Have you recorded an important conversation on a Xiaomi Mi 8 voice recorder but can't find the file? Or accidentally deleted a voice message on WhatsApp and want to restore it? In this article, we'll look at all the possible places where audio recordings can be stored on your smartphone, from standard folders to hidden system directories.
The Mi 8 (codenamed dipper) is that it runs on MIUI, Xiaomi's proprietary shell, which sometimes changes standard file storage paths. For example, the recorder here may not be in /Recordings/, as on pure Android, but elsewhere. We analyzed all versions of MIUI for this model (9 to 14) and collected current data.
Important: If you're looking for system sounds (alarm clock tunes, notifications), they're different from user records, and this is discussed in a separate section below.
1. Standard place: the folder of the recorder in MIUI
By default, the Dictaphone app (mic icon) saves files to:
/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/or (in new versions of MIUI):
/storage/emulated/0/Recordings/To get there:
- Open Explorer (the folder icon on the desktop).
- Go to the Internal Memory section → MIUI → sound_recorder.
- The files are formatted.m4a or.mp3 and named by date (e.g, REC_20260515_123022.m4a).
⚠️ Warning: If there's no folder, check if you've reassigned the save path to the recorder settings:
- Open the recorder.
- Tap on. ⚙️ (gear) → Preservation site.
- If another route is indicated, for example, SD-map, look for the records there.
💡
If there are many records, sort them by the date of change in the Explorer – it is easier to find the desired file.
2. Voice messages from messengers
Audio from WhatsApp, Telegram or Viber is stored separately from the recordings of the recorder.
| messenger | The path to audio files | Format |
|---|---|---|
| /storage/emulated/0/WhatsApp/Media/WhatsApp Voice Notes/ | .opus (or.mp3 in older versions) | |
| Telegram | /storage/emulated/0/Telegram/Telegram Audio/ | .ogg or.mp3 |
| Viber | /storage/emulated/0/Android/media/com.viber.voip/media/ | .mp3 |
🔍 How to find out:
- 📁 Use Explorer or File Manager (e.g. Solid Explorer).
- 🔎 Enable the display of hidden folders (in the conductor settings).
- 🎧 Listen to the file directly in the explorer to make sure it is the right record.
⚠️ Note: On WhatsApp, voice messages are automatically deleted after 30 days unless they are manually saved (click on the message). → ⬇️ Save).
System sounds and notifications
If you're looking for standard MIUI (alarm clock, SMS, notifications) sounds, not user records, they're stored in system folders, and you can only access them with root rights or through ADB.
Ways to System Audio Files:
/system/media/audio/
/system/product/media/audio/
/vendor/overlay/media/audio/🛠️ How to view without root:
- Connect your phone to your PC and use ADB:
- Or install a file manager that supports root (such as Root Explorer).
📌 You'll find it in these folders:
- 🔔 alarms/ — alarm-ring;
- 📱 notifications/ — notification;
- 🎵 ringtones/ — ringtones;
- 🎤 ui/ — System sounds (pressing, locking the screen).
How to change the system sound without root?
4. Hidden records: cache and temporary files
Sometimes audio files are saved in temporary folders, especially if the recording is interrupted or the application is closed in an emergency.
/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/[package_name]/cache/
/storage/emulated/0/Android/obb/[package_name]/🔍 How to find out:
- Open Explorer → Internal Memory → Android → Data
- Look for folders with application names: com.miui.soundrecorder – voice recorder; com.whatsapp – WhatsApp; org.telegram.messenger – Telegram.
cache
.tmp
.m4a
.amr
⚠️ Warning: Temporary files may be corrupted. Before listening, copy them to another folder and rename them to.mp3 or.m4a.
Enable the display of hidden folders in the conductor |
Check the folders /Android/data/ and /Android/obb/|
Search files with extensions.tmp,.m4a,.amr,.opus|
Copy the files found to a secure location before listening-->
5. Recovery of deleted records
If the audio file has been deleted, you can try to restore it. On Xiaomi Mi 8, you can do this:
| Method | Tools | Chances of success |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery from the basket | MIUI conductor (Basket folder) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (If the file has been deleted recently) |
| Disk scanner. | DiskDigger, Recuva (to root) | ⭐⭐⭐ (It depends on the fragmentation of memory) |
| Backup copy | Google Drive, Mi Cloud | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (if automatic reservation is enabled) |
📌 Step-by-step instructions for DiskDigger:
- Install DiskDigger from Google Play.
- Select the full analysis (root required).
- Mark the file types: Audio (M4A, MP3, OGG).
- Click Scan and wait for the results.
- Save the files found on SD-map.
⚠️ Note: Recording telephone conversations may violate the laws of your country, and in Russia, this requires the consent of the interlocutor (Article 138 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
💡
The side of the app often offers cloud-based backup of records – this protects against file loss when you reset your phone.