Where to store a call record on Xiaomi: all the ways to find and save conversations

The Xiaomi smartphone phone recorder is one of the most popular tools, especially for business negotiations, fixing important agreements or simply saving memorable conversations. Where exactly are these records stored, how to find them in a maze of folders MIUI, What to do if they disappear after updating or resetting?

Unlike iPhones or Android devices, where the path to records is usually standard, Xiaomi uses its own file structure and sometimes hides system folders from the user’s eyes. MIUI (12, 13, 14 or HyperOS, phone models (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T) In this article, we'll not only show you the exact paths to the records folders, but we'll also tell you how to back them up, restore them, and why they might be missing.

If you've ever tried to find a record of an important call through a standard File Manager and failed, you're not alone. Xiaomi defaults to hiding system folders, and the records themselves often have non-obvious names like: rec_20260515_143022.amr. In addition, with the release of HyperOS, the logic of storage has changed: now some data can be synchronized with the Mi Cloud, and not only stored locally.

Before you go into search, make sure the recording feature is activated at all. on some models (e.g. Redmi). 10C or POCO M5) It can be disabled by default due to regional restrictions. → Recording conversations. If you don't have an option, you might need to install alternative software like Cube Call Recorder, but that's a topic for a separate article.

Official ways to store call records on Xiaomi

On most Xiaomi devices with firmware MIUI 12-14 or HyperOS call records are stored in two main locations: the phone’s internal memory and (optional) in the Mi Cloud storage. However, the exact path depends on whether the recording was made through the standard Phone application or third-party software.

The standard path for recordings made by an embedded voice recorder:

/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/

The files are usually in the.amr format or.mp3 and are named by date/time (e.g, call_rec_20260510_094512.amr). If the folder MIUI not displayed, enable the display of hidden files in the file manager settings.

For HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi 14 or Redmi) K70) the path may change:

/storage/emulated/0/Recordings/Call/

Important: HyperOS records are encrypted by default and may not play on other devices without special software.

If you use Google Drive for backup, the records can automatically sync to the folder:

Google Drive → Backups → CallRecordings/

But this only works when Autoboot is enabled in your Google account settings.

• 📁 Internal memory: /MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ or /Recordings/Call/
• ☁️ Mi Cloud: Mi Cloud → Backup copies → Call records (requires authorization)
• 🔄 Google Drive: Only with manual sync settings
• 📱 Application side: usually create their own folders (for example, /CubeCallRecorder/)

How to find records through standard tools MIUI

Not all users are willing to dig into the file manager, especially if folder paths are hidden. Fortunately, Xiaomi provides several built-in ways to access records — they can be found right in the phone interface without resorting to manual search.

Method 1: Using the "Phone" application

1. Open the phone application (pipe icon).
2. Go to the Journal section (the icon of the clock at the bottom of the screen).
3. Find a call marked Recorded (mic icon next to the number) in the list.
4. Slip on the record - a player will open with options for playback, deletion or sending.

Method 2: Through the Dictator app

Even if you recorded a conversation rather than a voice note, some recordings may be displayed on a standard voice recorder:

1. Open the Dictaphone app (mic icon).
2. Go to the Records or Calls tab (depending on the MIUI version).
3. Use a filter like telephone conversations.

Method 3: Search through "Files"

If the recordings are not displayed on your phone or voice recorder, try to find them manually:

1. Open Files (the application with the folder icon).
2. Enable the display of hidden files: click ⋮ → Settings → Show hidden files.
3. Go on the path of internal memory → MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec.
4. Sort files by date of change to find fresh records.

Enable the display of hidden folders in the "Files"

Check the folder. /MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/

View the log of calls for the presence of the microphone icon

Make sure the record is not deleted through the "Dumpster Cleanup"-->

Why Call Records May Be Lost and How to Fix It

One of the most common problems is the sudden disappearance of records, and it can happen for a number of reasons, and not all of them are obvious. MIUI Automatically cleans old files when memory is scarce unless otherwise configured.

The main reasons for missing records:

• 🧹 Auto Cleanup: Waste Cleanup function in Settings → Memory can delete records older than 30 days.
• 🔄 Update MIUI: When switching to a new version of the firmware (for example, with the MIUI 13 on HyperOS) file structure changes and old records may be "lost".
• ☁️ Sync failure: If records were stored in Mi Cloud, but the account was logged or deleted, files will become unavailable.
• 📱 Resetting: When you return to factory settings, all local records are deleted without the possibility of recovery (if there was no backup copy).
• 🔒 Encryption: In HyperOS, records can be encrypted and not played on other devices.

How do I get back lost records?

If the files are not missing because of a reset, try the following steps:

1. Check the Recycle Bin: In the Files app, open the Recycle Bin section – entries can be there for 15-30 days.
2. Restore from backup: If you did backup through Settings → Additionally. → Backup, try to recover data from there.
3. Use recovery software: Programs like DiskDigger or Recuva (for PCs) can find deleted files, but the odds depend on how much data was written over.
4. Check the Cloud: Log into Mi Cloud via your browser (i.mi.com) and look for entries in the Backups section.

⚠️ Note: If you reset your phone to factory settings without a backup, it will be impossible to recover records locally.The only chance is if they were uploaded to the cloud (Mi Cloud or Google Drive) before the reset.

