Call Recording on Xiaomi Redmi 9: How to Enable and Configure (all ways 2026)

Why you need a recording of conversations and why it is not by default

The Xiaomi Redmi 9’s phone record feature can be useful in dozens of situations, from fixing important business agreements to proving contentious issues with carriers. However, many users are faced with the option either missing from the menu or intermittently operating, the reason being Google’s policy and MIUI restrictions: since 2022, call record defaults are blocked at the Android level due to privacy requirements.

On the Redmi 9 (M2003J15SC/M2004J19C), the situation is complicated by the firmware version: in MIUI 12.5+, the function can be hidden even if technically possible. But not all is lost - there are at least 4 working ways to activate the recording, including hidden settings and third-party applications. The main thing is to understand the risks: in some countries, recording conversations without the consent of the interlocutor may violate local laws.

Method 1: Standard recording via the “Phone” application

Most versions of MIUI for Redmi 9 have call recording built into the standard Phone app, but it needs to be enabled beforehand, and it's the safest method, because it doesn't require any superuser or third-party permissions.

1. Open the Phone app (the tube icon on the home screen).
2. Slip on three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings.
3. Scroll down to the Record of Conversations section (if there is no item, see Method 3).
4. Activate the Write automatically switch or select Write manually.
5. Specify which calls to record: All, outgoing or only incoming.

When you activate it during the conversation, the Record button will appear on the screen. Press it to start fixing. All files will be saved in the folder. MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec Importantly, if you don't have an option in your settings, your firmware is blocking it, go to alternative methods.

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If the recording button is grey and inactive, check if access to the microphone for the Phone application is disabled in the permission settings.

Method 2: Use Google Drive (for MIUI Global)

On MIUI Global firmware (international), call recording can be integrated with Google Drive, a technique that doesn't work on all devices, but it's worth checking out:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → Google → Google services → Backup.
• 🔍 Scroll down to the Call History section and SMS and tap on him.
• 🎤 Enable the option to Save recordings of conversations (if any).
• ☁️ Select a Google account where the files will be downloaded.

All records will automatically sync to the cloud, with the downside being the storage limit (15GB free) and possible loading delays, and not all MIUI versions support this feature: Redmi 9 with MIUI 13+ may not have it.

Method 3: Enabling a Hidden Record through an Engineering Menu

If the standard methods don't work, you can try activating the recording via the Engineering Menu (CIT), which requires caution, as incorrect changes can disrupt the phone. On Redmi 9 with MIUI 12.0.1-12.5.8 firmware, the recording of conversations is hidden in the CIT menu under the code # #36446337#.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##36446337###
2. In the menu that appears, select Audio → Call Recording.
3. Activate the Enable Call Recording option.
4. Go back to the basic settings of the phone and restart the device.

After the reboot, the Phone app should have a write button. If the CIT menu doesn't open, your firmware will block it, try upgrading to the latest version of MIUI or use method 4.

Method 4: Third-party recording apps (bypassing Android restrictions)

If the built-in methods don’t work, third-party apps will come to the rescue, but with Android 10+, Google has imposed strict restrictions: apps are forbidden to record sound during calls through a microphone, and this can only be avoided by accessing notifications or super-user rights (root).

The best proven applications for Redmi 9:

For the Cube ACR (the most popular option without root), the setting looks like this:

Enable notification access in Android | Select the sound source "Loud" (if standard) | Disable battery optimization for the application | Check the recording of the test call-->

⚠️ Note: apps without root can only record your voice (through a microphone) and not the voice of the interlocutor.To fully record both ends of the conversation on Redmi 9, you will need to unlock the bootloader and install a custom core with support for recording.

Where records are stored and how to export them

By default, call records files on Xiaomi Redmi 9 are saved in one of three folders depending on the recording method:

• 📁 /Internal Storage/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ — standard recording through the application "Phone".
• ☁️ Google Drive/Call Recordings/ — If you have synchronized with Google.
• 📱 /Internal Storage/[Name of the annex]/Records/ — third-party recording.

To export the records:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB (select File Transfer Mode).
2. Go to the appropriate folder (see above) and copy files with the.amr or.mp3 extension.
3. To send by mail or messenger, use MIUI Explorer: highlight files → Share.

Record files usually weigh little (1-3 MB per minute), but if there are many, we recommend archiving them to ZIP before sending them. Any player that supports.amr format (for example, VLC or Windows Media Player with codecs) will be suitable for listening to on a PC.

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Standard records with Redmi 9 are saved in AMR format with a bitrate of 12.2 kbit / s. For better quality, use third-party applications with a bitrate setting of up to 128 kbit / s.

Problems and Solutions: Why the Recording Doesn’t Work

Even when set up correctly, recording calls on Redmi 9 can fail, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

If none of these methods helped, check:

• 📵 Regional restrictions: some firmware for India or the EU has disabled the entry at the software level.
• 🔄 Version MIUI: Update your phone to the latest stable firmware through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🛠️ Application conflict: disable other programs that use the microphone (e.g. voice assistants).

⚠️ Note: Redmi 9 with firmware MIUI 13.0.4+ Russia and EU call recordings may be blocked due to demands GDPR. In this case, only changing the firmware region (risky) or using an external voice recorder will help.

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording calls on Redmi 9