Where to look for records on Xiaomi voice recorder: 5 verified places + recovery of deleted files

Have you made an important audio recording on Xiaomi but can't find it? Or have you accidentally deleted a file and now you don't know how to return it? The problem is that the standard Dictaphone app on Redmi, POCO or Mi smartphones doesn't save files where many users expect them to be. In this article, we'll go through all the possible storage locations, including hidden folders, cloud backups, and even ways to recover deleted files.

Xiaomi's feature is that the location of the records can vary depending on the version of MIUI, the phone model, and even the firmware region. For example, on the Redmi Note 12 with global firmware, the files are in one place, and on the POCO F5 with Chinese one in another, we took into account all the nuances and collected relevant information for 2026, including changes after the upgrade to MIUI 15.

1. Standard place of recording recordings of recorder

By default, the Dictaphone app (or Recorder in the English version) saves files to the folder. MIUI/sound_recorder It's on the internal drive. The full path looks like this:

/storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/

To get there:

1. Open any file manager (such as files from Xiaomi or Google Files).
2. Go to the Internal Storage (or Internal Storage) section.
3. Find the file. MIUI, And inside — sound_recorder.

If the folder is not, check:

• 🔍 Recorder settings: You may have changed the way you save manually (more on that below).
• 📁 Hidden Files: Enable the Display of Hidden Folders in the File Manager Settings.
• 🗑️ Basket: In MIUI 14/15 Deleted records may be temporarily stored in MIUI/sound_recorder/.trash.

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If you use POCO Launcher, the standard path may be different. Try looking for records in a folder. POCO/sound_recorder

2. Alternative folders for records (if not standard)

On some Xiaomi models (especially custom firmware or older versions of MIUI), records can be saved elsewhere.

If none of the folders fit, try searching the file manager. Type in the audio file extensions in the search box:

• .mp3 is the standard format for Xiaomi.

3 How to change the place of preservation of records

If you don't like the standard file layout, you can change it right in the voice recorder settings.

1. Choose one of the options: 📱 Internal memory (by default). 💾 SD-map (if installed). ☁️ Cloud (requires authorization in Mi Account).

Please note: if you choose to save on SD-map, the path will change:

/storage/XXXX-XXXX/MIUI/sound_recorder/

(where XXXX-XXXX is your memory card’s unique identifier).

Make sure you're on SD-map|Check that the card is formatted as internal memory (if necessary)|Make a backup of old records|Reboot your phone after the changes-->

⚠️ Attention: If you delete SD-The card that saved the records will no longer be available. Xiaomi does not warn you when you extract the card!

4.Where to look for records if a recorder is not standard

Many users install third-party audio recording apps, such as ASR Voice Recorder, Easy Voice Recorder or Otter.ai, in which case the files are stored in other folders.

• 🎤 ASR Voice Recorder: /ASR/ or /Android/media/com.nll.asr/.
• 📼 Easy Voice Recorder: /EasyVoiceRecorder/.
• 🦦 Otter.ai: /Android/media/com.otter.ai/ (offline only).
• 🔊 Other applications: usually create a folder with the name of the package (for example, /Android/media/com.developer.app/).

To find out exactly where your application saves files:

1. Open the program settings.
2. Find the save folder or the Storage section.
3. If there is no such item, check the Application Information in the phone settings - there may be a path to the data.

Tip: If you use a third-party recorder often, add a folder with entries to your favorites in the file manager so you don’t search for it every time.

5. How to recover deleted recordings of the recorder

If you accidentally delete an important post, don't panic - it can be returned. Here are 3 working ways to restore it:

Method 1: Checking the basket in MIUI

Starting with MIUI 12, deleted files from a standard voice recorder are put into the bin and stored there for 30 days.

1. Open the Files → Recycle Bin.
2. Find the file. sound_recorder.
3. Select the files you need and click Restore.

Method 2: Recovery through the program

If the files are not in the basket, use specialized utilities:

• 🖥️ DiskDigger (for Android) – scans internal memory.
• 💻 Recuva or EaseUS Data Recovery (for PC) – if you connect your phone as a drive.
• ☁️ Google Drive – Check Automatic Sync (if enabled).

Instructions for DiskDigger:

1. Install the app from Google Play.


2. Select "Full scan" (requires root).




3. filter the results for the extension.mp3 or.m4a.




4. Save the recovered files to a safe place.

Method 3: Restore from Mi Cloud backup

If you back up your Mi Account, the records could be saved to the cloud to be found:

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select a backup copy of the device.
3. Check the last copy for the folder. sound_recorder.
4. Restore the data to the device.

⚠️ Warning: When you restore from the Mi Cloud backup, all current data on your phone will be overwritten.

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The faster you start recovering from deletion, the better the chances of returning a file.Every new record or application installation reduces the likelihood of success.

6. How to transfer recordings of the recorder to a computer or other device

If you need to make room on your phone or share your notes, they can be easily transferred. Here are 4 ways to do this:

Method 1: Through USB-cable

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC via cable.
2. Select File Transfer (MTP) mode in the notification on your phone.
3. On the computer, open the folder. MIUI/sound_recorder.
4. Copy files to the right place on the PC.

Method 2: Through the cloud

• ☁️ Google Drive: Upload files through the app and share a link.
• 📱 Mi Cloud: Sync the folder sound_recorder account settings.
• 🌍 Dropbox/OneDrive: Automatically upload new records.

Method 3: Bluetooth or Wi-Fi Direct

For transmission to another phone:

1. Open the file manager and find the record.
2. Put it on the file. → Share. → Bluetooth.
3. Select the target device and confirm the transmission.

Method 4: Through messengers

You can send the message to yourself on Telegram (save in Saved Messages) or by mail.

1. Find the file in the manager.


2. Click "Share" → select messenger.




3. Send the record to yourself or to the contact.

Tip: If the recording is large (over 50MB), it is better to use Google Drive or WeTransfer, as instant messengers can compress audio.

7 Why tape recorders can disappear and how to avoid it

Sometimes users experience a sudden disappearance of the records, and here are 5 common causes and ways to prevent them:

• 🔄 Autocleaning cache: Some memory cleanup apps (like Xiaomi's Security) can delete old records.Solution: Add a folder sound_recorder excepted.
• 📵 Factory reset: all local files will be erased. Solution: backup the cloud regularly.
• 🛠️ Update MIUI: Sometimes files are moved or lost after an update.Solution: copy the records to your PC before you update.
• 💽 Problems with SD-If the records were saved to the card, the damage will lead to loss of data. A1.
• 🚫 Application limitations: some voice recorders delete old files when space is scarce.Solution: check the storage settings in the app.

To minimize the risks, follow these rules:

1. Set up automatic synchronization of records with the cloud (Mi Cloud or Google Drive).
2. Regularly (once a month) copy important records to your computer.
3. Do not keep a single copy of important records on your phone.
4. Use reliable file managers (such as Solid Explorer) that show hidden files.

8. Frequent errors and their solutions

When working with a voice recorder on Xiaomi, users often face typical problems.

If none of the solutions worked, try resetting the voice recorder settings:

Settings → Applications → Dictator → Storage → Clean up data

⚠️ This will delete all the settings of the application, but will not affect the records themselves.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions