Where Xiaomi Phones Store Records of Conversations: All Ways to Find and Retrieve Audio Files

Have you recorded an important conversation on Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO, but can't find it now? Or accidentally deleted an audio file and want to restore? In the brand's smartphones, call records are stored in an unobvious way - their path depends on the version of MIUI, the device model and even the recording method (built-in voice recorder, Calls app or third-party programs).

where exactly in the phone’s memory are the records files (including hidden system folders);

How to access them through a conductor, ADB or computer;

Why records can “disappear” and how to recover them

Features of audio storage in different versions of MIUI (from 12 to 14) and custom firmware.

Now, if you've used a built-in call record in the Phone app, files can be encrypted or hidden deep in system directories, but records through a recorder or third-party applications like Cube Call Recorder are easier to find. Let's start with the obvious.

1. Standard record storage locations in Xiaomi

If you recorded a conversation through built-in MIUI tools, check these folders first. They can be opened through any file manager (for example, standard Explorer or Mi File Manager).

• 📁 Recordings folder – here are stored files created through the Dictaphone application (/storage/emulated/0/Recordings/ or /sdcard/Recordings/). File format:.m4a or.mp3.
• 📱 Internal memory. → MIUI → sound_recorder — alternative path for recording voice recorders in older versions of firmware (/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/).
• 📞 CallRecord folder – there may be records of calls made through the Phone application (path: /storage/emulated/0/CallRecord/). Attention: in new versions MIUI 13/14 This folder is often empty – files are stored in encrypted form.

If you use POCO or Redmi with a POCO Launcher shell, the paths remain the same, but the Recordings folder may be called Audio Records (localized name). Also check the root directory of internal memory for folders with names in Chinese - sometimes the records are saved there (for example, "recording" in Chinese).

⚠️ Attention: B MIUI 14 and later, the phone call records are not saved by default in the available folders, they are stored in a secure area of the system. ADB root access (see section 4).

If there is nothing in the specified folders, go to the next section - perhaps the files are hidden deeper or the recording was conducted through a third-party application.

2. Where records from third-party applications are searched

Call recording apps from Google Play (such as Cube Call Recorder, ACR, or Call Recorder by Lovekush) typically store files in their own folders.

If you don't remember which app you used, check all the folders listed.

• 🔍 File name – often contains date, time or phone number (e.g, 20260515_143022_+79123456789.amr).
• 📂 Hidden folders – some applications create directories with a point at the beginning (for example, /.CallRec). To see them, turn on the display of hidden files in the Explorer settings.
• 🌐 Cloud Copies – Apps like Cube Call Recorder can automatically upload records to Google Drive or Dropbox.

If you didn't find the file you wanted, you may have deleted it or stored it in a non-standard location, and in the next section, we'll show you how to recover deleted audio files.

3. Recovery of Deleted Records of Conversations

If the record is lost after resetting, updating MIUI or accidentally deleting, you can try to restore it, success depends on how long it has been since the deletion and how actively the phone memory was used.

Recovery (from the simplest to the most complex):

1. Recycle Bin Checker – MIUI has Recycle Bin functionality, where files are stored for up to 30 days. Open Explorer → Categories → Recycle Bin.
2. Specialized applications like DiskDigger, Recuva (for PCs) or Undeleter scan memory for deleted files. Importantly, don't install programs on the same partition where records were stored!
3. ADB-commands – if the file is not physically deleted, but only hidden from the user, it can be found through the adb shell (it will need to be enabled). USB Debugging).
4. Root access allows you to scan system partitions that regular programs don't have access to, and it's risky for beginners!

⚠️ Note: If you plan to recover files via PC, do not connect your phone in Charging mode – select File Transfer (MTP). Otherwise, the system can overwrite deleted data.

To recover via DiskDigger:

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Select Full Scan (requires root).
3. Filter the results by extensions:.mp3,.m4a,.amr,.wav.
4. Save the files found to a memory card or cloud.

If recovery failed, it is possible that the file was overwritten or stored in encrypted form (relevant for records from the built-in Phone app in MIUI 13/14).

4.How to Retrieve Call Records from MIUI System Folders

Newer versions of MIUI (starting with 12.5) store calls from the standard Phone app in secure system directories rather than open access, to comply with privacy laws (e.g., the EU and India prohibit recording calls without the consent of the interlocutor).

To access these files, you will need to:

• 🔧 ADB (Android Debug Bridge – to extract files without root.
• 🛠️ Root access – for full control of system folders.
• 📱 Backup via Mi Cloud – if sync is enabled (rarely works for records).

Method 1: Extract through ADB

This method works without root, but requires enabled USB Debugging and a computer with installed ADB-driver.

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap 7 times on the build number.
2. Enable USB debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect the phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell su -c "find /data -name'.amr' -o -name'.mp3' -o -name'*.m4a'" This will scan the system folders for audio files.
4. Copy the files found on PC: adb pull /data/.../file name.mp3 C:\CallRecords\

Method 2: Search through root conductor

If you have root access, use Root Explorer or FX File Explorer to search for keywords:

• call_record
• voice_record
• .amr or.mp3

Typical paths for system records:

• /data/data/com.android.providers.media/databases/ is a database of media files.
• /data/user/0/com.android.phone/files/ – temporary records may be stored here.
• /data/media/0/CallRecord/ is a hidden folder in new versions of MIUI.

If none of the methods worked, it's possible that the records simply didn't work. In MIUI 14, for some regions, the call recording function is disabled at the firmware level.

5.Why records can disappear and how to prevent it

Xiaomi users often experience recordings suddenly disappearing, and here are the main reasons and ways to avoid them:

To minimize the risk of data loss:

• 🔄 Automatic Sync – Configure uploading records to Google Drive or Mi Cloud (if available).
• 📁 Backups – regularly copy the Recordings folder to the memory card.
• 🛡️ Turn off optimization – in Settings → Battery → Battery optimization add an application to write in exception.

💡

If you often record important conversations, install Cube Call Recorder and enable Save to the Cloud in your settings, which will protect files even if your phone breaks.

In the next section, we will answer popular questions about recording calls on Xiaomi.

Frequently Asked Questions

💡

In MIUI 14, call records from the standard Phone app are stored in encrypted form and are not available without ADB or root. Use third-party applications if you need reliable archiving.