Where the call records on Xiaomi phone are stored: all the ways to find and save audio conversations

Why Xiaomi Call Records Are Hard to Find and Where to Find Them

You have enabled a recording of a conversation on Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 Pro, but after the call is over you can not find an audio file? This problem is familiar to many users of Xiaomi smartphones – despite the built-in recording function, files often “hide” in non-obvious folders or disappear completely after the MIUI update. In this article, we will analyze all possible storage locations of records, including system directories, cloud services and hidden folders, and explain why sometimes audio is simply not saved.

The main difficulty is that Xiaomi uses different recording mechanisms depending on the version. MIUI, phone models and regional settings, such as on devices for the Chinese market (China) ROM) Records can be automatically sent to Mi Cloud, whereas on global firmware (Global) ROM) They stay locally -- but not always in the folder you'd expect. MIUI 14+ The path to the files may have changed, and the old records may have moved to the archive.

Before you start your search, check out two key points:

• 📱 Version. MIUI: Call recording works differently on MIUI 12.5, 13 and 14, you can find it in Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI.
• 🌍 Regional firmware: on China ROM Some of the features can be blocked without a Mi Account.

Method 1: The standard Phone app – where to look for records

If you used the built-in recording feature in the Phone app (the microphone icon during the call), then the files should be saved in a special section.

1. Open the Phone app (the tube icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the magazine tab (watch icon in the bottom menu).
3. Find the recorded call – there should be an icon next to it 🎤 or the inscription "Recording».
4. Slip on Record → Select Play or Share to save the file to another location.

If the entry is not in the journal, check:

• 🔍 Rec folder in internal memory: the path /storage/emulated/0/Rec or /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec.
• 📁 CallRecord folder (on some models, for example, Redmi 9).
• 🗑️ Basket: In MIUI 13+ Deleted records can be temporarily stored there (path: Gallery) → Basket).

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Europe) call recording is disabled by default due to privacy laws. To activate it, go to Settings → Permits → Applicants' authorizations → Phone. → Record the sound and turn on access.

Method 2: Search for system folders – hidden MIUI directories

If the records are not displayed in the Phone app, you should manually search them through the file manager. Xiaomi stores audio calls in several possible places - their paths depend on the firmware version and model.

To find these folders:

1. Open the file manager (e.g., files from Xiaomi or Solid Explorer).
2. Enable the display of hidden files: Settings → Show hidden files.
3. Follow one of the paths from the table above.
4. If there is no folder, try searching for keywords: call, rec, record.

adb shell ls /storage/emulated/0/Rec

This will help make sure the folder exists, but just doesn’t show up in Windows Explorer.-->

Method 3: Cloud storage Mi Cloud – automatic backups

On devices with China ROM or a tied Mi Account, call records can automatically sync to the Mi Cloud, especially for Xiaomi 13/14 and Redmi K60 models, where cloud backup is enabled by default.

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Scroll down to Backup and check if Call Records sync is enabled.
3. If yes, go to i.mi.com (the web version of Mi Cloud), log in and find the Records section or Audio.

Please note:

• 🔄 Global Firmware (Global) ROM) Mi Cloud Record Synchronization Disabled by Default Due to Privacy Laws.
• 🗃️ In the cloud, records are stored in a compressed format and can be deleted after 30 days if extended storage is not enabled.
• 📱 If you reset your phone to factory settings, records from Mi Cloud can be restored by re-associating your account.

Method 4: Third-Party Write Applications – Where They Store Files

If you use alternative call recording software (such as Cube Call Recorder, ACR, or Boldbeast), the files are stored in the directories of those applications.

Important: Some applications (e.g. Boldbeast) require additional permissions to record calls to Xiaomi with MIUI 13+.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Permissions Management → Special Access Permissions → Sound recording.
2. Find your application to record and enable permission.
3. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Attention: Xiaomi with Android 12+ some applications for recording (for example, ACR) This may not work due to Google's restrictions on accessing the microphone while calling.In this case, try Boldbeast with Record Mode settings. = 1 (in the annex manual).

Method 5: Recover Deleted Records – If Files Are Lost

If the call records were deleted accidentally or disappeared after the MIUI update, you can try to recover them.

1. Recycle Bin in MIUI: Deleted files are stored there for 15-30 days. Path: Gallery → Recycle Bin or Files → Recycle Bin.
2. Backups of Mi Cloud: If synchronization has been enabled, records can be restored from the archive (see Method 3).

If your files are not in the Recycle Bin or in the cloud, use specialized recovery software:

• 📱 On the phone: DiskDigger, Undeleter (requires root rights for deep scanning).
• 💻 On PC: Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery (Plug your phone in File Transfer mode).

Critical: After deleting the records, DO NOT save new files to your phone (photos, videos, apps) – this will overwrite the memory sectors, and recovery will become impossible.

💡

If you use Xiaomi with a memory card (microSD), check the folder /sdcard/Rec or /sdcard/MIUI/sound_recorder. On some models (Redmi) 10, POCO M4 Pro) the default records are retained on SD-map, if it is installed.

Why Call Records Aren't Saved - and How to Fix It

If you enable a record but the files do not appear in any of the specified places, the problem may be system settings or MIUI limitations.

Additional steps for diagnosis:

1. Check if the recording is disabled in the settings SIM-maps: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Recording calls.
2. Make sure that the phone has enough free space (minimum 500 MB on the system partition).
3. If you use a dual machine (Dual) SIM), Try to record a call from another SIM-cards – on some models, recording works only on the main slot.

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording calls to Xiaomi