Where to record conversations on Xiaomi Redmi Note: the full way

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face the need to save an important conversation for later listening. However, after the call is completed, the user may find that finding the saved file is not as easy as it seems at first glance. MIUI and HyperOS have their own specific directory structure, which is different from standard Android.

Finding the right audio recording can take a long time if you don't know the exact location of the directories. In this article, we'll take a look at all the possible ways in which the system automatically stores your dialogues, and learn how to manage it. Understanding the file structure will allow you to quickly find the right files or transfer them to your computer.

Note that file layouts may vary slightly depending on the operating system version. We will look at current paths for modern shells, including MIUI 12, MIUI 13, MIUI 14 and the latest HyperOS. This will help you avoid confusion when navigating the internal storage of the device.

Standard path in system storage

By default, all the phone records made by the built-in functionality go to the root folder of the internal drive, which is the most logical place that the system creates when the recording function is first activated, and the path to it always begins with the designation Internal Storage or Internal Memory.

Inside the root directory you need to find a folder with the name MIUI. This is where the main system data of the manufacturer's applications is stored. sound_recorder, where all audio files created by the voice recorder and the call recording module are accumulated.

But the conversations themselves often lie deeper. sound_recorder may be subfolder call_rec. This is where the phone files are stored, and the file name is usually formed from the phone number and the date of the call, which makes it easier to search if you remember when the conversation took place.

💡

If the folder call_rec It's empty, check the recording quality settings, maybe switch the codec to a higher one for better audibility.

The complete path to files is as follows:

/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec

In some cases, especially on older versions of firmware, the structure might be different, so the files could be in the folder. MIUI/sound_recorder Always check the contents of the parent directories if there is nothing in the final folder.

Search through built-in conductor

The fastest way to get to the files you want is to use the standard File Manager app, which is preinstalled on every Xiaomi Redmi Note, which allows you to visualize the file system without having to connect your smartphone to your computer.

Open the app and go to the folder tab, and this shows the directory structure as a list, and you have to open the folder sequentially as you move along the path: MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec. This method is convenient because you see the amount of space occupied and can immediately sort by date.

If you can't find the folder manually, search inside the explorer. Click on the magnifying glass and enter an audio file extension like.m4a or.mp3. The system will instantly filter all the audio files on the device.

• 📁 Open the “Conductor” app on the main screen.
• 📂 Go to the “Folders” section at the bottom of the interface.
• 🔍 Find and open the directory. MIUI.
• 🎙️ Consistently move into sound_recorder and call_rec.

In this case, the usual search methods will not work. You will have to enter a special code or password that you set when you created the hidden folder.

Access via Dictator

In the MIUI and HyperOS shells, there is a separate Dictator app that serves as a central hub for managing all audio recordings, and it is the most convenient way to not only find, but also listen to, edit or send a recording to the interlocutor.

Run the Dictaphone app from the app menu. On the home screen, you'll see a list of all the records. On the top, there's usually tabs or filters that allow you to switch between Dictaphone Records and Call Records. Select a category of calls to see a list of all the dialogs.

Click on the recording to open the player, and you can have basic editing functions like cropping the beginning and end, changing the volume, and if you click on three dots in the corner or the "More information" button, you can see the full path to the file or go to where it is in the conductor.

⚠️ Attention: Deleting the recording through the Dictator application leads to the permanent erasure of the file from the phone's memory.

The app also allows you to rename files, which is very useful for archiving important conversations, instead of a standard name like this. 20231025_143000 You can give the file a clear name, like the Rental Office Contract, which will save you time in the future.

Hidden system directories and Android 11+

Starting with Android 11 and up, Google has implemented tough restrictions on accessing system folders.This is done for security reasons, but for users, this means that some paths may be hidden from third-party file managers. Xiaomi's standard Explorer usually bypasses these restrictions, but apps from the Play Market may not see the Android/data folder.

In newer versions of MIUI, records can be duplicated or transferred to secure areas of the system. If you use a third-party conductor (such as Total Commander or Solid Explorer), you may need special permission. If you try to log in to the system folder, the application will request access to Special Features or issue a system confirmation window.

Sometimes, conversation records can be found in the Android/data/com.android.soundrecorder/files/Recordings folder. This is an alternative path, typical of stock Android, but also found on some global versions of Xiaomi firmware.

• 🔒 New Android versions block direct access to folder Android/data.
• 📱 Use only a standard conductor. MIUI secure access.
• ⚙️ Third-party managers require special permissions through ADB system settings.
• 💾 Backup of this folder can be difficult without root rights.

If you are trying to copy files to your computer USB-cable, the computer may also not display the contents of some folders, in which case only transfer over the cloud or using wireless file transfer methods such as Mi Share or the use of a computer. FTP-server.

Configuring the Ways of Save and Cloud Services

Users often wonder if it is possible to change the default location of the record saving. Unfortunately, in standard MIUI settings there is no option to immediately write files to the SD memory card.

However, you can set up automatic synchronization of the record folder with the cloud service. Xiaomi Cloud or Google Drive is ideal for this. In the voice recorder settings, find the "Cloud Sync" option and activate it. Now each new record will automatically download to the Internet.

This solves two problems: saving space on your phone and ensuring that your data is safe, so if you lose your phone or it goes down, the records stay in the cloud, and you can restore them on any other device by logging in to your account.

For advanced users, there is an opportunity to redirect the recording path through ADB-The team created a symbolic reference to SD-But this method requires a computer, a driver installed. ADB A mistake in the teams can lead to unstable operation of the system.

adb shell pm grant com.android.soundrecorder android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE

This command (if it's relevant to your version of the OS) gives you extended rights to the voice recorder application. SD-The card in the settings often remains inaccessible without modifying the system file build.prop, which is not recommended for ordinary users.

File location table in different versions of MIUI

The folder structure may vary depending on the firmware version and region (Chinese, Global, European). Below is a summary table that will help you navigate depending on your model and year of release of the device.

As you can see from the table, the file format also changed. Older versions used MP3, which is compatible with all players. Newer versions moved to AAC/M4A, which provides better quality with a smaller file size, but can require conversion for older playback devices.

Access problems and their solution

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the conversation was recorded (the indicator was active), but the file is nowhere. This may be due to a lack of space in memory. If the free space is less than 100 MB, the system can block the creation of new files or interrupt the recording.

Another reason is a malfunction of the Phone or Dictator app, in which case cleaning the cache helps. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find Dictator and click Clear Cache. The data will not be deleted, but the temporary error files will be erased.

⚠️ Note: If you use third-party applications to record calls (not built-in), they may save files to their own folders, such as in the case of a third-party application. /Recordings or /CallRecorder memory-root.

Also check permissions. The application must have access to microphone and memory. Without Storage permission, it cannot physically save the file to disk. Check this in the permission menu in the privacy settings.

💡

The absence of a record file is most often due to memory overflow or lack of storage permission for a recorder application.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)