Recording phone conversations on Xiaomi smartphones is a useful feature for business negotiations or storing important information, but not all users need it. Many people are faced with the fact that recording is automatically turned on, takes up space in memory or even creates legal risks in some countries. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to disable call recording on devices with MIUI 12, 13 and 14 firmware, including hidden settings and nuances for different models.
Xiaomi’s feature is that the recording function can work differently depending on the firmware version and regional software. For example, on global versions of MIUI, the option is often hidden in the depth of the menu, and on Chinese versions it may not be at all. We will look at universal methods that will work for most devices, from the budget Redmi Note to the flagship Xiaomi 13 and Poco F5.
Why can recording calls be dangerous?
Before we get into the instructions, it is important to understand the potential risks of this feature. In some countries (e.g. the EU or the United States), recording conversations without the consent of the interlocutor may violate privacy laws. Even if you do not plan to use the records, their accidental retention can lead to:
- 📜 Legal issues: 17 states require consent from both parties to record a conversation.
- 🔒 Personal data leak – records are stored in the device’s memory and can be retrieved when hacked.
- 📱 Memory overload – hourly recordings in format AAC They occupy up to 10 MB each.
- 🔋 Increased battery consumption – background recording activates microphone and processor.
In addition, on some Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi 10 or Poco X3 Pro), recording can be turned on automatically when you connect the headset or on a schedule, which creates additional inconvenience if the feature is not needed.
⚠️ Note: On devices with Chinese firmware (CN ROM) Call recording may not be available on the menu, but it may be hidden. Check for files with the.amr extension or.mp3 file MIUI/sound_recorder/calls.
Method 1: Disconnect via phone settings (MIUI 12-14)
The easiest method is to use the standard settings menu, which is suitable for most global firmware versions (Global ROM, EEA ROM, India ROM). The instructions are relevant for Xiaomi 11/12/13, Redmi Note 10/11/12, Poco F4/F5 and others with MIUI 12 and later.
Steps to shut down:
- Open the phone application (pipe icon).
- Click on three dots in the upper right corner (⋮) and select "Settings».
- Go to the "Conversation Recording" section (on some models - "Call recording").
- Turn off the Automatic Recording (or Auto-record) switch.
- To completely disable, uncheck the ticks from all types of calls: 📞 Incoming 📱 Outgoing 🔄 Missed.
If your menu does not contain the item “Recording conversations”, then the function is controlled through the Dictator app (see the following method).
The phone menu is open" → "Settings"
Found a section "Talk recording"
Automatic Recording switch disabled
Removed boxes from all types of calls
Reboot the phone to apply changes-->
Method 2: Control through the Dictator application
On some firmware (especially Poco and old Redmi), call recording is controlled through the standard Dictator app (com.miui.soundrecorder), which is due to the features of the integration of functions into MIUI.
Instructions:
- Open the Dictophone app (mic icon).
- Go to the "Call Records" tab (or "Call Records").
- Press three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select "Settings».
- Turn off the call autorecord option.
- To delete existing records, click “Record Management” → “Select All” → “Delete”.
If there is no Call Record tab, the function is managed via another menu (see Method 1 or 3).
| Xiaomi model | Record management | Location of settings |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 13/13 Pro | Phone appendix | Settings → Recording conversations |
| Redmi Note 12 | Dictator appendix | The "Records of Calls" tab → Settings |
| Poco F5 | Phone appendix | Three points. → Settings → Call recording |
| Black Shark 5 | Not in the global firmware | Manual deletion of files is required |
⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI for Russia (e.g. Redmi) 10C POCO M5) Call recordings may be disabled at the firmware level due to local laws, in which case the menu item will be inactive.
Method 3: Disconnect via hidden settings (for power users)
If standard methods don’t work, you can use hidden MIUI settings. This is suitable for devices with unlocked bootloader or root rights, but some commands work without them. On some models (for example, Xiaomi 12T), recording is controlled by the system service com.android.server.telecom, which can only be disabled via ADB.
Instructions via ADB (without root):
- Turn on "Debugging by" USB» in the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — press 7 times).
- Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.miui.voicerecord This will disable the system recording application.
- To delete the entire record, do: adb shell rm -rf /sdcard/MIUI/sound_recorder/calls/*
If you have root rights, you can delete system records:
su
mount -o rw,remount /system
rm /system/priv-app/VoiceRecord/VoiceRecord.apk
rm /system/priv-app/CallRecorder/CallRecorder.apk
rebootWhat if the ADB does not recognize the device?
How to delete the already saved call records?
Even after the function is disabled, old records can take up space in the device's memory, and can be deleted in several ways:
- 🗑️ Through the Files app: Open the Files» → «Categories» → «Audio. Find the folder. MIUI/sound_recorder/calls or Recordings. Select all files and click Delete».
- 🧹 Through phone settings: Go to Settings → Warehouse → Cleanup. Select "Other files» → «Call records." Click "Clear».
Through PC:
- Connect your phone to your computer in MTP mode.
- In Windows Explorer, go to Internal Memory → MIUI → sound_recorder → calls.
- Delete all files with the.amr,.mp3, or.m4a extension.
On some models (such as the Xiaomi 11 Lite NE), records can be stored in the Mi Cloud to be deleted:
- Open "Settings» → «Mi Account».
- Go to "Mi Cloud» → «Data management».
- Find the Call Records section and click Clear.
In the memory of the phone
In the Mi Cloud
On the memory card.
I don't keep records.
Another option-->
How to prevent automatic recording in the future?
To prevent the recording of calls from turning on by itself, follow the following steps:
- Turn off auto-start for the Dictophone app: Go to Settings → Apps → Application Management. Find Dictophone → Auto-Start → Turn off.
Disable access to the microphone:
- In the settings of the application "Dictophone" or "Phone" go to "Permissions".
- Turn off the Microphone.
- Update your firmware: In newer versions of MIUI (e.g. MIUI 14.0.5+), call recording is disabled by default to comply with GDPR. Update via Settings → About Phone → System Update.
💡
On devices with MIUI for the European Union (EEA ROM), call recording is disabled by default due to GDPR requirements. If you see this feature active, your firmware is unofficial or from another region.