Owners of budget and mid-budget devices often face the need to save important information voiced during the dialogue. Xiaomi Redmi 9, running on the Android operating system with a proprietary shell MIUI, provides the user with a wide range of options, but the function of recording conversations here is implemented with its own nuances. In modern versions of firmware, Google introduces strict privacy restrictions, which makes the standard mechanism may not work as users of older smartphones are used to.
To make matters worse, different regions and versions of MIUI have different calling apps pre-installed, whether it's Google Dialer or MIUI Dialer, whether you can record a conversation with regular means or have to look for workarounds, and understanding the audio stream architecture of your version of the OS will be key to success.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the available methods of recording audio streams, from simple menu settings to installing specialized patches. You will learn why in some cases the interlocutor hears a recording warning, and how to avoid it.
Features of the audio system in MIUI 12 and Android 10
The Redmi 9 smartphone originally shipped with Android 10, which was a watershed moment for the voice recorder feature. Google changed its security policy by banning apps from directly accessing the voice mixer during a call. Previously, recordings were automatic and unobtrusive, but now the system requires explicit notification or blocks audio capture altogether through the standard API.
Depending on the regional version of the firmware (Global, EEA, Russia), your device may have a different set of services. There are almost no restrictions on the Chinese versions of MIUI, while global builds strictly follow Google's policy, which means that the functionality of the recorder can be radically different even for two identical phones purchased from different stores.
Technically, the recording process depends on which audio channel the application uses. If you use a voice call, the recording will be clean. If the application is forced to use a microphone (Microphone), you will hear yourself well, and the interlocutor will hear quietly and echo, which is why choosing the recording method is critical to the quality of the final file.
⚠️ Note: Before you start setting up, check the Android version in the Settings section. → Android 11 and 12 may have different methods due to security updates introduced after Redmi 9.
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If you travel frequently, remember that laws on recording conversations vary from country to country, and some states require the consent of the other party.
Checking the type of installed call app
The first step before any setup is to diagnose the current state of the system, you need to determine exactly which application handles incoming and outgoing calls, and then your strategy depends on it. Redmi 9 owners are most likely to encounter two interface options.
Open the app you normally call through, and click three dots in the corner of the screen or go to settings. If you see "Call Record" with automation, you're lucky you have a MIUI Dialer. If the interface is minimalist and resembles standard Android, Google Phone is probably active.
You can also check this through the settings menu of the smartphone itself, go to the app section and find the appropriate software, and the app's properties will show its full name and version, which is an important detail, because there are special modified versions for Google Dialer that return stripped-down functionality.
- 📞 MIUI Dialer: Full support for automatic recording, no audio notifications for the interlocutor, flexible settings.
- 📱 Google Phone: Mandatory voice warning "Conversation recording started" that both people hear, no settings in the menu.
- ⚙️ Third-party applications: Run on top of any system, but require complex resolutions and often have stability issues.
Set up a staff record through MIUI Dialer
If the diagnostics show that the native application from Xiaomi is available, the setup will take no more than a minute, which is the most stable method and does not require additional software installation, and the sound quality will be maximum, since direct digital stream is used.
Go to the Phone app and click on the gear settings. Find the Call Record section. There are two main modes available to you: manually record the button during a call and automatically record all incoming or outgoing calls. For convenience, it is recommended to activate the automatic mode.
You can also set up the behavior of the recording in the same menu, for example, you can turn on a hidden recording so that there is no sound at the beginning, or you can set up a notification after a conversation is completed. MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec, How to find them easily through the file manager.
☑️ Set up automatic recording
It is important to note that in some global firmware, Xiaomi artificially hides these settings, even if the application is formally MIUI Dialer, in which case it may be necessary to change the region in the phone settings to India or China, which sometimes unlocks hidden features.
Solving problems with Google Dialer and sound notifications
Google Phone is more complicated, and since some versions, Google has enforced voice notifications that can’t be turned off by standard means, to comply with the laws of a number of countries, but to create discomfort for users who want to keep the information discreetly.
There is a method of replacing the system file of the recorder with a modified version. APK-A specially assembled Google Dialer file (often labeled "No recording prompt" or "Silent recording") and install it through the Google Dialer ADB It's a file manager with system application replacement rights, but it's hard to do that on Redmi 9 without root rights.
The alternative is to use special Magisk patches if the phone unlocks the bootloader and gets superuser rights, and the module replaces the system library that handles the audio mixer, eliminating the need for notification, which is an advanced method that requires caution.
Risks of using modified APKs
⚠️ Note: When using modified versions of Google Phone, banking applications may stop working due to a security breach.Be prepared for a temporary shutdown of Google Pay or analogues.
Use of third-party recorder applications
If standard methods are not suitable or the recording quality is poor, applications from independent developers come to the rescue, Call Recorder - Cube ACR is considered the leader in this niche. This application can bypass the limitations of Android, using special accessibility services and interception of the audio stream.
To work properly, the Xiaomi Redmi 9 software needs to be given the maximum number of permissions, including allowing display over other windows, access to microphone, phone and contacts, without which the app will record silence or only your voice.
In the settings of the recorder itself, you often have to manually select the source of the sound, and experimentally select the "Voice Call" or "Mic" mode, and in MIUI, it is important to turn off the energy savings for this application, otherwise the system will kill the recording process a few minutes after the screen is turned off.
| Annex | Type of record | Difficulty setting up | Stability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cube ACR | Hardware/Software | Medium | Tall. |
| Automatic Call Recorder | Microphone | Low. | Medium |
| Blackbox Call Recorder | Systemic | Tall. | Tall. |
| TapeACall | Conference liaison | Low. | Depends on the operator. |
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Third-party apps are the only solution for Google Dialer owners without root rights, but they require careful permissions setup in MIUI.
Comparison of recording methods and selection of optimal
The choice of the particular method depends on your technical skills and quality requirements. The MIUI Dialer is ideal for the average user: it is reliable, free and integrated into the system.
The system file replacement method (patches, mods) is better for quality and lack of notifications, but carries risks of system instability. This is a choice for enthusiasts who are ready to reflash the phone in case of an error.
Third-party applications are a middle ground. They're safe for the system as a whole, but they may require a subscription to unlock all the features, and they can consume more battery power because they're constantly monitoring the status of the call in the background.
- 🏆 Best quality: Staff MIUI Dialer or Google Dialer with root rights.
- 🛡️ Security: Third-Party Apps from Google Play (Cube) ACR).
- 🚫 Worst Option: Recording via speakerphone to a second device (low quality, lots of noise).
Where are the records stored and how to transfer them
After successful recording, files are stored in the smartphone's internal storage.Standard path for Xiaomi's native voice recorder: Internal memory → MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec. Files usually have a format.mp3 or.aac, which provides good compression without loss of speech intelligibility.
Third-party applications can store data in their folders, such as in the root of the disk or in the directory. Android/data/.... To find them, use the standard Files Explorer and sort by date of creation. Any media player built into the system will be suitable for listening.
To save important information, it is recommended to periodically copy records to your computer or to cloud storage. MIUI has a built-in synchronization function with Mi Cloud, but the amount of free storage is limited. The alternative is to synchronize the folder with records via Google Drive or Yandex.Disk.
⚠️ Warning: When you reset your phone to a factory setting (Hard Reset), all files in internal memory, including the folder with the records of conversations, will be permanently deleted.