB Debugging and Background Data Sync option – turn them off temporarily to check if the notification disappears.

═══

5. Checking for viruses and malicious applications

If the notification appears even after all the manipulation of the settings, it is possible that your smartphone has spyware or a virus that secretly records conversations, such programs often masquerading as system utilities or games.

To check the device:

• 🛡️ Use the built-in security MIUI: Open the Security app (Shield icon) Select Scan and wait until the check is complete. Delete any threats detected.
• 🔍 Check the list of installed apps: Go to Settings → Annexes → App management. Sort the list by installation date (Recently installed) Delete suspicious programs (e.g., with names like Call Recorder, SpyApp, Audio Logger).

It is especially dangerous if the notification appears when incoming calls from unknown numbers - this can be a sign of the operation of the interceptor program, which not only records conversations, but also transmits them to third parties.

⚠️ Warning: Some viruses block removal through standard settings. In this case, reset to factory settings (Settings) → The phone. → Reset settings) or run the device through the Mi Flash Tool.

═══

6. Alternative methods: disabling via ADB or custom firmware

If none of the above methods have helped, radical measures remain. ADB-commands or custom firmware installation (e.g. LineageOS or Pixel Experience) are suitable for advanced users and require unlocking the bootloader.

To disable notifications via ADB:

1. Activate Developer Mode (click 7 times on the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone).
2. Enable USB debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell settings put global call_recording_notification_enabled 0

This command disables the system notification about recording calls at the Android level, however, after updating the firmware settings can reset.

If you’re willing to go further, installing custom firmware without Xiaomi’s pre-built services is guaranteed to solve the problem.

• 🔧 Requires unlocking the bootloader (loss of warranty).
• 📱 It can cause unstable camera or sensor operation.
• 🔄 Reconfigure the device from scratch.

💡

Using ADB or custom firmware is a last resort, and make sure to back up your data via Mi Cloud or TWRP before doing so.

═══

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording calls to Xiaomi