How to turn off automatic recording of conversations on Xiaomi

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a situation where the device automatically stores audio recordings of all incoming and outgoing calls without the user’s knowledge.This feature, built into the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS system, can by default be activated for certain contacts or all numbers, which quickly fills the internal memory of the gadget. Many users notice the problem only when the storage is full, or when the interlocutor hears a characteristic warning about the start of recording, which creates awkward situations.

The system recorder in Redmi and Poco phones works at a deep level of integration with telephony, so simply removing files from the folder does not solve the problem of their reappearance. To permanently stop recording conversations, you need to change the configuration of the phone application itself or the system recorder. In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithms for different versions of firmware, since the location of the switches may vary depending on the regional version of the software.

It is worth noting that in recent legislative updates in some countries, the functionality of automatic recording has been limited or changed by Google developers, which also affected the operation of stock applications in smartphones of the Chinese brand. Therefore, the methods of disabling can range from simple settings in the menu to more complex manipulation of regional parameters.

Analysis of the reasons for automatic recording on MIUI and HyperOS

The fundamental reason for recordings is that a dedicated module is embedded in the system call app. Unlike third-party apps from Google Play, this tool has privileged access to the audio stream, allowing it to bypass Android's standard limits on recording sound at time. Often users accidentally activate this feature by trying to set up a quick dial or changing the region of the device where recording functions can be unlocked by default.

Another important aspect is synchronization with cloud services: If you have Mi Cloud or Google Drive enabled sync, files can be duplicated and take up space not only on the device but also in cloud storage, which creates the illusion that recording can not be stopped, because even after cleaning the local folder, files continue to appear again. Understanding the architecture of the system recorder helps to avoid unnecessary actions to clean up the memory.

It's important to distinguish between two types of recording: manual, which you initiate with a button during a conversation, and automatic, which starts itself when a particular contact or all numbers are called. The second type most often raises questions from users who want privacy. In some cases, automatic recording could be enabled by a third-party application that has access to the microphone, but in the Xiaomi ecosystem, the culprit is the regular functionality.

Disable recording via the application “Phone” (Google Dialer)

Most modern Xiaomi models, especially those designed for the global market (Global Version), have a standard application from Google. The interface is minimal, and the settings are hidden in the menu. To start, open the standard green call icon, which is usually located in the dock bar at the bottom of the screen. You need to get into the expanded settings menu, which is hidden behind three vertical points in the upper right corner of the interface.

After clicking on the menu, select Settings. In the list that opens, look for a section that could be called Call Recording or Call Recording. That's where the Auto Record master switch is located. If it's active, the system will save every conversation. Turn off this switch to prevent audio from being saved in the background.

Within the same menu, there is often a "Select Contacts" option, and if you want to leave a record only for important numbers (such as a bank or delivery service), but remove it for others, select "Selected Numbers" instead of "All Numbers" to allow you to flexibly configure filtering of stored dialogs. Remember to confirm actions if the system requests permission to change privacy settings.

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In the Google Dialer app, the automatic write setting is global for all calls unless specific exceptions to the contact list are made.

Setting up a system voice recorder in the shell of MIUI

In devices that use the branded MIUI call (more commonly found in Chinese versions or older models), the logic of the work is slightly different. Here, the process is responsible for a separate Dictophone application or an integrated module in the call settings. Go to your smartphone Settings, scroll down the list and find the Applications section, and then select System Applications.

In the list, look for Calls or Phone. Inside the Call Settings menu, look for Call Record. Here you'll see the Auto Record slider. It needs to be put in an inactive position. The feature of MIUI is that even when automatic recording is turned off, the manual button can remain available right on the screen during a conversation.

Also, check the settings of the Dictophone app itself. Open it, click on the menu (three bars or dots) and select Settings. Scroll to Record Calls. Make sure the checkbox is only on Never or Selected Numbers if you really need a selective entry. Some versions of MIUI 13 and MIUI 14 may duplicate these settings, so checking both places is mandatory.

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If after turning off the settings are reset, try clearing the cache of the Phone application through the Apps menu → Application Management → Phone → Memory → Clean.

Record management for individual contacts

A common situation is to set up a record for a particular subscriber that the user forgets about. To check this, open the Contacts app or go to the Contacts tab in the call, find the number on the list that makes the automatic record, and open the card of that subscriber.

In the contact card, find a menu (usually three dots or a "More" button) and select Record Settings or Auto Record. If there's a tick, uncheck it. This action is prioritized over global settings, so even when the shared record is turned off, for that particular number, the audio can continue to be saved.

This feature is useful for journalists or tech support, but it often becomes unnecessary in the home. Make sure there are no unnecessary contacts in the Selected Numbers list. If you don't remember who you installed this option to, the easiest way to temporarily turn on the record for everyone and then turn it off globally - this often resets the individual settings for individual contacts in some versions of the firmware.

Influence of region and firmware version on functionality

Xiaomi’s policies and national laws directly affect the availability of the recording feature. In European firmware versions (EUR region) or global (Global), the automatic recording feature is often completely cut out of the application code or hidden, because the EU has strict privacy laws (GDPR), while in Indian (IN) or Chinese (CN) versions, this feature is present by default.

If you change region in settings (Settings → Additional → Region), the functionality of the call may change, for example, when you switch to Singapore or India, the entry menu may appear, and when you return to Germany or the United States, it may disappear, which explains why two users with the same phone model may have a different interface.

Below is a table showing the dependence of the presence of the function on the firmware version:

Understanding the origin of your device helps you find the right settings faster or realize that the features are not physically in your version of the software. If you bought a phone brought from China, but flashed on the global version, the functionality may not work.

Cleaning up accumulated files and freeing up memory

Once you have stopped recording, it becomes imperative to delete the accumulated “ballast” files of conversation records are usually stored in internal memory in hidden folders.

The path to files may vary depending on the version of Android and MIUI. The most common structure used is the following:

/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/

Or in the newer versions of Android (11, 12, 13, 14):

/Android/data/com.android.soundrecorder/files/CallRecord/

Once you enter this directory, you will see a list of audio files, highlight all unnecessary entries (you can select "All" in the menu) and click the delete button. Remember to clean the basket in the explorer after that, as the files can continue to take up space until final deletion.

⚠️ Warning: Before mass deletion, make sure that there are no critical conversations (such as with a bank or support team) among the records that you may need to resolve disputes.

You should also check cloud storage, if you have voice recorder sync enabled, files may have gone to the server, go to your Mi Account settings and check the cloud for large audio volumes.

Solving problems: if the recording is not disabled

In rare cases, users encounter bugs when the record switch fails to respond to taps or spontaneously turns back on.This can be caused by a conflict of system processes or damage to application configuration files. The first step should always be a banal but effective device reboot that resets temporary errors.

If the reboot didn’t work, try updating the Phone and Dictator app through the GetApps or Google Play app store. Developers often release patches that fix these behavioral errors. It’s also worth checking for updates to the system itself in the About Phone section.

⚠️ Note: If you use third-party applications to record calls (not system) they may conflict with the built-in functionality.

In extreme cases, if the problem is systemic and interferes with work, you can reset the settings of the application "Phone" to the factory. → Annexes → All applications → Find the phone. → Memory. → Clean up → All the data. This will bring the call settings back to their original state, and you'll have to reset your favorite contacts and block spam calls.

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The Phone app data reset is a secure operation that doesn’t delete your phone book or call history, but resets all call settings.