Where to look for phone records on Xiaomi Redmi Note 5: all ways

Recording phone conversations on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 is a useful feature that helps to capture important conversations, interviews or simply save evidence. However, many users face the problem: where exactly are these records stored after a call is completed? Unlike modern models, where files automatically appear in the gallery, on the Redmi Note 5 (released in 2018), the path to records is not always obvious.

In this article, we'll look at all possible storage locations, including standard system folders, cloud services, and hidden directories, and you'll learn why records can suddenly disappear, how to restore them, and what settings affect saving. If you've never turned on a conversation record or are not sure if it works on your device, here are the answers to these questions.

Before you start searching, make sure that the recording feature is allowed in your phone’s settings. On the Redmi Note 5, it can be disabled by default due to regional restrictions or operator policies. If there is no record button in the call menu, first check the Settings → Permissions → Microphone for the Phone app.

Another thing is that records are only saved if you've explicitly triggered them during a conversation, and there's no automatic record of all calls on this model (unlike some custom firmware), and if you haven't pressed the record button, the file doesn't exist.

1. Standard storage location: Recorder folder in internal memory

By default, all conversation records on Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 stored in a hidden system folder /sdcard/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/. However, access to it may be limited, especially if you use a file manager from third-party developers (e.g., a file manager, ES Conductor or Total Commander).

To find the records:

1. Open the standard Files app (the folder icon on the desktop).
2. Go to the Category tab → Audio.
3. Scroll down the list, there should be a Recorder or CallRecord folder.
4. If there is no folder, turn on the display of hidden files: click ⋮ (three-point) → Settings → Show hidden files.

Record files are usually.amr or.mp3 formats and are named by the template:

CallRecord_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.amr

where YYYYMMDD is the date and HHMMSS is the time of the call.

☑️ What to do if the Recorder folder is empty

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⚠️ Attention: If you are using MIUI 10 Or earlier version, the folder may be called miui/voice_recorder. In that case, the way will be:

/sdcard/miui/voice_recorder/calls/

2.Alternative locations: Mi Cloud and Google Drive

If there are no records in internal memory, check cloud storage. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 can sync audio files to Mi Cloud by default (if the feature is enabled).

Open the Mi Cloud app (or go to i.mi.com):

• 📁 Go to the Backups section → Files. → Audio.
• 🔍 Use a search for the keyword call or record.
• ⏳ If no files are available, check if sync is enabled: Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization → Audio recordings.

Also, the records could be automatically uploaded to Google Drive if you use Android backup.

1. Open Google Drive on your phone or PC.
2. In the menu on the left, select Backups.
3. Find the folder with your device name (Redmi Note 5) and check the App Data section → com.android.phone.

⚠️ Attention: Cloud copies of records can take up storage space. If you have a free Mi Cloud (5GB) tariff, old files are automatically deleted when you exceed the limit.

3. Search through the system application "Dictophone"

On the Redmi Note 5, the recordings of conversations are sometimes duplicated in the standard Dictophone app, and even if you haven't used it directly, the system can save copies of calls there.

How to check:

• 🎤 Open the Dictophone app (if not, install it from the Mi App Store).
• 📂 Go to the Records tab and sort files by date (⋮ → Sorting → By date).
• 🔍 Call recordings usually last 30 seconds and have a Call label in the title.

If you find a record here but can’t play it, try exporting it to another format:

1. Click on the record and hold for 2 seconds.
2. Choose to share. → Save it in files.
3. Select MP3 format (if available) and save to the Music or Downloads folder.

4.Why records go missing: 5 main reasons

If you are sure you recorded a conversation but there is no file, the problem may be one of the following:

⚠️ Note: Redmi Note 5 with firmware MIUI 11+ Records can be automatically deleted after 30 days if Storage Optimization is enabled:

Settings → Storage → Storage settings → Optimization → Disable

A critical feature of this model is that records are not saved if the call activates Do Not Disturb or Save Charge mode, and check if one of these restrictions was turned on during the call.

5. How to change the place of record retention (on the SD-map)

By default, records are stored in internal memory, but it can be redirected to SD-- To the map or the cloud:

Method 1: Conservation of SD-map

• 📱 Install. SD-map (if not already installed) and format it as internal memory in Settings → Warehouse.
• 🛠️ Open the phone app, press ⋮ → Settings → Recording of conversations.
• 💾 Choose the Way of Conservation → SD-map and specify folder (for example, CallRecords).

Method 2: Autoboot to Mi Cloud

• ☁️ Go to Settings. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Synchronization.
• 🔄 Enable the option of synchronizing audio recordings.
• 📤 All new records will now be duplicated in the cloud (but the original will remain on the phone).

⚠️ Note: If you choose to save on SD-Do not remove the card during recording, this will lead to file loss, and also make sure that there is enough space on the map (at least 1 GB of free space is recommended).

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Before making an important call, check the available space on your phone or SD-Recording a long conversation (over 30 minutes) can take up to 50MB in.amr format.

6.Recovery of deleted records: 3 working methods

If the records are missing after resetting, updating or accidentally deleting, you can try to restore them. On the Redmi Note 5, this is possible if:

• 🗑️ Files were deleted less than 30 days ago (and no memory overwrite was recorded).
• 🔄 The phone was not completely reset (hard reset).
• ☁️ It enabled sync with the cloud (even if files aren’t there now).

Method 1: Recovery through DiskDigger (without root)

• 📱 Install the DiskDigger app from Google Play.
• 🔍 Choose Basic Scan → Audio. → Start the search.
• 💾 After scanning, mark the desired files (.amr or.mp3) and press Restore.

Method 2: Checking the Mi Cloud Cart

• ☁️ Go to i.mi.com and log in.
• 🗑️ Go to the basket (on the left menu).
• 🔄 Find files with the.amr extension and restore them.

Method 3: Use of PC and Recuva software

• 🖥️ Connect your phone to your computer in File Transfer mode (MTP).
• 🛠️ Install Recuva and select the removable device scanner.
• 🎵 Filter the results by type Audio and restore files to a folder on PC.

⚠️ Warning: If you've already written new files after deleting, your chances of recovery drop dramatically.Do not save anything on your phone until you've tried all the methods.

7. set up automatic recording (if the function is not available)

The Redmi Note 5 doesn’t automatically record all calls by default, but it can be enabled through hidden settings or third-party apps.

Method 1: Enable through the Engineering Menu

• 📞 Open the Phone app and dial the code: ##4636##
• 🛠️ Go to the tab Phone Information.
• 🔄 Scroll down and find the Call Record option. → Insert (if any).

Method 2: Use the Cube Call Recorder ACR application

• 📱 Install. ACR Google Play.
• ⚙️ When you first start, give all permissions (including special access to record calls).
• 🎤 In the application settings, select: Record → Auto-recording → All calls and specify folder to save.

⚠️ Note: Automatic recording may violate the laws of your country. In some regions (e.g. the EU) you need to notify the person you are recording.

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Third-party recording applications (such as ACR) are often more reliable than the built-in feature, but can drain the battery faster due to background work.

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording conversations on Redmi Note 5