Where to store your Xiaomi conversation records with MIUI 12: A complete guide to search and restore

You're looking for where Xiaomi's MIUI 12 shell stores phone records? You may have had an important conversation, you've turned on a record, but you can't find the file now -- or you just want to check if the automatic recordings are saved on your device. Unlike the newer versions of the firmware, MIUI 12 has its own audio storage features, and they don't always lie in obvious folders like Downloads or Music.

Complicating the problem is that Xiaomi does not always use standard paths for system records. Depending on the smartphone model (Redmi Note 9 Pro, Mi 10T, POCO X3 NFC, etc.), firmware versions (stable/global/Chinese), and even regional settings – file location can vary. In addition, if you used third-party applications to record, the search becomes even more complicated. In this article, we will discuss all possible storage locations, including hidden system folders, and also tell you how to recover deleted records if they are missing.

Before you go into search, check if you recorded a conversation manually (via the standard Phone app) or used automatic recording? It depends on where to look for files. Also check if the recording feature in the settings is disabled - sometimes users do not suspect that their Xiaomi just does not save audio because of one incorrect setting.

1. Standard place of recordings storage in MIUI 12

If you used the built-in conversation recording feature in the Phone app (the microphone icon during the call), then by default the files should be saved to:

• 📁 folder MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec — The main place for most models MIUI 12. Check with any file manager (e.g. Mi File Explorer or Solid Explorer).
• 📁 folder Recordings/Call — alternative path found on some firmware (especially global versions).
• 🔍 Keyword Search: Open the File Manager and Type in Search call_rec.amr (extension of audio files of recordings).

Files are usually.amr or.mp3 and are named by pattern: CallRecord_YYYYMMDD_HHMMSS.amr, where YYYYMMDD — date, HHMMSS — Time of recording, for example: CallRecord_20231015_143022.amr.

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If the folders sound_recorder No, check if it's hidden. In the Mi File Explorer, click on the three dots in the upper right corner. → Settings → Show hidden files.

Important: on some models (such as Redmi 9A or POCO M3), records can be saved directly in the Recordings root folder without nested directories. If you do not find files along these paths, try to view all audio files in the device by sorting them by date of creation - call records are usually small (from 50 KB to several MB depending on duration).

2.How to check if recording of conversations is enabled in MIUI 12

If you can't find the records, maybe the function is just disabled. In MIUI 12, the call recording setting is hidden deep in the menu, and it's easy to miss. Here's how to check:

1. Open the phone application (pipe icon).
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Settings.
3. Go to the Call Record (on some models, the item may be called Auto Record or Call Record).
4. Make sure the Call Record switch is active (blue).
5. Check what calls are being recorded: 📞 All calls - recording incoming and outgoing; 📥 Only incoming; 📤 Only outgoing; ❌ Never - function disabled.

If there is no recording option at all, this may mean:

• 🚫 Your Xiaomi model does not support firmware-level call recording (relevant for some budget devices, such as Redmi). 8A).
• 🌍 You have firmware installed for a region where recording calls is prohibited by law (e.g. EU or US).
• 🔄 Update required MIUI — In older assemblies, the function could have been removed.

3. Alternative storage locations: system folders and cache

If records are not found in standard folders, they may have been saved in one of the following places:

How do you access system folders? You'll need root rights or special applications like Root Explorer to view folders like /data/. Without root access, you can try:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB in File Transfer (MTP) mode.
2. Use it. ADB-File search commands: adb shell ls /sdcard/MIUI/sound_recorder/ (Requires the included debugging USB developer-setting).
3. Install a file manager with support for system folders, such as FX File Explorer.

4. Search for records through the Dictator app

In MIUI 12, the recordings of conversations are sometimes duplicated in the standard Dictaphone app to check:

1. Open the Dictaphone app (if it is not on the home screen, search through the device search).
2. Go to the Records or Calls tab (on some models it may be called Call Rec).
3. Sort the records by date to find the desired file.

If you find a record but don’t play it, try:

• 🔄 Move the file to another folder (such as Music) and open through the player.
• 📥 Export the recording to the PC and play through VLC Audacity (sometimes.amr files are not opened by standard players).
• 🛠️ Convert a format using an online converter (e.g. Online-Convert).

Open the Dictaphone app | Check the Calls or Call Rec tab | Sort by date | Try to play or export the file-->

5.Recovering deleted conversation records

If the records are gone (for example, after resetting or cleaning the memory), you can try to restore them.

1. Check the Recycle Bin: Open Mi File Explorer → Recycle Bin icon. Find files with the.amr or.mp3 extension and restore them.
2. Use of recovery programs: 🖥️ Recuva (for PC) – connect your phone in Mass Storage mode and scan the memory. 📱 DiskDigger (for Android) – does not require root, but with root access recovers more files. 🔍 EaseUS MobiSaver – specializes in audio files.

Verification of backup copies:

• If you have backup enabled in Mi Cloud, go to i.mi.com and check the Records or Media section.
• Try to restore data from a local backup (if you did backup through Settings → Additional → Backup).

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The chances of recovery are higher if less than 72 hours have passed after deleting and no new data has been recorded on the phone (photos, videos, applications).

Important: If you’ve used third-party recording apps (like Cube ACR, Call Recorder, or Boldbeast), look for files in their own folders:

• 📁 /sdcard/CubeBackups — Cube ACR;
• 📁 /sdcard/CallRecorder — Call Recorder by Lovakara;
• 📁 /sdcard/Boldbeast Recorder - for Boldbeast.

6.Why records may not be saved (and how to fix it)

If you have enabled a record but the files do not appear, the reasons may be as follows:

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (especially those in the EU and US) have their call recording locked at the firmware level due to legal restrictions, in which case neither will work, requiring firmware from another regional version (e.g. global or Indian).

If none of these methods worked, try upgrading your MIUI to the latest version, which is more stable in new builds (e.g. MIUI 13-14), and check if you have battery-saving apps on your phone that can block recording in the background.

7. How to transfer recordings to another medium

If you find records but want to save them to your PC or cloud, follow this instruction:

1. On PC: Connect your phone to your computer via USB (Select File Transfer Mode. Find a folder with records (e.g, MIUI/sound_recorder/call_rec). Copy files to a PC disk.
2. To the cloud: Open file manager, select the desired entries → Share → Select Google Drive, Mi Cloud or other service. To automatically sync, install Autosync or FolderSync.

To the memory card:

• In the file manager, select the files → Move it → choose /storage/XXXX-XXXX (SD-map).
• Create a folder on the map. Call_Records, so as not to confuse files.

Important:.amr call records may not play on some devices. Before penos, convert them to.mp3 using applications like Audio Converter or Zamzar.

FAQ: Frequent questions about recording conversations on Xiaomi