Where on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 are stored phone records: a full search and recovery guide

Why the recordings of conversations are “hiding” on Xiaomi

You turned on a recording of an important call on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9, but now you can't find the file? That's a typical problem: the manufacturer doesn't always transparently tell you where the audio is stored. Unlike photos or screenshots that get into the gallery, the recordings of conversations are often scattered through the system folders or remain inside the recording apps.

To make matters worse, the way the file is recorded affects the location of the file, such as the built-in MIUI feature storing audio in one place and third-party applications (like Cube Call Recorder or ACR) in another, and on the Redmi Note 9 (M2003J15SC/M2003J15SS models), the path depends on the version of MIUI: in old builds, the folder could be called CallRecords, in new ones – SoundRecorder.

In this article, we'll look at all possible storage locations, including hidden system directories, cloud backups, and ways to recover deleted records, and if you're using custom writing software, we have a separate section with instructions for popular applications.

1. Standard storage location: Records folder in MIUI

If you recorded a conversation through the built-in MIUI feature (available in regions where permitted by law), the first thing you do is check the official folder. On the Redmi Note 9, it's usually here:

• 📁 Internal memory. → MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec
• 📁 Internal memory. → Recordings/CallRecords (into MIUI 12 newer)
• 📁 SD-map (if selected as a place of preservation) → MIUI/sound_recorder

The files here are formatted.m4a or.amr and named by template: Record_20260515_143022.m4a (Date and time of call, to find the folder quickly:

1. Open the Files app (Blue folder icon).
2. Go to the Category tab → Audio.
3. In the search bar, enter call_rec or sound_recorder.

⚠️ Note: In some firmware folders sound_recorder To see it, click on the Files app. ⋮ → Settings → Show hidden files.

2. Alternative system folders: where else to look

If the standard folder is empty, check these hidden directories where MIUI can save entries depending on the software version:

To access these folders:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB (select File Transfer Mode).
2. Enable the display of hidden files in Windows Explorer (View → Hidden Items).
3. Take one of the paths above.

If there are no folders, then the records were saved elsewhere or deleted. Check the Recycle Bin in the Files app (Recently Deleted, files are stored there for 30 days).

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On the Redmi Note 9 root-rights, you can use the Root Explorer app to search for.amr or.m4a files in all system partitions.

3. recordings from third-party applications: ACR, Cube Call Recorder and others

Popular call recording apps (ACR, Cube Call Recorder, Call Recorder by Lovekara) save files in their folders.

• 📌 ACR (Another Call Recorder): /storage/emulated/0/ACR or /storage/emulated/0/Android/media/com.nll.acr
• 📌 Cube Call Recorder: /storage/emulated/0/CubeBackup or /storage/emulated/0/CubeCallRecorder
• 📌 Call Recorder by Lovekara: /storage/emulated/0/CallRecorder
• 📌 Boldbeast Call Recorder: /storage/emulated/0/BoldbeastRecorder/calls

Features:

• 🔹 V ACR files can be encrypted (extension.enc). To listen, use the built-in player of the application.
• 🔹 Cube Call Recorder saves records to the cloud by default (check Settings). → Cloud backups).
• 🔹 In Boldbeast, the path can be changed to Settings → Recording folder.

If you deleted the recorder app, the files could have stayed in its folder. Use ES Explorer or Total Commander to search for the keywords: call, rec, record.

Check the application folder in /storage/emulated/0/

Look for files with extensions.amr,.mp3,.m4a,.enc

Launch the recording app and see the story in its interface

Check the cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox) if sync is enabled-->

4. Cloud storage and backups

Many apps automatically upload records to the cloud. On Redmi Note 9, check:

• 🌥️ Google Drive: Call Recorder folder or ACR Backups (if synchronization has been configured).
• 🌥️ Mi Cloud: Go to Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Backups and check if saving the data of the writeer application is enabled.
• 🌥️ Dropbox/OneDrive: Some apps (like Cube Call Recorder) offer you to choose the cloud when you first run.

To recover the recordings from Mi Cloud:

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select backup copies and find the latest copy.
3. Click Restore and select the writeer application data (e.g. com.nll.acr for ACR).

⚠️ Warning: Restore from Mi Cloud backup will overwrite the current application data. Pre-backup important records manually.

5. Recovery of deleted records: 3 working methods

If files have been deleted, try these methods:

Method 1: Recovery programs (without root)

Use applications like DiskDigger or Recuva (for PCs).

1. Install DiskDigger from Google Play.
2. Select Full Scan (it takes longer, but finds more files).
3. Filter the results by extensions:.amr,.m4a,.mp3.
4. Save the files found on SD-card.

Method 2: Recovery via PC (with root)

If you have root access, use EaseUS Data Recovery:

1. Connect the Redmi Note 9 to your PC in MTP mode.
2. Launch EaseUS and select the phone drive.
3. Specify the folders for scanning: /data and /sdcard.
4. After scanning, look for files by deletion date.

Method 3: App cache

Some records may remain in the cache of the recording app to verify it:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find a recording app (such as ACR).
3. Open the Warehouse. → Cash.
4. Use Root Explorer to view files in /data/data/com.nll.acr/cache.

Important: Once you delete a file, you can only restore it until you overwrite it on your phone, and the faster you start recovering it, the better the chances.

6 Why records are not saved: common problems

If you have enabled the record but no files, the reasons may be:

• 🚫 Legal restrictions: In some countries (e.g. the EU) recording calls is prohibited without notifying the interlocutor. MIUI It can block the function automatically.
• 🚫 Memory shortage: If the phone has less than 100MB of free space, the recordings will not be saved. → Warehouse.
• 🚫 Application conflict: Two recorders (e.g., built-in) + ACR) They can interfere with each other.
• 🚫 Access rights error: The recording app needs permissions for Microphone, Warehouse and Phone. → Permits.

To diagnose the problem:

1. Try recording a test call (for example, to another phone).
2. Check notifications after the call is complete – some apps show the path to the file.
3. Run the recorder in debugging mode (in ACR: Settings → Additional → Log Management).

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If the records are not saved, first check the permissions of the application and the free space on the phone. 70% of the time the problem is solved by cleaning the cache or reinstalling the recorder.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi conversation records