Where to look for phone records on Xiaomi Redmi: all ways and hidden folders MIUI

Have you had an important phone conversation on Xiaomi Redmi but forgot to record it? Or are you sure that the recording was automatic but you can't find the file? In this article, we'll look at all possible storage locations for records, from standard MIUI folders to hidden system directories, and how to recover deleted files if they are gone.

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones (including Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10/13C and others) support recording conversations, but file location depends on the firmware version, regional settings, and even the carrier. For example, in some countries, automatic recording is disabled by default due to privacy laws. We tested all current methods on MIUI 12-14 firmware and identified working methods.

1. Standard place of storage of records in MIUI

If you used the built-in recording function in the Phone app, the files should be saved in the folder. MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec. However, the path may differ depending on the model:

• 📁 Main folder: /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec/ (for MIUI 12–14)
• 📁 An alternative path: /storage/emulated/0/Recordings/CallRecord/ (on some firmware for India)
• 📁 For older versions: /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/voice_recorder/call_rec/ (before MIUI 11)

To open the folder:

1. Connect your phone to your PC or use a file manager (such as Files from Xiaomi).
2. Enable the display of hidden folders in the manager settings (if the folder is not visible).
3. Record files are usually.amr or.mp3 and are named by pattern: CallRecord_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.amr.

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If the folder call_rec empty, check the recording settings in the phone application → ⋮ → Settings → Record conversations. Maybe the function is disabled or records are saved to the cloud.

On some models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro+), records can be automatically archived in MIUI/backup/CallRecord/. If you don’t find files, try searching for the CallRecord keyword through the built-in file manager search.

2. How to enable automatic recording of conversations

If the recordings are not automatically maintained, check the settings:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Press three points (⋮) top-right → Settings.
3. Select the Recording of conversations (or Call recording in English firmware).
4. Activate Auto Record switch and select contacts or all numbers.

On some firmware (e.g., the global version for Europe), the recording option may be hidden.

• 🔧 Use the Settings Editor (Activity Launcher from Google Play) to open the hidden recording menu.
• 📱 Install an alternative call app (such as Truecaller or Cube Call Recorder) that supports recording on all firmware.

Note: Redmi models for the Chinese market (China ROM) can block conversations at the firmware level, in which case only re-flashing to the global version or using third-party applications will help.

3. Search for records through the Dictator app

In MIUI, recordings of conversations are sometimes duplicated in the standard Dictaphone (or Recorder) app to check:

1. Open the Dictaphone app (Micphone icon).
2. Go to the Records tab or Call Records (if any).
3. Sort files by date – the last records will be at the top.

If there are no tabs with conversation records, try:

• 🔍 Enter a call or conversation request in the application search.
• 📂 Check the folder. /MIUI/sound_recorder/ — Sometimes the files are there without categories.

On the Redmi Note 10 Pro and later, records from the Phone app can automatically sync with the Mi Cloud. Check the cloud through Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Recorder.

4. Hidden system folders and technical tricks

If the records are missing or not saved, they could have been taken to one of MIUI's hidden folders.

To access these folders:

1. Use a file manager with root rights (like Root Explorer) or connect your phone to your PC in MTP mode.
2. Enable the display of hidden files in the manager settings.
3. If the folder is empty, try searching for files by the.amr or.mp3 extension via the ADB command line:

adb shell find /storage/emulated/0 -name ".amr" -o -name ".mp3"

Critical detail: on MIUI 13+ firmware, records can be encrypted and stored in /data/user/0/com.android.incallui/files/. Access is possible only with root rights or through ADB with superuser rights.

5. Recovery of deleted records

If you accidentally deleted a record, you can try to restore it.

The best recovery programs:

• 🛠️ DiskDigger – Searches for audio files by signatures (works without root, but with root more efficiently).
• 🔍 Recuva – suitable for recovery from a memory card (if records are saved on the memory card) SD).
• 📱 Undeleter Recover Files & Data – specializes in Android devices.

The recovery algorithm:

1. Install the program on your PC (not your phone!).
2. Connect Redmi in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
3. Select the Internal Storage section and start a deep scan.
4. Filter the results for extensions.amr,.mp3,.awb.

Note: If a record was deleted more than 30 days ago and new files were being written to the phone, the chances of recovery are close to zero.The MIUI system uses trim commands to clean up memory that physically erase data.

6. Alternative methods of recording and storage

If the built-in recording function doesn’t work, consider these options:

• 📱 Third-party apps: Cube Call Recorder ACR — It records both ends of a conversation (requires audio source configuration). Truecaller has built-in recording (not in all countries). Call Recorder by Lovekesh supports cloud storage.
• ☁️ Cloud Services: Google Drive – Automatic Downloading through Settings → Google → Backup. Mi Cloud - Record Synchronization (included in Settings) → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud).
• 🔌 Hardware solutions: Use the second phone in hands-free mode + Connect an external recorder through a 3.5 mm connector (on models with an audio jack).

On Redmi with MIUI 14, some recording apps (such as ACR) may not work due to the limitations of Android 13+.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Permissions Management → Special Access → Record audio.
2. Enable permission for the Dictator app.
3. Reboot the phone.

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Since Android 10, Google has banned apps from recording audio during a call without using the telephony API, so many voice recorders have stopped working, requiring root or firmware.

7. Frequent problems and solutions

If records are not saved or are lost, check these points:

On Redmi models with duality SIM-The cards can only save records for one of them:

1. Go to Settings. → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
2. Choose. SIM-map for which you need to include a record.
3. In the recording settings (Phone) → ⋮ → Settings → Recording conversations) specify "Record all calls».

Note: Some Redmi firmware (e.g. India ROM) automatically deletes records after 30 days. To turn this off, look at Settings → Storage → Free up the Auto Clean Records option and deactivate it.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions