Location of conversation records on Xiaomi POCO X3: hidden folders and settings

Owners of Xiaomi smartphones and POCO sub-brand often face a situation where important information from a phone conversation was successfully recorded, but finding it in the file manager is not so easy, due to regular changes in the Android operating system and the MIUI shell, which touched the structure of directories to improve the security of user data. In recent firmware versions, the paths to system files have become less obvious to the average user, hiding deep in the interior of internal memory.

If you are looking for a specific file, you need to understand the difference between displaying a record in the Phone app and its physical location on the disk. In Android 11 and above, the Direct Recordings folder was abolished in favor of hidden system directories. In this article, we will discuss in detail the current paths for the POCO X3 model, look at the features of the standard voice recorder and third-party applications, and solve problems with lost files.

It is important to note that the search depends on whether the recording was done by the system’s built-in tools or by third-party software. Xiaomi’s standard tools take priority in the system and use secure directories, while third-party programs can request access to the microphone and save data in open folders. Let’s see where your audio recording goes after the call is completed.

Standard path in file manager for MIUI

By default, all records made through the built-in MIUI Dialer caller are stored in a strictly defined system directory. To get to them, you need to open the standard Explorer app or any other file manager, such as Total Commander or Files by Google. The main path that is relevant for most modern firmware versions is based on the Android/data structure.

The folder transition sequence is as follows: first you open the internal storage, then you go down to the Android folder, then you go to the data. Here you need to find the com.android.incall directory, which houses the record folder. This is where the audio files of your conversations are physically stored. However, due to the security limitations of Android 11+, access to the data folder by default can be closed to third-party file managers.

• 📂 Open the Explorer and go to the device’s internal memory.
• 📂 Consistently open folders: Android → data → com.android.incall → record.
• 📂 If the data folder is empty, you will need special access (more in the section on restrictions).

It is worth noting that in older versions of the shell or when using certain regions of the firmware, the path could be easier: MIUI → sound_recorder → call_rec. But, POCO X3 With current updates, this path is often not used for phone calls, although it may store tape recordings.

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If you don’t see the Android folder at the root of internal memory, click on the three dots in the Explorer corner and select “Show Hidden Files.”

Files in this folder are usually.m4a or.mp3 and named according to the date and time of the call or contact name. If you can't find files along the specified path, it's possible that your version of MIUI has changed the directory structure, and it's worth checking the alternative locations.

Access restrictions for Android 11, 12 and 13

Since the eleventh version of the mobile operating system, Google has implemented strict restrictions on access to the Android/data folder, so that apps can’t scan each other’s data without the user’s knowledge, and as a result, when you open the standard MIUI Explorer and try to log into Android/data, you may see an empty folder or a message about no access.

⚠️ Note: System restriction does not mean that files are deleted. They are physically in place, but the standard Explorer interface does not have permission to display them without special permission.

To get around this limitation and access the conversation records on POCO X3, you don’t need to get root rights, which would violate the warranty. Just use an embedded system feature or a third-party tool. One of the easiest ways is to use the Files by Google or Total Commander file manager with access plugins that can request special permission through the SAF (Storage Access Framework) system interface.

There's also a way to connect to a computer, and when you connect your smartphone to your PC over USB and you select File Transfer mode, your computer often sees the contents of the system folders hidden from the mobile interface, and you can copy the audio files you want directly to your computer's hard drive, without locking the mobile conductor.

Another solution is to use a terminal or special scripts, but for the average user, this can be a bit difficult, and the easiest way to use the Documents app or similar, which, when you first log in to the system folder, will request permission to "Allow access to the folder." Once confirmed, you will be able to copy and move the records files.

Search through the application "Dictophone" and "Phone"

If you don't want to dig through your system folders, the fastest way to find the right record is to use the built-in applications of the system. Xiaomi and POCO have a convenient integration between calls and storage. All records are duplicated in the Dictophone interface (or Records) application, which allows you to quickly listen to them without looking for files.

To access the call list through the call interface:

• 📞 Open the phone application (green handset).
• 📞 Go to the “Journal” tab or click on a specific contact.
• 📞 If the recording was conducted, next to the number or in the details of the call will be displayed cassette icon or wavegram.

A more extensive list is available in the Dictator app. Open it and you'll see tabs or categories of records. Often, the recordings of conversations are put into a separate category, Phone or Calls, where you can not only listen to the file, but also perform the basic steps: rename, delete or share a file through the messenger.

The advantage of using the regular Dictophone app is that it automatically accesses files even in secure folders.You don't have to think about paths and access rights.However, if you plan to edit a file in a third-party audio editor or mail it, you still have to find out its physical path or use the Share feature inside the application.

Automatic save and format setting

Before you search for records, make sure that the recording function is activated and configured correctly. In MIUI, the conversation recording settings are deep in the menu. To get there, open the Phone app, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings. Then go to Record Call.

You can turn on automatic recording for all numbers or only for selected contacts. Also on this menu is the important "Record Format" switch. The default format may be compressed to save space, but for better quality, you'd better choose MP3 or AAC. Changing the format will affect all future records, but will not change existing files.

Note the "Record Notice" item, which is mandatory in most regions, because it plays a beep to the person who is being recorded, and it can have legal consequences if you turn it off, so the system can force it on every call.

Third-party applications for recording calls

Xiaomi’s regular hardware doesn’t always meet users’ needs, especially given the regional limitations on the recording feature in some versions of global firmware.In such cases, POCO X3 owners turn to third-party solutions from Google Play, such as Call Recorder – ACR, Cube ACR or Automatic Call Recorder.

The main thing about these applications is that they create their own folders for storing data. They're usually at the root of internal memory and have names that match the developer, like CallRecorder, ACR, or CubeCallRecorder. The way to them is much easier: Internal memory → Application name. This eliminates the problems with accessing the Android/data system folder.

However, with the release of new versions of Android, Google is actively fighting third-party call records by blocking access to the audio stream. On POCO X3 with Android 12 and above, some applications can record silence or only your voice without an interlocutor.

⚠️ Note: When using third-party apps, carefully read the permissions they request.Some may be transferring your records to their servers for "analytics," which is a privacy violation.

If you choose a third-party path, it is recommended that you make a test call immediately after installation and check where the file was saved. Go to the settings of the recorder application itself, there is always a precise saving path, which will save you time to search in the future.

Problems of missing files and their solution

When the conversation has passed, the recording indication was, but the file did not appear, it is common. The first and most common reason is overflowing memory. If there is no free space left on the internal POCO X3 drive, the system cannot physically create a new file. Check the free space in the Memory section.

The second reason is the phone app malfunction. The app cache may have overflowed or damaged. Try clearing the call cache: go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Phone → Memory → Clear the cache. Don't confuse it with Clear Data, as this can reset the call log.

It's also worth checking if the power saving mode is turned on, which aggressively unloads processes from memory. If the system has killed the recording process in the middle of a conversation, the file may not save or be corrupted (0 bytes).

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The absence of a file is most often caused by a lack of disk space or aggressive memory cleanup, rather than a phone breakdown.

If a file is corrupted or not readable, use audio editors on a PC that can recover file titles, but in the case of mobile formats, this is not always possible. Regularly back up important conversations, transferring them to your computer or to the cloud.