How to transfer call records to a computer or other device

If you need to save your records for a long time or transfer them to another gadget, you better transfer them to a PC, a flash drive or the cloud.

Method 1: Through USB-cable Windows/macOS/Linux)

1. Connect your phone to your computer using a cable USB-C (Micro-USB for older models).
2. On your phone, select the data mode: Charge via USB → File Transfer (MTP).
3. On your computer, open the Explorer (This computer is on Windows or Finder on Mac).
4. Go to the phone folder. → Internal memory. → MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec.
5. Copy the files you want (.amr or.amr.mp3) hard-drive.

Method 2: Via Mi Cloud (if records are synchronized)

1. Go to i.mi.com and log in.
2. Go to the Backups section → Call records.
3. Select the files you need and click Download.
4. Unblock the downloaded file (usually this file) ZIP-archive).

Method 3: Through Third-Party Clouds (Google Drive, Dropbox)

If you don’t trust Mi Cloud, you can upload your records to another cloud directly from your phone:

1. Open the Files app and find the folder with records.
2. Select files, click Share. → Save to Google Drive (or other service).
3. Wait for the download to complete and check the files on the PC.

💡

If you often migrate your records to your PC, create a folder on your desktop called "Xiaomi Call Records" and save the files there as soon as you copy them, so you don't lose them among other downloads.

How to enable automatic recording of all calls

Xiaomi doesn’t record all conversations in a row by default, it needs to be manually configured, and in some regions (e.g. the EU), automatic recordings can be blocked due to privacy laws.

Instructions for MIUI 12-14:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Press on. ⋮ → Settings → Recording of conversations.
3. Turn on the Automatic Recording Switch.
4. Choose which calls to record: 📞 All calls (incoming and outgoing) 📱 Only incoming 🔢 Only contacts. 🚫 Only unknown numbers.

Report the record.

Instructions for HyperOS:

In HyperOS, the path has changed a little:

1. Open the phone. → Profile (human icon) → Call settings.
2. Select Record of Conversations → Auto-recording.
3. Please specify the conditions of the recording (similar) MIUI).
4. Turn Save to the Cloud on if you want to boot automatically to Mi Cloud.

⚠️ Note: In some countries (e.g. the U.S. or Germany) it is illegal to record conversations without the consent of the interlocutor.

💡

Automatic recording may not work on some models (e.g. Xiaomi for the European market) due to legal restrictions, in which case use third-party applications such as Cube Call Recorder or other applications. ACR.

The side of the application for recording calls: pros and cons

If the built-in recording feature doesn’t suit you (for example, due to the lack of automatic download to the cloud or poor sound quality), you can use third-party applications. MIUI.

Popular applications for recording calls:

• 🎤 Cube Call Recorder: Records both sides of the conversation, supports cloud sync, but may not work on newer versions of Android without root rights.
• 📱 ACR (Another Call Recorder: Flexible settings, ability to encrypt records, but sometimes eats up a lot of battery.
• ☁️ Call Recorder by Lovekara: Simple interface, automatic download to Google Drive, but contains ads.
• 🔒 Boldbeast Call Recorder: Works without root rights on some devices, but requires fine-tuning.

Problems of third-party applications on Xiaomi:

1. The limitations of Android 10+: Starting with Android 10, Google banned apps from recording sound from a microphone during a call without special permissions:

Use of access to notifications (less reliable).

Installation of the application as a system (requires root rights).

Record only your side of the conversation (if there is no root rights).

Conflicts with MIUI: Some applications (such as Cube Call Recorder) may not work properly due to battery optimization. MIUI. To fix it:

- Add the app to Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications → Choose yours. → No restrictions.

Enable AutoRun for the application in the permissions settings.

3. Sound quality: The side of the application often records sound from the microphone, rather than directly from the communication line, which can cause echoes or noise. Xiaomi's built-in voice recorder usually gives a cleaner sound.

How to Protect Call Records from Loss

To avoid losing important records, you just need to follow a few simple rules, and the main thing is not to rely only on local storage, since resetting or breaking your phone can destroy all data.

Ways to protect records:

• ☁️ Automatic Cloud Upload: - Enable sync with Mi Cloud in call recording settings. - Alternative: set up automatic download to Google Drive via Files app.
• 📁 Backups: - Copy the folder regularly /MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ on PC or external drive. – Use apps like Swift Backup (requires root rights) for automatic backup.
• 🔄 Export to other formats: - Convert entries from.amr to.mp3 For long-term storage (e.g. via Audacity) - Keep the most important records in an encrypted archive (e.g. by using the 7-Zip).
• 📱 Duplication to another device: - Send copies of records to a second phone or tablet via Mi Share (built-in feature Xiaomi).

What to do if your phone is broken or lost?

If your device fails but your recordings are synced to the Mi Cloud, you can restore them on your new phone:

1. Sign in to the same Xiaomi account on a new device.
2. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Backups.
3. Select the latest backup and restore the data (including call records).

⚠️ Warning: If you sell or transfer your Xiaomi to another person, be sure to delete all call records before resetting. /MIUI/sound_recorder/ manually. Reset through Settings. → The phone. → Reset settings. Otherwise, the new owner will be able to restore your records using special software.

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording calls to Xiaomi