Recording phone conversations on Xiaomi smartphones is a useful feature for preserving important conversations, confirming agreements or recording threats. However, the standard “Recording of the conversation has begun” audible alert, which automatically plays at the beginning of each recorded call, often becomes a problem. This sound is not only annoying to the interlocutor, but can also violate privacy, many countries prohibit hidden recording without notifying the other party.
In this article, we’ll look at all the working ways to disable call recording alerts on Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and Black Shark devices running MIUI 12-14. You’ll learn how to remove sound through standard settings, third-party apps and even system files (for advanced users), and why some methods may not work on your model and what to do about it.
Why Xiaomi is forced to turn on the notification of the record
Xiaomi has added a mandatory audio notification to record calls for a reason, for several key reasons:
- 📜 Legal requirements: In most countries (including Russia, the EU and the United States), the concealed recording of conversations without the consent of the interlocutor is considered to be a violation of the law.
- 🛡️ Google Play policy: From 2019, apps to record calls in the Play Market are required to notify the interlocutor. Xiaomi has integrated this rule at the firmware level.
- 🔒 Protection against fraud: Alert reduces the risk of using the record for malicious purposes (blackmail, extortion).
However, in practice, the sound often interferes with:
- 📞 When recording a business call, the interlocutor may refuse to continue the conversation.
- 🔇 In noisy environments (street, transport) the alert may not be audible, but the recording is still recorded.
- 📱 On some models (Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro) sound is played even when the speaker is switched off.
⚠️ Note: Disabling the alert may violate local law.In Russia, according to Art. 138 of the Criminal Code, recording a conversation without the consent of the interlocutor is allowed only in cases where it is conducted in personal interests (for example, to protect rights). The use of such a record in court or public distribution without the consent of the other party may entail liability.
Method 1: Disable the alert through the settings of the application “Phone”
The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in settings of the Phone app, which works on most Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12-14, but may not be available on some models for the European market (due to strict GDPR requirements).
Instructions:
- Open the Phone app (the tube icon on the home screen).
- Press three points. ⋮ in the upper right corner and select Settings.
- Go to the Recording of conversations (or Call Recording on firmware in English).
- Find the Recording announcement option and turn off the slider.
- Save the changes and restart the smartphone (recommended for settings).
If there is no such item, then your firmware does not support disabling the notification via the menu, in which case move on to the following ways.
Application opens"|Version. MIUI 12 or newer|No restrictions on operator|The device is not corporate (c) MDM)-->
Method 2: Using third-party applications to record
If the standard settings don't allow you to remove the sound, you can use alternative applications to record calls, which often offer more features, including hidden recording without alerts.
- 📱 Android 9.+ (And that's all Xiaomi smartphones after 2019, and apps are not allowed to record sound from a microphone during a call because of Google's restrictions, so many programs use workarounds that may not work on all devices.
- 🔊 Some apps (such as Cube Call Recorder) still play the notification sound, but it can be replaced with a quiet signal.
- 🛡️ Applications from third-party sources (not Google Play) may contain malicious code. Install only proven programs.
Recommended applications (tested on Redmi Note 11 and POCO F4):
| Annex | Support for MIUI | Alarming | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cube Call Recorder ACR | Yes (partially) | We can turn it off. | Google Play |
| Call Recorder – Automatic | Yes (on Android 10-12) | Silent signal. | Google Play |
| Boldbeast Call Recorder | Yes (requires manual settings) | Shutting down. | Official website |
Boldbeast Call Recorder (the most reliable solution) requires:
- Install the application and open it.
- In the menu, select Record Settings → Record Mode and specify Mode 1 (for MIUI).
- Turn off the option to play the notification sound.
- Use root access if you have root rights.
⚠️ Attention: Call recording apps may conflict with Xiaomi's built-in voice recorder. Turn off standard recording in your phone's settings before using, or there may be crashes or duplicate files.
Standard from Xiaomi|Cube Call Recorder|Boldbeast|Other |I Do not record calls-->
Method 3: Editing system files (for advanced users)
If none of the previous methods worked, you can try disabling the notification at the system file level. This method requires root rights or unlocked bootloader, as well as knowledge of working with ADB. Wrong actions can lead to a firmware failure or loss of warranty!
Instructions for devices with MIUI 13/14:
- Install ADB on your computer and connect your smartphone in debugging mode (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → Additional settings → For developers → Debugging over USB).
- Open the command line (cmd) and type: adb shell su mount -o rw,remount /system
- Go to the folder with system sounds: cd /system/media/audio/ui
- Find the alert file (usually called the alert file) call_record_start.ogg or recording_start.mp3) and rename it: mv call_record_start.ogg call_record_start.ogg.bak
- Reboot the device: reboot
If the alert sound is gone after the reboot, the task is done. If it's not, the file is somewhere else or has a different name.
/system/media/audio/notifications/
/system/media/audio/alarms/On some firmware (HyperOS, MIUI EU), sound can be sewn into framework-res.apk. In this case, you will need to decompile the file using APKTool and manually delete the resource.
What if the phone doesn’t turn on after editing files?
Method 4: Disabling the recording through operator settings
Few people know, but some mobile operators (e.g. MTS, Beeline, Tele2) block the ability to record calls at the network level, this is done to protect subscribers from unauthorized recording of conversations. If you tried to turn off the alert, but the sound still plays, check the operator's settings.
How to check:
- Call your operator’s short number (e.g. 0890 for Beeline, 0880 for MTS).
You can also temporarily switch to another operator (e.g. Yota or Tinkoff Mobile) where there are no such restrictions and check if the alert sound is gone.
💡
If you often record calls for work, consider using a second number (such as Google Voice or virtual SIM) that can be set up without restrictions.
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even after the alert is turned off, Xiaomi users are faced with typical errors.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The sound of the alert is still there. | Hard-restricted firmware (e.g. MIUI Global for the EU) | Install MIUI EU or HyperOS via Fastboot |
| Recording not retained | Lack of disk space or application conflict | Clear the memory and disable other recording programs |
| Alert plays, but there's no record. | Failure of the standard dictaphone | Reset the settings of the Phone application in Settings → Applications |
| The sound is only in the headphones. | Setting up the default sound output | Check the settings → Sound → Media output |
If neither of these methods worked, your Xiaomi model may have hardware limitations, such as the Redmi 9A and POCO M3, where the alert sound is played through a separate chip, and you can only physically disable it (which is not recommended).
💡
On devices with HyperOS (the new firmware from Xiaomi), the call recording alert is turned off via Settings → Privacy → Recording conversations. The standard path through the Phone app may not work.
Alternative methods of recording without alerts
If you can’t turn off the sound, but recording calls is critical, consider alternatives:
- 🎧 Use a second phone, put a second smartphone next to you (even the old one) and record the conversation through the microphone using the Voice Recorder, minus the poor sound quality.
- 💻 Record it through a computer. Connect your smartphone to your PC, turn it on speakerphone, and record audio through Audacity or OBS Studio.
- ☎️ Conferencing services. Create a conference through Zoom or Google Meet that will record sound.
- 📻 FM-transmitter + Put it on a smartphone. FM-transmitter, set it to a free frequency and record the sound to a radio with a recording function.
The most reliable, but expensive, way to do this is to buy an external recorder (such as the Sony ICD-UX570 or Olympus WS-853), which supports recording phone conversations via Bluetooth or cable without appearing to be audible.