Where to look for recorded conversations on Xiaomi phone: all ways and secret folders

Have you recorded an important conversation on Xiaomi but can't find it now? Or have you accidentally deleted an audio file and want to recover it? In smartphones of this brand, call records can be stored in non-obvious places, from standard folders to system directories hidden from the user. In this article, we will examine all possible locations where MIUI stores audio recordings, including cloud backups and ways to recover deleted files.

Xiaomi's feature is that the location of the records depends on the firmware version, the phone model, and even regional settings. For example, on the Redmi Note 12 with global firmware, files can lie in one place, and on the Xiaomi 13 Ultra with Chinese MIUI, we collected relevant information for all modern devices (2020-2026) and show you how to find records even if you do not remember what application they were made.

1. Standard folders for calling records in MIUI

If you used a built-in voice recorder or a conversation recorder feature in the Phone app, the files should automatically be saved to one of these folders:

• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Recordings/ — The main directory for audio recordings on most Xiaomi, Redmi and other models POCO. Here are files with extensions.m4a or.
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/sound_recorder/ — Alternative storage for older versions MIUI (before 12.5). Often used on devices 2019–2021 year-end.
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/CallRecord/ — folder for records made through the Phone app (if the function is enabled in the settings).

To open these catalogs:

1. Launch the Files app (folder icon).
2. Go to the Category → Audio or Records tab.
3. If the desired folder is not in the list, click ⋮ → Show hidden files.

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If the Recordings folder is empty, check the settings of the recorder: it is possible that records are saved on the recorder. SD-map (the path will be) /storage/XXXX-XXXX/Recordings/, where XXXX-XXXX — ID your memory card).

Important: On some firmware (for example, MIUI China) records can be automatically archived in MIUI/backup/. Check this folder if you do not find files in standard directories.

2. Search through the Files and Filters app

If you don’t remember the exact file name, use the built-in search in the Files app:

1. Open Files → click on the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner.
2. Enter the keywords: record, call, voice recorder or.m4a extension.
3. Activate the filter by date if you remember the approximate recording time.

To speed up the search:

• 🔍 Use a filter by size: call records usually weigh between 500KB and 5MB (depending on duration).
• 🔍 Exclude Android folder from search, DCIM Download - records there are unlikely.
• 🔍 Check the Recent tab – it’s possible the file will appear in the top rows.

If the search didn’t work, try alternative file managers like Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer, which show hidden system folders that might not be available in a standard application.

3. Cloud backups: Google Drive and Mi Cloud

If you enabled sync with the cloud, the records could automatically load there.

• 🌥️ Google Drive: Open drive.google.com on your phone or PC. Type:audio in the search box. Check Backup or Xiaomi folders.

Mi Cloud

1. Go to Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Select Backups → Find the latest copy.
3. Download the archive and find the Recordings folder in it.

Note: Mi Cloud only stores backups for 30 days, and if the record is older than a month, you can't recover it through the cloud.

If you use third-party clouds (Yandex.Disk, Dropbox), check folders with automatic downloads. Some write applications (such as Cube Call Recorder) can save files there by default.

4. System folders and hidden directories

Some MIUI firmware stores call records in non-obvious locations that are not accessible through a standard file manager.

To open these folders:

1. Install a file manager with root support (such as Root Explorer or Mixplorer).
2. Enable the display of hidden and system files in the application settings.
3. Follow the path you want (copy it from the table above).

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If you don't have root rights, try connecting your phone to your PC and using ADB to access your system folders.

adb shell ls /data/user/0/com.android.providers.media/documents/

Caution: Deleting or modifying files in system folders can cause MIUI to crash. Do not edit files with.db or.xml extensions.

5. Recovery of deleted records

If you accidentally delete a record, you can try to restore it with specialized programs, and the effectiveness depends on how long it has been since you deleted it and how much you used the phone after that.

• 🛠️ For users without root: 📱 DiskDigger scans internal memory for deleted audio files. 📱 Recuva (requires to connect your phone to your PC in mode) MTP).
• 🛠️ For users with root: 📱 Undeleter – Restores files even after formatting. 📱 GT Recovery – Supports deep scanning.

Instructions for recovery through DiskDigger:

1. Install DiskDigger from Google Play.
2. Launch the app and select Full Scan.
3. Mark the file types: Audio (M4A, AMR, MP3).
4. Wait for the scan to be completed and save the files to a safe place.

Disable Wi-Fi and Mobile Data

Charge your phone at least 50%

Not installing new applications

Do not record new audio files

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The chances of success are higher if:

• 🔋 The phone did not restart after being removed.
• 📴 The device has enough free memory (less than 10% occupied).
• 🛑 You did not write new files after deleting them.

6. Records from messengers and third-party applications

If the conversation was recorded not through a standard voice recorder, but through WhatsApp, Telegram or specialized programs (for example, ACR Call Recorder), the files may be stored elsewhere:

To find the entries in messengers:

1. Open the app where the conversation took place.
2. Find a chat with the right contact.
3. Scroll through the story before the recording date – voice messages are usually marked with a microphone icon.
4. Click on the message and select Save (in WhatsApp) or Export (in Telegram).

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In Telegram you can search for voice messages by keywords: open chat → press 🔍 → enter voice or audio.

If you've used ACR Cube Call Recorder, check the settings of the application: some versions allow you to change the way you save records on the site. SD-map.

7. How to prevent future loss of records

To avoid searching for records by all folders, set up automatic save and backup:

• 🔄 Enable AutoSave in the Cloud: Open Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud. Activate Media Synchronization. Select Audio from the synchronized data list.

Change the default saving path:

1. In the Dictaphone app, press ⋮ → Settings.
2. Select the save folder and specify SD-map.
3. 📤 Export important records: Send copies to the mail or messenger immediately after recording. Use Google Drive to automatically download new files from the Recordings folder.

Check the laws of your country before installing it: in some regions, recording conversations without the consent of the interlocutor is prohibited.