Have you ever tried to find a Xiaomi record of a major phone call but couldn't remember where it went? Or, after resetting, found that all the audio files had disappeared? This problem is familiar to many smartphone owners of the brand. The fact that the location of the call records depends on the firmware version, the device model, and even the application used to record.
In this article, we'll look at all the options you can get from standard MIUI paths to hidden system folders where files are saved when you use third-party applications, how to find records through the file manager, why they might disappear after updates, and what to do if the audio folder is empty, and for those who like experiments, we'll tell you how to manually change the way you save through ADB.
Standard location of records in MIUI
By default, Xiaomi smartphones (starting with MIUI 10 and later) store conversation records in a dedicated folder inside internal memory.
/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/Important nuances:
- 📁 folder call_rec is created automatically when the call recording function is first enabled in the standard Phone application.
- 🔊 The files are formatted.m4a (AAC) or.amr, the name is formed by a template: record_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.m4a.
- 🔒 Access to the folder may be limited: if you can’t see it through standard Explorer, try using Root Explorer or connect your phone to your PC.
On some models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO F3), the path may be slightly different:
/storage/emulated/0/Recordings/CallRecord/💡
If the folder is empty, check the settings of the Phone application: it is possible that the record is disabled or files are saved to the Mi Cloud cloud.
Why records disappear: 5 common reasons
Xiaomi users often experience a situation where records suddenly disappear, and here are the most common reasons:
- Autoclean cache. The system can delete old files if Security Garbage Cleanup is enabled.
- Update MIUI: With major updates (e.g., from MIUI 12 to MIUI 13), folder structure can change, and old records can be transferred or deleted.
- Factory reset. Without backup, all local files are erased.
- Cloud conflict: If sync with Mi Cloud is enabled, records can be duplicated or replaced with versions from the cloud.
- Application restrictions: Some versions of Google Phone (installed instead of a standard call) do not save records in the app. MIUI/sound_recorder.
A critical feature of MIUI is that if you use the "Record All Calls" feature in your call settings, the system can automatically delete files older than 30 days, even if disk space is free. To avoid this, disable the Autoclean option in Settings → Memory → Cleanup.
How to find records through file manager
The easiest way is to use the built-in Explorer or a third-party application (such as Solid Explorer).
Open the Files Application (or Explorer)
Go to the Internal Memory section
Find the file. MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec
If you don’t have a folder, check the alternative path /Recordings/CallRecord/
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If the files are not displayed:
- 🔍 Enable the display of hidden files in the Explorer settings.
- 📱 Connect your phone to your PC through MTP and check folders through Windows Explorer or Finder (macOS).
- 🔄 Restart the device – sometimes indexing files is lost.
On models with MIUI 14 and newer, the path can be disguised to see it.
- Open Settings → About the phone and 7 times click on the MIUI version to activate the Developer Mode.
- Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
- Connect your phone to your PC and use the command: adb shell ls /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/
Alternative Storage Places: Cloud and Third Party Applications
If you're using third-party apps, rather than a standard caller (like Cube ACR, Call Recorder, or Boldbeast), the ways to save will be different.
| Annex | The way to preserve | File format | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cube ACR | /CubeBackup/ | .mp3, .wav | Supports cloud backup on Google Drive |
| Boldbeast | /Boldbeast/CallRecordings/ | .mp3, .ogg | Can record both sides of a conversation even on Android 10+ |
| Call Recorder by Lovekara | /CallRecordings/ | .amr | Automatically sorts by contact |
| Mi Cloud | Cloud (not locally) | .m4a | Synced only when the option is enabled in Settings → Mi Account → Mi Cloud → Call records |
Important: If you use Google Phone (installed on some POCO and Redmi models for the European market), records can be saved to:
/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.google.android.dialer/files/CallRecordings/Access to this folder is only possible through ADB or root rights, as it is protected by Android/data permissions.
How to Access Secure Folders Without Root
How to Change the Way of Saving Records Manually
If you don't like the standard file layout, you can reconfigure it.
Method 1: Through Call Settings (MIUI 12–14)
- Open the Phone app.
- Press three points (⋮) → Settings → Recording calls.
- Select the save folder and specify a new path (for example, /Download/Call_Records/).
Method 2: ADB (for experienced users)
If the option is not in the menu, you can change the path through the system settings:
adb shell settings put global call_recording_custom_path "/storage/emulated/0/Download/MyCalls/"Warning: After changing the path, the old records will remain in the old folder, and the new ones will be saved to the new address.
💡
Changing the path through ADB works only on MIUI firmware without heavy modifications (for example, on custom ROMs such as Pixel Experience, this method will not work).
Recovery of deleted records
If the records are missing after being reset or updated, you can try to restore them, and the effectiveness depends on how long it has been since they were deleted:
- 🗑️ Basket MIUI. Check the folder. /MIUI/RecycleBin/ — Sometimes the files get there.
- 🔄 Recovery software: Use DiskDigger, Recuva (via PC) or Undeleter. Importantly, don't save new files to your device until you recover!
- ☁️ Cloud backups. If sync with Mi Cloud or Google Drive was enabled, check the archives.
The algorithm for DiskDigger:
- Install the app from Google Play.
- Select the Internal Memory section.
- Mark the formats.m4a,.amr,.mp3.
- Click Scan and wait for the results.
- Save the recovered files to SD-card.
The chances of success are higher if:
- It has been less than 72 hours since the removal.
- The device did not optimize memory.
- The files were not overwritten with new data.
💡
Before recovery, turn off automatic cache cleanup in Settings → Memory → Autoclean so that the system does not delete temporary files.
Security and privacy advice
Recording telephone conversations is not only a technical issue, but also a legal one.
⚠️ Note: Most countries (including Russia, EU, USA) prohibit recording conversations without the consent of the interlocutor, except if you notify the recording at the beginning of the conversation (for example, for business purposes), violation can result in fines or lawsuits.
How to protect your records:
- 🔐 Encrypt important files with the help of 7-Zip Cryptomator.
- 📤 Regularly transfer records to a PC or external drive.
- 🚫 Turn off automatic cloud upload if you store sensitive information.
On Xiaomi devices with MIUI 13+, you can configure additional protection:
- Go to Settings → Privacy → Special permissions.
- Find an app to record calls and disable access to the Microphone and Warehouse for unnecessary programs.
- Enable Call App Blocking (so that no one can listen to the recordings without a password).
Important: On some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra), call records are encrypted by default and are not played on other devices without a password from the Mi Account.